The Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Nigeria, Mr Ibrahim Sessey, has disclosed that about 99 per cent of the documented 230,535 Almajiris in Sokoto State are not living with their parents and under the care of their respective Mallams while 85 per cent of the vulnerable girls are under the care of their parents but out of school.
Speaking at a one-day meeting with stakeholders on “Data that Delivers Change for Almajiri and Out of School Adolescent Girls in Sokoto State,” organized by the State Arabic and Islamic Board and Ministry for Women and Children Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF, Sessey further disclosed that two percent of the vulnerable girls in Sokoto have no access to care, adding another 1.3 percent of these girls are also living independently.
The UNICEF Child Protection Chief however said with support from UNICEF, the state actors have designed an integrated policy and multi-sectoral response plan for Almajiris in Sokoto State as part of interventions to respond to the situation.
He said, “Count on us as supporters and partners. This is the child protection aspect of UNICEF. Every child in Sokoto is ours. We have three key projects in Sokoto which include birth registration, the Spotlight Project which addresses Sexual and Gender-based Violence, and the Almajiri and out of school children”.
Noting that UNICEF is only playing supportive role, Sassey stressed that implementation of the approaches to be deployed in solving the identified challenges lies in the hands of the respective duty bearers and stakeholders in the state.
Acknowledging the reliability of the UNICEF supported Almajiri and out of school girls data, which was generated in conjunction with relevant stakeholders in Sokoto, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, the Executive Chairman, Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Commission, assured that the stakeholders would work with UNICEF to change the Almajiri scenario from being a liability to a resourceful entity.
He said, “We have seen that it is achievable, hence together we can pursue an Almajiri model that works not only for Sokoto, Nigeria but the whole Africa.”
On his part, a retired Khadi (Islamic Jurist), Alhaji Bello Gidadawa, observed that all Child Protection laws in Nigeria are not being properly implemented and therefore appealed to the judiciary to ensure the full implementation of the laws.
In 2020, the Federal Ministry of Education reported that 482,184 boys and girls were out of school in Sokoto State; while the State Arabic and Islamic Education Board said 753,464 are in BESDA and Qur’anic schools.
The meeting was held at Dankani Guest Palace Hotel, Sokoto and attended by representatives of the association of mallams; traditional leaders, and the Executive Chairmen of Sokoto Zakkat and Endowment Commission, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki and that of SUBEB, Hon Altine Shehu Kajiji.
Also in attendance were the Executive Secretary of Arabic and Islamic Board, Dr Umar Aliyu Dandinmahe, and the Sokoto State Commissioner for Women and Youths Affairs, Hon Kulu Sifawa, and many other stakeholders.
