By Our Reporter
The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has called for stronger collaboration between universities and security agencies, declaring that Nigeria’s security challenges require more than military action.
Musa made the call on Friday, October 30, 2026, while commissioning the CG Musa Security Management Hub at the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The minister said lasting security solutions must be driven by research, intelligence, innovation and proactive threat prevention, rather than relying solely on military force.
“The battlefield may reveal the immediate manifestations of insecurity, but the university provides the intellectual environment to interrogate its causes, evaluate responses, and develop sustainable solutions,” he said.
Drawing from his decades of military experience, Musa stressed that security management must begin long before threats escalate into crises.
He urged the University of Ibadan to transform the facility into a centre for cutting-edge research, strategic dialogue and professional development, with emphasis on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, intelligence analysis, conflict prevention and crisis management.
The minister also called on Nigerians to embrace a whole-of-nation approach to security, urging citizens to report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.
He said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was strengthening national security through institutional reforms, improved operational capacity and strategic partnerships.
Musa commended the university officials, military engineers and other stakeholders who contributed to the completion of the facility, particularly the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale.
Earlier, Adebowale expressed appreciation to the minister for fulfilling the university’s request and delivering the project within the promised timeframe.
The Defence Minister reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the University of Ibadan in developing research-driven solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.