Education and the Right to Development of the Child in Northern Nigeria: A Proposal for Reforming the Almajiri Institution

Children are important members of any society. Their development is a responsibility not only of government, but also of the entire global community. In Nigeria, an otherwise good practice of the almajiri has turned into a social milieu that captures the attention of every well-meaning Nigerian and indeed the global community. The practice, which hitherto promoted the child's right to education, now promotes denial of other basic rights, like shelter, food, health care, and love, as well as the right the practice tends to promote. In light of these issues, this paper advocates the reformation of almajiri in Nigeria, using human rights as a basis.