Kehinde Fajobi
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has criticised the state of the Almajiri system in Northern Nigeria, calling it embarrassing and in need of immediate reform.
Speaking on Thursday during the graduation ceremony of 1,897 Almajiri and 1,087 out-of-school adolescent girls at the Sultan Maccido Institute of Quranic and General Studies in Sokoto, the Sultan, represented by the Ciroma of Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, urged collective efforts to address street begging linked to the system.
“I believe we have a greater task. It is not a small thing, and we should tackle it collectively. I cannot define why someone should come from one local government to another to learn Arabic. Don’t we have schools and mallams in that local government?” the Sultan said.
He expressed concern over the poor condition of children in the system, recounting his visit to an Arabic school where he observed malnutrition.
He urged parents to enrol their children in nearby schools where they can be cared for, adding, “On the day of judgment, we will all be asked to account for how we take care of the children given to us.”
The programme, supported by UNICEF and the Eleva Foundation, aimed to empower Almajiri and out-of-school girls in Sokoto.
Alhaji Sani Umar Jabi, District Head of the Gagi community, also condemned street begging, stating that it is un-Islamic.
“Our religion didn’t support giving birth to children we cannot take care of. Street begging is not part of our religion and should be discarded with immediate effect,” he said.
He further urged parents to stop sending their wards to fend for themselves under the guise of seeking Islamic education and advised against marrying multiple wives without the means to care for them.
The Sokoto State Commissioner for Education, Tukur Alkali, represented by the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Education Board, Alhaji Ahmad Baba Altini, highlighted the government’s commitment to vocational and entrepreneurship training for Almajiri and out-of-school girls.
The ceremony included certificate presentations and displays of the graduates’ handwork.