Poland in Nigeria

Almajiri is an Islamic education system practiced in Northern Nigeria. The word "Almajiri" comes from the Arabic "Al muhajirun" and means an immigrant. Usually it refers to a person who migrates from his home in search of knowledge of Islam. The Almajiri school system was created as a response to the search for knowledge, mainly by children living in rural areas, without access to schools in the place of residence. Over the years, however, Almajiri schools have faced a number of challenges. State authorities, international organizations and non-governmental organizations agree that at present the Almajiri children are exposed to great risks (begging, forced labor, sexual abuse, lack of medical care) and their rights are not respected (the right to a dignified life, education and parental care). Everyone agrees that children must remain under the care of their parents and receive education (both universal and Koranic) where they live. The long-term solution to the problem of Almajiri children seems to be, among others, ensuring the effective integration of the Almajiri system with primary schools, teaching general subjects in English, keeping children under the constant care of their parents at their place of residence, as well as involving parents and the local community in this process.

This year, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Abuja, in cooperation with the Nigerian organization Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI), is implementing a development project financed under the Polish Aid program, which is a response to the challenges of the reform of the Almajiri educational system. The project is aimed at Almajiri school children in the state of Kaduna, Nigeria. In 2020, the governor of Kaduna State, H. E. El Rufai began efforts to bring back Almajiri from other states to their family homes. ACRI, in cooperation with UNICEF, helped reintegrate over 100 Almajiri students who returned to their families, including to the village of Kamfani, where a primary school is being established with Polish aid funds.

The school will have three classrooms and a room for teachers. Additionally, separate sanitary facilities for girls and boys will be built, and the school will be equipped with its own deep well with an electric pump. The local community, which provided the land for the construction, is involved in the implementation of the project, and the state authorities undertook to equip the school and provide teaching staff. The new school will provide safe education for around 150 Almajiri children, who will be able to stay under the care of their families while they receive both Koranic and general education.

Please view photos from the project monitoring visit.