Youth empowerment has been identified as one of the major ways to the de-radicalization process in the fight against insurgency and resurgence of terrorism and sectarian violence in Nigeria. This was made known recently in a lecture ‘Entitled’ “Boko Haram Insurgency and Its Impacts on Lake Chad Basin” held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, during a visit by the Team of participants from the National Defence College, India. The Team led by Maj Gen Madhavan Vinaya Chandran Nair was on a study tour of Nigeria purposely to familiarize themselves with the cultural, political, economic and security situation in the country.
The lecture delivered by one of the research fellows, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Col Solomon Inuwa highlighted the history of Boko Haram, the root causes, and impacts of terrorism with a view to recommending solutions to the problem. He said the military has continued to record remarkable successes in decimating the terrorists’ activities.
During the interactive session, the participants observed that the activities of the insurgents had impacted negatively on the Nigerian economy and that of the Lake Chad Basin. It was identified that empowering the restive large population of youth in the North East Nigeria will go a long way in reducing poverty, thereby serving as the basic tool in the anti-terrorism war.
In his remark, the Director of Training and Consultancy, NARC, Brig Gen Okechukwu Ugo, stated that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has succeeded in motivating the fighting spirit of the troops in the North East with required equipment as well as sound administration and this has resulted in the recapture of all territories hitherto held by the insurgents.
Earlier, the Director General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre Maj Gen Johnny Hamakim expressed his appreciation to the Indian team for their visit while urging a more robust relationship and partnership in the areas of defence and national security.
The team was also conducted on a tour of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre Museum to acquaint them with a collection of the military artifacts and other objects of historical importance.
By Cpl Augustine Nwoba
