The Almajiri system in northern Nigeria is currently in a state of disarray, and Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, condemned its abuse as a pretext for street begging. At a graduation ceremony at Sokoto for 1,897 Almajiri pupils and 1,087 out-of-school teenage girls, the Sultan emphasised the necessity of systemic change. Through Education and skill development, the Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Education Board, with assistance from UNICEF and the Eleva Foundation, arranged the event with the goal of empowering these kids.
Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, Ciroma of Sokoto spoke on behalf of the Sultan, who asked traditional leaders to deal with street begging as a group and questioned why kids should travel when there are local schools nearby. He expressed worries about the malnourishment and inadequate care of Almajiri youngsters and urged parents to put their kids’ health first by enrolling them in nearby schools. He also reminded the crowd of their religious and moral obligation to raise children. The district head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar Jabi, denounced street begging as being against Islam and having nothing to do with the Almajiri system’s historical emphasis on Arabic instruction.
A major worry has been the frequency of street begging among Almajiris.
Islam forbids having children that one cannot support, he underlined, and he called on parents to cease forsaking their children in the name of faith. Education Commissioner Tukur Alkali spoke on behalf of the Sokoto State administration, which stated that it is working to provide Almajiri pupils and out-of-school girls with training programs in entrepreneurship and vocational skills. To keep an eye on these efforts, a monitoring team was formed. Presentations of certificates and talent demonstrations marked the end of the program. Based on the Arabic phrase “Al-Muhajir,” which translates to “the emigrant,” the Almajiri system in Nigeria has historically featured young boys leaving their homes to study Islam under the supervision of Islamic teachers.
With community and governmental resources supporting free tuition, housing, and food for students known as Almajirai, this system, which was established in the eleventh century, was essential to Islamic education in Northern Nigeria. Over time, the system lost its financial support, particularly during colonial administration, which caused it to deteriorate and give rise to related problems. A major worry in recent years has been the frequency of street begging among Almajiri children. The urgent need for assistance is highlighted by the estimated 20 million out-of-school children and 30 million Almajiri children who were reportedly wandering the streets of Nigeria as of September 2024.
Reform of the Almajiri system has been greatly aided by UNICEF.
Different levels of success have been achieved in reforming the Almajiri system. For example, UNICEF and the Eleva Foundation partnered with the Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Education Board to arrange programs that empower Almajiri students and out-of-school girls. Many thousands of students have graduated as a result of these efforts, having received both general education and Quranic instruction. There is currently a dearth of thorough statistics on the success rates of these reform initiatives across the country. The reform of the Almajiri system, which aims to combine formal education with traditional Quranic teachings, has been greatly aided by UNICEF.
In order to lessen the need for children to turn to street begging, their programs seek to offer a comprehensive education that incorporates vocational training. By providing financial support for educational initiatives and promoting the Welfare of Almajiri children, the Eleva Foundation has also helped to ease their assimilation into society at large. From these joint efforts, specific success stories have surfaced. Programs funded by UNICEF and the Eleva Foundation, for instance, have helped 1,897 Almajiri pupils and 1,087 out-of-school teenage girls graduate from Sokoto State.
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They received their degrees at the Sultan Maccido Institute of General and Quranic Studies. These graduates have gained skills that improve their chances of finding work in the future and growing personally. The following practical measures are suggested in order to alleviate the issues related to the Almajiri system: Community involvement, policy implementation, and parental responsibility. The Almajiri system can be revitalised by adopting these steps jointly, maintaining its educational core while doing away with activities that result in child exploitation and street begging.