By IBUKUN EMIOLA

President, Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Israel Akanji, has urged the Federal Government to address the challenges of insecurity, corruption and education in order to reposition the country.

Akanji stated this in Ibadan on Monday at a news briefing to herald the 109th annual convention of the church.

He said that the convention, with the theme: ‘Entering into Newness with Praise and Thanksgiving’, implied a new beginning, a fresh start, a dawn of a new season and an opening of a new chapter.

Akanji said that it was in view of this that the church had come up with some recommendations for the government to reposition the country from its downward trajectory.

The NBC president stressed the need to overhaul the nation’s security architecture, implement state policing, strengthening the various joint task forces (JTFs) and increasing security cooperation with other countries, among other necessary steps.

“As a denomination, we appreciate the government for the efforts made so far to curb the current security challenges in the country.

“However, we hasten to call on government to live up to its responsibility by ensuring safety of lives and property of Nigerians,” Akanji said.

He enjoined government to do everything possible to address the issue of corruption, which he described as a social and economic monster and the root cause of inequality and inequitable distribution of the nation’s wealth among its citizens, leading to disaffection.

The priest also decried the ongoing strike by the various labour unions in the nation’s public universities, with its attendant negative effects on the quality of education and students.

While urging the government to honour its agreement with ASUU, he also urged the university lecturers to look inward and develop methods of generating revenues without solely relying on government for funding.

“We believe that the future of our nation rests on quality education, and all stakeholders must work together to get it right,” he said.

On the 2023 general election, Akanji enjoined all political parties to field God-fearing candidates, in the interest of Nigerians.

The NBC president called on Kwara government to reopen Oyun Baptist Secondary School, Ijagbo, which was closed over hijab crisis.

He said the church had been providing education in Nigeria for the past 167 years and in Kwara for 50 years, without hijab being an issue but in accordance with its philosophy of education.

“Premised on the above, we hereby strongly appeal to the Governor of Kwara, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, to reopen Oyun Baptist Secondary School, Ijagbo, which was shut down over hijab controversy.

“This has become imperative so that the students can continue with their education, while those in final year write will also have the opportunity of writing their WASC examinations.

“This is hoped to be done without the imposition of hijab,” he said.

Akanji stated that out of the 121 students of Bethel Baptist Secondary School, Maraban Damishi, Kaduna, kidnapped by bandits on July 5, 2021, 120 had been released after payment of ransom.

According to him, prayers are ongoing to ensure the release of the only remaining student in the custody of the bandits. (NAN)

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