Niger state targets Almajiri education revival to reduce out-of-school children rate

The Niger government says it has constituted a committee to revitalise Almajiri education in reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state.

Shuaibu Gwada, the chairman of the committee, visited Abubakar Yahaya, the Estu Nupe and chairman of Niger state traditional council rulers, in Bida.

The Almajiri refers to a system of Islamic education practised in northern Nigeria.

The male gender seeking Islamic knowledge is called Almajiri, the female gender is Almajira, and the plural is Almajirai.

The system encourages guardians to cede parental responsibilities to the Islamic school but lack of proper monitoring has forced many of these children into street begging.

Gwada said Umar Bago, the state governor, set up the committee to tackle out-of-school children issues in Niger state.

He said the Almajiri system is seeking Islamic knowledge but it has become a problem over the years due to neglect.

“The number of children roaming the streets rather than seeking knowledge is regrettable,” Gwada said.

“In its true sense, it poses social serious insecurity in our country if no concrete action is taken at this point.”

Gwada expressed concern that these roaming children could easily be lured and recruited by bandits to join their folds.

Muhammed Dattijo Usman, secretary of the committee, said it met with the Ulama, an educated class of religious scholars in the area, to help in conveying its plans to the grassroots.

Abubakar Yahaya, the traditional council chair, said the children are entitled to seek Islamic knowledge anywhere.

He, however, added that the practice should be controlled as most of them could spend a quarter of their time on the streets begging for alms.

Usman said similar measures by previous administrations failed due to a lack of proper funding and monitoring mechanisms.

The Estu Nupe advised that government initiatives meant to address issues of Almajiri should be implemented directly under the office of the governor for close monitoring and supervision.

Among the members of the committee are the secretary Muhammed Dattijo Usman, Hadiza Mohammed, Ndagi Wali, Adamu Salihu, and Yahaya Kuta.

Others are the former controller-general of the Federal Fire Service Liman Ibrahim, Muhammed Tafyan, Amina Gu’ar, Muhammed Ibrahim, Umar Farooq, the commissioner for information Binta Mamman, and Abdullahi Ketso.