Leadership (Abuja)
Comfort Onche
2 November 2009
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration as well as well-to-do individuals have been urged to initiate pragmatic policies that would help alleviate the plight of the young boys and girls wandering around and begging on the streets daily.
This call was made by Hajiya Jamila Mohammed, president of Youths Welfare Initiative (YWI) Karu, over the weekend.
According to her, the large number of under-aged children called Almajiris who are roaming the streets of FCT and its suburbs, and other streets in some states is worrisome, adding that this development requires urgent attention.
The Almajiris are commonly seen in such places like Wuse Market, Zone 4 under the overhead-bridge, Garki - Area 3, Mararaba Market under overhead-bridge, Nyanya market, Masaka and Gwandara streets and Abacha road.
"On a daily basis, you would see a large number of these kids in these places mentioned above, either begging for food and money or just roaming the streets," Hajiya Mohammed lamented.
"This situation calls for concern from all quarters, given that those kids are vulnerable in several ways. Also, by being left on their own like that, their future is being mortgaged as they will be at a disadvantage when compared with their mates that are now in schools."
Quoting the adage which said that the young ones are our future leaders, she added that "a situation whereby some parents and guardians allow their young ones to be moving up and down like abandoned children is not the best.
"These kids are better off in schools and vocational centres, given that an idle hand is the devil's workshop. The federal, state and local governments as well as privileged individuals should rise to the challenge and bail them out, more so, as the young ones are tomorrow's leaders. We should take them from the streets and get them well trained for their future's sake.
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