The Yobe state Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme officer;
Mohammed Ibrahim, has said that 2,400 Almajirai were sensitized on
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that claimed many lives.
According to him, the sensitization exercise was to curb further
spread of virus into various communities across the state.
While flagging of COVID-19 sensitization programme on Wednesday; in
Damaturu, he said disclosed that personal protective equipment (PPE)
were also distributed to Almajirai drawn from three Senatorial
Districts of state.
According to him, the targeted Almajirai, were drawn from 24 schools
in 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
“We’re also sensitizing the Almajirai on personal hygiene,
distributing and use of PPE to curb spread of COVID-19 across the
state,” he said; noting that this is SDGs preventive measures against
the pandemic.
Continued; “We sensitised them on personal hygiene and distributed
PPE to them, including hand sanitisers, face masks, soap and
wash-hand-basins.”
He said the decision to take campaign against COVID-19 to Tsangaya
schools; was informed by neglect being suffered by Almajirai, while
implementing various programmes in the state.
He also noted that efforts of Mai Mala Buni led administration of
upgrading Tsangaya schools and giving Almajirai access to quality
education was in line with United Nations SDGs.
His words: “Gov. Buni’s position on Almajiri Education system is very
clear. He believes that Borno and Yobe states have been the hub of
Quranic knowledge for centuries.
“Buni feels that Yobe cannot relocate Almajirai.”
“Instead, he directed the State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB) to develop a strategy for integrating the Tsangaya schools
into a formal learning system.
Mallam Sani Salisu and Bukar Babagana, the Almajiri school teachers in
Damaturu, lauded the state’s SDGs with the fight against coronavirus
sensitizations and preventive measures.
They urged the state government to integrate the Almajirai into formal
education system.
According to Salisu, the integration Almajirai could bring out the
best from them,” he said.
