The Federal Government has established 119 learning centres nationwide as part of efforts to expand access to basic education for Almajiri pupils and other out-of-school children.
The initiative was disclosed by the spokesperson of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, Nura Muhammad, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.
According to him, the centres operate under two main models, with some attached to existing Almajiri schools to provide structured literacy and numeracy lessons, while others are designed solely for out-of-school children using the Accelerated Basic Education Programme.
“This approach allows learners to complete their foundational education within a much shorter timeframe,” Muhammad said.
He also revealed that a National Policy on Almajiri Education has been developed under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, marking a major shift in how Almajiri learners are classified and supported.
“Almajiri learners will no longer be labelled as out-of-school children. Their schools will now enjoy the same level of support and funding as conventional schools,” he stated.
Muhammad said the commission has expanded rapidly, establishing offices in all states within 28 months of its creation.
He added that a ward-to-ward advocacy campaign has been rolled out in seven pilot states—Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Lagos, Ogun and Cross River—to sensitise communities on the risks of leaving the Almajiri system unregulated.
“The campaign involves parents, traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups and children, stressing the importance of enrolling every child in school,” he said.
He noted that Lagos, Ogun, Cross River and Yobe have already completed the exercise across all wards, with positive public response, while other pilot states are making steady progress.
The NCAOOSCE spokesperson said the reforms align with the commission’s establishing law passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President in May 2023.
He explained that the commission’s mandate includes modernising the age-long Almajiri system through literacy, numeracy and skills acquisition programmes.
Muhammad further disclosed that the Executive Secretary of the commission, Muhammad Idris, held extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including traditional rulers and religious leaders across the country. These engagements, he said, led to two strategic retreats in Abuja in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“The outcome was the NCAOOSCE Strategic Plan (2025–2035), which provides a clear roadmap for reforming Almajiri education over the next decade,” he explained.
One of the commission’s flagship projects, according to him, is the Tinubu Legacy Skills Training Institute, designed to combine religious education with vocational training for Almajiri youths.
“At the Kaduna campus, 200 learners completed a nine-month intensive programme covering Arabic and English literacy, Qur’anic studies and vocational skills such as plumbing, agriculture, solar installation, GSM repair and ICT,” Muhammad said.
He added that a second campus in Ibadan is currently training 150 girls, using the ABEP curriculum to fast-track their basic education alongside skills development.
“Upon completion, the girls will be eligible to continue their formal education,” he noted.
Muhammad said the initiatives underscore the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the Almajiri system and reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
“From learning centres and community advocacy to skills training, these reforms are laying a foundation that will shape the future of Nigeria’s education sector,” he added.
