Almajiri: 42 NGO’s, NYCN pushes for passage of Out Of School Children Bill

By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto

IN what seem a build up towards addressing the issue of Almajirci particularly in states in the core north,  organised Youth council, voluntary organisations have begun push for a bill on Almajiri education.

Spare heading the call, Malam Yakubu Abubakar, the NCYN Chairman, Sokoto State Chapter at a joint press conference on Sunday in Sokoto said the bill when passed into law would enable government provide multimodal system of education that would tackle the menace of illiteracy, develop skills acquisition and enterpreneurship programmes.

Abubakar along with others also appealed for the passage of Almajiri Education and Out of School Children Bill 2023 which was initiated and sponsored by Rep. Balarabe Kakale (PDP Sokoto) with 17 other lawmakers.

Doing so, Abubakar said would curb poverty among youths, delinquency and destitution and other social vices in the country.

He said it will further open window of opportunities and enabling avenue for them to strengthen their individual capacities to become economically independent towards nation building.

” We therefore, urge Senate to give the bill speedy passage, Mr President to assent as soon as it gets to Presidency.

” We are also calling on the federal government to engage Nigerian youths in the implementation of the law.

Hitheto, Abubakar said ” NYCN urges states government especially northern states to domesticate the law in thier respective states.”

Accordingly, the groups commended President Buhari for assenting the Nigeria Start Up Bill (NSB) and stakeholders involved in providing the constitutional establishment of Start-Up Act, 2022 which supports youth Enterpreneurs.

Ithe same vein, participants commended governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state for sending Executive Bill on Almajiri Education to the state Assembly.

Besides, the groups also enjoined youths, political party candidates for the 2023 elections to preach peace to their supporters to shun all forms of violence during and after elections to enable them engage in productive means of living.

In his contribution, the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, described the step taken by NYCN as timely and in proper direction as it recognised the present happenings in the country.

Umar-Jabbi attributed the rising cases of out of school children to poverty, parental neglect, poor adherence to family planning, population upsurge, misconceptions, insecurity and among others.

He lamented that the recent poverty index released where Sokoto was rated higher on poverty did no reflect Qur’anic education as literacy as many citizens in the state can read Arabic alphabets popularly called Ajami system.

However, no fewer than 42 organizations including 21st Century Enterprenuers Hub, Hausa Fulani Youth Development and Orientation Forum, Voice of Nigerian Almajiri, Association of Physically Challenged Persons, Federated of Sokoto State Students and others are also in attendance during the press conference.