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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
First Lady of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu has secured a vital commitment from the Qatar Foundation to support Nigeria’s urgent efforts to address the education of over 15 million out-of-school children, the highest number globally.
This was contained in a statement released by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, stating that the development followed a high-level meeting between Mrs Tinubu and the Founder and Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation, Sheika Moza Bint Nasser Al-Missned, in Doha, Qatar.
During the meeting, the First Lady outlined Nigeria’s ambitious plan to launch a transformative Almajiri Education Schools’ System that will combine Islamic and formal education within a holistic learning environment. “These schools will host and care for the children in a safe learning environment, which will include a mosque for worship, incorporate skills acquisition, and offer boarding facilities for students, as well as residence for Imams and caregivers,” she explained.
She emphasised the importance of this model, saying, “This approach will allow children to acquire both formal and Islamic education free from exploitation, while equipping them with life skills that empower them to build their lives and contribute meaningfully to society.”
Recognising the scale of the challenge, Mrs Tinubu stressed the need for strategic international partnerships to complement Nigeria’s national efforts. “Given the magnitude of this challenge and the competing demands on our national resources, Nigeria cannot achieve this alone. We need visionary partners like Your Highness, who can help make this dream a reality,” she said.
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The First Lady commended Sheika Moza for the Qatar Foundation’s remarkable achievements in education, particularly noting the Qatar Education City, which hosts over 40 schools, universities, and the Qatar National Library. “I am proud to learn of your achievements in surpassing the target of enrolling 10 million marginalised children into school, and all that you continue to do for humanity around the world. Watching you do all these great works has reinforced our conviction that change is possible.”
In response, Sheika Al-Missned pledged active support for Nigeria’s Almajiri and out-of-school children educational initiatives. “The foundation will collaborate closely with the Nigerian Ministry of Education and will also engage in training the handlers and teachers in your schools to ensure the best outcomes for the children,” she assured.
Earlier in the day, Mrs Tinubu was given a tour of the Qatar Foundation headquarters by CEO Yousif Al Na’am and other senior officials. She was also informed that Nigeria currently has 41 alumni from the Muhammad Khalifa University, a testament to the growing educational ties between the two countries.
The First Lady’s delegation included Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate; Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmed; and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, Muhammad Idris.
