From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Dean of Faculty of Education and Expert in Educational Measurement and Evaluation at the Federal University, Lokoja, Professor Rafiu Ademola Olatoye has stressed the urgent need for the federal government to tackle the problem of Almajiris(Out-of-school-children) in Northern Nigeria with immediate effect.
Professor Olatoye made the call while delivering the 29th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University, Lokoja at its Adankolo Campus yesterday.
Professor Olatoye in his lecture titled Lamentation and Consolation In The Adventure of An Educational Evaluator, also called on the relevant stakeholders in the education sector to complement government’s efforts towards the realisation of the goal.
He lamented the poverty and agony faced by the Almajiris as a result of lack of parental care and hazards they are exposed to on daily basis
He further lamented the socio-cultural factors hindering the integration of the Almajiris into the formal education system such as family role, societal influence, poverty, home background, and lack of finance.
According to him “Other factors include; religion belief, parental level of education, bad attitude, peer influence, and perception constitutes another obstacle of integration of the Almajiris into formal education system in varying degrees”
Professor Olatoye made the following recommendations as solution to the problem; “That all the identified socio-economic factors affecting the integration of the Almajiris into the formal education system should be addressed by the government.
“This can be done through public enlightenment campaign and provision of incentives. Adequate incentive should be provided by the government if they want the Almajiris to go to formal schools.
“Government should help the Mallams to provide shelter and food for the Almajiris in order to eradicate begging activities of Almajiris in the society.
“Regular orientation should be given to Mallams on how to take care of the Almajiris in order to improve their well-being.
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, in his welcome address, restated the resolve of his leadership not to relent in pursuance of provision of quality education.
He said that the inaugural Lecture series of the University is part of its academic tradition to showcase intellectual capacity of the serving lecturers and celebration of scholarly activities.
The Vice Chancellor vowed that the institution would remain committed to advancing the culture of Inaugural Lecture.
Professor Akinwumi was of the opinion that the value of education in Nigeria need to be improved upon on regular basis
He commended the presenter of the 29th Inaugural Lecture, Professor Olatoye for the academic quality displaced in delivering his topic and solicited for the movement of the Nigeria’s educational system from Lamentation to Consolation.
