A quiet revolution is unfolding in Kebbi State, where a retired civil servant is transforming the lives of vulnerable Almajiri children through education and skills empowerment.
Founder of the Almajiri Support Initiative of Nigeria, Shehu Umar, says his two-decade-old centre is tackling the root causes of out-of-school children, street begging, and youth unemployment across northern Nigeria.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi, Umar explained that the initiative blends Western and Islamic education with hands-on vocational training—equipping children, including those with disabilities, with practical skills to become self-reliant.
At the centre, trainees learn trades such as tailoring, welding, weaving, phone and computer repairs, and cosmetology, alongside basic literacy and numeracy. Daily meals are also provided to support their learning.
“Our goal is to give these children a future beyond the streets,” Umar said, urging governments, philanthropists, and organisations to support the programme’s expansion.
Volunteer teachers at the facility also called for greater institutional backing, noting their commitment to educating both children and adults through literacy classes despite limited resources.
Beneficiaries of the programme praised the initiative, pledging to use their new skills productively and pass on knowledge to others.
The effort stands as a grassroots model for tackling the Almajiri challenge—offering hope, dignity, and a pathway to economic inclusion for some of society’s most vulnerable.
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