Kano Faces Alarming Rate of Out-of-School Children —MAAUN AISD Reveals During Validation Session

The African Institute for Solutions and Development (AISD), Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), organized a validation session that brought together stakeholders and evaluators to critically review the reliability and overall quality of the Out-of-School Children (OOSC) research conducted by the Institute in Kano State.

The institute, which is the development arm of MAAUN, is dedicated to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, gender, or geographical location, has access to quality education and the chance to survive.

The session was a collaborative effort aimed at ensuring that the study aligns with established standards, fulfills necessary requirements, and is suitable for its intended purpose.

The program, attended by various stakeholders in the education sector and other relevant agencies, was designed to highlight the research data collected on prevalence of out-of-school children in Kano State and the way forward.

In his welcome address, the President of MAAUN, Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Israr, said the issue of vulnerable children missing out on education is a pressing concern that demands collective action of all the stakeholders.

Prof. Israr who described the statistics on out-of-school children in Kano as alarming, noted that the affected children are not only denied their right to education but are also more susceptible to exploitation, abuse, and poverty.

He, therefore, stressed the need for the stakeholders to find out the root causes of the problem with a view to developing effective strategies for mitigation.

Presenting the report on the findings from the OOSC research, the Lead Researcher, Prof. Jami’u Olumoh said the main objective of the research is to understand the OOSC phenomenon in Kano State, estimate prevalence and types of OOSC as well as analyse socio-economic and cultural contributors.

He said other objectives include to examine regional development effects and recommend actionable mitigation strategies.

According to him, three local government areas from Kano’s senatorial zones (rural and urban) were randomly selected while the target children were aged 6 -17 years.

Also in his remarks, the Executive Chairman, AISD Board of Trustees, Dr. Audu Liman commended the Founder of MAAUN, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo for providing the enabling environment to the institute whose mandate is to develop solutions to multifaceted challenges facing communities in Nigeria.

Similarly, in his remarks, the Executive Director of AISD, Dr. Salisu Muhammad Lawal explained the operations of the Institute and the rationale behind the research by the Institute.

According to him, the Institute was established to address major societal challenges through research and innovative solutions to improve lives and foster sustainable development.

Speaking, the Kano State Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Ismaila Danmaraya, thanked AISD for conducting the research, noting that the findings would go a long way in guiding policy makers on how to tackle the challenges.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders to study the report on the findings of out-of-state children with a view to finding a lasting solution to the menace.

In his remarks, the Statistician General of the Kano State Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Aliyu Isah Aliyu, commended the team for their significant achievement and offered suggestions for improving the research.

After a thorough review of the study’s methodology, data integrity, findings, and relevance, as well as consideration of feedback from experts, Dr. Aliyu, who represented the entire stakeholders present, validated the AISD study and recommended areas for improvement to ensure its proper utilization.

Dr. Halima Abdullahi Rabiu, the Executive Secretary, State Agency for Mass Education delivered the closing remarks.

Other Management staff members of MAAUN who attended the workshop included, the Vice President Administration, Dr. Habib Awais Abubakar and Director Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, Dr. Nura A. Yaro as well as some Faculty members.