By Ijeoma Olorunfemi
A former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, has tasked state governors and the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSEC) to tackle the growing challenge of out-of-school and Almajiri children in the country.
Abubakar gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja, at the graduation and prize-giving ceremony for 21 Almajiri youths trained in digital and technical skills by the Almajiri-to-Tech Foundation, in collaboration with New Horizons, Nigeria.
The six-month training equipped the beneficiaries with skills in computer repairs, drone and robot building, as well as the repair of ten electrical appliances.
Abubakar described the increasing number of Almajiri and out-of-school children as a national challenge rather than a regional issue, saying that the problem affects every part of the country.
“It is not only a Northern problem. Every Nigerian has the constitutional right to live anywhere in the country.
“If these children end up in Lagos, Anambra or any other state, they become everyone’s responsibility.
“The Almajiri Commission was established because government recognised there is a problem.
“The commission should collaborate with organisations like this and discharge its mandate effectively.
“Where are our governors?, especially the northern governors. The majority of these children are from the North.
“We expect government to do more by supporting and scaling up initiatives like this,” he said.
Mohammed said that the fact that the number of out of school children and Almajiris were increasing clearly indicated a system breakdown that must be fixed.
“Children are not supposed to be living on the streets.
“The Almajiri Commission, in conjunction with state governors, should do the needful and address this challenge,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Tim Akano, Founder of the Almajiri-To-Tech Foundation, said the issue of Almajiri and out-of-school children had become a national concern, cutting across all regions of the country.
Akano estimated that Nigeria currently has about 30 million Almajiri and out-of-school children, warning that the figure could rise to 100 million by 2050 if urgent measures were not taken.
He expressed confidence that the problem could be substantially addressed within five years if the right policies and interventions were implemented.
“The children do not want to beg. What they need is a door of opportunity to acquire skills and earn a decent living.
“We recommend a National Vision 2031 under the theme ‘No Child Left on the Street.’
“We also recommend criminalising the abandonment of children on the streets, so that while existing cases are addressed, new ones do not emerge.
“Basic education should be made genuinely free and compulsory, while government should introduce a national Skills for Employment and Enterprise (SEE) programme, including two years of compulsory skills acquisition after secondary school,” he said.
Also, Dr Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), described the plight of Almajiri and out-of-school children as a humanitarian issue requiring collective action.
According to him, government alone cannot solve the problem.
“It is a call to action and a call to responsibility.
“Those who have been blessed should replicate that blessing in the lives of others by supporting vulnerable children and giving them opportunities,” he said.
Mrs Khafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Lagos State, described the initiative as timely and transformative.
Ogbara said equipping Almajiri and out-of-school children with digital skills was an investment in human capital and national development.
“For too long, these children have been viewed through the lens of disadvantage, yet each of them possesses enormous potential.
“Technology is the language of the future. By teaching these children digital and technical skills, we are transforming vulnerability into value and creating pathways from the streets to sustainable livelihoods.
“This is more than a training programme; it is an investment in safer communities, a stronger economy and a more inclusive society.
“No child should be left behind because of poverty or lack of access to education,” she said.
Ogbara also advocated increased collaboration with private schools and stakeholders to expand access to alternative education for out-of-school children, while noting that criminalising child begging might not yet be practicable under current realities.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating trainees, Fatima Umar said Almajiri children don’t need pity but opportunities to acquire education and practical skills.
She appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to provide a dedicated workspace where graduates of the programme could practise their skills and build sustainable livelihoods.
The ceremony featured demonstrations by the students, presentation of awards in different categories, donation of laptops to outstanding trainees and the empowerment of four graduates with support to establish micro-businesses. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Bayo Sekoni