Zulum Opens Summit to Reform Almajiri Education

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has inaugurated a summit aimed at reforming the Almajiri education system.

Almajiri education system is a traditional Islamic method of learning widely obtained across states in northern Nigeria.

The event held at the conference hall of Musa Usman Secretariat was graced by education stakeholders, religious leaders, and community advocates to discuss innovative strategies to integrate the Almajiri system with basic formal education.

The summit provided a platform for participants to discuss issues, share insights and propose actionable solutions to the challenges faced by the Almajiri education system.

Addressing the gathering, Zulum emphasised the need to address the root causes of insecurity through the provision of education for all citizens of Borno, stressing that improper teaching of Islamic studies has contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram insurgents in the state.

He noted that to curtail the adverse effects associated with Almajiri education; Borno State Government has established the Arabic and Sangaya Education Board, introducing a unified curriculum for Sangaya and Islamic schools.

Zulum also stated that the reform includes establishing Higher Islamic Colleges that cater specifically to Almajiri children, blending religious and secular curricula and equipping them with skills vital for their personal development and future employment opportunities.

He noted that: “The Sangaya Reform is a great development and will give Almajiri a better chance in life, particularly the introduction of integrating western education, vocational, numeracy and literacy skills into the centres, which are also described as Almajiri and Islamic schools.”

He said: “Distinguished guests and esteemed educationists, government’s intention was to streamline the informal and
formal education systems to quality integrated Sangaya school for admission into colleges and universities.”

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Borno State Arabic and Sangaya Education Board, Shiekh Arabi Abulfatahi, expressed gratitude to the governor for giving the board the necessary support in discharging its duties.

The guest speakers, Professor Mustapha Gwadabe from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Professor Mohammed Alhaji from the University of Maiduguri, stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of the Almajiri system.

Zulum Opens Summit to Reform Almajiri Education

Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the “Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee,” which is responsible for managing relief funds to streamline the process of compensation for residents so that each ward will know when they will be coming to their aid financially or materially.

The streamlining process being demanded will enable the 35 man committee to capture the entire residents affected and ensuring that justice is done to the myriads of people shouting to be included in the process which is looking almost like a selective jamboree weeks after it started.

The call was made by Hillary Ogbona senior Adviser (SA)to the executive secretary of the NHRC during a town hall meeting on the state of human rights during and after the maiduguri flood which took over the homes of over 200,000 residents within the state capital.

Hillary Ogbona stated recently that there was need for a timeline for the community to work with even as residents wait patiently for the Gujibawu led committee members to tend to their immediate needs.

Ogbona called on the numerous non governmental organizations (NGO’s) in the state to do more by engaging the committee to ensure all is well with the teeming residents waiting for their rightful compensations.

He regretted that it was sad that even the health sector and the information machinery in the state could not work together to fish out information from a common front instead of the piece meal approach employed in which residents were actually confused in certain instances of what to do to stay alive.

He regretted that many residents could not be reached in time for rescue because of the fact that they did not know who to call for help at such a desperately difficult period of their existence.

” I believe that the non governmental agencies would have done far better if they had engaged with the committee whose business it was to stabilize the people in the state capital.

” The values and approach to disaster management should be streamlined for effectiveness. This is because flood is not a respecter of people, creed, ranks or races. It is a leveler of all the people regardless of status.

“This is why is is important for the right thing to be done as at when due. People who earn daily wages are the most affected in such circumstances. Human rights inaction during flooding is key.”said Ogbona.

The SA stressed that there was need for the government to build a permanent and standardized camp for internally displaced people (IDP’s) with all the facilities so that all the principles of human rights based approach to disaster management will be employed without biases to anyone.

Ogbona emphasized that the usual discrimination based on status which is a common phenomenon in such circumstances in which some people are given compensation while others are not given was not permissible.

“It’s unfortunate that lots of discrimination was employed during the difficult period in which the flood was being managed but I feel this should not happen again because children should not be discriminated against at any time because major priority must be given to both women and children at such desperate circumstances.

“I had an experience in Germany which I wish to share with you people. While I was there, I observed that the selection of brains are placed above everyone during disasters, then the elderly and others may be considered later. This can equally be applied here whenever there is a similar disaster.” Said Ogbona.

Lessons from Community based human intervention in Borno were highlighted by barrister Okoro who insisted that leaders of religious groups have a very critical role to play in such trying times.

He posited that community and religious groups can be much more effective in handling such disasters if carried along when it occurred.

Okoro stressed that communication skills and the too much emphasis on the English language while encoding and decoding could also become a major challenge to the flood management approach.

Head of the Borno office Barrister Jumai Meshelia while welcoming stakeholders to the town hall meeting, called for the application of empathy while managing the people who have been traumatized by the flood.

She presented a summary on the state of human rights issues in Borno state from 2009 till date.

Stake holders present in the meeting highlighted the fact that some landlords have been coming to claim damages for the houses destroyed instead of first worrying about the fate of tenants who lost everything including lives to the flood.

One of them told stakeholders that his ten year old boy who was at home on that fateful night of Sept 10th lost his life in a fate of panic when on seeing the water pouring into the house, tried to get out but was swallowed by the raging flood from the dam.

On landlords who go to snap their homes while tenants are inside to claim damages and present same to the committees or coming to share humanitarian awards or compensations given to tenants, he called for a change of mindset by such shylock landlords.

Over 150 souls were reported as dead by the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Zulum approves additional 4 weeks for disbursement Committee

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum has approved a four-week extension for the “Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee,” which is responsible for managing relief funds for affected residents.

The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Mallam Bukar Tijani, conveyed the approval on recently in Maiduguri to stakeholders when it became obvious the duration given to the committee was inadequate.

The SSG noted that Governor Zulum has approved the extension of their work to allow for a thorough assessment of the victims to ensure all those affected were reached.

Alhaji Bukar Tijani added that the state government had received an interim report from the disbursement committee, which achieved a substantial part of their terms of reference.

Many wards are yet to be reached by the committee which has not been able to touch over 50 percent of the areas affected because there has not been any programmed time tables

Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee

Uba: Zulum approves rehabilitation of general hospital, 8 schools, township roads

… Directs employment of 4 medical doctors

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the rehabilitation of Uba General Hospital and the township road networks.

The governor also approved the rehabilitation of 8 primary schools in Uba town, including Uba Central Primary School, Mufa A Primary School, Kuma Primary School, Masil Primary School, Uba Marghi Primary School, Low-Cost Primary School, Kwarghi Primary School and Mufa B Primary School.

Zulum announced the approval on Saturday at the Palace of the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali ibn Ismaila Mamza. In a similar vein, the governor announced the construction of a new palace complex to fit the status of the emir.

The governor said, “You have to undertake a complete rehabilitation, provide furniture and also ensure adequate teachers are deployed.”

Zulum was in the Southern part of Borno to asses the ongoing projects, coordinate policy implementations and approve the citing of additional works.

The governor visited Central Primary School, a newly constructed high Islamic school, the General Hospital in Uba and Government Day Secondary School, Uvu, where he assessed both the ongoing work and the level of the interventions required for rehabilitation to be carried out.

Zulum also directed the construction of a deep aquifer borehole for the High Islamic College, Uba.

Zulum was also at Uvu village in Askira-Uba Local Government, where he gave a directive for the construction of a new secondary school and the rehabilitation of the central primary school.

The Governor concluded his Saturday’s activities with a homage to the Emir of Askira, Alhaji Dr Albdullahi Mohammed Askirama II and spent the night in Askira town.

… Directs employment of 4 medical doctors

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum also directed the employment of 4 medical doctors for the General Hospital, Uba, to boost the workforce.

Zulum stated, “Liaise with the CMD to see how we can deploy up to 4 medical doctors while we decide whether to rehabilitate this one or construct a new general hospital.”

“Uba is a city. Doctors can come and stay, and we will give them goremunerationion. We must ensure enough medicine and consumables in this hospital,” Zulum said.

Uba: Zulum approves rehabilitation of general hospital, 8 schools, township roads