THE "almajiri" SYMBOL

by Gilbert Joseph

It has been a long practice aimed at inculcating discipline, humility and a life of service. At least, an average Nigerian of within the 30years age bracket has heard about this, according to studies not less than 100 times.
It dates down memory lane by every stretch of the imagination. Hence, aside taking a religious coloration, it is viewed a tradition, especially in the Northern part of Nigeria.

                 

    In the late 90's and early 2000, it was not a problem taking that bold step from one state of the North or even West to the other or vice-versa. Regardless of how rich a child's background, this was a perfect way to teach children,  especially male ones endurance, diligence, teamwork, service and ultimate sacrifice - It was akin to a rite of passage. Is this the case now?

         
       Almajiri is a Hausa term which loosely translates as "Disciple" in English. The key pick from this word is "a follower and believer of the teachings of a religious or political leader". To say the least, these followers are expected to in adulthood be among the best set of citizens by virtue of the lessons of religious practice(s) learnt of (from) their religion, which is Islam at their early stages.
      However, in the course of time,  the hardest puzzle some few elites had attempted to burst up has fully surfaced. What is the outcome from this proverbial bakery? The suggestion in some quarters had been " unbaked almajiris" or "half baked ones". This is so because they perhaps not turned out as planned,  at least the majority, which is a basis for generalization. Instead of exhibiting core Islamic virtues,  they are taking to drugs,  they are taking to crime, they are taking to the streets to survive by whatever means, they are according to commentators from the North itself the result trickling from from almajiri " hubs". More pathetic is the very fact that almajiri is now not just about Islam in Nigeria alone,  it is not just about the North alone. The almajiri syndrome is about the approximated 13.2million  out of school children in Nigeria. It will be a great disservice to forget that their are close to a million or even more children not captured in the net of statistics. Above all, the total shift is that ALMAJIRI is a symbol of economic backwardness for the entire nation.
    Generally and naturally speaking,  it is an injustice to bring children to a troubled world without catering for them, without educating them, leaving them with nothing and letting them replicate the same formula at their ripe age.
     There is the need to awaken those consciences, it has never been more urgent than now. Relevance should be twice attached to what pro-education gadflies like Ben Murray Bruce say consistently. Not just by government alone. The North itself should search its soul. Actions taken by the universal basic education (UBE) supremo, Hameed Boboye about alternative education for the out of school children should not be some verbal gymnastics in the air, or some connotations added to former president Jonathan's almajiri school. Not quite long,  newly sworn in Zamfara state governor, Muhammed Bello Matawali had adopted not less than 70 children at the Gusau orphanage home. This is not about politics. It is a step well taken. One should cast imaginations into what becomes of the children not adopted in the streets. In the same vein, the Catholic News Agency had reported that head of Holy see,  Pope Francis had admonished privileged Christians to imbibe the culture of adoption to help save underprivileged kids. It cannot be treated as mere spit from the pontiff. If the late Lucky Dube had anything to say about the matter as a
subject, it simply would be "share your riches with the poor before they share their poverty with you.