The Sokoto State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has verified and registered 249,523 vulnerable children, including out-of-school adolescent girls.
A breakdown of the figures shows that 113,208 are Almajiri children, while 136,315 are adolescent girls.
The disclosure was made during a two-day media dialogue and field trip aimed at addressing the situation of Almajiri children and out-of-school adolescent girls in Nigeria. The event, held in Sokoto, was organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with UNICEF and attended by education reporters from Sokoto State and the Federal Capital Territory.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Sokoto and Child Protection Specialist, Godwin Odo, stated that the data was obtained through a household survey and site visits to locations where many Almajiri children reside with their Mallams.
Odo further revealed that over 60,000 Almajiri children and out-of-school adolescent girls have received training at Child Protection Centres across the five North West states of Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, and Sokoto.
He noted that UNICEF is working with state governments, civil society organizations, and traditional institutions to protect children from exploitation and harm. The initiative aims to reduce child vulnerability and ensure their safety and well-being.
Additionally, child-friendly spaces are being implemented to provide safe environments for education, recreation, and skill development, particularly for out-of-school children and adolescent girls.
