The Vice-Chancellor of Wesley University, Ondo, Professor Samuel Obeka, has urged the Federal Government to restructure the National Youth Service Corps to include security and weapon-handling training for Nigerian youths.
Speaking at a briefing ahead of the institution’s convocation ceremony, the VC expressed deep concern about Nigeria’s growing insecurity, saying citizens should be trained and licensed to carry arms for self-defence.
Obeka, who is also a Methodist Church clergyman, argued that the current security crisis shows the urgent need to prepare ordinary Nigerians against armed attacks. He suggested that NYSC be decentralised to create two phases of security training—one after secondary school and another after graduation—to equip young citizens with basic defence skills.
He said the country was witnessing a painful reality where human life seemed less valued than that of animals, adding that citizens were no longer able to move freely without fear.
According to him, “If trained and licensed individuals are allowed to carry weapons, criminals would have reduced confidence to attack innocent people, because both the attacker and the target would know how to use arms.”
Obeka emphasised that Wesley University makes student and staff safety a priority. He stated that the school has multi-layered fencing, strategic security posts and guardian counsellors assigned to hostels with security responsibilities—claiming the institution is the first in Nigeria to do so.
He also highlighted several developments within the university, including the accreditation of the College of Medical and Allied Health Sciences and the Law Faculty. He said the university now offers 50 programmes, up from the 23 it began with, including what he described as the only full PhD in Theology in Nigeria.
The VC added that Wesley University provides full academic and hostel support for deaf students up to PhD level, with trained interpreters available.
