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20m Out-of-School Children Alarm: FG Urged To Reform, Improve Almajiri System

Published

3 years ago

February 8, 2024

… as state govt blamed for failure access UBEC funds

Joel Ajayi

Federal and state governments have been urged to address the problems of out-of-school children through reforms and enrichment of the Almajiri system in Nigeria.

The call follows the alarming rise in the number of out-of-school children, which, according to a UNESCO report, stands at over 20 million people in Nigeria, and discontent over the failure of about 29 states of the federation to access N68 Billion Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds to upgrade facilities and provide basic needs in primary schools.

Speaking during the anti-corruption radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by PRIMORG, on Wednesday in Abuja, Education Officer, Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI), Abdulmalik Abdulrazak, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck if Nigeria must address problems of out-of-school children, adding that priority must be placed on educating Almajiri children.

Abdulrazak, while acknowledging that Almajiri children constitute the greater mass of out-of-school children in the country, called for more awareness and sensitization of parents to take advantage of the existing free education at the primary school level.

He queried what the recently established National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children is doing to ameliorate the problems. He added that the Almajiri system, which seeks to acquire Islamic knowledge, has metamorphosed into a social challenge.

Abdulrazak called on the government to thoroughly monitor and evaluate funds spent on developing the educational sector, alleging that public schools have been turned into “money-making centers” by some officials, urging the government to ensure there’s value for monies spent.

“Some state governors have made Almajiri and out-of-school children their top agenda, but more work still needs to be done.

“The Almajiri Commission should kick start, and let’s see their activity. Most importantly, the public schools have been turned or reduced to money-making ventures for a few people. Budgetary allocations are being released monthly, and you see them running into their billions, and you see no sign of it in the classrooms,” Abdulrazak lamented.

He said, “The Almajiri system is an informal system of education. It has a lot to do with religious belief, doctrine and tradition. The system needs reform and enrichment because Almajiri children find themselves in terrible conditions.

“Parents often want to send their children to go and acquire religious education, but the environment is where the children find themselves and the persons whose tutelage they find themselves under is of concern. “

On the failure of states to utilize UBEC funds to improve primary education, Abdulrazak said the political will of leaders remains a major challenge, adding that political officeholders prefer to send their advisors and representatives than go to schools to have an on-spot assessment of the dilapidation of infrastructure in public schools.

On his part, Educationist and Programme Manager of the Center for Educational Empowerment and Orientation, David Crown Oyebisi, said the number of out-of-school children signals a risky future for Nigeria.

Oyebisi accused past and present administrations of making little effort to address the out-of-school children menace, adding that lack of passion for education and political will by state governments are responsible for the inability of some of them to access UBEC funds.

He urged political officeholders to develop a passion for educating the people they represent, saying traditional and religious institutions have many roles to play in reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

His words: “The government alone cannot address Almajiri and out-of-school issues. We need citizens’ religious and traditional institutions.

“But first, the government should address insecurity across the nation, there should be the provision of basic infrastructures and reduce poverty levels, and we need to do a house-to-house education and census to ascertain how many children are not in school

“It is very saddening to believe that from 10.5 million, we now have 20.2 million out-of-school children. The question is, don’t we have a government in this country? What has the government been doing all these years to attack this issue of out-of-school children.,” Oyebisi stated.

Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program PRIMORG uses to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

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Eight Athletes, 11 Medals: Applauding Asagba’s Sports Leadership At DELSU

Published

2 weeks ago

October 14, 2026

The Gleamer

By Godspower Odedede

Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has recorded an impressive outing at the 15th West Africa University Games (WAUG) 2026, winning 11 medals with just eight athletes who represented the university in only three sporting events.

The university won seven gold, two silver and two bronze medals to occupy seventh position on the medal table, an achievement that underscores the potential of its athletes and the importance of purposeful investment in university sports.

DELSU participated in the men’s 100-metre sprint with two athletes, women’s judo with two athletes, and swimming with four male athletes. Despite the limited number of athletes and sporting events, the university’s medal haul was a commendable performance and a source of pride for the institution.

The achievement deserves particular recognition given the restricted scope of DELSU’s participation. With representation in only three sports, the university demonstrated that focused preparation, adequate support and the effective deployment of available talent can produce encouraging results at major university competitions.

A major highlight of DELSU’s preparation for WAUG 2026 was the approval by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, for a quality two-week training programme for the university’s athletes in Asaba.

The camp provided the athletes with an opportunity to prepare using the excellent and up-to-date training facilities available in the state capital.

The initiative is particularly noteworthy as it represents a significant commitment to structured preparation for university sports. Rather than relying solely on athletes’ natural abilities, the training programme recognised the importance of preparation, access to appropriate facilities and institutional investment in performance.

Professor Asagba deserves commendation for this intervention and for demonstrating a willingness to provide practical support for sports development at DELSU. The university’s WAUG performance offers an encouraging indication of what can be achieved when athletes receive purposeful preparation and administrative backing.

The Vice-Chancellor’s broader vision for sports infrastructure is also encouraging. Plans are understood to be underway for the construction of an ultra-modern sports complex for the university in the near future. If delivered as anticipated, the facility could significantly strengthen DELSU’s capacity for athlete development, training, competitions and sports science activities.

Such infrastructure would also support the university’s ambitions to improve its performance at national and international university games. A modern sports complex could provide a foundation for more systematic talent identification, performance monitoring, coaching development and the preparation of athletes across a wider range of sporting events.

Special recognition must also go to Mrs Epebi-Ebi Noah, the swimming coach, who was physically present at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with the DELSU swimming team during the competition. Her presence and involvement underline the importance of coaching support, technical guidance and close supervision of athletes during major sporting events.

The performance also calls for commendation of the Chairman of the University Sports Committee, Professor Ochuko Nabofa, whose leadership has brought renewed attention and energy to sports development at DELSU. His role in supporting the university’s sports administration and helping to strengthen the sporting environment deserves recognition.

Similarly, the Acting Director of Sports, Peter Omojuwa, deserves commendation for his administrative responsibilities and contribution to the university’s sporting programme. The Chief Coach, Lucky Ajaino, should also be recognised for his role in the technical preparation and development of DELSU athletes.

The combined efforts of the university management, sports committee, sports administrators and coaches are essential to sustaining progress. While medals provide a visible measure of success, the systems established to prepare athletes and support their development are equally important to the long-term growth of university sports.

DELSU’s WAUG achievement follows another notable outing at the last Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games, where the university finished fourth. That result was regarded as one of the finest performances in the institution’s sporting history and strengthened expectations that DELSU could become an even more formidable force in university sports.

The latest WAUG performance provides another reason for optimism. However, the university’s participation in only three events also reveals an opportunity for further growth. Expanding participation across more sports, identifying talented students and improving access to specialised training could help DELSU compete for a higher position on future medal tables.

The proposed sports complex, if realised, could play a central role in this expansion. It should ideally be supported by sustained funding, modern equipment, qualified coaches, athlete welfare programmes and collaboration with relevant sports science professionals. These measures would help ensure that infrastructure investment translates into measurable improvements in performance.

The university could also consider strengthening performance analysis, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, talent identification and systematic monitoring of athletes’ progress. Such an approach would help transform individual successes into a sustainable university-wide sports development programme.

DELSU’s performance at WAUG 2026 is worthy of celebration. Eight athletes competed in just three sporting events and returned with 11 medals, including seven gold. The result reflects the potential within the university and provides a strong basis for building a more ambitious sports programme.

Professor Asagba’s approval of the two-week training camp and the prospect of an ultra-modern sports complex offer reasons to look forward to the next phase of DELSU sports development. The challenge now is to sustain the momentum, broaden participation and ensure that the university’s sporting ambitions are matched by consistent investment and effective implementation.

With continued support from the Vice-Chancellor, the University Sports Committee, the Directorate of Sports, coaches and other stakeholders, DELSU can build on its recent achievements and strengthen its position among Nigeria’s leading sporting universities.

The message from WAUG 2026 is clear: DELSU has demonstrated what a small but well-supported contingent can achieve. With broader participation, sustained preparation and modern sporting infrastructure, the university has the potential to accomplish even greater things.

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