50 Million Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Roaming Nigeria’s Streets, FG Reveals
The Nigerian government has revealed that around 30 million Almajiri and 20 million out-of-school children are currently roaming the streets, prompting urgent intervention.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
In a concerning announcement, the Nigerian government has revealed that approximately 30 million Almajiri and 20 million out-of-school children are currently wandering the streets, urgently needing intervention. This alarming statistic was disclosed by Dr. Muhammad Idris, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE), during the inauguration of an eight-man committee aimed at reforming Almajiri education in Abuja.
Dr. Idris emphasized the critical need for these children to feel a sense of belonging and direction. He noted that with the rise of social vices, many individuals are exploiting the vulnerabilities of Almajiri children, leading to increased begging on the streets. “It is unacceptable for parents to give birth to children only to abandon them to beg on the streets,” he stated, underscoring that this issue affects all of Nigeria, not just a specific segment of society.
The Executive Secretary highlighted the complex landscape of Almajiri education, with over 2,000 associations currently operating. This fragmentation has made it challenging for the government to effectively engage with these groups. To address this, Dr. Idris called for a unified approach, tasking the newly formed committee with consolidating various Almajiri organizations under a single umbrella to foster responsible leadership among them.
Furthermore, the committee has been instructed to integrate all “Tsangaya” (Almajiri Schools) associations nationwide to enhance collaboration with the NCAOOSCE. Dr. Idris expressed confidence that, with the right strategies in place, 60% of Almajiri children could be incorporated into the Tsangaya education system by the end of the current administration.
The committee has been given a three-week deadline to complete its assignment. In addition, Dr. Idris shared that the commission is in discussions with state governments regarding the management of integrated Almajiri schools established by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) during former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.
Sheik Sayyadi Alqasim, the committee chairman, pledged the members' commitment to fulfilling their responsibilities efficiently and on time. He expressed gratitude to the government for entrusting them with this significant task.
This initiative marks a critical step towards addressing the educational needs of millions of Almajiri and out-of-school children in Nigeria, aiming to provide them with a better future and the support they desperately require.
