Nigeria: World Bank Invests $120m to Tackle Almajirai, Out-of-School Children

Sokoto State commissioner for religious affairs, Sheikh Jabir Sani Maihulla, has said that the World Bank is investing $120 million to tackle the Almajirai and out-of-school children menace in the northern region.

However, the commissioner said the Almajiri phenomenon has gone beyond the state and federal governments and can only be addressed through collaboration efforts.

"That is why the World Bank is investing $120 million in northern Nigeria to address the Almajirai and other out-of-school children challenge.

"The lingering issue cannot be tackled even if all the state's resources are invested; the system cannot change it.

"Even the federal government cannot do it alone; it has to be a collaborative effort with other donor agencies, including international ones.

"In Sokoto, there are three standard Almajiri schools, including the one in the Gagi area that belongs to the federal government while the two others belong to the state government under the state Ministry for Religious Affairs, located in Dange Shuni and Wamakko local government areas of the state."

The commissioner also emphasised that the Almajiri Schools in the state are the most consuming projects of the Ministry for Religious Affairs.

"Because the ministry took Almajiri from nowhere, we accommodated them, fed them daily, and taught them integrated education.

"However, the state governor has directed the state Ministry for Religious Affairs to collaborate with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to establish more Almajiri Schools to accommodate the out-of-school children roaming our streets," he stated.

To achieve this, the ministry conducted a survey, where the statistics and origin of the children were collated and ascertained.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.