I witnessed it. its in Gama Ward of Nassarawa local government with about 41k registered voters. The same hospital was upgraded with costly modern equipments, this came in addition to the road of about 4km that was constructed in 48 hours, 20 solar powered boreholes which are about to be finished. He (Gandollar) has been coming to the area since last Monday and will continue to come till Friday where he will join the residents in Prayers at Gama Friday Mosque.
This inconclusive election is a blessing in disguise I swear.
After all we will kick him out come Saturday.

A Day In Life Of A Child Beggar
By
Najib Kazaure
nkazaure@gmail.com
Often denigrated and referred to as "Ticking Timebombs" , "Society's Blight" , or " The Problem of the North" , a child beggar "Almajiri" as they are often called in Northern Nigeria, is society's most neglected pariah. At the lowest level of the social hierarchy, the Almajiri begs for food and works menial tasks to make ends meet. Bowl in hand and hunger in their eyes, door to door they go, singing their tune until they get lucky for some crumbs or leftovers.
One morning, such a tune persisted under my window, I had had a late night and my sleep was getting cut short by this tune. "I wish he had gone some place else to beg" were the words that came out of mouth as I'd been dragged out of my bed from his resounding tune.
For most of life living in Northern Nigeria, Almajiri have always been part of our lives. Either they come to your door begging for food, or you find them in the streets begging to closed car windows at every red light.
The Almajiri system otherwise called "Ajami" system of education dates back before the invasion of the British.
A brief history about this system of education is most illustrative in Professor A. Idris' work where he writes
"History has shown that, this system started in the 11th century as a result of the involvement of Borno rulers in Qur'anic literacy. Over seven hundred years later, the Sokoto Caliphate was founded principally through an Islamic revolution based on the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. These two empires run similar Qur'anic learning system which over time came to be known as the Almajiri System". He continues
"The Almajiri system of education as practiced today in the northern Nigeria is a completely bastardized system compared to the form and conditions under which the system was operating and its output during the pre-colonial period. The system has been forced, especially with the coming of the British, to its present pitiful state. During the pre-colonial era, begging was never involved and certainly the pupils were not reduced to doing menial jobs before they could eat".
Under the care of a "Malam" a child is sent to this system to memorise the Quran and gain Islamic knowledge from him, who are in some cases, rumored to be marabouts.
Of course, the Ajami system of education is not what it is today, like every other system, corruption has pervaded in it. With no funding from Zakat and Islamic donations, the vestige of a system which once graduated venerable scholars is not even a shadow of its former self.
When a child is first brought into the system, he is forewarned in the following words.
"This is not home, Can you live here? "
The child accedes.
He is then asked if he wets the bed at night, if yes, then the odds are against him.
Bed wetters live in a small semi-constructed room. I remember when I saw it, I thought that it must be abandoned. Dirty walls, the air oozed of putrid smell from poor hygiene, and rat holes at every corner. It was hard to determine whether it was made for humans to live in. What made it seem more abandoned was the fact that there were no personal items, no beds nor mattresses. Nothing.
Convinced it was not a resting place, I was shocked to find out that bed wetters laid bare on the floor.
Those who can hold it didn't have it better either, they made beds from maize stalk, tied together by sack threads and supported by bricks, similarly inhabitable. That is the reality of where the Almajiri gets a shut eye , for those who make it back home on time.
I made my way to their school, or perhaps the household run by their Malam. As I approached the dilapidated structure along a corrugated road, open urination must be prevalent in the area because I could barely tolerate the pungent smell of urine. I could hear echoes of their recital.
Sitting on the floor at the periphery of the building, the Almajiri children recited their various scriptures which they had written themselves on their wooden boards called ALLO. Each child was required to memorise his and proceed to the next verse. The sounds of their recital, high pitched and jumbled, deterred from understanding even a word.
Two hours later, they were done, they were free to do what everyone knows them best with, their single story. They were released to beg for breakfast.
As they disbursed in droves, a sight caught my eyes. Covered in dirty oversized clothes, his frail figure barely held the clothes from falling. Bowl in his hand and hunger in his eyes, stood about a 5 to 6 year old child, within the age to feel homesick and in need of constant maternal care.
The sight of the boy raised a question in my mind. Don't they feel homesick? To sate my curiosity, I asked an older boy about it.
In his words "We hardly ever feel homesick. Some of us around here haven't been home for almost three years. Even if we go there, we might be reprimanded for absconding and sent back. So the thought of home hardly crosses out minds".
No home to go back to, nor a parents love. I wondered what or who makes them abide by the regulations of this still subsisting system?
Like in every society, the Almajiri have a social hierarchy. The bed wetters at the bottom of the spectrum and the Gardis at the top.
The Gardi, ex-almajiri who finished the system (finished their recital), are appointed by the Malam to remain as care takers, or rather, vice principals in his absence. They coordinate their activities, carry out headcounts, settle disputes - through lashes with cane of both disputants, and they even go as far as surveillance, spying on the activities of their subordinates against misconduct from the negative influences of the society. The Gardi discipline the children. Perhaps, lack of a home to return to, or fear of lashes from Gardi keeps them subservient.
Barefoot under the scorching hot sun, bearing in mind that Gardis are spying, door to door they go begging for food. "Allazi Wahidi, Dan Malam, Iya ko Kanzo, Wahidi...". Loosely translated, it means, "Because of Allah, Madam please, Malam's child is hungry, Even if it's dried crumbs..." They beg door to door until they get lucky for some leftover food.
With some time to spare, some help out with menial tasks such as garbage disposal, errands at construction sites, house cleaning etc. All of which ends at around 9am. They move back and recite from their Allo. At such a time, the Malam, who is usually engaged in low income trade, heads out for the market. Under the supervision of Gardis, the recital continues until the second call to Islamic prayer. The Zuhr. As the occasion warrants, they disperse again to various mosques and attend the prayer.
With Malam still away, the Almajiris get some free time. Some continue recital in order to memorise, which stops when their stomachs grumble, others go back to their menial jobs and whatever they can do to make ends meet.
Upon inquisition, I found out that in rural Almajiri schools, some go along with their Malam to work on his farmlands. He teaches them farming and other agrarian activities.
The unfortunate hard life of an Almajiri does not break them, even in the throes of survival, under the most unhygienic conditions, levity and recreation is part of their daily activity.
After evening recital, most Almajiri, like the rest of the young populous, head out for their favourite sporting activity, soccer.
Ebullient and enthusiastic, they play soccer at abandoned fields. The ball sometimes an empty water bottle, a well crafted rubber ball sourced from the garbage, and in some cases, the bowl they eat from. Others among them go on sightseeing, mostly to football pitches or any place that gathers crowds. Hardly do you find any lively crowd gathering without finding Almajiri feasting for their eyes, and when hunger strikes, they do what they are known for.
Despite the uncertainty of not having a next meal, they play soccer zealously with almost no sign of a difficult life. Watching them, I myself considered joining a soccer team- though I'm quite terrible at it. They played till the sun set, but as the sun was setting, so was their respite.
In northern Nigeria, Sunset is usually marked by the Maghrib call to prayer. After prayer, the yoke of hunger returns him to his known activity, begging for food. This time, not for himself alone, while also searching for important item. Iccen makaranta. - translation school stick
The Iccen Makaranta is a necessary tool for the Almajiri, a mixture of dried leaves and sticks which can easily be set ablaze must be sourced for night recital. Inspection for the item is done by either the Malam or Gardi who at this time, have returned from their activities.
The Iccen makaranta is set ablaze to provide lighting for night recital which spans for almost four hours. But as previously mentioned, that is not the only item to be brought back at night. The Almajiri is required to bring their last meal to Malam, though some Malam don't impose this on them, others enforce it, with repercussions for non-compliance.
Reportedly, the Malam and his family gather all the food from more than a dozen Almajiri and voraciously satisfy their appetite. The surfeit is saved for the next day. On some specific days, usually fridays, taxes of 100 naira is imposed on every child.
This unimaginable strenuous life of a child defines the Almajiri system of today. The cycle of abuse and atrocity committed on these children is commensurate to the system and part of daily activities of an Almajiri.
Hapless, trying to memorise their verses, and hopeful of someday completing the scripture. They retire to their cold floors, without warm blankets, amidst rodents and insects, for a shut eye.
It's hard to imagine a child living such a life.
My experience watching and interviewing them left me in deep melancholy. Truly, meaning can be found in research, but so do many questions.
A question that persisted with me was if they found joy in any part of this. "Surely", I thought to myself, "It can't be all bad". As the night drew and my curiosity persistent, I asked one of them, "What is your best day throughout all of this".
He said,
"Sir , I have been in this system for quite some time, I remember one time I was walking late at night in the rain, injured from a farm activity, quite severe that tears flowed down my cheeks. I hadn't gotten malam his food so I still went to beg. I came across a house. With a shaky voice, I tried my luck. I sang my tune for a while until I heard a voice. "Come in" it said. A woman called me into the house and out of the rain, with her family seated in the verandah, she offered me food, and asked me to eat it there because surely she wasn't going to let me out in the rain, I couldn't. I knew it was for Malam, I couldn't go back without it. They pressed on and I told them I had to take it to him. Nevertheless, they made me eat and promised to give me another to take to him. I guzzled as fast as I can.
Seeing me drenched from the rain, they gave me new dry clothes after they tended to my injury. I could not take them for I was afraid Gardi may seize it. So I said, "I'll come tomorrow morning and take it" . It became a place I frequent daily, I began to help them as much as I could. I even came to infatuate with one of their daughters who, if I had been at the age of marriage, would have become my wife. I will never forget the kindness they showed me."
Living under an apathetic government, without proper education, neglected and often ostracised, kindness is the least we can do to assuage their daily strife. The victims didn't choose the system for themselves, nor do they know any other system beside it.
Over an estimated 7 million of the Northern Nigerian population. The Almajiri must be seen as children in need of help, and not a problem that needs to return to where it came from.
Next morning, I woke up to one of their tunes again, this time it was no longer an unwanted alarm clock. It is a cry for help from someone stronger than me.

#Copied

Originally posted on http://www.gamji.com

Just wait
I got mine after like 3 hours.

maninani:
ogun, jos, jigawa, enugu,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, any info abt this states,,,,,,,,,

So Jos is now a state?

Hmmmmmm

Waste of time.

iamawara:
OMG. am seeing double.... hunger and sleep. good night guys happy registration]. mayb will check back around 4 or 5 am

The site will not probably be up until around 10am.
That's the norm. so just relax and have enough sleep. Beside Kano won't be filled up that early.

SalamRushdie:


I dare you to correct his post.

WAWA.
OK Let's see........

yanshDoctor:
during yaradua time ( it should be tenure or administration or better still during 'Yar adua's time as president) soludo proposed removing two zero digit from our naira as a result[u] from[/u] ( it should be " as a result OF" [/b]massive inflation.

yaradua setup a northern committee over the issue to look into it. they stated that due to illiteracy level in the north it will be difficult for them to understand the new currency. they said a cattle seller will find it difficult to adjust from been [b] (it should be "being" [/b]a millionaire to become and hundrednaire or thousandnaire.

the kicked against the proposal for this reasons.

now tell me should we continue to be held back by this malams? policies that can help growth in the south are been[b] ( the same as above) drop down by the north once there interest is not in it.

the reason for this topic is to point out one of the things that make us to not compatible living together.
( I don't know how to correct this one)

And you are calling someone illiterate.......
English doesn't have the word to properly describe you.
WAWA!

yanshDoctor:
during yaradua time soludo proposed removing two zero digit from our naira as a result from massive inflation.

yaradua setup a northern committee over the issue to look into it. they stated that due to illiteracy level in the north it will be difficult for them to understand the new currency. they said a cattle seller will find it difficult to adjust from been a millionaire to become and hundrednaire or thousandnaire.

the kicked against the proposal for this reasons.

now tell me should we continue to be held back by this malams? policies that can help growth in the south are been drop down by the north once there interest is not in it.

the reason for this topic is to point out one of the things that make us to compatible loving together.

Ghana Cedi to Naira 1 = 81.96
Japanese Yen to Naira 1 = 3.158

yanshDoctor:
during yaradua time soludo proposed removing two zero digit from our naira as a result from massive inflation.

yaradua setup a northern committee over the issue to look into it. they stated that due to illiteracy level in the north it will be difficult for them to understand the new currency. they said a cattle seller will find it difficult to adjust from been a millionaire to become and hundrednaire or thousandnaire.

the kicked against the proposal for this reasons.

now tell me should we continue to be held back by this malams? policies that can help growth in the south are been drop down by the north once there interest is not in it.

the reason for this topic is to point out one of the things that make us to compatible loving together.

And when Uncle Jona the saint came, he removed ten zero digits abi?

enlightened illiterate spotted.

Could Catalonia make a success of independence?

Amid speculation that the Catalan parliament might unilaterally declare independence, some of the region's banks decided to move their legal headquarters to other parts of Spain. Meanwhile, the government in Madrid says any such declaration would have no effect. But supposing the region did eventually secede, would Catalonia be able to stand on its own two feet?
Trappings of statehood
To the casual observer, Catalonia looks like it has already got many of the trappings of a state. Flags. A parliament. The leader, Carles Puigdemont.
The region has its own police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra. It has its own broadcast regulator, and even boasts a series of foreign "missions" - mini embassies that promote trade and investment in Catalonia around the world. Catalonia delivers some public services already - schools and healthcare, for example.
There'd be much more to set up in the event of independence, though. Border control. Customs. Proper international relations. Defence. A central bank. Inland revenue. Air traffic control.
All of these are currently run by Madrid.
But assuming it did create these new institutions - would it be able to pay for them?
Reasons to be cheerful
"Madrid nos roba" is a popular secessionist slogan - "Madrid is robbing us." The received wisdom is that comparatively wealthy Catalonia pays in more than it gets out of the Spanish state.
Catalonia is certainly rich compared with other parts of Spain. It is home to just 16% of the Spanish population, but 19% of its GDP and more than a quarter of Spain's foreign exports.
It punches above its weight in terms of tourism too - 18 million of Spain's 75 million tourists chose Catalonia as their primary destination last year, easily the most visited region.
Tarragona has one of Europe's largest chemical hubs.
Barcelona is one of the EU's top 20 ports by weight of goods handled.
About a third of the working population has some form of tertiary education.
It's also true that Catalans pay more in taxes than is spent on their region.
In 2014, the last year the Spanish government has figures for, Catalans paid nearly €10bn (£8.9bn) more in taxes than reached their region in public spending. Would an independent Catalonia get the difference back?
Some have argued that even if Catalonia gained a tax boost from independence, that might get swallowed up by having to create new public institutions and run them without the same economies of scale.
And some argue that it makes sense for the state to redistribute money from richer to poorer regions in this way.
A harder reckoning
Perhaps of greater concern is Catalonia's public debt.
The Catalan government owes €77bn (£68bn) at the last count, or 35.4% of Catalonia's GDP. Of that, €52bn is owed to the Spanish government.
In 2012, the Spanish government set up a special fund to provide cash to the regions, who were unable to borrow money on the international markets after the financial crisis. Catalonia has been by far the biggest beneficiary of this scheme, taking €67bn since it began.
Not only would Catalonia lose access to that scheme, but it would raise the question of how much debt Catalonia would be willing to repay after independence.
That question would surely cast a shadow over any negotiations. And on top of the sum owed by the regional government - would Madrid expect Barcelona to shoulder a share of the Spanish national debt?
Involuntary Catalexit?
The economic uncertainty created by the prospect of independence has already led to two banks deciding to move their head offices out of the region.
At least part of that uncertainty is over Catalonia's relationship with Europe.
Two-thirds of Catalonia's foreign exports go to the EU. It would need to reapply to become a member if it seceded from Spain - it wouldn't get in automatically or immediately.
And it would require all EU members to agree - including Spain.
Some in the pro-independence camp feel that Catalonia could settle for single-market membership without joining the EU. Catalans may well be happy to pay for access, and continue to accept free movement of EU citizens across the region's borders.
But if Spain chose to, it could make life difficult for an independent Catalonia.
There is also the question of currency.
In 2015, the governor of the Bank of Spain warned Catalans independence would cause the region to drop out of the euro automatically, losing access to the European Central Bank.
Normally, new EU member states must apply to join the euro.
They have to meet certain criteria , such as their debt not being too large a percentage of their gross domestic product (GDP).
Even if they meet those criteria, a qualified majority of eurozone countries has to approve their entry.
In theory, that means even if Catalonia became a new EU member state, it may well take time to rejoin the eurozone - and Spain and its allies could block that.
In practice, we just don't know what would happen.
Nobody has ever declared independence from a member of the eurozone then asked to rejoin as a new country.
Could Catalonia use the euro without joining the eurozone? It does happen.
Some countries such as San Marino and Vatican City do so with the eurozone's blessing, since they're too small to ever become EU member states.
Others, such as Kosovo and Montenegro, use the euro without the EU's blessing, and so don't have access to the European Central Bank.
Again, whether either solution would be practical in Catalonia remains to be seen.


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41474674

undisputed12:
Hello My Hausa Friends,
Please I need this sentence to be translated

"Tabbatar da ramuwa ga halittawa da darajar"

The statement is not in order. check it very well.

When did Abuja Become State?

ottalo:
Well not so many ppl are aware that call up letter is out, so for d few that are aware, and are posted to Abuja, a whatsapp group has just been created for TEAM fct Abuja 2016 BATCH A... drop ur digits to get added or send a message to 08166850802, let's make camp fun irrespective of wat we might have been told

INTRODUCE YOURSELF(Name,institution,home state,course)
...

For the records, information reaching me tells me that Abuja is a place to be, and yes of cos I ve visited the[u] state once[/u].

urahara:


I said I was planning to do my nysc in kano , so I then asked if spending a year in kano would make me fluent ( very ) in hausa

It depends on how well you will be able to socialise with the local population down here

Kano people will be more than happy to teach you their language.

Keep up the good job my hommies.

Six polytechnics are to be upgraded to technical universities in Ghana. The move according the Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, will reduce the burden on existing universities and help boost science, technology and entrepreneurship in Ghana.
President John Dramani Mahama is expected to name the six polytechnics that satisfied the requirements to be upgraded on Thursday February 24th, in his state of the nation address in Parliament.

Source: http://citifmonline.com/2016/02/24/6-polytechnics-to-be-converted-to-universities-by-september/

Christianity being faked since 0001AD.

This is exactly what the fakes Prophets are doing down south. Enlightened Illiterates take NOTE!

Fulaman198:
@secretlyabdul, do you know that in Senegal almost everyone there speaks Wolof language whether they are Wolof or not. That is one African country that has adopted Wolof as an official language and many are speaking it over French now. Same with Niger, there are more Hausa speakers in Niger Republic than there are French speakers. Not everyone sells out their culture like some Nigerians do.

Its gud to knw that wolof 's made an official in Senegal. Sometimes Wolof resembles fulfulde, i had to called my grandmother [ who is fulani] to confirmed it wasnt Fulfude one day while watchng friday sermon on one Senegal Tv.

Fulaman198:
So glad that Google Translate does not have Fulani language (Fulfulde) because I'm sure it would be butchered and dishonoured.

even Hausa was recently added and it isnt accurate. I am sure they must be working on Fulfulde too. But d problem wll be the dialect to choose!

When last did u write a single sentence in your mother tongue? Or have a 30 mins conversation? Were u ashame of speaking ur native language in front of ur friends, colleagues or mates? Feel proud of speaking Queen's English, or any other imported foreign language?
These and many other related questions will be difficult to answer esp among the so called educated youth of nowadays, who think that all it takes to be civilize and conform to modern standard of living is to speak somebody's else language & also behave in their ways.
Parents nowadays teach their children English at home thereby, growing thew up as Caricatures in wonderland [ for he who lost his culture is nothing but a caricature]. If you fall into this category of people then you are lending out ur hand in destroying what ur ancestors built for milleniums i.e. Langugae and culture.
Hundreds of Bengalis died in the late 40s fighting to preserve their language and they won, now their language is 7th most widely spoken language on Earth!
Please do something now to help preserve your mother tongue.
As for me I am #Hausa and proud.
Sai da safen ku!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_Language_Movement

Thank God Kano is not on the list. The marginalised Biafrauds got d lion share though.

When someone is sick, will that person bother to know the type of drugs the doctor will prescribe for him? Nigeria is chrönically sick at the moment and we dont care who Buhari appoints as far as they can heal our wounds. If you dont like it this way, Cameroun is not far!

raumdeuter:
Maybe she is also an hausa fulani slave

And may be you are Product of Baby factory.

DrMeroThaEmperor:
Simbi is now a Runz gehll. . .










Meanwhile, projects like this has been on in other locations such as Warri, Portharcourt, Yenagoa and Lagos by Private Indigenous Companies.

We don't need Expatriates for a simple thing like this.


It's so alarming that we Nigerians do not trust our professionals.


I know Kano is not the first, but it is good that they've started!



Good move anyway!

As for those fearing for it's sustainability, that's not a problem. one of my clients has been on for over 15 years now, and still empowering youths in Warri.

Where in the report did they mention Kano state as being the first to start this sort of project? Please try to comprehend things b4 u comment next time.

Thank God, they were properly dressed. The obis and obinnas were roaming unclad then.