From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has extended a major lifeline to vulnerable children in Yobe State, distributing blankets and nylon mats to about 38,000 pupils across Tsangaya and Almajiri schools in all 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
The initiative was launched at Malam Rabiu Mai Bataliya Tsangaya in Buni Yadi, headquarters of Gujba LGA. NEDC’s MD/CEO, Mohammed G. Alkali, represented by Yobe State Coordinator, Prof. Ali Ibrahim Abbas, described the programme as a bold, solution-driven response to the persistent challenge of out-of-school children in the region.
“This initiative marks a pragmatic step toward addressing one of the most pressing educational challenges confronting the North East,” Prof. Abbas said. He praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for his unwavering commitment to transforming education and supporting all NEDC interventions in the state.
Prof. Abbas added, “Obviously, by investing in these schools, we are fostering sustainability and ensuring that Quranic and Islamic education becomes a bridge to broader academic and economic opportunities for our youth.”
As part of the intervention, NEDC also handed over newly completed solar-powered boreholes at the Tsangaya school, an initiative described by Prof. Abbas as “strategic and deeply impactful.”
Leaders in the Tsangaya and Almajiri education system, including Malam Usman Lawan, Coordinator of Tsangaya and Almajiri Schools (AISEB), and Mustapha Moh’d Gujba, Yobe Focal Person on Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, commended NEDC’s actions as a model of effective collaboration rooted in a shared vision for national development and human capital growth.
Prof. Abbas noted that the intervention is part of NEDC’s broader commitment to uplifting vulnerable populations across the North East, providing clean water, sanitation facilities, solar streetlights, and enhanced learning environments for children affected by poverty, displacement, and limited access to basic services.
The Commission expressed appreciation to the Yobe State Government, partners, and stakeholders for their steadfast support, reaffirming its pledge to continue delivering impactful programmes that improve lives and expand opportunities for children and communities across the region.
