Nigeria is now better positioned to address the long-standing challenges of the Almajiri system and out-of-school children, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has announced.

Speaking at a peer-learning webinar with the Committee of States Commissioners of Education in Nigeria (COSCEN), Alausa emphasized that stronger collaboration between federal and state governments is key to sustainable solutions.

“Reducing out-of-school children requires shared accountability, harmonized frameworks, and evidence-based planning across all government levels,” Alausa said.

Nigeria continues to rank among countries with the highest number of out-of-school children globally, particularly in northern states where the Almajiri system remains prevalent.

Historically, the Almajiri system, rooted in Islamic education, has been associated with child vulnerability due to limited formal schooling integration.

Alausa highlighted the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education as a strategic institutional response.

Executive Secretary Dr. Muhammad Sani Idris, who rose from an Almajiri background to earn a PhD, leads the commission with both personal experience and administrative expertise.

The webinar showcased state-level innovations, beginning with Gombe State’s data-driven strategies to improve enrollment and learning outcomes.

COSCEN Chairman, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, stressed that structured peer-learning promotes accountability, aligns state initiatives with federal policies, and delivers measurable results for children nationwide.

Education experts note that sustained funding, accurate data tracking, community engagement, and curriculum integration remain essential to ending the Almajiri and out-of-school children crisis, which is closely linked to poverty, insecurity, and youth unemployment.