Kebbi Govt Takes Over Argungu Orphanage, Signs MOU On Out-Of-School Children.
From Khadijat Saidu
Birnin Kebbi.
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State on Wednesday took over the Argungu Orphanage Home, launched the Skills Acquisition Programme for 150 Qur’anic schools and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, OFR, said the event marked a significant milestone in the lives of the people, especially the orphans and the less privileged in the state.
Senator Tafida, who conveyed the Governor’s warm greetings, said Governor Nasir Idris was unavoidably absent due to very pressing official engagements outside Nigeria.
He said the Governor asked him to convey his highest regards and goodwill to the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Nasara Foundation for the noble initiative.
The Deputy Governor noted that for over a decade, the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development (SFPD) has been at the forefront of addressing critical health and social challenges in the region, adding that Kebbi State has greatly benefitted from the activities of the Foundation, especially in donor-funded projects supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF and others.
He commended the initiator of the programme, Her Excellency, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris, describing the initiative as a direct result of her desire to see vulnerable orphans not just survive, but thrive with dignity and security.
Senator Tafida reaffirmed that the formal transfer of the orphanage to the state government would provide an opportunity for its management in accordance with applicable laws and government regulations, particularly for ensuring adequate security, professional care, proper supervision, sustainable funding and the protection of the rights and dignity of the vulnerable children.
In his Welcome Address, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, CON, said the orphanage was established through a generous contribution by an illustrious son of the Emirate who chose to remain anonymous.
The Emir noted that since its inception, the orphanage has been maintained through generous contributions from concerned citizens, particularly the One Million Naira monthly contribution by the Wife of the Governor, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Idris, towards its running.
He expressed hope that the formal transfer of the orphanage to the State Government would provide an opportunity for effective management in accordance with applicable laws, as well as the provision of adequate security, professional care and supervision for the children.
He said the initiative is a joint and timely intervention by Her Excellency through her foundation, The Nasara Foundation, UBEC and the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development.
Under the initiative, 150 Qur’anic schools selected from the four Emirates of Kebbi State that participated in the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) will benefit from three sets of skills acquisition tools each for carpentry, tailoring and shoemaking. The initiative will also train three Qur’anic school students from each beneficiary school who will serve as trainers for each trade in their respective schools. Collectively, the event will launch the distribution of 450 skills acquisition tools to 150 Qur’anic schools and the training of 450 trainees who will train the trades in their respective schools.
The Emir further explained the Basic Education Partnership Programme as a strategic national initiative designed by leveraging the influence of traditional institutions, built upon the Sultan’s proven legacy with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in eradicating polio and the World Bank-supported project.
He said the programme bridges high-level policy with community engagement, ultimately driving educational access and long-term school retention for every Nigerian child.
The signing of the tripartite MoU, he added, will pilot the programme across four representative states of Adamawa, Kwara, Sokoto and Kebbi.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Rasaq Akinyemi, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of background, circumstance or location, has access to quality basic education.
He said the collaboration is more than an institutional agreement, as it provides a practical platform for connecting government policy with community leadership and action.
The Deputy Executive Secretary said the partnership also advances the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which places human capital development at the centre of national progress.
He acknowledged the policy direction and leadership of the Federal Ministry of Education under the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad.
He said under the MoU, the parties will collaborate to establish national, state and local coordinating committees, develop and disseminate advocacy materials in Hausa, Fulfulde and Yoruba, identify out-of-school children through systematic household-level mobilisation and facilitate their enrolment, strengthen community participation in monitoring school attendance, retention and completion, and promote accountability by recognising communities, schools and traditional leaders that demonstrate measurable progress.
He therefore appealed to traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to ensure that no child is denied education because of poverty, gender, disability, insecurity, cultural barriers or the circumstances of birth.
In her address, the First Lady of Kebbi State, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Idris, Giwar Matan Kabi, called on each and every individual to cater for orphans, emphasising the importance the Holy Qur’an places on caring for orphans, which she said carries enormous benefits and rewards from Allah. She noted that Islam describes the one who cares for an orphan as among those who will be close to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in Jannah, and reechoed that everyone should have it in mind that one day our own children may become orphans, and however we cater for these orphans today, in the same manner Allah will raise people to cater for our own children tomorrow.
In his remarks, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who is the Grand Patron and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, said the visit to Argungu underscored the importance attached to the welfare and future of children.
He expressed concern over the involvement of children in street begging and stressed the need to enrol them in schools.
“We don’t want to see our children begging. Islam does not permit begging. Taking them off the streets and sending them to school is very important,” he said.
The Sultan commended the anonymous donor, the state government and other contributors for establishing and sustaining the orphanage.