The Department of State Services (DSS) is implementing a new strategy to combat terrorism and subversion by investing in educational institutions, places of worship, and sporting facilities across Nigeria.
This initiative aims to foster community engagement and social development as a means of reducing discontent and building trust, ultimately enhancing national security.
The approach was highlighted during the recent inauguration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Darul’Ilm Centre for Islamic Studies in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking on behalf of the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, retired DSS Director Alhaji Ahmed Zalmar explained that these non-conventional interventions are designed to win the support of vulnerable populations.
Zalmar emphasized that the funding for these philanthropic projects, which include schools, religious centers, and sports facilities, does not come from the agency’s operational budget. Instead, they are financed through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and private donations.
The newly inaugurated Islamic studies center in Kaduna, named in honor of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to education and development, will reportedly serve orphans and underprivileged children.
The project was noted as being personally funded and donated by Director-General Ajayi, an act praised as a significant gesture of interfaith unity and national healing.
The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, also praised the DSS’s initiative, stating that it aligns with the Tinubu administration’s focus on inclusive growth and youth empowerment, particularly given Nigeria’s projected role in the global workforce by 2050.
The Kaduna State government, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, reiterated its support for education and efforts to combat poverty and insecurity.
The Sultan of Sokoto further encouraged affluent Nigerians to follow Director-General Ajayi’s example by investing in education, especially for disadvantaged children.
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