By Abdulkareem Haruna 

DAMATURU, Nigeria – In a concerted effort to address the complex issue of Almajiri and out-of-school children, the North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has resolved to work closely with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE). 

Following their 11th meeting in Damaturu, Yobe State, the governors pledged to provide office spaces for the commission in each of their respective states and actively support the enrollment of these vulnerable children into formal education.

Recognizing the social and security implications of a large population of unsupervised children, the forum, which includes the governors of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states, with Bauchi State represented by its Deputy Governor, committed to a unified approach across the subregion. Their strategy includes not only facilitating access to basic education but also providing vocational and technical training to equip these children with valuable skills for the future.

The communique released at the end of the meeting emphasized the governors’ determination to tackle the “menace” of out-of-school children through proactive measures and collaboration with the national commission. 

This commitment signifies a regional recognition of the urgent need for intervention to provide these children with opportunities for personal development and to prevent their potential vulnerability to social vices and recruitment into insurgent groups.

By offering tangible support such as office spaces and actively promoting enrollment in formal and vocational training, the North East governors are signaling a strong regional commitment to addressing a deeply entrenched societal challenge that has long been linked to broader security and development concerns in the area.