The Danmodi Students Care Initiative has trained 2,500 Almajiri in different vocational skills and provided them with startup packages to support the Jigawa State Government’s efforts to tackle street begging, promote job creation, and reduce poverty across the state.
Speaking during the distribution of the empowerment packages, the Senior Special Adviser to the Jigawa State Governor on Students Affairs, Comrade Muhammad Salisu Sika, said the programme was created to promote social and economic inclusion.
He explained that the 2,500 Almajiri were selected from various Tsangaya schools across Jigawa State. According to him, they received training in shoe shining and barbing and were given complete sets of tools to help them become self-reliant during and after their Quranic studies.
“The beneficiaries were trained in shoe shining and barbing, and each received a full set of tools needed to start the trade. More so, 287 Alarammas (Quranic tutors) were given a cash grant of N50,000 each,” he said.
He added that the initiative also distributed 300 bicycles and wheelchairs to less privileged and physically challenged pupils to encourage regular classroom attendance.
“We are also flagging off the distribution of 25,000 school uniforms to Basic Education pupils from rural areas and 100 laptops to Jigawa State students studying at the Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, and the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna,” Comrade Salisu stated.
He noted that over the last three years, more than 250,000 students have directly benefited from various programmes and interventions carried out by the Danmodi Students Care Initiative, aimed at complementing the Jigawa State Government’s investment in education and human capital development.
Governor Umar Namadi expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing its impact on the state’s economic and human capital development as encouraging and commendable.
