Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, has urged the federal government to allocate additional funds to the Almajiri education system in a bid to tackle the country’s escalating out-of-school children crisis. The Almajiri system, a traditional form of Islamic education primarily practiced in northern Nigeria, involves children mainly boys (Almajiri) and girls (Almajira) being sent to Islamic schools where they take responsibility for their own learning.

Alausa made the appeal during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, led by Chairman Muntari Dandutse, to the Ministry of Education on Thursday. The minister highlighted the urgent need to address the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, estimating the figure could be as high as 40 to 50 million, far surpassing the commonly reported 20 million. He called the situation a looming crisis that requires immediate attention.

Despite efforts during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, including the establishment of 137 Almajiri schools, many of these institutions are now underutilized due to neglect and deteriorating infrastructure. Alausa emphasized the need for greater investment in these schools, as well as the development of sustainable initiatives like feeding programs to keep children engaged in education.

The minister also stressed the importance of better nutrition for students, linking it directly to improved cognitive development and enhanced human capital growth. According to the United Nations, one in three Nigerian children is out of school, with a lack of classrooms and teachers among the key contributing factors.