₦airaland Forum

4 Play:
There is brilliant quote attributed to Sheikh Zaki Yamani, the Saudi oil minister in the 70s,“The Stone Age did not end for lack of stone, and the Oil Age will end long before the world runs out of oil.” Long before Nigeria runs out of oil,I suspect that the world will run out of the need for oil.

omobachi:
Thank you, as if nigerians home and abroad are not thesame people, we are all the cause of our wahala, as soon as the americana plane land for naija airport after 20yrs of been away, he go put off the yanki cloth, wear the naija corruption dress, he never reach house he don dey throw gala wrapper through the car window into the lagos street, the thing wey he no fit do for abroad. we all need a total re orientation, not criticism.

ALMAJIRI SYNDROME AS A FORM OF CHILD ABUSE

The issue of almajiraira has remained worrisome in the minds of northern elite. This is because the practice has been a source of embarrassment to the region.

The word ALMAJIRI emanated from the Arabic word “AL- MUHAJIRIN”, the concept of Al-MUHAJIRUN came as a result of Prophet Muhammed’s migration from Mecca to Medina, meaning the emigrant. In Hausa land the term Almajiri could take any of the following forms any person irrespective of gender, who begs for assistance on the street or from house to house as a result of some deformity or disability; children between the ages of seven and fifteen who attend informal religious school who equally roam about with the purpose of getting assistance or aims; or even a child who engages in some form of labour to earn a living.

Almajiri syndrome can be said to be another form of child abuse, in the sense that children are exposed to laborious work at tender age, normally children between the ages of seven and twenty. Their mallams cannot feed nor provide the necessities of life for them therefore they embark on begging or laboured work in order to survive and gain.

The Almajiri syndrome or phenomenon is alarming because It takes a different dimension compared to the initial idea of Almajiri formation. Almajirai plural of almajiri are children that are sent to school for learning by parents, but instead of doing what they are expected to, they will be seen roaming the street beging and engaging in unnecessary activities in which they will eventually became a burden to the society due to lack of career guidance and counselling by teachers.

Such children (the Almajirai') are usually aggressive and violent as they are exposed to different forms of pressure, problems, hunger and jobs that demand several times their energy and weight before the job Is accomplished. Some of them do go to restaurants to wash plates, fetch water so that they will be given left over foods. They are all over the streets, very dirty, hungry thirsty, they lack all kinds of necessities of life and at times they cause traffic hazards.

Child labour is a fundamental factor of child abuse, these children who are laboured about in our communities are our children. They are the leaders of tommorrow as aged ones are dying up the younger ones replace them. They are our future hope and pillars, without which the future may look bleak in terms of development, because all these violent exhibiting children grow up to become criminals in the society within which they live, hence set back in the society because the increase in number of crime that is being attributed to increase of criminals in the society.

This issue of begging is more common in the northern part of Nigeria where the children are being denied their rights including the right to western education. As the case may be, these children turn out to be loosers in whatever perspective because some of them may not concentrate to learn even the spiritual knowledge they are sent for talkless of the western education. They are automatically denied.

Usually a child becomes an Almajiri when there is high striking poverty line in his family to take care of his essential needs such as sustenance. Some children are forced to become one simply when they lose their parents and when their relatives or guardians cannot keep them. Most of such children become victims when their parents send them to Quranic schools outside their hometowns.

A child is usually taken away from his parents, his relatives, and his home to some remote areas for the purpose of learning the recitation of holy Qur’an. At the end of the day the child will learn less If any about the. Qur'an recitation and more mischievous acts. This exercise is prevailing in the northern part of Nigeria as the Hausa/Fulani are predominantly Moslems and settlers of the north.

Social psychologists also noted that when a child is exposed to labour at a tender age and deprived with little or no benefit and entertainment, such child normally develops the habit of loneliness and thus lead to schizophrenia, therefore children’s right must be protected, preserved and maintained, similarly they should be given equal rights and priviledges as adults for a brighter future. The primary or basic children’s needs are right to education, health, entertainment, association, interaction, shelter and nutrition. Once these essential needs are provided, there is no doubt that they can perform wonderfully in their undertakings and can deliver as leaders of tomorrow.



  http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00168/syndromes.html

Almajiri: Beyond the rhetorics

by
Muhammad Mahmud, kano state.


Recently there have been media reports about a bill sponsored by some Northern members of the Senate to abolish or eradicate the present day Almajiri (or Qur’anic) system of education.
Ostensibly the bill is geared towards modernization of the Almajiri schools, but reported contributions by the sponsors of the bill as well as earlier utterances by some members of the lower chamber betrayed the cover.
The bill did not come as a surprise to anybody for obvious reasons. The only thing that is surprising is that the move sprang from the upper chamber instead of the lower chamber to which belongs Saadatu Sani who informed the public, earlier, that they will do everything possible to eradicate the Almajiri schools.
The bill seeks to establish a National Commission for the Eradication of Child Destitution. If the bill scales through all the Almajiri schools must register with the proposed Commission. Failure of this will put the Alaramma in prison for two years without option of fine. An alaramma who also sends his students to beg will attract the same punishment.
From the reports, it is clear that the bill is prompted by the need to do away with grievous challenges facing effective implementation of the child rights act to which Nigeria is a signatory, not by humanitarianism and the need to save our people from quandary. It is, also, clear that the sponsors of the bill are either confused or cannot differentiate between Almajiri (student) and almajiri (destitute or beggar). Maybe this informed the glaring mix-ups in the senate’s reported contributions and the bill itself. It is, however, not clear whether bill is to eradicate beggars or almajiri or both.
The word Almajiri emanated from an Arabic word Almuhajir meaning “immigrant”. The name was given to Qur’anic pupils, in most of the present day Northern Nigeria, for they left their home towns usually to other places or to a popular teacher to obtain sound Qur’anic education.
Almajiri is a general name given to both student and destitute but with different meaning to each. Whereas Almajiri (student) is meant generally for Qur’anic student, almajiri (destitute) is simply a beggar (whether child or adult). Almajiri (student) too, begs for alms and food, but only at a specified time, that is after school break or on school-free days, unlike almajiri (beggar) who only stops begging when he falls asleep.

http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/aljS262008.html

NGO Works to Improve Muslim Education in Nigeria

By Isiyaku Ahmed
Kano, Nigeria

The National Council for the Welfare of Destitutes in Nigeria says there are about seven million child and teen-age beggers -- or Almajrai, in the north of the country. Kano State accounts for more than a million. The World Health Organization says over three percent of these boys suffer sexual abuse and neglect -- a situation that worries many northern political and social leaders. Voice of America English to Africa reporter Isiyaku Ahmed in Kano says the word “Almajiri” is derived from the Arabic word “Al-muhajirin,” meaning a seeker of Islamic knowledge.

In Nigeria, Almajiri is any child or adult who begs for assistance in the streets or from house to house. Islamic teachings strongly prohibit begging except in very special circumstances. They include a man’s loss of property in a disaster, or when a man has loaned much of his money for the common good, such as bringing peace between two warring parties.

The majority of Almajiris in Nigeria are children from 3 to 18 years old. Community leaders say these children are totally neglected by their parents.

Health workers say they are vulnerable to diseases and social crimes. These beggar children are found on Zaria Road, one of Kano’s major streets. In order to survive, they beg from dusk to dawn everyday. After begging, they return to their makaranta, or school, or are left on the streets.

The privileged ones among them have a few hours of Quranic recitations with their mallams, or Islamic teachers, in a traditional Islamic schooling system called tsangaya.

Unlike in western school systems, Almajiris are taught how to recite and memorize the Holy Quran and Hadiths.

An organization funded by USAID, called Enabling HIV/AIDS, Tuberculoses, and Social Sector Environment, or ENHANSE, is making efforts to reform the Almajiri system and help Almajiri children. Recently, the ENHANSE group was in Kano for a workshop seeking ways of protecting children and keeping them at home or in dormitories.

Fatimah Shagari is a northern specialist with the ENHANSE project in Nigeria.  She says the Almajiri system was originally designed to give children Quranic knowledge, but the structure has been changed from its original intent. She says,

“The Almajiri child presents only as a begging street child. People of the society have used the Almajiri system to abuse the Muslim child, to traffic the Muslim child, to make the Muslim child vulnerable to all source of diseases, unsafe conditions and to some extent expose them to terrorism, thuggery and other menaces, to be used as social destructors, and to some extent also be used as sex hawkers or homosexuals in particular.”

Shagari says members of the ENHANSE project are meeting with Imams, the legislators, parents whose children are Almajiri and the Muslim Ulamas. She says they hope to come out with a workable action plan to correct the present situation of the Almajiri child and the Alamjiri system in Nigeria,

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-11/2007-11-28-voa46.cfm?CFID=29456190&CFTOKEN=95452781

olabowale:
What happened to the man in testimony #47 is similar to what happened to the apostle Paul.

Both of them belong to Hellfire! Paul, his case is already close. The #47 still has a chance, if he is still alive.

toshmann:
if our closest brothers(ghana) hate us like this, i wonder where we stand as a nation in this 21st century

cescky:
thats a not an intelligent answer mr man,don't bring sentiments into the arguement
quote you source that says southerners are the only 419ners in nigeria, for your and misinformation northners are into it as well.( even with govt backing)

Arabs used to be heavy consumers of alcohol

kemisuga:
Orikinla, thank God for your sis in law.

If Nigerian men like female bankers, then all of these prettiest babes from ages 21yrs to 42yrs should have been engaged or married with their rings on. Besides they have their money and cars (they can't be liabilities to men), so men should have been on queue at the entrance of each banks after closing hours.

I am not disputing the fact that, some are good wives, but 90% of them have challenges between their family and their work. One of my friend has to dump a two-weeks old baby at home for work. Another example: one of my friend husband is a man that eat fresh soup daily, he doesnt eat the 2nd day soup, and doesnt like another person cook his food, except his mum or wife, that is how he was brought up. His wife has to visit the market daily. And she is not finding it easy now, she is considering resigning. Its better for her to save her marriage or get married to her job.

I have worked in two banks, I know what am talking about. Most of the ladies are fake.

udezue:
I WILL TAKE IT AS HIM OR HER SPEAKING THE TRUTH. If a non Nigerian can see that the Hausa/Fulani/Muslim North are a bunch of blood thirsty parasites who contribute nothing intellectually, and economically but religious and ethnic cleansing of its minority communities and people from the South then its a good thing for us. I even know Ghanians who have asked me what's wrong with Northern Nigerians because all they know about them is that their muslims are very violent and fundamentalist. Don't forget that there are people who read reports of events happening in other countries. Just like we know about Georgia and Russia there are people who also know alot about Naija history.

His words: "I have a trade show in Florida and I also needed money to expand my furniture business. I bought the drug for N800,000, and I swallowed 100 pieces. N500,000 was my personal money while N300,000 was borrowed. The people that introduced me into the business promised to sell it for me over there if I had been successful. I only wanted to use the opportunity of the trade to raise money because of bad living condition."

The father of six children with two wives lives at Adedolapo Street, Ikotun, Lagos.

onyinye2:
So are you saying me who graduated after years and years of studying to be a Doctor, to go to Nigeria and work as house maid? I mean what?

onyinye2:
Until the country situates itself if doesnt really deserve the people that left with all of these degree's and qualification-point blank

RichyBlacK:
67% of those that can think creatively have checked out!

seyibrown:
Fashola is not talking about those of them on this forum - those who flip burgers and sweep the streets - what do those ones want to contribute to Nigeria anyway? Nothing - because they are useless to the nation and to themselves - he is talking about professionals to come and tap into the good in Nigeria - not calling on one silly boy or girl out there in London to come back home when he/she gat nothing to contribute to the development of the country.

seyibrown:
Can you please also forward the pics on this link to your Gov? : https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-96244.0.html Can you please explain to me, why in the midst of plenty, why those kids are in that place? Did you attend such schools, do your kids?
I will really appreciate very honest answers.

cc: dedeyuim@yahoo.co.uk (just to ensure you get this post)

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iice:
[color=#9900ff]The swimmers baby!! Sexci bods [/color]

Kobojunkie:
Sure he makes a lot of sense by throwing a tantrum and insulting all those who do not agree with him. Typical NATIONALIST behaviour!! Yes, Nigerian will be better off with people with that sort of AGBERO approach to dealing with issues!!  It is better to deal with Nigeria's problem by attacking fellow Nigerians who do not share your view!!! Why didn't I think of that?? TO FIX NIGERIA, ALL NIGERIANS MUST ATTACK THOSE WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH EM!!! YOU PEOPLE ARE JUST BRILLIANT!!!

Kobojunkie:
Seems more like an AGBERO with access to computer and internet!! lol

engineerd:
i have not quit or anything, the fact still remains, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME,  Seriously when u think about it, we need divine intervention in Nigeria, so that the majority can just say at one point, we need to start doing things differently, its sad, Naija has so much potential, question is when are we going to say enough is enough with the old ways?? Thats the million dollar question. Besides God and Family, to me the next thing is my Love for my country Nigeria, so how can i quit?? even if i want to.