The Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala (NALV), Borno State, in collaboration with the North East Development Commission (NEDC), has commenced training and empowerment of 600 Tsangaya and Islamiyah teachers across the six states of the North East.

The training aims to equip teachers of Almajiri (Tsangaya) and Islamic schools with modern techniques of teaching Arabic language and entrepreneurship skills to promote peace-building and self-reliance.

Speaking at a two-week train-the-trainers programme in Damaturu, Yobe State, the Chief Executive Officer of NALV, Professor Ibrahim Muhammad, said the training became necessary due to the misuse and manipulation of the Arabic language, as well as the need to introduce modern methods of teaching the language.

He added that the entrepreneurship component of the programme was designed to empower teachers with skills that would make them self-reliant, thereby discouraging both teachers and Almajiri pupils from roaming the streets to beg for food.

The Managing Director of the NEDC, Alhaji Muhammad Goni Alkali, said the participants would be trained in entrepreneurship skills relevant to their means of livelihood.

Alkali was represented by the Yobe State coordinator of the commission, Professor Ali Ibrahim Abbas.