Almajiri ban: Another shadow-boxing?

Recently President Muhammadu Buhari said the federal government would ban almajiri system in the country because the system is a nursery for violent crimes. UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYASU in his analysis, reports that the insecurity in the north is caused more by an economic factor than illiteracy.

Background

The almajiri education system is associated with primary school-age children begging for food and money in the streets in many northern Nigerian states. Many of them are sent by their parents to live with and study Qur’anic education in their teachers’ homes. Unfortunately, they spend most of their valuable time begging for food in the streets, and from home to home.

Making education free and compulsory is good, but banning almajiri education system will negate the objective, and also undermines the right to religious obligations, many Muslims will say. Nobody tell us to stop using donkeys for transport instead of modern vehicles.  If parental poverty is reduced and free compulsory education and living condition improves, almajiri will disappear by itself without any national legislation. Almajiri education, like hijab, is a sensitive issue which if banned, will create bitterness between Muslims in north and the federal government.

In all, Nigeria is wont of doing things not from the humanistic angle but from angle and view of the rich. When the street boys or the almajiri were wandering in the streets looking for what to eat, it was no man’s trouble until we found out that insurgents and armed banditry and kidnapping were caused by their lack of education and parental guidance. Unfortunately what these children need most is national guidance and care which is grossly lacking.

The rich and the poor in the north have become used to the perceived advantages of almajiri education that it will need a strong reorientation to do without it. One, the almajiri children provide cheap labour for the rich in the neighbourhood, and they also provide the mob of beneficiaries of sacrifices prescribed by ‘big men’s marabouts, thus providing spiritual advantages to the rich and economic advantages to the poor and the needy in the north.

The almajiri take a large chunk of Nigeria’s about 13.5 million out-of-school children. Out of this number, it was reported by UNICEF that 69 per cent are in the northern parts of the country and FCT.

Almajiri to go from streets?

The federal government’s planned evacuation of almajiri from northern streets is a welcome development long overdue.  A development many concerned Nigerians, especially compatriots in the north, had been expecting from the government.

But in carrying out this noble objective, there are many challenges to contend with.

The first thing that gives rise to crime and criminal tendencies in any country is the harsh economic condition which rubbishes the humanity of man; in this example, of poor parents in the north. In Nigeria today, many members of an average family wake up without knowing what to eat, thus they cannot differentiate breakfast from lunch or supper, which they only eat for survival. Meanwhile politicians, businessmen and women as well as traditional rulers flaunt their wealth in public during social functions and political gatherings, to the bitterness of the poor.

The clergy who preach against wealth as being the root of evil are themselves the seekers of this evil. So the first thing to do for the government is to try to make sure every Nigerian has something to eat when he wants to eat.

Until average parents in the north are able to send their children to school like any other rich man in their neighbourhood, and until every Nigerian can get married to their heartbeat without hindrance due to parental differences in socio-economic status, that violent crimes can reduce.  Commonsense suggests that kidnapping, armed robbery and violent crimes are committed by those who want to end their despicable life but think otherwise, as far as committing suicide is frowned at by their religions. They would rather find an alternate means to end their suffering. The option via armed robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other crimes, wrapped in their philosophy of ‘better life or death’ comes easily.

Instead of them to kill themselves they prefer to be killed by others so that in the hereafter they may have something to say in defence of their life.

First, for the almajiri to go out of the scene, their malam or teachers also have to go. This is because most almajiri, apart from fending for themselves from the proceeds of begging in the streets, they also are the breadwinners of their malam. Some of these malam establish Qur’anic school not because they want to serve God and humanity but out of the dire consequences of the harsh economic situation.

And so the almajiri, like apprentices to Igbo businessmen, who help them in their business, help the malam in their day-to-day familial upkeep. This is why almajiri spend about 70 per cent of his time begging for alms.

Also many laws in the country discriminate against the poor.  The rich politician or public servant who steals say N10 billion from the coffers of the federal government may be asked to return a property worth N10 million through what they called ‘plea bargain’, but the poor who steals N10,000 may get up to 10 years in jail, and in the Sharia northern states, his hand may be cut while the governors who orders the execution smiles away from Government House with stolen billions. He enjoys immunity while serving and gets plea bargain after service, if caught by EFCC.   

Also, checking the growing national population is important. Hardly would a couple blessed with only one child turning around to look for who to adopt the child.  Most of these almajiri are given birth to by parents who have more than enough children to cater for and so needs external hand to carry  their burden, and where they find ready hand is the almajiri education system.

Also, the destitute in the country need to be taken care of by a functioning social investment net.  Some of the almajiri who roam the streets and eventually, in some cases, become criminals are children of the destitute.  Some were given birth to by the insane in the streets.  More often than not, the street insane are patronised at night by well-to-do members of the society, probably   according to the directive of their marabouts when they go in search of power and fame.

Religion may frown at family planning but it is equally haram to embarrass the faithful by begging in the street or in the mosque, church, or other worship places.  In the north, professional begging has been smuggled into Islamic religion especially by core northern Muslims.

Northern Muslims should note that the Sultan of Sokoto and Sarkin Muslim does not have a child among the almajiri children begging in a street of Nigeria. Also Sheikh Mahmud Gumi and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, have no children begging in the streets as a religious obligation.

 This goes to show that begging is not Islamic as some Muslims seem to believe.

Nigeria’s Population in 2050

United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in June 2017 report, projects Nigeria as the world’s third most populous country by the year 2050.

Statistics by experts show that by 2040, Nigeria’s population growth would have quadrupled without commensurate social amenities and jobs to sustain it.  With such development, Nigeria would overtake the United States in population just as world population would hit 9.8 billion people.

What the presidency said

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu, in a statement warned that the president’s statement on almajiri should not be interpreted to mean an immediate ban on the age-long almajiri system.

“The abrogation of the Almajiri system of education (Qur’anic learning system associated with begging on economic and religious grounds peculiar to northern states) remains an objective, but there is no immediate ban of it by the Buhari administration, as widely reported by the media.

“The presidency, therefore, calls for caution in responses to the pronouncements by President Muhammadu Buhari on free and compulsory basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age in Nigeria, during his speech on Thursday, June 20, at the inauguration of the National Economic Council (NEC).

“The presidency notes that while the Buhari administration is committed to free and compulsory education as a long-term objective of bringing to an end, the phenomenon of out-of-school children, any necessary ban on Almajiri would follow due process and consultation with relevant authorities.

“Indeed, the federal government wants a situation where every child of primary school age is in school rather than begging on the streets during school hours,” the statement read in part.

Shehu said that the presidency did not want to create panic in the people.

“Reports that there are plans for massive arrest of parents are definitely out of place. Things have to be done the right and considerate way.

“Free and compulsory primary school education is a requirement of the Nigerian constitution and any individual or group not in compliance with this is violating the law of the land and liable to be punished.”

Earlier in his speech at the inauguration of NEC, President Buhari stated clearly that the country’s children have rights which must be given and protected under the law, adding that for  long the almajiri system had remained  a phenomenon that presented security challenges and  scars on the face of northern Nigeria.

 “On education, I want to stress in particular the need to take very seriously and enforce very rigorously the statutory provisions on free and compulsory basic education. Section 18(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended places on all of us here an obligation to eradicate illiteracy and provide free and compulsory education… It is indeed a crime for any parent to keep his child out of school for this period. In my view, when a government fails to provide the schools, teachers and teaching materials necessary for basic education, it is actually aiding and abetting that crime.

“This is, therefore, a call to action. I would like to see every governor rise from this meeting and rally his local government chairmen towards ensuring that our schools offer the right opportunities and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education, at the minimum.”

National Security Adviser

The National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno on his own part, noted that the almajiri children had become a problem to the society, adding that education is every child’s right.

He also admitted that drivers of insecurity in the country included unemployment, poverty and increasing population.

“I also made suggestions regarding the way forward which include employment creation and reduction of poverty, and the culture of impunity and looking at stabilizing certain areas of the country by giving rise to affordable education.

“This is very important because in most parts of the country we have a lot of children roaming around without any formal education. And as the president has mentioned earlier when he was inaugurating the national economic council, we need to make education compulsory and free for every child in the country.

“Because the problem we face today are rooted in the fact that a lot of people who have been denied the opportunity, basically the opportunity to get formal education, end up as criminals.

“Over the years, there is accumulation of large mass of human beings who end up becoming criminals, drug addicts and so on and so forth.

“And they end up becoming tools to be used by elements in the wider society who have very dangerous intentions.

“And therefore, it is very important to proscribe certain groups ultimately running around under the guise of maybe getting some kind of education that is not really formal and then begin to cause a lot of problems for society.” Mongonu said.

2

Friendly lecturers impart knowledge better’

Gazali Tanimu, 28, has emerged as best graduating PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Tanimu, who was Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria’s best graduating student in 2012 and now teaches at the same institution, told ABDULSALAM MAHMUD, in an exclusive chat, that some lecturers’ attitude negatively affect students’ performance.  Excerpts. 

How has your journey to King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) been?

Well, I first got to know about KFUPM through some senior colleagues in 2012. Then I was still an undergraduate and in my final year at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. But I later got to know more about the specialised Saudi university through my elder brother and one of our neighbours who were both offered a post-graduate admission by KFUPM. After I graduated from ABU in 2012, I applied and the university instantly offered me a scholarship. The scholarship is meant for persons who graduated with either First Class or Second Class Upper from some selected countries. It was then called “Full-time scholarship by the Ministry of Higher Education Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”. Among other things, the scholarship covers tuition fee, stipend, housing, textbooks and healthcare. Around mid-2014, KFUPM sent me my visa authorisation number through e-mail. But it was not until August of the same year, that I finally departed Nigeria for Saudi to begin my M.Sc. programme at KFUPM.

What were your academic feats at KFUPM?

To the special grace of God, I graduated with Distinction after successfully defending my M.Sc. thesis in May 2016. Considering the outstanding grade I completed with in my Master’s, KFUPM offered me another admission to do my PhD. To the glory of Almighty Allah again, I just graduated as the best PhD student in Chemical Engineering during KFUPM’s 2019 post-graduate convocation in March this year.

Were you always the best among your school mates?

I don’t mean to sound pompous, but the truth is, I always emerged tops among my classmates right from the outset. I was the best graduating student in my primary school. I replicated the same feat in my secondary school and then in 2012, I emerged as the overall best graduating student at the convocation ceremony of ABU. Personally, I think it is my Creator’s doing. I thank him for blessing me with a razor-sharp intellect. The exceptional mentors I came across in my academic journey, also contributed immensely to my accomplishments at various schools.

Did you encounter language barrier at KFUPM, since Arabic is Saudi’s language?

The King Fahad University and most of the universities offering post-graduate studies in the Kingdom use English as medium of instruction. So, I and other foreign students at KFUPM did not encounter any kind of language barrier.

What inspired you to study Chemical Engineering at ABU?

Initially, I had two courses that were my priorities. They are Medicine and Chemical Engineering. And this is because I was very good in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics, which are core science subjects. At that time, I approached my tutors and I was strongly advised to choose the one I prefer most. They were confident I could do well in both courses. I got to know that both Medicine and Chemical Engineering have bright prospects, based on the discussions I had with those studying them. So it was really difficult to make decision. But as fate will have it, I finally settled for Chemical Engineering. And there have been no regrets so far. 

What methodology did lecturers at KFUPM use to enhance your performance and other students’?

Over here, the lecturers are very, very friendly, unassuming and hospitable towards students. The aspect of lecturer-student interactions is quite high and absolutely impressive. This is possibly due to the moderate ratio of students to lecturers in various departments at KFUPM. Also, the lecturers have office hours, which is an avenue for students to table their complaints before their lecturers. In return, they politely counsel their students. The lecturers and supervisors over there assist in proffering solutions to students’ academic problems. And that is how it should be. Lecturers in every tertiary institution, should not incite fears into the minds of their students. They should eschew threatening students with carryovers. They should rather be epitomes of humility, kindness and compassion, who desire the best for their students. Some lecturers in Nigeria can be said to be the reason students perform badly in school. And categorically, I think friendly and erudite lecturers impart productive knowledge better than harsh and unfriendly lecturers.

How come you, as a Nigerian,  performed brilliantly at KFUPM?

I adopted no any special way of studying at KFUPM. It is just that the university had already provided a conducive environment for students to study efficiently. The only thing is that, I was surrounded with erudite mentors that armed me with necessary advice and mentorship at every point in time. During my PhD research, I was lucky to receive proper guidance and instructions from the consultant professors at KFUPM Research Institute. I gained a lot from their rich expertise, which enabled me to have an excellent research output. Also, I cannot forget to thank my project supervisors for their beneficial tutelage.

Can we know what your PhD research is all about?

The research I carried out in my PhD programme was entitled, “Novel Process for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of LPG to High-Value Olefins”. It falls under refining and petrochemicals; where by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (low-value product) is converted to ethylene, propylene and butadiene (high-value products). The target of the research was to improve on the selectivity of olefins and diolefins from Normal Butane (N-Butane). So what we were able to achieve was a catalyst designed base on commercially available metal oxides which gave good performance (in terms of activity, selectivity and stability) for the desired products. And the desired products are ethylene, propylene and butadiene, which are the backbone of most petrochemical industries.

What is the next plan after obtaining PhD?

I am a patriotic Nigerian. Therefore, the only plan I am nursing now is how to gather my luggage and head back to my country. I am so passionate about contributing my own quota towards the sustainable development of our Fatherland. Furthermore, I want to contribute my quota towards the accelerated growth of science and technology in Nigeria as an academic.

What if KFUPM decides to employ you as a lecturer?

Already, I had a job in Nigeria before coming to the Kingdom. I work with ABU as a lecturer. I only came here for a study fellowship. So I plan to return to ABU very soon, and impart the knowledge I garnered in my students.

Which day was your most memorable at King Fahad University?

My most memorable moment was when I got A+ in all the courses I registered for a particular semester. Let me also say that I will live to remember the auspicious occasion of my PhD convocation, where I was called out as the best PhD graduating student from the department of Chemical Engineering. It was a fulfilling moment for me, honestly.

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