Today, as I return home on this multi-leg 21-hour economy class journey back to Washington, DC, my heart is filled with gratitude, and optimism for what is possible in Nigeria. Just a few years after my education, I started to return to serve my birth country, came in contact with the state of education, and had my mind blown by the number of Almajiri and out-of-school children roaming the streets aimlessly in Nigeria. I remember my heart breaking considering what their futures might hold. I remember thinking of how some get into terrorism and considering what Nigeria would become if these millions of boys and girls ended up with no useful livelihood. I remember looking at statistics and being challenged that the males will mostly take on violent crime and females prostitution. Although I had learned over the years not to judge what anyone does to make a living, it broke my heart that these children might never get a chance at something different if I didn’t step up to do something about the current trajectory. It was then that I posted on Facebook my vow to fight for Nigeria’s Almajiri and out-of-school children.
After much work, an opportunity crossed my desk to publicly advocate for these children at the Nigerian National Assembly in 2023. There was a bill on the table that had struggled for years to pass. It seemed ridiculous that I would leave the comfort of my life in the U.S. on such short notice but I begged my children to pardon me and dropped all I was doing to go on a 3-day trip to lend a voice to the issue. On arrival at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, I first felt out of place as I walked amongst large groups of men advocating for Almajiri education in their mostly white jambiyas (Islamic traditional dress); they didn’t know who I was and didn’t care, they were on a mission, the National Assembly was theirs for the day, and if I didn’t step out of their way, I’d be shoved to the side; I was a couple times it took humility and focus to stay on coarse. In the room, as various people presented their submissions, it was clear that there were two factions, the proponents of Almajiri education (including sponsors of the bill) and those who thought it wasn’t necessary to establish a commission for them (including the department of education and Christian Association of Nigeria). It was right in those moments of presentation and rebuttal that I realized I needed to speak and speak now.
After securing time to speak, and confirming that the speaker wasn’t leaving because he needed to hear what I had to say, I sat quietly and waited my time. It was uncomfortable. I had very conservative Almajiri proponents sitting around me and wondering why I, a woman, would be sitting surrounded so closely in their midst. There was even one with public disdain, refusing me the opportunity to sign my name in the roaster when it was passed to me; it felt like he would hurt me, or cast me out if he could.
Then my turn came, and I was called upon to speak at the front podium, trashing my prepared remarks I started with these words; “I am for Almajiri education”. I said it 3 times, the room was shocked; the men who sat beside me were shocked, but more importantly, I got everyone’s attention. No one expected a simple young girl in a blue pantsuit to be on the side of Almajiri education; I was female and I didn’t look Muslim. They all assumed that I was part of the opposition and the belief that our nation should not use national funds to support religious education. My purpose was different, it was to bridge the gap. I spoke of how I was no different than the Almajiri child, spoke of our unified need and desire to educate all Nigerian children, warned of the urgency to focus on education for all as opposed to sitting divided as other countries advanced, I spoke of the need for a change of name on the bill, and broadening of the mission to include all Almajiri and out of school children with representation in every state. I left the podium with a loud applause and standing ovation in many areas; the message was clear, we are one Nigeria, all our children matter and our divisiveness is not helping but rather stalling our progress.
Following the session, I had several discussions with members of the house and other key stakeholders solidifying my recommendations on the name change and representation for all. The edits were made and the bill eventually passed. My understanding is that it was the last bill signed by President Muhammadu Buhari as he prepared to leave office. The signing was huge! A long-fought bill had now passed and everyone who had advocated the bill was thrilled. For me though, the work had just begun. How do we ensure that this bill gets implemented and doesn’t sit idle as a source of more government looting?
I started following up, from the appointment of the first executive secretary to the current, I wouldn’t relent. I would visit their offices, walk the hallways, knock on all doors, and wait for them to show up. The one thing that they always called out was my passion; yes, I was on a mission and I wouldn’t relent until the implementation was successful with no child left behind. It was this passion that eventually led to my visit to the commission at its temporary WAEC location meeting many staff members who are now like family, my driver delivering a proposal suggesting that I would work for them for free, my meeting with the executive secretary on zoom and my eventual engagement with them to assist with planning the activities necessary to fulfill the commission’s mandate.
Today, I sit on the plane returning to Washington and reflect with gratitude that my core work related to Nigeria’s Almajiri and out-of-school children is done. I couldn’t be more proud. The travels to Nigeria, the personal and team research that I brought together and led, the new ankle-length dresses and veils I started wearing, just to fit in, the memos I wrote, the speeches I prepared and gave, the newspaper articles and radio and TV appearances, the negotiations, the recommendations for change, and so much more, have all come to a fruitful end and I couldn’t be more proud. With the commission being established, an implementation plan on paper, the pilot registration of many of my out-of-school children, a commitment to enroll out-of-school children in all states, the commission’s call to stakeholders for engagement, and the summits or retreats planned and in progress, we can say for sure that what we see here is not just talk but the implementation has begun.
When I started my work in Nigeria, it was only a temporary assignment as I dreamed of the day when the Nigerian government would take care of its business and relieve me from the personal burden. Today, again, I couldn’t be more proud of what I’m seeing with the National Almajiri and Out of School Children Education Commission preparing to enroll so many children back into school this September. With this, I want to personally and publicly thank the outstanding team at Aderonke Foundation who not only engaged in significant research, sought out and engaged many of the children on the streets, had numerous meetings with the Malams who teach Islam to Almajiris, taught many out of school children in our daily 2hour free school program, re-enrolled several almajiri and out of school children into school and have continued to check on their progress and show them love. I also want to thank my dear family and friends who stepped in to watch my children, picked me up from airports, counseled me on what to wear, and encouraged me in uncountable ways. I also want to thank the great leadership team and staff at the Almajiri and Out of School Children Commission especially the executive secretary and chief of staff who shoulder the heavy burden of completing this mandate. Finally, I want to thank the long list of sponsors of the bill to establish the commission especially my dear sister Honorable Aisha Dukku, my dear brother Honorable Yunusa Abujakar, and my dear brother of blessed memory, Honorable Ghali Na’Abba; your hard work and dedication to the education of Nigeria’s children will never be forgotten. I’m hopeful again and can’t wait to see all our children re-enrolled in schools in just a few days.
As a mother eventually releases her baby’s hand to walk independently, the Almajiri and out-of-school work is released. My work now is only to check on the progress of the commission and encourage them as I divert my attention to other matters in the building of the Nigeria of our dreams. The lesson in it all is that whether we are local in Nigeria or sit hours and continents away in the diaspora, we can all play a significant part in the reconstruction of the Nigeria we hope for. It is sometimes easy to sit back and suggest that the task of reformation is for someone else or that we are too far, too female, without the money, credentials, or connections, but in reality, with passion, humility, and focus, anyone can make a significant difference in the reformation of our country. It is with this that I call on each of you to select a cause and pursue it with all passion, humility, and focus. Nigeria depends on you and me.