Pulse.ng : NOA flags off UNICEF-supported community mobilisation to improve alternative care for Almajiri, OSAG

By Sani Idris

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has flagged off the conduct of a UNICEF supported community mobilisation, to improve alternative care for Almajiri and Out-of-School Adolescent Girls (OSAG) in Kaduna.

The flag-off by NOA, Kaduna Directorate, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, was also to improve parenting of at-risk children in 18 LGAs of the state.

The exercise was carried out at an advocacy visit by the NOA, UNICEF and Kaduna State Government officials to the Emir of Zazzau on Tuesday in Zaria, Kaduna State.

During the flag-off, Alhaji Hamisu Abubakar, the State Director of NOA, said the activity was aimed at sensitising 15,300 household and communities to positive parenting skills.

He also said it was aimed at preventing and promoting family care, including family tracing, re-unification and the need for alternative kinship family care.

Abubakar noted that Mallams (Teachers) caregivers, and parents of Almajiri would be reached, while strengthening the capacities of community-based structures to report and refer cases of
child abuse and harmful practices.

He added that in the course of the community mobilisation, parents and care givers would be sensitised to enrolment of children in school.

He therefore solicited for the Emirate Council’s support towards integration of Almajiri into formal education
system in the 18 selected Local Government Areas of the state.

Also, UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialist, Dr Wilfred Mamah, said their mandate in over 180 countries revolved around enhancing children’s well-being and survival.

He added that child protection strategic goal was targeted at prevention and response to violence, abuse, and neglect of vulnerable children, especially the most vulnerable.

Mamah recalled that in November 2022, the UNICEF Child Protection Team and partners, at the Emir of Zazzau’s Palace, launched the innovative community dialogue on the reform of the
Almajiri system in 36 communities of the state.

“You gave your royal blessings and made critical suggestions for engaging local community members with a view to siting the good aspects of the Almajiri system.”

He said the suggestions were with a view to reforming the over 500-year old Almajiri system, to promote the best interest of children.

“Our ongoing drive for digitization and decentralization of birth registration to expand registralion of children in Kaduna State has also received your royal blessings.

“We are here again because refom that is process-led does not happen in a day. We are here to flag off more community engagement geared towards provision of critical services to Almajiri and OOSAG,” Mamah said.

He therefore noted that UNICEF had identified that the situation of Alimajiri and OSAG were at the heart of child protection and human development in the state.

The Specialist lamented that Covid 19 had exposed the great dangers that children in street situation, incuding Alimajiri and OSAG faced in the state.

He solicited for more support from the emir, while acknowledging the exemplary role he and the Emirate Council played in child protection.

Also, the Manager of Sexual Assault and Referral Centre, Zarai, Hajiya Aisha Ahmed, frowned at the judiciary and security system, which she accused of letting off perpetrators of SGBV offences.

She also frowned at traditional leaders in some rural communities who prevented arrests or justice to be metted on perpetrators of SGBV.

Ahmed therefore solicited for the Emirate Council’s support and assistance in bringing perpetrators of SGBV within their areas of responsibility to account for their actions.

She also solicited the emirate and and state government’s support in bringing back stolen children from Zaria LGA who were found to have been sold in other regions of the country.

Also, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, lamented that a lot of children and especially adolescents girls in rural communities were vulnerable.

Salisu, represented by Hajiya Rakiya Abubakar, therefore said that UNICEF’s involvement and support to the ministry ensured identification of Almajiri and children who don’t attend school.

She noted that they were working towards ensuring that the identified children were taken care of and given other assistance.

Salisu, therefore, urged the Zazzau emir to bless the endeavour while seeking the emirate council’s assistance in possible ways to actualise their set objectives.

Responding, the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, said studying in Almajiri school was not bad, but should be done in one’s environment and not inter-city.

He noted that the ideal situation was for parents who wanted thier children to acquire Qur’anic or Islamic knowledge in Almajiri school, to ensure they did it at their watch and care.

He restated the emirate council’s willingness to support the move towards ensuring that the lives of children and adolescent girls were safe, free from vulnerability and attaining their desired position in the society and their educational endeavours.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)