Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, says the education of northern children cannot be achieved “by leaving them begging round the streets of cities and towns”.
The Sultan made the assertion at the inauguration of the Zamfara State Almajiri Integrated Qur’anic Education Center, Gummi, held in Gummi on Sunday.
“I am not a politician but I’m here because of the importance I attach to the programme to me and community at large”.
He said: “Qur’anic schools are centers where religious education and values are inculcated to children, but the only source of concern is begging among almajiri students”.
The Sultan said establishment of integrated schools is critical to the needs of society, noting that it goes a long way in addressing the issues out of school children and would end begging in the name of learning.
In his remarks, Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, said the government would safeguard the future of younger ones by creating an enabling environment for a brighter future.
“The centre we are inaugurating is a World Nank intervention project through the State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) and two more of it would be constructed in Gusau and Kaura Namoda.
He added that in addition to six class rooms of 45 students capacity and130 double bed space, 12 toilet facilities and kitchen, a vocational centre to train children on wood work, sowing, among others were established.
He assured the people of government’s commitment in providing adequate feeding and other wellbeing of the students.
– NAN