As Nigeria enters 2026, the discourse surrounding sectarian genocide remains a volatile international and domestic issue. While political and religious leaders often frame the violence in the North-Central and North-West through the lens of faith, Dr. Abubakar Tsafe argues that the crisis is a direct result of a failing educational infrastructure. In this interview, he breaks down the budgetary violence against the education sector and why the classroom, not the pulpit, holds the key to national security.
Dr. Abubakar Kabiru Tsafe is a specialist in Mathematics Education from usmanu danfodiyo University, Sokoto with a research focus that spans the cognitive development of numeracy from early childhood to higher-order mathematical thinking at the tertiary level. He is a prominent voice in the debate over Nigerian curriculum reform and the role of academic research in national stability.
The interview
Nigerian Education News: Dr. Tsafe, as an educationist, how do you view the discrepancy between the government’s “resource conflict” narrative and the “genocide” narrative held by religious bodies? Is there a scientific way to categorize these killings?
Dr. Tsafe: Well, scientifically, it is hard to prove these assertions regarding genocide having to do with a particular religious inclination. Historically, one of the fault lines the country has suffered from is religion. That is why religious bigots and ethnic jingoists exploit these lines to justify their claims, perhaps even to profit “financially” from them.
Another angle is that since the return to the present democratic dispensation, little has been done to ensure the equitable distribution of the country’s commonwealth. This is exacerbated by a preponderance of people with limited or no formal education. As an educator, I must say emphatically that our allocation to the education sector is nowhere near the UNESCO benchmark of 26%. Nigeria’s education budget consistently hovers between 8% and 10%. This societal division is largely a symptom of a less educated populace.
Nigerian Education News: Can education actually cure religious extremism, or is the problem too deep for the classroom to solve?
Dr. Tsafe: Certainly! Education is capable of addressing this menace, provided there is political will. First, investment is crucial. Currently, only tertiary education shows a significant government presence, mainly due to the ASUU struggle while other levels lack such support. Second, national reorientation toward integration and cohesion is best achieved through the classroom. Nigeria is not uniquely diverse, but our political class intensified ethnic polarization, particularly during the 2023 elections. If we teach national values at the foundational level, these problems can be drastically reduced.
Nigerian Education News: With the recent rollout of the new national curriculum focusing on technology and robotics, do you believe we are neglecting the Humanities?
Dr. Tsafe: Our policymakers may be misinformed about the immense relevance of the Humanities. While expertise in technology depends on a stable electricity supply, which we are still grappling with, the Humanities and Social Sciences are equally essential. They shape foreign policy, security studies, family values, and patriotism.
Prioritizing technology while dismissing the humanities is counterproductive. Furthermore, the government recently made Mathematics optional for some students; this represents a policy inconsistency. A well-rounded curriculum is a national priority, not a matter of market choice.
Nigerian Education News: How can education be specifically utilized to debunk the extremist ideologies fueling religious crises?
Dr. Tsafe: It starts with a curriculum of inclusion and the application of the scientific method to social issues. When we train students to demand evidence in a lab, they carry that skepticism to the streets, making them less susceptible to inflammatory rumors. By teaching the commonalities between our major religions in a formal setting, we strip pseudo-preachers of their power to radicalize.
Nigerian Education News: In your view, is the university system producing minds that can resist religious manipulation, or are institutions merely teaching rote memorization?
Dr. Tsafe: The problem is multifaceted. Our curriculum actually provides for critical thinking and the questioning of social biases. However, we are seeing a gradual erosion of critical thinking in students. This is partly attributable to the technology boom and a poor reading culture. Sadly, a substantial number of students are no longer intellectually ready for the university environment, so they fail to engage us critically.
Nigerian Education News: There is increasing international discourse regarding Christian and Muslim genocide in Nigeria. How should Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) approach this? Is there a role for data in providing an objective narrative?
Dr. Tsafe: Yes. In the university, our research is evidence-based. Available literature across Sociology, Criminology, and Political Science does not support the claim that specific regions suffer sectarian genocide. Such claims are driven by sentiment, not data. The role of HEIs is to intensify research to uncover facts and publish them in reputable outlets to inform the “spin-masters” perpetrating these narratives. To achieve this, we need increased government and NGO funding.
Nigerian Education News: Would you advocate for mandatory Inter-Religious Ethics courses?
Dr. Tsafe: I think it is necessary. General Studies (GST) was introduced to address ignorance about other cultures; we can extend this to religious studies. A 2-unit course exposing students to the basic tenets of major religions would help. Most of our problems emanate from ignorance of what other religions say about neighborliness and peaceful coexistence.
Nigerian Education News: As we look toward the 2026 academic year, what is the one policy change the Ministry of Education must implement to ensure graduates see each other as colleagues rather than adversaries?
Dr. Tsafe: The government has tried with the NYSC scheme, which helps address the North-South dichotomy. My one recommendation is for the Federal Government to intensify efforts in mitigating insecurity so that corps members can once again be posted to every nook and cranny of the country without fear.
