Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani has described Nigeria?s tertiary institutions as veritable recruitment grounds for extremist groups and criminal organizations.

?This issue is exacerbated by unemployment, poverty and lack of opportunities for many students,? the Governor said on Friday evening at Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA), Katsina State.

The Governor spoke In a lecture he delivered as part of activities marking the school?s 9th convocation ceremony.

According to Sani, ?a recent incident at FUDMA serves as a troublesome example of this trend. A student was arrested by the police and found in possession of ammunition intended for criminal activities.

?This incident underscores the increasing risk of students being drawn into violence, radical ideologies and illegal activities.

?Such developments not only endanger the lives of the students involved but also threaten the integrity of the institution and safety of the entire academic community.

?The vulnerability of students to radicalization is a direct result of their socio-economic challenges, including frustration with the political system, disillusionment with job prospects and exposure to extremist ideologies.

?Many tertiary institutions lack the infrastructure and technology needed to create a safe and secure learning environment.

?Poor security measures on campuses, inadequate facilities and lack of surveillance technology have made schools easy targets for bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements.

?While insurgency and terrorism, particularly from groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP are more concentrated in the North-East of Nigeria, effects of their activities ripple across the country. The presence of these groups has destabilized the region, leading to the displacement of millions and destroyed infrastructure including educational institutions.

?Insecurity surrounding tertiary institutions has also resulted in brain drain, a phenomenon in which highly qualified academics leave the country or withdraw from service due to fear for their safety.

?At FUDMA, several senior professors have withdrawn their services from the university, citing the high-risk environment as a factor for their decision to either relocate to safer parts of the country or seek opportunities abroad.? (Saturday Sun)

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