The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) has urged state governments to collaborate in enrolling 700,000 out-of-school children identified across Nigeria, highlighting a nationwide effort to tackle educational exclusion.
Executive Secretary Dr. Muhammad Idris, speaking in Abuja, revealed that the commission had formally written to all 36 state governors and the Federal Capital Territory to initiate enrolment. He emphasised that the commission had already completed a comprehensive mapping exercise, documenting children in remote communities, and found that poverty remains the primary barrier to education, alongside the inability to afford basic needs such as uniforms and PTA levies.
Dr. Idris stressed that the commission is ready to submit the data of the 700,000 children for enrolment as soon as states implement the necessary measures. He also noted that an updated database of an additional three million out-of-school children will be shared with states within three months, contingent on the enrolment of the current cohort.
“The president wants that before the end of his tenure, no Nigerian child should be out of school,” Idris said, urging stronger partnerships between federal and state governments. “The Federal Government cannot open schools across all states, so it has to be done by the states. We need collaboration to make this a reality.”
He welcomed the recent approval of the National Policy on Almajiri Education by the National Council on Education, describing it as a landmark recognition of Almajiri children as full-fledged pupils entitled to equal rights, resources, and learning opportunities as those in conventional schools.
Idris also provided updates on ongoing interventions. At the Tinubu Legacy Skills Training Institute in Kaduna, 200 Almajiri learners successfully completed a nine-month programme, gaining proficiency in English and Arabic, Qur’anic interpretation, and vocational skills including POP and CCTV installation, solar energy systems, tiling, GSM repairs, agriculture, and ICT. Graduates are now eligible for certification through the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) and may pursue higher education in Nigeria or abroad, with scholarships already offered by authorities in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Similarly, in Ibadan, Oyo State, 150 out-of-school girls are undergoing vocational training in fashion designing, cosmetology, hair-making, shoemaking, leather works, event planning, catering, and culinary skills. These learners are also participating in the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) to support reintegration into formal education.
Dr. Idris highlighted that the commission has established 106 learning centres nationwide, where children are taught literacy and numeracy skills while Almajiri learners receive exposure to a full curriculum.
He concluded by calling for stronger commitment and cooperation from all stakeholders, stressing that the success of Nigeria’s efforts to reform the Almajiri system and reduce out-of-school numbers depends on collective action from government, communities, and partners.