The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to take no fewer than 1,000 almajiris off the street of the nation’s capital.
Acting Director, Department of Social Welfare Services, Social Development Secretariat, Alhaji Sani Amar, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Thursday in Abuja.
Amar said that the move was part of the efforts toward ensuring the attainment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s determination to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
“The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, directed that as part of the presidential mandate to remove 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, we engage Almajiris on vocational skills training and education.
“That will make them to be self-reliant and ensure that they too become employers of labour, as beggars and Almajiris have nothing doing other than going round soliciting for what to eat.
“So we moved round the city and identified some Islamic schools closer to the city, to start with.
“We are able to come out with 120 Almajiris and engage them in different skills acquisition, such as carpentry, shoe making and painting.
“As time goes by and based on our target, we are going to engage over 1,000 Almajiris in different skills acquisition training.
“At the end of their training, there will be a ceremony where each and every one of them will be given a starter-pack and money to rent a space for their business,” he said.
