The Federal Government has launched a new initiative to reintegrate out-of-school Almajiri children into classrooms and rehabilitate public schools across Nigeria’s Northwest.
Abdullahi Tanko, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement for the Northwest, unveiled the program at Kawaji Yankaba Primary School in Kano, distributing uniforms, school bags, exercise books, and other learning materials to pupils.
Tanko explained that his team identified 200 Almajiri children living near Hadejia Road during the school break and enrolled them in two nearby schools.
“So, we enrolled them in the school and provided uniforms, school bags, exercise books, and other materials. The teachers also received notebooks, chalk, cardboard, and other essentials to ease their challenges,” he said.
He described the effort as “Phase 2” of a broader plan to revamp education in the Northwest, following similar interventions launched last year, which will continue each school term.
The program also targets infrastructure improvements. Engineers have assessed Kawaji Yankaba Primary School’s broken windows, missing roof sections, and dilapidated administration block, and a bill of quantities has been submitted to the presidency.
“The plan is to fix not just this school but many public schools in the Northwest, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, which prioritises education,” Tanko said.
The initiative aims to bring at least 10,000 Almajiri children back to school, improving access to quality education and supporting teachers with essential learning resources.
Officials hope the program will create a sustainable model for school rehabilitation and student reintegration across the region.
The Federal Government continues to emphasise education as a key priority, with this drive forming part of broader policies to enhance learning outcomes and community engagement in northern Nigeria.