Oluremi Tinubu seeks Saudi support to tackle Almajiri, out-of-school children crisis

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called for Saudi Arabia’s support in addressing the challenge of Almajiri and out-of-school children in Nigeria, saying every child deserves access to quality education.

Tinubu made the appeal on Thursday while receiving the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Mohammed Al-Balawi, at the State House in Abuja.

She said a partnership between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia could help reform the Almajiri education system by combining Islamic teachings with formal Western education, thereby improving the future prospects of millions of vulnerable children.

“I work with the women and vulnerable children in the society. My heart goes out to the Almajiri children up North. I believe they need better care,” the First Lady said.

“This is because most of the insecurity challenges in the nation, if those particular group of children are not taken care of, I don’t know what might happen.”

She stressed that providing formal education alongside Arabic instruction would help secure the future of both the children and the country.

“I believe we can still start to give them formal education. If we are able to do that, the future of Nigeria will be well secured,” she said.

The First Lady also commended the longstanding bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia and expressed optimism that deeper cooperation would benefit both countries.

Responding, Ambassador Al-Balawi said he had enjoyed a warm reception since arriving in Nigeria five months ago and described relations between the two countries as strong and rooted in shared history, religion and culture.