The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has emphasized that northern leaders cannot educate children effectively if they are left to beg on the streets of cities and towns.
He made this statement at the inauguration of the Zamfara State Almajiri Integrated Qur’anic Education Center in Gummi on Sunday. The Sultan, who stressed the importance of the program for the community, said, “I am not a politician but I’m here because of the importance I attach to the programme to me and community at large. Qur’anic Schools are centers where religious education and values are inculcated in children, but the only source of concern was begging among almajiri students.” He added that constructing Integrated Schools is crucial for addressing the needs of society, particularly in ending child begging under the guise of learning.
The Sultan emphasized that every government must prioritize education, as all good things come from education and all bad from ignorance.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, in his remarks, pledged to safeguard the future of younger generations by creating an enabling environment for a brighter future. He highlighted the features of the new center, including six classrooms with a capacity for 45 students each, 130 double bed spaces, 12 toilet facilities, and a kitchen. Additionally, a vocational center has been established to train children in woodwork, sewing, and metalwork, among other skills. The governor assured that the government would provide adequate feeding and overall well-being for the students.
The governor named the center after Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III and also inaugurated the upgraded and renovated General Hospital in Nasarwa Burkullu in Bukkuyum Local Government Area and the Maru General Hospital, which was also renovated.