Many of you have reached out and raised questions regarding why I would support the creation of another commission, so I owe a public response. It is first an absolute honor to hear from many of you; it means that like me, you care about our Nation, and that in itself is laudable and heartwarming.
The Almajiri and Out of school Children Commission is obviously a unique one and understandably raises questions; but the importance today cannot be underestimated.
Nigeria today has roughly 20 million out of school children, most of whom are Almajiri; and if we as a country do nothing about it our future as a country is scary at best. Regardless of where they come from, ethnicity, religion, or socio economic class, when our girls are not educated, by 18-25, most resort to selling their bodies for survival. When our boys are not educated, most resort to some form of violent crime for survival. We talk about insecurity today, imagine 20million more adults with no respectable means of livelihood. This does not even begin to describe what is possible if we do not educate all our children but I will tell you for free, the future will not be bright.
The problem we have with a basic and enabling education today is that a vast majority of our out-of-school children (vis-à-vis, the Almajiri and Almajira) have unique needs that cannot not be easily absorbed by an already overstretched, and fragile educational system. We have waited for years and there has been no solution. To this end, we must come together to strategize and find unconventional ways to educate all our. The commission is one hopeful path forward.
What you see with the Almajiri and Out of School Children Commission is a group of local leaders with similar concerns coming together to ask for change in an area that continues to be underserved. It’s local people seeking national attention for a national problem that they have been unable to solve in their localities.
I am a public servant actively trying to fill the unfortunate gaps in our educational system because I understand the horror that could be if we do not educate all our children and this is why I’ve chosen to advocate change where needed, bring warring factions together, and fight tooth and nail using all available resources to ensure that no Nigerian child is left behind.
This being said, am not oblivious to the issues that plague Nigerian commissions, but that in itself is why people like me (or maybe you and I) with a heart for all our children must build bridges, get involved, speak for what should be, against what shouldn’t be, and ensure that none of our children is forgotten in this journey to reach a basic education for all.
My hope is that through the commission, one day soon, we have the right sustainable systems and processes in place to ensure that no Nigerian child is left behind when it comes to a basic and enabling education.
I hope this helps to answer at least some of your questions and shed some perspective. We cannot reach the destination when we have not started the journey. The passing of the bill and appointment of leaders is a noteworthy step and I will continue to advocate the cause of all Nigerian children regardless of where they come from, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic class.
Feel free to check out some of our other work at www.aderonkefoundation.org
I sincerely hope that in some way or form, my fellow Nigerians will join me in the fight to provide a necessary and befitting education to all our children.
In service and with humble respect,
Dr. Aderonke Kujore
Founder, Aderonke Foundation
Consultant & Advocate for Educating All Nigerian Children
[email protected]
www.aderonkefoundation.org