An Abuja-based Muslim cleric has called on Muslims in the country to educate their children, especially the female ones, in order to eradicate poverty from the society.

This statement was made yesterday at Kubwa by the General Coordinator of Zaytuunah Islamic Centre, Sheikh Adam Tahir in an interview with our reporter.

According to Sheikh Adam, there is no difference between the male and the female child, when it comes to their education, as Islam encourages female education.

He gave examples of great women in Islam, who were so well educated that men used to go to them for Islamic knowledge.

"Aisha who was the wife of Prophet Muhammed was a great Islamic scholar, from whom many followers of the Prophet used to learn about Islam.

From then till today, Muslims the World over make use of the Hadiths brought from the Prophet by Aisha," the cleric added.

Speaking further, the imam condemned the misconception among some Muslim that only male children deserve to be educated, while female children should be left uneducated.

He attributed the poverty among the female in particular and in the country in general to illiteracy and ignorance, adding that where individuals are well educated, they will be able to make decisions that will free them and their children from the shackles of poverty for good.

"Knowledge will give you the necessary wherewithal to excel in whatever you engage in but with ignorance and illiteracy, you will be static and poverty will continue to be your lot for ever, if care is not taken," the cleric warned.

He advised those Muslims who hold erroneous view that education is too expensive for the common man to have a change of attitude, saying that what is really needed is commitment and sacrifice on the part of parents.

Sheikh Tahir also called on government to set good examples by ensuring that they send their children and wards to public schools, warning that the situation whereby leaders send their children to private schools in and outside the country is not healthy for the educational system.

According to the cleric, if leaders send their own children to public schools in the country, they will have no option but to put the educational sector in good shape.

Imam Tahir urged Nigerians Muslims to remember to pray for those Muslims across the World, especially the Palestine who are in difficulties.