First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to partner with Nigeria in addressing the challenges of Almajiri and out-of-school children across the country.
Tinubu said failure to provide formal education and adequate care for the vulnerable children could pose a serious threat to national security.
She made the call on Thursday when she received the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Yousef Mohammed Al-Balawi, at the State House, Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady, Busola Kukoyi, the proposed partnership would seek to integrate Islamic and Arabic teachings with formal Western education.
Tinubu said such an approach would be particularly suitable for the Almajiri system, which is traditionally centred on Quranic education but has, over the years, become largely disconnected from formal schooling, vocational training and other opportunities for personal development.
“I work with women and vulnerable children in society. My heart goes out to the Almajiri children up North. I believe they need better care,” the First Lady said.
She warned that neglecting the educational and social needs of the children could worsen insecurity across the country.
“Most of the insecurity challenges in the nation, if those particular group of children are not taken care of, I don’t know what might happen.
“I believe we can still start to give them formal education. If we are able to do that, the future of Nigeria will be well secured,” she added.
Tinubu expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner, citing the longstanding religious, cultural and bilateral ties between both countries.
She said collaboration between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on Almajiri education could provide a framework for combining Islamic teachings with formal education while preserving the cultural and religious identity of the children.
Responding, Ambassador Al-Balawi said Nigeria and Saudi Arabia shared deep historical, religious and cultural ties, expressing optimism that the relationship between the two countries would continue to strengthen.
The envoy, who disclosed that he had spent five months in Nigeria, said he was pleased with the reception he had received from government officials.
“Our countries have a strong relationship. Our nations share a lot of things, religion, culture, and the potential to improve our relationship and get it back in shape.
“Our nations have strong common ambitions to improve our economies,” he said.
Al-Balawi also said his engagements with members of the Federal Executive Council during his posting would contribute to the growth and development of both countries.
The ambassador was accompanied to the meeting by the Chief of Staff at the Saudi Embassy, Mohammed Bukar.
The Almajiri system has existed for centuries in Northern Nigeria as a traditional system of Islamic scholarship, under which children are sent by their families to live and study with Islamic teachers, commonly known as mallams.
The system was originally structured around religious learning, with communities playing a role in providing food and accommodation for the students.
However, the collapse of much of the traditional support system has left many children vulnerable to poverty, street begging and limited access to formal education and healthcare.
Estimates of the Almajiri population in Nigeria vary widely, with figures ranging from eight million to 13 million.
The large population of children outside the formal education system has also raised concerns over their vulnerability to exploitation and recruitment by criminal and extremist groups.
The proposed Nigeria-Saudi partnership, if realised, could therefore provide a framework for expanding educational opportunities for vulnerable children while addressing some of the social and security challenges associated with the Almajiri system.