Former Nigerian Military President Urges Governments to Reintroduce Religious Knowledge in Schools
In a move aimed at fostering unity and love, former Nigerian Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, has called on the federal and state governments to reintroduce religious knowledge across public primary and secondary schools in the country.
IBB made the plea during a visit by the leadership of the Niger State Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, led by the state Chairman, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, to his hilltop mansion in Minna.
According to IBB, there is a need for Nigeria to go back to the teachings of religious knowledge in schools, citing it as the only way to change the society for the better. He commended the state CAN for its efforts in promoting good morals among the youth and expressed his willingness to champion the cause for a better society.
"Religious knowledge is one factor that can shape the society," IBB emphasized. "We need to go back to what it used to be, especially in the teachings of religious knowledge."
The former military president also expressed his readiness to speak to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Niger State Governor, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, to push for the reintroduction of Christian Religious Knowledge, CRK, and Islamic Religious Knowledge, IRK, in public schools.
The call for the reintroduction of CRK to public schools in Niger State has been a major topic of discussion among stakeholders in the state.
IBB’s statement is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate on the role of religion in Nigerian schools. The former military president himself grew up in an era where religious knowledge played a significant role in shaping society, with Christians and Muslims praying and playing together in love and unity in the 50s and 60s.
The State CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who led the delegation to IBB’s mansion, appealed to the former president to join the call for the reintroduction of CRK in public schools across the state and country.
The cleric emphasized that his leadership has made several efforts to reintroduce CRK in schools, including submitting proposals to the government and hoping for positive action.
The move is seen as a step towards promoting unity and love in Nigeria, and IBB’s endorsement of the initiative is likely to carry significant weight in the ongoing discussions on the role of religion in Nigerian schools.
