Mandatory Military Service: BRAVE-IT Coordinator Urges Nigeria to Study Global Conscription Models
By Matthew Eloyi
The National Coordinator of Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism, Insurgency and Terrorism (BRAVE-IT), Dr Ak Peters, has urged Nigeria to carefully examine global military service models as part of efforts to strengthen national security, youth development and social cohesion.
Peters made the call at the presentation of the book “Serving the Nation: Exploring Mandatory Military Service for Nigerian Youths”, where he delivered a detailed comparative analysis of conscription systems in Finland, South Korea and Israel.
“I am deeply honoured to stand before you today at the presentation of this important book on Mandatory Military Service in Nigeria. This subject is not merely academic; it touches on national security, youth development, social cohesion, and the future of our country,” he said.
In his address, Peters explained that his intervention was aimed at enriching national reflection by examining how mandatory service has shaped national identity and security architecture in the three countries.
Using Finland as a case study, he described conscription as “a cornerstone of national defence,” noting that service lasts between 165 and 347 days depending on role, with a civilian option for conscientious objectors.
According to him, the Finnish approach demonstrates “deterrence through preparedness,” enabling the country to mobilise a large trained force quickly despite a relatively small standing army.
Turning to South Korea, Peters said mandatory service is deeply embedded in society due to tensions with North Korea.
He noted that service typically lasts 18 to 21 months and promotes social equality because “rich and poor serve alike.”
“It is widely regarded as a rite of passage into responsible adulthood,” he said.
He explained that strict enforcement, including imprisonment for draft evasion, underscores the seriousness of the obligation and helps maintain a strong deterrence posture.
Peters described Israel’s system as one where military service is central to national identity, with men serving about 30–36 months and women about 24 months.
He highlighted the country’s integration of technology and innovation into military training.
“Israel’s technology and innovation ecosystem is strongly linked to military training, especially in cyber and intelligence units,” he said.
He added that the model integrates diverse communities, develops leadership and creates networks that extend into business and politics.
Shifting focus to Nigeria, Peters said the country faces terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and communal conflicts, alongside high youth unemployment and social fragmentation.
He argued that mandatory military service, if properly designed, could address multiple national challenges.
“Nigeria must not copy blindly. We must adapt wisely,” he cautioned.
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According to him, a structured national service programme that mixes youths from across the country could foster mutual understanding and reduce prejudice.
He said beyond military drills, such a programme could include vocational training, ICT and cybersecurity, engineering and disaster response so that participants leave with employable skills.
However, Peters warned that implementation must be carefully managed.
“Mandatory service must not become exploitation. It must not become politicized. It must be structured to build, not burden, the youth,” he said.
He stressed that success would depend on transparent administration, adequate funding, fair enforcement, clear exemption policies and strong human rights protections.
“If designed poorly, it creates resentment. If designed well, it becomes a powerful nation-building tool,” he added.
Concluding his remarks, the BRAVE-IT coordinator said the book arrives at a critical moment in Nigeria’s security journey.
He expressed hope that the conversation sparked by the publication would move “from theory to thoughtful policy.”
In his remarks, the author of the book, Dr MS Abubakar expressed hope that the work would provoke meaningful policy discussions and encourage broader stakeholder engagement on Nigeria’s security future.
“I’m proud to share this work, hoping it sparks meaningful discussions on Nigeria’s security future and fosters essential conversations about national security and youth involvement,” he said.