Today, in Sokoto, Sokoto State, I commissioned the first of several Federal Government Model Almajiri Schools for itinerant scholars commonly referred to as Almajiri. This is in fulfillment of the promises I made on this page in a note titled 'Fighting Insecurity With Education' on the 15th of November 2010. This promise was also repeated at various times during my presidential campaign. I gave my word that I would ensure that every child in Nigeria has access to quality education, and today, in every state of Nigeria where the almajirinci form of education is practiced this administration will ensure that a Model Almajiri School is built. These schools will promote the learning of Islamic religious knowledge and Western education. The schools will be equipped with modern facilities such as a Language Laboratory, Qur'an recitation hall, classrooms and dormitories as well as a clinic, vocational workshop, dining hall and mallam quarters. This is only a beginning. We will not stop there. This administration has given and will continue to give all levels of education (primary, secondary and tertiary) priority because as a teacher myself I know that in this knowledge-driven age, a nation does not become wealthy by what it has under the ground rather the wealth of nations are today measured by what is between the ears of her citizens. GEJ

President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned the first Model Almajiri Boarding School in Gagi village, Sokoto-south Local Government Area, of Sokoto state.

The President described the commissioning as “truly historic” noting that nation is marking another milestone in its educational development process with the commissioning of the Model Almajiri Boarding School.

According the President, “this is the first modern boarding school entirely dedicated to the Almajiri”, adding that the school is part of his administration’s “determined effort to provide equal access to education for all Nigerian children.”

shagaman: Nice move...the question is are they willing to be educated if not its just a waste of money project...

stolen stone: yeah! Why is every thread started by mukina2 moved to d front page with or without traffic

Ejiné: Damn! I give this school 2 years to get totally run-down. Hell, even the building itself looks like it was built with complete indifference.

Ournaija: This shows that the North is not ready for a change. They even embrace this nonsense called Almajiri Model School. I bet with my 20 kobo that more Almajiris will be produced in the next two years. This is like a free ticket from the government to the irresponsible Northern parents to manufacture more Almajiris that will cause more troubles. After all the government is there to fund their Almajiris. The Almajiri system is bad, a responsible government should scrap it and replace it with a new system.

Nigeria is gradually taking over from the terrorist Arab countries.

haka_nai: Thank you Mr presidnet for setting a standard and i hope the state governors can take it from there.

lagerwhenindoubt: This is a very good move indeed - the Teachers will be from Yemen with years of experience in indoctrinating almajiris in the culture of hate and terrorism - Hey! why is Firefox trying to convert almajiris into "Irishman"

edicolove:

Like you rightly pointed out, almajiri is a creation of Northern parents not by government. And please people should stop saying it is caused byu poverty or the situation in the country. Poverty should not not make someone give birth to scores of children they cannot cater for. It is purely a cultural issue. They should introduce birth control in the North. Simple as that.

fried-rice:
how can The President of Nigeria, commission this trash, and be proud of it.