Harnessing Nigeria’s high population: The almajiri example

One of the advantages Nigeria as a country has, is its brimming population. As far as the Vice President, Kashim Shettima is concerned, Nigeria’s high number in population should be one of the reasons the Country deserves a permanent seat in the UN’s Security Council. It is projected that by 2050, thereabouts, the country will have an estimated population of 300 million people or more. And most of these would be in their youthful ages between 18 – 25. Such a population and within the active youthful age is a dream for developed nations. It can be correlated to one of the reasons middle income countries like Brazil, Indonesia, China and India are progressing at a geometric sequence.

All things being equal, Nigeria has every reason to be in the league of these high middle-income countries, given the land mass, population and the median age of this population. Presently, the country is estimated to be 235 million in number, and with such a number, development sectors through which countries attain self-sufficiency and sustenance are easily attained. Yet, a lot of variables have to be in place. Conversely, a high population without an enabling environment for it to flourish and prosper, no sooner becomes a ticking bomb waiting to explode. With arable land, rivers, mineral resources and adequate education, Nigeria has no business not fruitfully exploiting her huge population to its highest potentials.

An incident took place recently which this writer witnessed, and which is proof that with adequate and critical planning, the country can climb out of most of her economic difficulties. At a popular Iya Amala joint in Keffi, where workers and travellers stop to savour Yoruba delicacies, a driver who had obviously eaten to his satisfaction had sought to enter his car, but was having difficulties. As he looked about helpless, a group of young boys popularly called Almajiris moved towards him, either in the hope of some money or to assist. No sooner, when they deduced what the problem was, murmurs of “ina dan garage, dan garage” arose from among them. Dan garage appeared, barely 8 or 9 years in age. And he fiddled a bit with the door and it swung open! I am sure, much to the relief of the driver. I saw him hand dan garage some Naira notes as he drove away.

This example reveals that there are millions of ‘dan garages’ who are highly talented but have not been put in places where their skills and intelligence would be harnessed adequately. A critical examination of the Almajiranci system would reveal that boys who are under the tutelage of their teachers, are intelligent and resilient. These can be harnessed alongside their Islamic teachings to prepare them for work in the future. An almajiri who is taught a skill or a trade such as dan garage was, would provide for his family and dependents, and would if he continues in the business employ others, and help reduce the number of unemployed people in the country. Besides, their knowledge of Arabic, which is one of the recognised international languages, would serve them positively on the world stage.

In discussions on out of school children in Nigeria, Almajiris are counted because they lack formal western education. This is so because of the misconception and ways they are perceived in society at large. It also reveals how unfamiliar people are about the system. There’s no gainsaying the fact that the practice has deteriorated and young boys are dropped off and made to fend for themselves. However, their ability to learn by rote, verses of the Holy Quran, read and write Arabic language reveals that they can learn other skills and excel in them. That’s is the time and point in time that Nigeria’s brimming population can become productive and lead to increase in her GDP. Besides the Almajiris, there are millions of out of school girls in the country who as a consequence of cultural factors but mostly debilitating financial situations have conspired to pull these young girls out of school, and prime them potentially as maids, wives or bear the risks of being sex trafficked out of the country to neighbouring nations or out of Africa altogether. Such out of school girls are found in most rural communities around the country and in big towns where parents do not have the means to fund their education.

To effectively harness the teeming Nigeria’s population, more needs to be done. Rather than weaponise these youths as potential thugs to be used during elections or used to make up the numbers during elections, governments at all levels from local governments to the Presidency should fashion out policies and programmes which will get either to have hybridised education in addition to Apprenticeships, or start farms where they can be put to work. Other forms of agribusinesses like poultry farming, rearing of animals, getting certified to work in mines, bakeries,ectetra should be explored. Harnessing the population for productive purposes will impact positively than not. Ignoring it would further widen the social chasm, which mischief makers would exploit to the detriment of all in the country. Despite their position in society, this generation under the spotlight are social media savvy, and they see what is going on in other parts of the world.

It’s better to make hay, while the sun shines.

Okiyi PhD writes from Abuja