Abuja: Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja Anselm Umoren has warned that the continued neglect of education in Nigeria is putting the country’s future at serious risk. He spoke during the 40th anniversary celebration of Hand Maid International School in Abuja and said the lack of proper learning and moral upbringing is contributing to insecurity and social disorder.
The bishop said many problems facing the country today including drug abuse kidnapping cybercrime and rising violence among young people are connected to poor educational systems and weak family guidance. He stressed that education must not only provide knowledge but also help shape character discipline and values.
According to Bishop Umoren the responsibility of forming young people does not belong to schools alone. He said the family church community and government must work together to ensure every child receives the right support. He added that without cooperation children may grow up without direction and the country may face more instability in the future.
His warning comes at a time when Nigeria continues to struggle with insecurity affecting schools. In recent weeks hundreds of students and teachers have been kidnapped in Niger State forcing schools to close and creating fear among parents. The incident has brought renewed attention to the safety of the education sector.
The bishop urged the government to treat education as a right rather than a privilege and invest more in infrastructure teacher training and security. He noted that without strong education systems Nigeria risks losing generations of young people to crime unemployment and hopelessness.
Church leaders across Nigeria have also been calling for reforms in governance and improved social services including better funding for schools. Many say the failure to act now may deepen social divisions and damage national development.
Bishop Umoren concluded by saying that transforming Nigeria begins with transforming young minds and that education must be seen as a foundation for peace growth and a stable future.