The House of Representatives Committee on Alternate Education has taken steps to reform the Tsangaya (Almajiri) education system and tackle the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria. As part of this effort, the committee visited key stakeholders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi.
The committee’s chairman, Rep. Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu, led the team on a week-long tour of Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, and Bauchi states. During these visits, they met with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and education experts to discuss ways to improve access to education for vulnerable groups.
In Sokoto, the Sultan was briefed on the government’s efforts to revamp the Almajiri system, while in Borno, the Shehu praised the initiative, stressing its importance to national development and security. The delegation also met religious scholars like Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi and Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir and visited model Tsangaya schools.
The team collaborated with universities, including Yobe State University, the University of Maiduguri, and Bayero University Kano, to explore research and strategies for strengthening the education system. Officials from the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children (NCAOOSCE) and other notable figures, such as former Education Minister Dr. Aisha Dukku, were part of the delegation.
This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s goal of making education more accessible to all Nigerians. Traditional leaders and academics have expressed their full support for the reforms.
