Ex-governor of Kano state Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Saturday marked his 67th birthday by donating his personal house to serve as Majidadi Institute of Islamic Research and Advancement.
Kwankwaso, the leader and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), said the Islamic centre is meant to provide access for Almajiris who memorise the Holy Quran.
The enrolled Almajiris would undergo rigorous training in both English and Arabic studies and certified with primary, secondary and diploma certificates with which they will join the academia.
Kwankwaso, born on 21 October 1956, who pioneered the Kwankwasiyya Movement in Nigeria, donated his house along with a mosque to Charity in commemoration of his birthday.
The Quranic Center, named after his late Father, is meant to provide both formal and Quranic education to millions of Almajiris of 15-25 years.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Centre situated at his Bompai residence, Kwankwaso lamented that the elite have failed to play the desired roles to stop the redundant movements of Almajiris on the streets of the North.
“This institute is my idea, to make sure the streets are relived of beggars. It is also meant to ensure those begging are provided with life opportunities.
“The idea of Almajiris system in the beginning was not bad; it was a purely educational pursuit for young people from one end to another. However, overtime the idea was bastardised and very many people did not care to look at it again.
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“This centre is to get people who have memorised the Glorious Quran registered, select those who meet the requirements and examine them.
“It has a curriculum in which men and women will be trained within the shortest possible time to get them primary and secondary certificates.
“They will be given diploma in Islamic education. With this, they can go to universities and the sky will be the limit for them. They will be given the opportunity to be certified and accommodated in the system,” Kwankwaso said.
He reminded the gathering that during his tenure as Governor of Kano State, he tried because of his concern to address the situation by creating 44 Tsangaya Boarding Schools across the State, but they were neglected and left crippled because of bad behaviour.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, thanked Kwankwaso for his initiative, saying the donation would provide the enabling ground for further development in the state education sector.
Yusuf promised to rehabilitate the 44 Tsangiya Islamic Schools established by Kwankwaso across the local government areas.