Humanities crucial to national security- Oloyede
By Isaac Lewu
The outgoing Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Emeritus Prof. Isha’q Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON, has called for a renewed appreciation of the Humanities as a critical instrument for addressing Nigeria’s socio-political and security challenges, stressing that the nation’s current difficulties are rooted more in moral and cultural decline than in material inadequacies.
Emeritus Prof. Oloyede made this recommendation last Tuesday (June 23, 2026) while delivering a keynote address at the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), hosted by the University of Ilorin, themed “Humanities, National Politics and Security”, at the University Auditorium.
The JAMB helmsman, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics (ASE), Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, maintained that the Humanities remain indispensable for rebuilding national values, promoting social cohesion and strengthening the country’s security architecture.
Emeritus Prof. Oloyede stated that Nigeria’s challenges extend beyond security concerns and require moral and cultural solutions. He argued that the humanities play a vital role in shaping responsible citizens and ethical values, while stressing that national renewal depends on integrity, cultural consciousness, preservation of indigenous languages and engagement with literature to address the growing crisis of corruption, violence and social decay.
He urged Nigerians not to give in to despair despite the country’s challenges, insisting that “despair is not a strategy.”
Emeritus Prof. Oloyede said lasting progress depends on citizens who combine truth with hope, criticism with commitment and scholarship with service. He added that the Humanities inspire compassion, reform and collective progress while helping to strengthen national unity.
The renowned scholar, who is also the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), also called for the establishment of a Humanities, Politics and Security Observatory to track hate speech, conflict narratives and public perceptions.
He explained that the initiative would provide evidence-based reports to support policymaking and public understanding of security issues.
He urged participants to ensure that the conference produces practical outcomes, including policy briefs, research partnerships, media interventions and community engagement programmes.
Speaking on the role of the Humanities in addressing contemporary challenges the Chairman of the occasion, who is also the former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), Emeritus Prof. Olu Obafemi, mni, stressed that Literature, History, Language, Philosophy and Religion remain indispensable tools for national development and social transformation.
Emeritus Prof. Obafemi noted that the humanities encourage critical thinking and deeper understanding of the human conditions, adding that sustainable solutions to insecurity, poor leadership and institutional weaknesses require a reawakening of societal values and collective responsibility.
He called on scholars, policymakers and citizens to bridge the gap between knowledge and action, stressing that national renewal can only be achieved through a deliberate commitment to humanistic ideals and meaningful engagement with the challenges in the nation.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, described the NAL as a vital platform for intellectual engagement, noting that the Academy has continued to promote scholarship and national development through its contributions to the humanities.
Prof. Egbewole expressed concerns over the growing emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the expense of the Humanities, stressing that no meaningful societal progress can be achieved without adequate attention to disciplines that shape values, culture and human understanding.
The legal luminary, therefore, advocated the adoption of the STEAM approach, which integrates the Arts with STEM, maintaining that sustainable national development requires a balance between scientific advancement and humanistic knowledge.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the NAL 3rd Biennial Local Organising Committee, Prof. AbdulRasheed Abiodun Adeoye, explained that Nigeria is in a state of anomaly, noting that African communitarian philosophies such as Ubuntu and Igwebuike are increasingly struggling to address contemporary societal challenges.
Prof. Adeoye added that the institution upholds values of integrity, justice and excellence, and noted that the dragon plant symbolises peace, healing and renewal, urging stakeholders to promote values that foster societal progress.
In his his remarks, the President of NAL, Prof. Andrew Haruna, who was represented by the Secretary of the Academy, Prof. Olakunbi Olasope, identified ethnic and religious polarisation, structural fragility and violent disruptions as major threats to Nigeria’s peace and stability. He noted that these challenges represent deep systemic crises that require more than political, military or economic solutions.
The NAL President stressed that the Humanities remain strategic national assets for fostering national renewal and social cohesion. He urged scholars to provide evidence-based frameworks that bridge theory and practice, while helping to restore security, safety and prosperity as fundamental public goods.
Also in attendance were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Olalere Adeyemi; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research Technology and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Adeiza Etudaiye; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the Bursar, Mr Abiodun Lawal; the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa; the Vice President, NAL Prof. Sunday Enessi Ododo, Emeritus Prof. Munzali Jibril, among several others.
