Niger Govt moves to check rising number of out-of-school children

The Niger State government has set up a committee to resuscitate Almajiri education to check the rising number of out-of-school children in the state.

The Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Shuaibu Gwada, made this announcement when members of the committee visited the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Traditional Council Rulers, Alhaji Abubakar Yahaya in Bida.

Gwada said that the governor constituted the committee as part of efforts to tackle issues of Almajiri and out-of-school children as it was done by previous administrations.

“The Almajir system is seeking Islamic knowledge that has unfortunately become a problem over the years due to neglect and proper care for the children.

“It is regrettable the number of children that roam the streets rather than seeking knowledge.

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

He expressed worries and concerns of the state government that these children could easily be lured and recruited by hoodlums and bandits to join their folds, soliciting the traditional leaders’ advice to tackle the issue.

Similarly, the Secretary of the Committee, Muhammed Usman, said that the committee was set up to resuscitate the Almajir phenomenon in the state.

He said that the committee also met with the Ulama — an educated class of religious scholars — in the area who are domiciled in the grassroots to help in carrying the message so that the Almajiri issue would be addressed at once to benefit the society.

Responding, Etsu Nupe commended the governor for setting up the committee and congratulated its members, saying the enormous task ahead of them required commitment and dedication.

He said that children were entitled to seek Islamic knowledge anywhere, but the practice should be controlled because most of them could spend a quarter of their time begging rather than seeking knowledge.

Etsu 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.