Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, has declared that Nigeria must increasingly deploy technology, intelligence and regional collaboration to defeat insecurity, following his conferment with an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership, Governance and National Development at the EuroKnowledge Honorary Doctorate Ceremony held at the House of Lords in London.
Receiving the award, the senator representing Katsina Central described the honour as both a recognition of service and a renewed responsibility to deliver greater value to his constituents and the nation.
“I receive this honour with humility. I dedicate it absolutely to the good people of Katsina Central whose mandate, prayers and support made this possible. I also dedicate it to my family, whose sacrifices and encouragement have kept me grounded in service,” he said.
Yar’Adua applauded the efforts of the Federal and State Governments in improving security over the past year, while commending members of the Armed Forces for what he described as their courage and resilience in confronting the country’s security challenges.
He attributed part of Nigeria’s security concerns to the deteriorating security situation across the Sahel, saying the influx of illicit weapons through porous borders has significantly fuelled insurgency and other violent crimes.
“No nation willingly opens its doors to insurgency. But the crisis in the Sahel has led to an increase in the influx and supply of weapons across our borders, and this has been a major driver of insecurity,” he stated.
Despite the challenges, the lawmaker expressed optimism that the country’s security efforts were making progress and stressed that innovation would remain central to future operations.
“Leadership is not about making excuses. Leadership is about bringing solutions to problems. I am confident that the government is winning this war. Going forward, we will continue to leverage technology, intelligence and regional cooperation to tackle insecurity, protect our citizens and make life easier and safer for every Nigerian,” he added.
The EuroKnowledge Honorary Doctorate is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to national and global development. Previous recipients include President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the late former OPEC Secretary-General, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo.
Yar’Adua said the recognition would further strengthen his commitment to public service and national development.
“This recognition will only spur me to do more for my people and for our country,” he said.
The event was attended by dignitaries from Africa, Europe and the diplomatic community.