An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training organisation, New Horizons Nigeria says it has inaugurated a ₦50 million Almajiri-to-Tech empowerment scheme to train Almajiri children as computer and electronics technicians.
Tim Akano, the Managing Director of New Horizons Nigeria, who made this known in a statement on Friday, said the initiative would take the Almajiri children off the streets.
The Hausa word Almajiri is derived from the Arabic word, “al-Muhājir,” which refers to a person who migrates from his home in search of Islamic knowledge.
Colloquially, the term has expanded to refer to any young person who begs on the streets and does not attend secular school.
Akano said the initiative, which was part of the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility, was aimed at reducing unemployment, boosting productivity and improving national security through skills acquisition.
“The Almajiri problem is not the failure of the children but the failure of society. God has not created any human being useless. What they need is opportunity, not force,” Akano said.
He said the 90-day intensive programme would commence on Jan. 19 at the New Horizons Training Centre in Abuja, with participants trained as computer and electronics technicians.
According to him, beneficiaries will receive hands-on training in laptop, desktop and mobile phone repairs, as well as television, projector, fan, radio and inverter maintenance.
Akano said the first week of the programme would focus on mindset reorientation, delivered in Hausa language by a psychologist and an Islamic cleric.
“We must reprogramme these young people away from begging and hopelessness by teaching them discipline, patriotism and the dignity of labour,” he said.
He disclosed that training slots had been allocated to the People Expertise and Excellence Foundation (PEEF) and Senator Solomon Adeola to support wider youth empowerment efforts.
Akano said graduates would not be abandoned after training, stressing that they would be assisted with work locations, market placement and certification as New Horizons technicians.
“At the end of the programme, the best graduating Almajiri will receive full funding and business tools to start work immediately,” he said.
He added that New Horizons had committed ₦50 million to cover feeding, logistics, training materials and technical tools for participants.
Akano said a post-training digital platform would be created to list certified Almajiri technicians and connect them with customers seeking repair services.
He said the organisation was calling on NGOs, government agencies and private partners to support the programme and help scale its impact nationwide.
Akano said the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the first set of Almajiri-to-Tech graduates would be ready to offer repair services from April 2026.
“Fixing the Almajiri challenge is central to Nigeria’s stability. When you give them skills, you fight poverty, insecurity and idleness at the same time,” he said.
