By Samuel Luka, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has pledged to domesticate the Federal Government’s Act establishing the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, NCAOOSCE, describing it as critical to achieving zero out-of-school children in the state.
The pledge was made on Thursday during a stakeholder engagement organized by the Bauchi State Ministry of Education in collaboration with NCAOOSCE. Traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, government officials and civil society groups attended the meeting in Bauchi.
Commissioner for Education, Hon. Abdulkadir Mohammed, said the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed had already invested heavily in education and would align with the federal policy by establishing a state Almajiri and Tsangaya Commission.
“No child will be left behind under this administration. We will domesticate the federal policy and put structures in place to ensure every child in Bauchi has access to quality education and skills,” Mohammed said.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, Prof. Tunji Alausa, urged states to urgently align with NESRI and four key policies covering Almajiri education, data and digitization, and alternative learning pathways.
Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakalle, Special Adviser to the Minister, who delivered the message, commended Bauchi for the pledge.
“Bauchi is setting a model for other states. Under the new framework, children in Tsangaya and Almajiri schools are formally recognised as students with pathways to formal education, skills and self-reliance,” Kakalle said.
Speaking on behalf of NCAOOSCE Executive Secretary, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idris, Director Halliru Musa Halliru said the Commission has enrolled more than 700,000 children nationwide as part of its “zero out-of-school children” target.
He said NCAOOSCE has developed a 10-year Strategic Plan 2025–2035 and the National Policy on the Enhancement of Almajiri Education, which formally integrates Tsangaya education into the national system.
“We are not discarding tradition, we are building bridges between Tsangaya and modern education,” Halliru said. “Our approach is clear: literacy, numeracy, skills and inclusive learning, while preserving our religious and cultural values.”
He listed ongoing interventions to include 200 Almajiri learners trained in Kaduna at the Tinubu Legacy Skills Institute in Arabic, English and vocational skills such as solar installation, plumbing and ICT, all of whom passed MBIS examinations. In Ibadan, more than 130 girls graduated in tailoring, catering and cosmetology, while Almajiri children are receiving literacy, numeracy and farming training under the AGILE Project.
Halliru added that 119 learning centres have been established nationwide, with ward-to-ward mobilisation ongoing in seven pilot states. The Commission also maintains an office in every state and the FCT.
He called for stronger partnerships with traditional rulers, scholars, Tsangaya leaders, parents and the media to sustain the effort.
“Let us move from counting children to changing lives. The future of Nigeria is in one child. Our duty is to find them, teach them, and give them the opportunity to thrive,” he said.
The engagement was hosted by the Bauchi State Ministry of Education.
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