Almajiri’s Next Level -By Abdu Abdullahi

For long, he has been an issue for continous discussions, debates and even researches owing to his pathetic living which promises him only a bleak future. While he perfectly fits the description of the wretched of the earth, he does not possess any socioeconomic potentialities that would enrich his human essence and dignity.

We all know that the deplorable life of this Nigerian child is laid bare for our reflective scrutiny to elicit esteemed passion for him. It is a pity that the Almajiri, who is ubiquitous and lonely, does not see any bright future in his life. This hopeless kid cannot comprehend why he has been reduced to misery, despair and squalor in a nation with vast richness. Equally, the society cannot elucidate the ‘ legalisation’ of this tremendous child abuse inspite of its devastating repercussions.

For a recap, there were diverse voices in the past clamouring for scrapping or reforming the practice because of its apparent inadequacies. These loud and concerned voices are still unrelenting, echoing and would continue to be audible and vibrating our minds until the Almajiri is finally liberated from the bondage of hopelessness to the world of hopefulness.

If we evaluate the Almajiri’s indepth character, the findings are certainly magnificent and monumental. Undoubtedly, the Almajiri is an unsung hero because he has diligently been examined to be a pain bearer endowed with a remarkable capacity for uncommon perseverance and resillience. The Almajiri can tolerate hunger without any complaint in the midst of affluence. He is still standing tall and brave, supported by his intransigent faith in his horrible condition despite the calculated damage inflicted on his social being.

It may interest us to realise that the Almajiri is our hope in ‘ disguise’ because his substantially untapped talents can be adequately harnessed in a formal and conducive learning atmosphere that will prepare him for future socioeconomic challenges. Estimated at seven million according to the National Council for the Welfare of the Destitute ( NCWD), are we going to commit the tragedy of allowing this hugely human assets to be wasted in the name of begging? Is this frightening figure not amounting to the population of small nations?

I can tell you that the innocent Almajiri is a worthy and reliable compatriot whose noble intention of knowledge acquisition is to please the Almighty Allah and not the Draconian ego of materialistic idiosyncrasies. Thus, the auxiliary foundation of his knowledge is allowing unquestionable character to penetrate his brain and subsequently moralize his whole personality. Almajiri’s social and psychological systems are fascinating because they have been purged of ill- feelings towards the very society which has despised, rejected him as too insignificant in the scheme of human affairs; yet he is forgiving, praying that he will eventually attain succor.

Already experienced in the school of life travails, he will be a glamorous material when subjected to intellectual training and development in a planned and orderly setting. To paraphrase this point, the ban on street begging involving the Almajiri in some parts of the Northern Nigeria must be taken to his life’s next level where there are abundant hopes, dreams and aspirations. His decadent social being should be thoroughly cleaned by adequate rehabilitation in terms of modernising the practice to include some basic subjects in the Western education. This means that special schools ought to be established to meet and satisfy his spiritual and material needs to enhance his social status and safeguard his constitutional right. Thus, a synergised mechanism by the northern governors could be the best option.

Also, he and his erring parents must be made to understand that the ban on his begging is not meant to oppress him or subvert his freedom. In fact, they should be made to conceptualise that his freedom begins when he is considered as a child who has no right to beg but has the fundamental right to be in a school where he will be taught sound knowledge that builds his capacity both in spirituality and modernity as Islam recognises the acquisition of knowledge in its broadest term.

While providing him a new lease of life that will corroborate with global heterogeneity, our governments that have declared street begging by the Almajiri unlawful ought to lift the social responsibility of promoting his image, acknowledging him as our loving but uncared kid whose better tomorrow depends on our collective compassion as well as responses. It is therefore vital to realize that the large moral and financial support of the wealthy in our midst, private business sectors must be pursued to complement the governments’ efforts in the development of a new Almajiri. In addition, a mass mobilisation campaign with a highly potent communication transaction must be launched in the media to educate and enlighten parents to refrain from violating the law prohibiting begging.

Our governments should also mount intensive and educative programs especially on the radio on how the Almajiri system was socially viable in the past when begging did not find its way into the practice, when accommodation was freely provided for the Almajiri and his teacher, when the Almajiri was compelled to fully partake in the economic activity of farming to prepare him for future living in which he would be self-employed.

This social campaign should also look into the prevailing situation which is unviable for a rotten system that leaves the child to sustain himself through begging that is arbitrarily promoted even though Islam vehemently abhors it. It will be a gigantic project if the enlightenment dwells on the prevailing economic realities, the rising insecurity, moral degeneration and their conspicuous dangers for particularly the Almajiri. And our Islamic scholars are in the best position to change this bad narration of the miserable life of the Almajiri.

This is the next level of Almajiri that should be envisaged in which we must see the reformation of the Almajiri practice minus begging as the only way of dignifying him and rendering great service to the nation.

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