Kaduna State Begins Cash Disbursement To 2,674 Almajiri

The Kaduna State government has commenced cash disbursements to 2,674 Almajiri under the children in the street situation.

The Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe said the programme is beginning with 2,674 Almajiri who will each receive N5,000 cash transfer.

According to her, the advocacy by development partners and Civic groups also draws attention to the consequences of poverty for child education; while suggesting that, the ability of street children to access education can be enhanced by the provision of financial relief to them and their families.

“Consequently, these stakeholders have designed an innovative intervention that covers financial inclusion through banking the beneficiaries, promoting social inclusion through birth and digital identity registration and expanding literacy through enrolment and provision of accessory materials and uniforms’’. She noted

Hadiza further explained that the donors plan to increase the cash transfer to N10,000 each in subsequent months to ensure that these children are enrolled and kept in schools.

She said stakeholders involved in the Almajiri project include the National Population Commission which is providing the children with birth certificates.

’’The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board would be providing reading materials, and Keystone Bank opened accounts for the beneficiaries, while Kaduna State Resident Identity Management Agency is registering and enrolling the children with National Identity Numbers (NIN)

Whereas, UNICEF will be providing the funds for the cash disbursement’’. She added.

Hafsat Baba, the Kaduna state commissioner Human Services and Social Development said the purpose of the intervention is to transfer cash to these children to support their reintegration into their communities.

She also noted that; the transfer is conditional, and this has prompted collaboration from relevant stakeholders in the child protection services subsector.

While explaining that, in January 2022, UNICEF funded the Ministry to follow up on the 10,000+ children were reunited with their families during the COVID-19 lockdown Added that during this verification exercise, 2,674 children were found to be at home, still experiencing multiple deprivations.

According to her, the state government is working with developmental partners to enroll these children in school and get them a birth certificate and national identity card.

Hauwa said, the program is expected to continue and the children can as well continue with their Islamic education

“We do not want to see our children on the road, we are saying that, in Kaduna state, education is compulsory and free from primary to secondary school” she said

Furthermore, the attention will be more on the children of Kaduna state, while the Almajiri from other states will go back to their state.

Stressing said there is a need to curtail the rate at which children are being exposed to the streets which can lead them to various social vices.

Olusola Akintonde