By Khalid Idris Doya
The founder and chief executive officer of the Islamic Basic Orientation Forum, Dr. Bashir Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has linked the growing insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the North, to high illiteracy rates, youth idleness and inadequate educational opportunities.
He said poverty and lack of opportunities were dangerous, but when combined with illiteracy and a lack of practical skills, they could have devastating consequences for society.
Dahiru stated this while presenting a paper titled, “The Qur'an, Modern Education, and Our Shared Responsibility for the Sustainable Future of Tsangaya and Almajiri Education,” during the commissioning of the Sheikh Tahir Tsangaya Model School in Kangere, Bauchi State, on Thursday.
He said the future of Northern Nigeria could not be secured without addressing the growing number of out-of-school children who roam the streets without access to structured education and proper mentorship.
According to him, leaving children without education, guidance and opportunities exposes them to exploitation by criminal gangs and violent extremist groups.
"An uneducated, idle child is deprived of dignity, hope and purpose," he said, warning that the neglect of young people could further worsen the region's security challenges.
He stressed that when thousands of young people were left without adequate education and productive engagement, they became vulnerable to recruitment by groups seeking to exploit their circumstances.
The Islamic scholar said Islam placed a sacred responsibility on parents and guardians to nurture and educate their children from an early age.
Quoting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he said, "Every one of you is a shepherd and every one of you is responsible for his flock."
He described early childhood education as a divine trust, known as Amanah, which parents must fulfil by providing their children with the necessary moral, religious and intellectual foundation.
According to him, parents who neglect their children's education expose them to vulnerabilities that could undermine their future and the well-being of society.
"We must instil in our homes an unwavering commitment to raising children who are grounded in faith, knowledge and moral rectitude from their formative stages," he said.
Dahiru maintained that tackling insecurity required more than military operations, calling for sustained investment in education and skills development to prevent vulnerable children and youths from being recruited by violent groups.
"Subversive elements, criminal gangs and violent extremists exploit the vacuum created by illiteracy to recruit desperate youths.
"To defeat security challenges, our response must move beyond military action. We must shut down the recruitment pipeline of violent groups by educating every single child and keeping them meaningfully engaged," he said.
He described the Sheikh Tahir Tsangaya Model School in Kangere as a model for transforming traditional Qur'anic education in Northern Nigeria.
He called for a comprehensive curriculum that combines Islamic teachings with modern academic subjects and practical skills to prepare students for the challenges of contemporary society.
According to him, students should receive religious and moral instruction to promote discipline and spiritual development, alongside training in mathematics, computer literacy, languages, agriculture, crafts, trade and technology.
He said integrating religious education with modern knowledge and vocational training would help reduce street begging, known as bara, while empowering graduates to become self-reliant and productive members of society.
Dahiru further called for collaboration among government authorities, traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and host communities to ensure the sustainable transformation of the Tsangaya education system.
He urged governments to provide supportive policies, sustainable funding, adequate infrastructure and formal recognition or certification for graduates of modernised Tsangaya schools.
He also tasked school administrators and religious educators with adopting modern teaching methods, integrating relevant academic subjects into their curricula and safeguarding the physical and moral welfare of students.
Traditional rulers, religious leaders and community heads, he said, should provide moral guidance, mobilise community support and promote the acceptance of modernised Tsangaya education.
He called on parents and host communities to enrol children in school, eliminate street begging and take collective responsibility for protecting and maintaining school facilities.
Dahiru urged political leaders, wealthy individuals, traditional rulers and community leaders to replicate the Kangere model across local government areas in Northern Nigeria.
"Let us declare today in Kangere that no child shall be left behind. I call upon political leaders, men and women of means, traditional rulers and community heads to replicate the Kangere model across all local government areas.
"Let us invest in our children today to secure peace, security and prosperity for Nigeria tomorrow," he said.
0 Comments