A prominent researcher on the Almajiri system, Dr. Nuraddeen Sani Nuhu, has ignited widespread debate after claiming that many parents send their children away not primarily for Quranic education, but to avoid the responsibilities of parenting.
In a video that has since stirred reactions online, Dr. Nuhu said his findings were based on interviews conducted across villages in Katsina, Kano, Jigawa and Saminaka, where he engaged parents on the reasons behind enrolling children in the Almajiri system.
According to him, many parents initially defended the practice by insisting that children learn better away from home.
“We told them Quranic schools could be localized and the children would not need to beg on the streets,” he said. “But they argued that ‘a child will not focus near family’ or that ‘urban schools are better.’”
However, he said the responses changed once financial support was introduced into the discussion.
Dr. Nuhu revealed that he asked parents whether they would keep their children at home if feeding and welfare costs were covered while the children studied under their care.
“Nearly 70 per cent said yes if given financial support,” he stated.
“This directly confirms to us that these children are not being sent away primarily to study the Quran,” he added. “Rather, they are being sent away to evade the responsibilities tied to parenting.”
The researcher further argued that the growing Almajiri crisis should not be viewed strictly as a religious issue.
“According to him, the Almajiri crisis is not a religious matter centered on studying the Quran,” the activist said. “It is simply a matter of looking for a way to escape the duties that God has mandated upon an individual.”
Dr. Nuhu’s comments have triggered heated discussions on social media and within northern communities, with many agreeing that poverty and parental neglect are major contributors to street begging, while others insist the Almajiri system remains deeply rooted in religious and cultural traditions.
The debate has also renewed calls for reforms aimed at improving child welfare, access to education, and support for low-income families across northern Nigeria.
