President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that the estimated nine million Almajiris in Northern Nigeria be properly educated in order for them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Wike, who made this disclosure in Bauchi yesterday during a meeting with the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Adamu, noted that the President was personally monitoring the progress of work on the construction of Almajiri schools.
He said, “The President has directed that this pledge he made must be fulfilled in order to ensure that the estimated nine million almajiris have access to functional education in order to make contributions to national development”.
Wike added there were 10 million children walking the streets without access to functional education in Nigeria, pointing out that the Federal Government was determined to get them back to school.
The minister expressed gratitude to the Bauchi Emirate for ensuring the release of land for the project.
He said only credible contractors were involved in the execution of the projects, while a framework for monitoring was instituted under direct ministerial supervision to ensure successful execution of projects.
He said, “This is the time to fulfill promises made by the President and we are under strict instruction to deliver. The President considers education critical to national development, hence the commitment to educate our people”.
Responding, the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Adamu, praised Jonathan’s commitment to the education of less privileged Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnicity and religion.
The emir said the integration of Western and Islamic education for almajiris was a step in the right direction.
The minister later inspected Almajiri schools Saide, Darazo local councils of Bauchi State.
He commended the progress of work and urged the contractors to deliver the projects by June.
