An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training organisation, New Horizons Nigeria, has inaugurated a ₦50 million Almajiri-to-Tech empowerment scheme aimed at training Almajiri children as computer and electronics technicians.
The Managing Director of New Horizons Nigeria, Mr Tim Akano, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the initiative is designed to take Almajiri children off the streets through skills acquisition.
The Hausa term Almajiri is derived from the Arabic word al-Muhājir, which refers to a person who migrates from his home in search of Islamic knowledge. Over time, the term has come to be used colloquially to describe young persons who beg on the streets and do not attend secular schools.
Akano explained that the initiative, which forms part of the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is targeted at reducing unemployment, boosting productivity, and improving national security.
“The Almajiri problem is not the failure of the children but the failure of society. God has not created any human being useless. What they need is opportunity, not force,” he said.
According to him, the 90-day intensive training programme will commence on January 19 at the New Horizons Training Centre in Abuja, where participants will be trained as computer and electronics technicians.
He said beneficiaries would receive hands-on training in laptop, desktop, and mobile phone repairs, as well as the maintenance of televisions, projectors, fans, radios, and inverters.
Akano added that the first week of the programme would focus on mindset reorientation, delivered in the Hausa language by a psychologist and an Islamic cleric.
“We must reprogramme these young people away from begging and hopelessness by teaching them discipline, patriotism, and the dignity of labour,” he said.
He disclosed that training slots had been allocated to the People Expertise and Excellence Foundation (PEEF) and Senator Solomon Adeola as part of broader youth empowerment efforts.
Akano assured that participants would not be abandoned after completing the programme, stressing that graduates would be supported with work locations, market placement, and certification as New Horizons technicians.
“At the end of the programme, the best graduating Almajiri will receive full funding and business tools to start work immediately,” he said.
He further revealed that New Horizons has committed ₦50 million to cover feeding, logistics, training materials, and technical tools for the participants.
According to him, a post-training digital platform will be created to list certified Almajiri technicians and connect them with customers seeking repair services.
He called on non-governmental organisations, government agencies, and private-sector partners to support the initiative and help scale its impact nationwide.
Akano noted that the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the first batch of Almajiri-to-Tech graduates would be ready to offer repair services from April 2026.
“Fixing the Almajiri challenge is central to Nigeria’s stability. When you give them skills, you fight poverty, insecurity, and idleness at the same time,” he said.
