The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supported the validation and registration of 20,800 Almajiri children in the social register in Katsina.

Rabi Mohammed, the head of operations of the State Operation Coordination Unit (SOCU), disclosed this on Wednesday at the quarterly Social Protection Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting.

Ms Mohammed explained that the exercise was conducted in three local government areas for future interventions.

According to her, at least 5,882 almajiri children were registered in Kafur LGA, Mani LGA 8,318, while Safana LGA registered 6,106.

She added that about 131 almajirai from Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Zamfara were registered during the exercise.

Ms Mohammed revealed that out of the almajiri children integrated, 43.97 per cent are males, while the females are 56.3 per cent.

“During the exercise, we have also captured almajiris living with special needs and their needs, as well as their sources of food, especially those that fed themselves, either by their parents or by their teachers,” stated the statement.

It said, “Among them, those with Junior Secondary Education (JSE) certificates are 1,397; those with no qualifications are 12,362; those with primary certificates are 6,311, and those with Senior Secondary Education (SSE) are 221.

“Age distribution of the children: 5–10 years of age: 8,208; 11–15 years: 10,309; 16–20 years: 1,671; and those between the ages of 21–25 years: 103. During the exercise, we had sensitisation and mobilisation activities for the stakeholders, as well as training of the enumerators,” according to her.”

Ms Mohammed also revealed that during the validation and integration, they understood that most children did not want to stay out there but had no option because their parents insisted.

Representatives from the state’s ministries of education, agriculture, and emergency management also made their presentations.

(NAN)