The Shehu Maikoli Foundation has organized a stakeholders’ Dialogue as part of the activities to mark this year’s International Humanitarian Day.
This is contained in statement by Aliyu Abubakar Shehu, Information Management Officer of the Foundation, made available to Ashenewsonline on Friday.
Themed: “Shaping the Narratives of Almajiri and Child Abuse”, the stressed the need for domesticating policies and approaches to the perennial challenge of Almajiri syndrome.
Speaking during the virtual dialogue the founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Altine Kajiji, said “the aim and objectives of the foundation is to assist humanity in the area of education, health, poverty eradication, peaceful co-existence, among several others.”
According to him, the target is also to promote equalitarianism and reducing inequalities through education and inclusive development
“The foundation is ready to support any forum toward serving humanity and community selflessly,” while re-emphasizeing “on the need for strategic partnership among stakeholders at all levels towards reducing inequalities and improving the livelihood of the people.”
On the issue of shaping the narratives of Almajiri and child abuse, Kajiji challenged the government, NGOs, individuals and other stakeholders to collectively put hands together to see to the end of challenges being faced by Almajiris in the society.
During her presentation, the founder of International Gender and Human Rights, Dr. Ameena Ali, stressed the need “for domesticating policies and approaches that directly or indirectly affect the Almajiris.”
Ameena called on all stakeholders to come up with a quicker solution of tackling the issues of child abuse in our society.
Other Speakers were Dr. Umar Altine Dandin-Mahe, Executive Secretary Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Education Board; Engr. Adewale Adenaike, Special Assistant, Project Implementation to the Minister of State for Education.
According them, negligence of parents, cultural misconceptions, illiteracy and poverty were the major drivers of Almajiri and child abuse menace.
They stressed the dire need for stakeholder’s engagement and participation, sustained community awareness, fiscal policy, research, partnership and collaboration in order to end the menace.
Several other participants expressed their willingness to join hands together and contribute positively in shaping narratives of Almajiri and Child Abuse in our societies.
The dialogue was jointly moderated by Maryam Bugaje, a journalist and Hussaini Garba Mohammed, a sustainable development advocate.