Nine year old Aminu wanders the busy streets of Abuja with a plastic plate ing from his neck begging for food and money. Originally from Katsina State he is one of many children caught in the Almajiri system a traditional Islamic learning structure that has increasingly come under scrutiny.
Aminu story reflects a growing national concern where children are sent far from home to study the Quran but end up struggling for survival. Many like him roam urban centres without shelter education or parental care relying on public charity to survive.
Another example is Ibrahim a commercial motorcyclist who also passed through the system. He recalls a childhood marked by hardship moving between towns like Kano under the care of a Mallam while begging and doing menial jobs to survive. Though he eventually found ility his experience highlights the long term impact of the system.
Seventeen year old Mansur Liman fled Zamfara State due to insecurity after bandit s threatened to recruit him. His journey underscores how violence and poverty continue to push children into vulnerable conditions.
According to UNICEF Nigeria currently has between 18.3 million and 20 million out of school children with the majority located in the northern region. Factors such as poverty cultural practices and insecurity continue to worsen the situation.
Efforts by the government including policies approved under President Bola Tinubu aim to integrate western education into the Almajiri system and reduce street begging. However experts warn that implementation remains a major challenge.
As Nigeria grapples with this crisis the future of millions of children like Aminu s in the balance requiring urgent and sustained action.
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