The minister of Education, Mr. Tunji Alausa, has flagged off the two- week Train- the- Trainer Workshop for 600 Tsangaya and Islamiyya teachers across the North East geopolitical zone.
The occasion, organised by Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala (NALV) and sponsored by the North East Development Commission (NEDC), took place on Monday at Babagana Zulum Hall of NALV in Maiduguri.
The theme: “Modern Techniques of Teaching Arabic for Peace Building: Integration of Arabic Calligraphy”, has been described as apt and timely considering the renewed Boko Haram attacks in the region.
The minister who was represented by the vice -chancellor of Al-Ansar University in Maiduguri, Professor Abubakar Kundili commended the managing director of NEDC, Goni Alkali and his team, as well as the management and staff of NALV for initiating the programme.
He said, “This initiative marks a bold and pragmatic step toward addressing one of the most pressing educational challenges confronting the region, the issue of out-of-school children.
“This workshop, jointly organised by the Nigeria Arabic Language Village and the North East Development Commission, is a shining example of what productive partnership between institutions can achieve when they are driven by a shared vision of national development and human capital advancement.
“With 100 teachers drawn from each of the six states of the North East sub-region, this pilot initiative is carefully designed not just as a temporary
intervention, but as the beginning of a sustainable model for improving the quality of Islamic and Arabic education in Tsangaya and Islamiyya schools.
“By deepening our teachers’ understanding of the Arabic Language, especially in the critical areas of grammatical rules and phonological accuracy, this training seeks to prevent the misapplication and misinterpretation of Arabic grammar that can sometimes lead to doctrinal confusion or misunderstanding.
“Let me use this opportunity to acknowledge the unwavering
commitment and giant strides of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in repositioning the Nigerian education system in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“His vision for inclusive, accessible, and quality education continues to inspire initiatives such as this. Special appreciation goes to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Ümara Zulum, for his tireless efforts in revolutionising education in Borno and for his solid support toward the success of this programme.
“I also wish to express our gratitude to His Eminence, The Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, and the revered traditional rulers of the region, whose support and endorsement have provided the moral and cultural legitimacy needed for this programme to thrive in our communities” the minister stated.
Earlier in his address, the deputy governor of Borno State, Dr. Umar Usman Kadafur, who was the special guest of honour, represented by the commissioner for Religious Affairs, Hon. Babagana Malarima, said, “The focus on training trainers is particularly strategic, because, by investing in those who educate others, we are multiplying impact, fostering sustainability, and ensuring that knowledge flows continuously into our schools and institutions.
“Arabic language education is not only a cultural and religious asset but also a bridge to broader academic and diplomatic opportunities for our youth.
“We commend the Nigeria Arabic Language Village for its consistent pursuit of excellence in Arabic language teaching and for its role as a national model in specialized language education. Likewise, we extend our gratitude to the North East Development Commission for its unwavering support in driving forward educational and developmental projects across the region.
“To our participants, I urge you to engage fully in the sessions ahead. You are the seeds being nurtured today to become strong trees tomorrow, mentors, educators, and beacons of knowledge in your communities”. Kadafur said.
Highlight of the occasion was presentation of Awards/Souvenirs to the Minister, the Deputy Governor, MD NEDC among others, with commissioning of a newly built NALV ICT Centre named after the Minister, Maruf Tunji Alausa.
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