- The Federal Government plans to take over 157 abandoned almajiri schools established by former President Jonathan, citing neglect by successive administrations
- The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children seeks federal assistance for rehabilitation to restore academic activities in these schools
The Federal Government has announced plans to take over 157 abandoned almajiri schools. These schools were established during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and handed over to the governors of the 19 northern states.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children (NCAOSC) revealed this during a Memorandum of Understanding signing event with the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) in Yola, Adamawa State.
He stated that successive governments neglected these schools. “I have instructed my Chief of Staff to finalize arrangements for the takeover of the 157 almajiri schools built by former President Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.
The Executive Secretary also requested federal assistance to rehabilitate these schools. He emphasized the need to restore academic activities to address the almajiri and out-of-school children crisis in the country.
The commission collaborates with the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) to manage the schools effectively.
This partnership aims to deploy staff to the schools once rehabilitation is complete.
At the event, Odinaka Chimbama, the National Coordinator of CSACEFA, stressed the importance of education for national development. “No nation can grow without investing in education.
Sadly, even the small budgets allocated to this sector in Nigeria are often mismanaged,” she said.