The Federal Government is advancing plans to integrate digital education into Nigeria’s Almajiri system, in a move to address the country’s rising population of out-of-school children through technology-driven learning and skills development.
The initiative is being driven through a collaboration between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE), following a recent high-level engagement at NITDA headquarters in Abuja, according to a statement by the tech agency, NITDA.
Muhammad Sani Idris, Executive Secretary of NCAOOSCE, says the Almajiri system is facing deep-rooted structural challenges affecting children’s welfare and access to education.
According to him, these challenges include parental abdication of responsibility, widespread street begging, vulnerability to exploitation, and the growing number of out-of-school children across the country.
Idris called for stronger institutional collaboration to reposition the system through digital education and structured skills acquisition.
“He requested NITDA’s collaboration to transform the system through digital education and skills acquisition,” the Commission says in a statement.
In response, Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, proposed the deployment of the agency’s Digital Literacy for All initiative through existing Almajiri structures.
The strategy, according to Inuwa, will leverage members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as digital literacy champions, integrate technology training into Almajiri learning centres, and establish digital hubs to deliver basic to advanced digital skills.
Both agencies say the framework is designed to bridge learning gaps and expand access to modern competencies for vulnerable children who are currently outside the formal education system.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to using technology as a tool for inclusive education and national development, announcing the establishment of a joint implementation committee to coordinate the rollout of the programme.
The collaboration reflects a broader shift in Nigeria’s education policy, where digital literacy is increasingly being positioned as a strategic instrument for tackling exclusion and youth vulnerability.
Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the largest out-of-school children populations globally, driven by poverty, insecurity in parts of Northern Nigeria, and systemic barriers to formal education. The Almajiri system, historically rooted in traditional Islamic learning, has in recent years become associated with street begging and heightened child vulnerability, particularly in urban centres.
The proposed intervention signals a transition from welfare-based responses to a more structured, skills-driven model, where technology serves as both an educational platform and an empowerment tool.
However, stakeholders acknowledge that implementation will require addressing key constraints, including funding, infrastructure readiness, training capacity, and connectivity challenges in underserved communities.
The newly constituted joint committee is expected to define operational guidelines, deployment frameworks, and scale-up pathways for the initiative.
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The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Bala Yusuf, a native of Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State, for allegedly attempting to kill a driver and steal his vehicle.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson of the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Nafiu Habib.
According to the statement, the suspect hired the driver to transport him from Abuja to Jos. Upon arriving in Jos, the suspect allegedly persuaded the driver to continue the journey to Bauchi under the pretext of visiting his family.
The statement said that after reaching Bauchi, the suspect allegedly laced the driver’s food with sleeping pills and attempted to flee with the vehicle, which was valued at about N5 million.
“The suspect was apprehended in possession of the vehicle, while the victim was immediately rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for medical attention,” the statement added.
The command further stated that investigation is ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident before the suspect is charged to court.
The member representing Pankshin Kanam Kanke constituency, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has said his achievements in office should be the primary basis for judging his leadership, declaring that his record of service speaks for itself as he embarked on his ward-to-ward consultations across his constituency ahead of the APC primary election.
Gagdi made the remark during his recent visits to federal wards, in Pankshin, Kanam and Kanke LGAs, where he met with party members, traditional leaders, and constituents.
Addressing stakeholders in the various wards, the lawmaker said he prefers to rely on his track record rather than make fresh promises, insisting that residents have already seen the impact of his representation.
“My record speaks for me. The people have seen what I have done already. If given another opportunity, I will do even better than what I have done in the last seven years,” he said.
He cited ongoing and completed projects across the constituency, including the modern primary healthcare centre in Gyangyan and community hall projects in several wards, as evidence of his commitment to development.
Gagdi who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, also stressed that leadership must remain rooted in the grassroots, explaining that his consultations were designed to keep him connected to the people who elected him into office.
“This visitation is not even about campaigning. It is about keeping in touch with the people who voted me into office. I do not want to feel too big to relate with the people the way I have always done,” he added.
He urged constituents to reject divisive politics and instead prioritize performance, capacity, and tangible contributions to community development when choosing leaders.
According to him, his interventions have also included educational support programmes, empowerment initiatives, and payment of WAEC, NECO, and JAMB fees for students across the constituency.
Gagdi further assured residents of continued development support in communities such as Dawaki, Nemel, and Kabwir, including planned community hall projects where land has already been secured.
He also pledged neutrality in future local government chairmanship contests, while reaffirming his commitment to peace, unity, and progress in the constituency.
Party leaders across the visited wards commended his developmental efforts and expressed support for his continued representation, calling for unity within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ward-to-ward consultations, according to him, are part of efforts to strengthen grassroots trust, consolidate support, and maintain close contact with constituents ahead of the party’s primary election.