Nigeria and Qatar Partner to Tackle Almajiri Education Crisis

By Emmanuel Kwada

Nigeria has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Qatar to address its Almajiri education crisis, aiming to reintegrate millions of out-of-school children into formal education. The initiative, unveiled by Nigeria’s Minister of Education (Basic and Secondary), Dr. Tunji Alausa, involves the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and Education Above All (EAA) Foundation.

The collaboration focuses on training Mallams (Quranic teachers), upgrading Tsangaya schools, and supporting 33 bilingual schools, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) slated for 2026 to formalize the effort.

The Almajiri system, a traditional Islamic education model, now sees over 10 million children mostly from northern Nigeria engaged in street begging and vulnerable to exploitation.

A 2025 Public Management and Change study linked this to regional insecurity and economic stagnation, worsened by Northeast Nigeria’s conflict.

This partnership, part of the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” seeks to integrate the system into formal education, a challenge previous administrations failed to overcome. “Our youth are our greatest strength,” Dr. Alausa said, highlighting the initiative’s transformative potential.

Qatar brings global expertise, with EAA having enabled 14.5 million children worldwide to access education since 2012. The QFFD and EAA will work with Nigerian agencies to enhance infrastructure and protect vulnerable learners, building on a 2024 bilateral agreement.

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, reaffirmed support during his 2019 visit, underscoring Nigeria’s strategic value.

With Nigeria’s 35% out-of-school rate one of the highest globally per UNESCO success depends on local buy-in and transparency. This partnership offers hope for vulnerable youth, but its outcome will hinge on effective execution, potentially setting a model for conflict zones.