First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu is seeking a stronger collaboration between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to provide formal education opportunities for Almajiri and out-of-school children by integrating Arabic learning with Western education.
Tinubu made the call on Thursday in Abuja while receiving Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Yousef bin Mohammed Albalawi, and the embassy’s Chief of Staff, Mr Mohammed Bukar. She said such a partnership would help improve the welfare of vulnerable children and contribute to Nigeria’s future development.
The First Lady said reforming the Almajiri education system through a combination of Islamic teachings and formal education would address challenges faced by the children while reducing their vulnerability.
She noted that Nigeria and Saudi Arabia had maintained longstanding relations and expressed appreciation to the ambassador for the visit.
“I work with women and vulnerable children in society, and my heart goes out to the Almajiri children in the North. I believe they need better care.
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“This is because most of the insecurity challenges in the nation, if those particular groups of children are not taken care of, I don’t know what might happen.
“I believe we can still begin to give them formal education. If we are able to do that, the future of Nigeria will be well secured,” Tinubu said.
Earlier, Albalawi, who disclosed that he had spent five months in Nigeria, commended the warm reception he had received from government officials.
He said his engagements with members of the Federal Executive Council would help strengthen bilateral relations and promote cooperation between both countries.
The ambassador expressed optimism about deeper collaboration that would support economic growth and development in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
“As you are aware, our countries have strong relationships. We share historical ties, religion, culture and the potential to improve our partnership and bring it back in shape. “Our nations have strong ambitions to improve our economies,” Albalawi said.
NAN
