Dreams deserves better grounds, yet for countless children in Northern Nigeria, the harsh reality is that they spend their nights on cold sidewalks and their days wandering streets in search of food.
These are the Almajiri children, young boys whose futures are being stolen in plain sight. Instead of learning in safe classrooms, they are trapped in a cycle of begging, vulnerability, and neglect.
This is not the destiny they were born for, nor the future any society should accept for its youngest members.
The Almajiri system, once a respected institution of religious instruction, has over the years drifted away from its original purpose.
Historically, it was designed to instill discipline, moral values, and knowledge of the Qur’an, often supported by local communities that ensured students were cared for.
But the system has suffered from decades of neglect, population pressure, and socio-economic decline.
Dreams Deserves Better Grounds
What remains today is a fragile structure in which many children are sent far from home, left in the care of teachers with few resources, and pushed onto the streets to fend for themselves.
Nigeria has one of the largest populations of out-of-school children in the world, and a significant percentage of them are Almajiri.
These boys often begin their day at dawn, not in classrooms but with bowls in hand, going from door to door hoping for a meal.
Many are barefoot, exposed to the heat, the dust, and the dangers of the streets. Their lives are shaped by deprivation.
They eat when they can, sleep where they find space, and rarely experience the joy of play or the stability of a nurturing environment.
The harm caused by this neglect is deep and long-lasting. Many Almajiri children suffer from malnutrition, their growth stunted by poor diets.
Without access to healthcare, they remain vulnerable to preventable diseases. The streets expose them to physical abuse, exploitation, and sometimes recruitment into criminal activities.
Most critically, they are denied the opportunity to learn skills that would allow them to break free from poverty.
Literacy and numeracy remain out of reach for many, leaving them ill-prepared for adulthood in a modern, competitive society.
Dreams Deserves Better Grounds
Beyond the human tragedy, the continued neglect of Almajiri children is a national concern.
An uneducated population fuels cycles of poverty and unemployment, which in turn strain the economy and destabilize communities.
By allowing this problem to persist, Nigeria is not just failing its children, it is undermining its own future. The wasted potential of these children represents a loss of human capital that the country can ill afford.
Several efforts have been made to address the situation, but many have fallen short.
The introduction of Almajiri Model Schools was a well-intentioned initiative by the Federal Government to integrate Qur’anic education with formal learning.
However, inadequate maintenance, poor funding, and the absence of meaningful community engagement have rendered many of these facilities ineffective.
Dreams Deserves Better Grounds
Simply building schools is not enough; reform must be rooted in cultural understanding and economic reality.
The economic pressures that drive parents to send their children into the Almajiri system cannot be ignored.
In many cases, these parents believe that by entrusting their sons to Islamic scholars, they are giving them a moral foundation.
But the inability to support them financially forces these children into a life of begging. Addressing this requires solutions that respect cultural values while protecting the rights of the child.
A sustainable approach to reform must be multi-dimensional. First, the curriculum in Qur’anic schools should be broadened to include basic literacy, numeracy, science, and vocational training.
This would ensure that religious education complements practical skills, preparing students for life beyond their studies.
Second, the voices of religious leaders, parents, and community elders must be part of the solution. Without their support, any policy change risks rejection or neglect.
Economic support for families is equally vital.
Conditional cash transfers, school feeding programs, and small business grants can ease the financial burdens that push children into begging.
At the same time, Mallams should be equipped and compensated adequately so they can care for their students without sending them to the streets.
Dreams Deserves Better Grounds
Teacher training in modern pedagogy would also improve the quality of education in these schools.
Healthcare access must not be overlooked. Mobile clinics, vaccination drives, and hygiene education targeted at Almajiri communities would reduce the health risks these children face daily
. Alongside this, clear child protection laws and their enforcement would help prevent exploitation and neglect.
International organisations like UNICEF have a crucial role to play in supporting these reforms.
They can provide technical expertise, funding for pilot programs, teacher training resources, and frameworks for monitoring progress.
Yet the ultimate responsibility lies with local and national governments, supported by communities themselves. True change can only happen when the people closest to the issue take ownership of the solutions.
The human side of this crisis cannot be captured by statistics alone. Imagine a boy sleeping on a bare pavement under the open sky, clutching a thin wrapper against the cold.
He is no less intelligent, no less capable of greatness, than the children sitting in well-lit classrooms across the country.
What he lacks is opportunity, not ability. Given the chance, many Almajiri children have risen above their circumstances, excelling in vocational trades, formal education, and even leadership roles.
They are proof that when given tools instead of trials, children can transform their lives.
This is why the phrase dreams should not sleep on pavements must become more than an expression of sympathy. It should be a rallying cry for action.
Every child deserves a safe place to sleep, a nutritious meal, and the chance to learn and play without fear.
Dreams Deserves Better Grounds
These are not privileges; they are basic rights recognised under both Nigerian law and international conventions.
Failing to address the plight of Almajiri children is more than a humanitarian oversight, it is a dangerous gamble with the country’s future.
A generation left without education or care cannot be expected to contribute fully to national progress.
On the other hand, investing in these children’s wellbeing and education will pay dividends for decades to come, fostering a more skilled, peaceful, and prosperous society.
Dreams should not sleep on pavements because when they do, we all lose. The pavement offers no comfort, no encouragement, no tools for growth.
But a classroom, a safe home, and a supportive community can awaken dreams that transform not just individuals, but entire nations.
The time to act is now, before another generation’s potential is left to wither under the unforgiving sun and cold night air.
Dreams Deserves Better Grounds
