Sokoto: How Aliyu is re-engineering the Almajiri system

Sheryl Sandberg, a tech expert, philanthropist and writer, says of leadership that it “is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”  It seems to me that this is exactly what the governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu, is focused on doing with his decisions to utilise social engineering tools to transform the Almajiri system and establish a more responsive system that aligns with global best practices for child education, healthcare, and sustenance.

Since assuming office in 2023, Governor Aliyu has remained glued to his 9-Point Smart Agenda, which emphasises education, healthcare, security, and inclusive development. These, he has done, by adopting a deliberate, strategic effort to reshape societal structures, norms, and institutions to address systemic challenges, including the Almajiri system. These efforts aim to integrate modern education with traditional Islamic teachings, engage communities, leverage data-driven governance, and form strategic partnerships to transform the Almajiri system into a sustainable, culturally sensitive, and empowering institution.

The Almajiri system has its origins in the Kanem-Borno Empire and was later institutionalised in the Sokoto Caliphate. The term “Almajiri” derives from the Arabic word “al-muhajir,” meaning migrant. It reflects the tradition of young boys leaving their homes to study under Islamic scholars in Tsangaya schools. These schools focused on Quranic recitation, Islamic jurisprudence, and moral discipline. The students were often supported by community alms and state resources. It was a culturally and religiously significant system that fostered a sense of Islamic identity and scholarship. However, colonial disruptions, economic decline, and post-independence neglect eroded the system’s support structures with increasing poverty and urbanisation, causing the breakdown of community-based support. This practically forced Almajiri children to resort to street begging for sustenance. This eventually transformed the system into a social problem, exposing the children to malnutrition and a lack of access to formal education. This is the system that Gov. Aliyu is re-engineering.

The establishment of Almajiri integrated schools, which combine traditional Islamic education with modern academic disciplines, is the major thrust of the Aliyu reform programme. His administration has prioritised enrolling Almajiri children in structured educational environments, beginning with pilot phases in Shuni and Wamakko council areas. In these LGs, integrated schools are being established to serve as models for statewide implementation. The school’s aim is to provide a holistic education that includes Quranic studies, literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills, which would prepare students for both religious and economic self-sufficiency. Aliyu’s administration has plans to provide accommodation, feeding, and essential supplies to the schools to ensure that students remain in school. This will be a strategic way to address some of the socioeconomic barriers that often lead to dropout and street begging, as well as equip Almajiri children with skills relevant to the 21st-century economy, while reducing their reliance on alms and breaking the cycle of poverty.

To make his plans succeed, the Aliyu administration has also prioritised community engagement as a social re-engineering tool. In doing this, the governor expresses his understanding that sustainable reform requires stakeholder engagement, which includes seeking the support of parents, religious leaders, and traditional institutions. A key partner in the governor’s effort is the Sultanate Council, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. The Sultanate wields significant religious and cultural influence in Sokoto, making it a vital ally in dispelling misconceptions about modern education and promoting acceptance of the integrated school model. With the Sultanate’s support, Gov. Aliyu lends legitimacy to its reforms, while framing them as consistent with Islamic principles. Analysts in the state argue that this partnership is crucial in addressing cultural resistance, which has many parents viewing the Almajiri system as a religious obligation.

The administration has also engaged other grassroots stakeholders, including parents and Islamic scholars, to explain the benefits of integrated schools. This is backed by community dialogues, which show that the reforms aim to enhance, not replace, the Almajiri system, while also preserving its religious essence and addressing its social and economic shortcomings. It is believed that this inclusive approach will foster a sense of ownership among communities, reduce the likelihood of resistance, and increase enrollment rates.

Besides, the governor’s focus on data-driven governance is now working out as a hallmark of his social re-engineering strategy. Governor Aliyu has shown a preference for data-driven policy formation and governance. For this, he has invested in initiatives like the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) survey. The MPI survey, which was conducted in July 2025 in partnership with Redwire Consulting, provided insights into the socioeconomic conditions of the state. This included such parameters as education, healthcare, and living standards. The MPI has also enabled targeted interventions for Almajiri children. By grounding his reforms in empirical evidence, Aliyu’s administration avoids the pitfalls of previous initiatives that relied on assumptions rather than data. The MPI survey further aligns with his 9-Point Smart Agenda and ensures that educational reforms are part of a broader strategy to combat poverty and promote inclusive development. With the data identifying high-need areas like Shuni and Wamakko, the administration can prioritise infrastructure development, teacher training, and resource provision where they are most needed. This approach maximises the impact of limited resources and ensures that reforms are effective and sustainable.

The administration in Sokoto has also leveraged strategic partnerships to boost its reform efforts. Its collaboration with the Sultanate Council is a primary example. But that is not enough. The government is also partnering with international and non-governmental organisations to enhance the Almajiri system’s modernisation. For instance, a recent partnership with Plan International Nigeria aimed to reform the Almajiri education system by introducing best practices and innovative teaching methods, while the Hungarian government’s over $1 million in support for the state’s education, agriculture, and healthcare sectors over the past five years brings global expertise and resources to the state. These partnerships enhance the reform’s sustainability by providing technical assistance, funding, and knowledge transfer.

However, cultural resistance remains a significant hurdle to Aliyu’s reform efforts as the Almajiri system is deeply entrenched in Northern Nigeria’s social fabric. Convincing parents to enrol their children in integrated schools requires sustained advocacy and trust-building. The administration’s community engagement efforts are a step in the right direction, but overcoming entrenched cultural norms will take time. While infrastructure and resource constraints may also pose challenges, the governor seems undaunted and is, in fact, propelled by his prudence in the management of state resources. This will come in handy as he moves to establish more integrated schools, which, in fact, require significant investment in buildings, teaching materials, and trained educators.

Despite these challenges, Aliyu’s reforms have shown early signs of success. The establishment of integrated schools in Shuni and Wamakko has increased school enrolment, with reports indicating that over 100,000 out-of-school children, including Almajiri students, have been enrolled through initiatives like the “Back-to-School” campaign supported by UNICEF, while the governor’s focus on infrastructure, which has seen the construction of over 170 classroom blocks and the renovation of 79 dilapidated schools, has created conducive learning environments, further encouraged attendance.

The long-term consequence of Aliyu’s reforms lies in their holistic nature. Addressing education, poverty, and cultural sensitivities simultaneously means that the administration is laying the foundation for systemic change. If sustained, these efforts could position Sokoto as a model for Almajiri reform in Northern Nigeria and create a blueprint for other states grappling with similar challenges. The integration of vocational training and entrepreneurship programmes into the reform would further ensure that Almajiri children are equipped for economic self-reliance.