NANS Throws Weight Behind Almajiri Commission, Urges Adequate Funding

By Najeeb Sani

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone E, North-East, has passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education for what it described as “visible commitment and strategic drive” to tackle education challenges in the region.

In a press release issued to our correspondent by its North-East Coordinator, Comrade Muazu Hina, on Wednesday, NANS said the Commission under its current leadership has shown capacity, dedication and a clear roadmap to rescue millions of vulnerable children.

The students’ body noted that the Commission became operational under President Bola Tinubu and the present leadership of the Commission.

“NANS North East believes that the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children is a strategic institution that offers hope to millions of underprivileged children and families.

“The current leadership deserves commendation for its commitment,” the statement said.

NANS added that the renewed focus on the Commission under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, coupled with the proactive steps by the Commission’s leadership, reflects a determination to expand access to education and secure a better future for Nigerian children and youths.

While commending the Commission’s leadership, NANS appealed to the Federal Government to provide adequate funding and institutional backing to enable the team to deliver on its mandate.

The group said with proper financial resources, improved infrastructure, skilled personnel and sustained government support, the Commission’s leadership will be better positioned to meet international standards and scale up interventions.

“NANS North-East respectfully calls on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the Commission through adequate funding and institutional support so that the leadership can achieve more for out-of-school children,” Hina stated.

He noted that the North-East remains one of the regions worst hit by the challenge of out-of-school children and the Almajiri system, and described strengthening the Commission as “critical to reducing the number of children outside formal education and promoting national development.”

“We therefore urge the Federal Government to provide the Commission with the financial and operational resources required to enable its leadership to effectively tackle the challenges of Almajiri education and out-of-school children, particularly in the North-East and other affected parts of the country,” the statement added.