President Goodluck Johnathan commisions Almajiri schools in Sokoto

Sokoto is a state located in Northwest Nigeria.

President Goodluck Johnathan with schoolboys at a Almajiri school in Sokoto.

Almajiri is an Arabic term that describes the practice of children leaving their homes to seek Islamic education. President Goodluck Johnathan has commissioned the building Almajiri schools across the Northern states. Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, Sokoto's state governor, stated that “This effort is aimed at integrating Quaranic school system with modern education in such a way that the traditional barriers to educational pursuit are systematically broken (Bankong-Obi April 16, 2012).” 100 of these schools will open in June of 2012 and the president still intends to build 400 of these Almajiri schools across the 19 northern states ("Sahara ReportsPHOTONEWS: President Goodluck Jonathan Commissions "Almajiri School" In Sokoto" April 10,2012) .

This government program emphasizes the President's aims to formulate a multicultural accommodating Nigeria. It has also shown that the President is devoted to rebuild the underdeveloped impoverished North by implementing social reforming programs such as Almajiri schools, much like the effort made by the former Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in the building of his school. The governor's statement mentioned above shows appreciation to this education system that is working to provide education to these children while still implementing their pre-existing existing Islamic/Hausa culture and beliefs. This education system will  close the gap between "being educated" and being a "devout Muslim," allowing both virtues to coincide. This evidently challenges the existence of Boko Haram, Western Education is Sin, by implementing an education the people of this region can relate to, "Quaranic Education."

Bankong-Obi, Nkrumah. The News, "Sokoto: Schools For The Almajiri ." Last modified April 16, 2012. Accessed April 24, 2012. http://thenewsafrica.com/2012/04/16/sokoto-schools-for-the-almajiri/. 

Sahara Reports, "Sahara ReportsPHOTONEWS: President Goodluck Jonathan Commissions "Almajiri School" In Sokoto." Last modified April 10,2012. Accessed April 24, 2012. http://saharareporters.com/gallery/photonews-president-goodluck-jonathan-commissions-almajiri-school-sokoto.