a country far away from the homes of underaged Children.
Governor Sani Bello disclosed his thoughts when he took delivery of
items donated by the Nigeria Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19,
(CACCOVID), a joint initiative of leading private sector leaders and the
Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) in Minna.
He maintained that it is a wrong practice that has been ongoing for the
past 200 years where children of about three to five years are separated
from their parents in supposed quest for religious knowledge.
“I feel it is absolutely wrong to separate a child, three-four-five
years old from home, send him to a town where he has no one to take care
of him and end up in the streets where he is abused.
“This is the worst form of human abuse you can think of.
A child of three, four years must have parental guidance”, he stated.
The governor added that this is an era where parents should produce
children they have ability and capability to cater for and desist from
shying away from their responsibilities under the guise of sending them
away to seek Islamic knowledge.
He noted that, with Islamic Malams in virtually all wards in the
country, children would be forced to seek any form of Islamic Knowledge
within their environment such that they receive parental care instead of
leaving them for the society to take over their responsibilities.
“So parents should own-up to their responsibility of taking care of
their children”, he said.
The governor is of the opinion that, with the support of the Northern
Governors’ Forum, the age long practice of almajiri system being
practised would soon be a thing of the past.
He disclosed that Niger State government is working on a policy through
the affiliation of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to
streamline a system where the children will acquire both western and
religious knowledge in their localities, thereby giving no room on
whatsoever ground for parents to send their wards away from them.
The governor promises that the present sangaya system of almajiri school
activities will be regulated soon.
He said before repatriating the almajiris to their States of origin,
such States would be properly informed so that they receive them, give
them proper care before reuniting them with their parents.
The items donated to the State by CACOVID in their support to the fight
against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) include: 100 beds, 100 hospital
overhead tables, one mobile x-ray machine, one ultrasound machine, two
ICU beds, 20, 700 pieces of medical equipment which include, 250 face
shield, 1, 000 protective goggles, 3,000 KN95 Face Mask, 10, 000
disposable latex gloves, 500 elbow rubber loves and 1, 000 PPE Overall.
These items are to support government win the fight against COVID-19.
Governor Sani Bello said the items which have been installed at a public
school provided as an isolation centre would be used to isolate the
almajiris and assured that the equipment will be properly handled by the
team of medical personnel in the State and will also add value to the
health sector.