14 International Journal of Social Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends (IJSSCFRT) ISSN (Print) , ISSN (Online) © International Scientific Research and Researchers Association https://ijsscfrtjournal.isrra.org/index.php/Social_Science_Journal The Goodluck Jonathan Almajiri Schools Initiative in Nigeria: Examining the Cause Célèbre Kenneth T. Azaigba a* , PhD Obaseojei Eteng Itam b a,b Department of History and Strategic Studies, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State a Email: kennethazaigba@gmail.com Abstract There are about 13.2 million out of school children in Nigeria. Over 10million of these children are Almajiri (boys left to fend for themselves whilst learning Islamic scripts far away from parental homes). These set of boys have no access to formal education and have since become street urchins in major cities in Nigeria. The Goodluck Johnathan administration in a bid to get these children into schools and curb the social malfeasance associated with this demographic group initiated the Almajiri schools programme. However, the programme has since been criticized and abandoned even after committing colossal State resources in building the schools. This paper examines the controversy around the Almajiri initiative using extant literature and offers thoughtful suggestions for rethinking the policy. It contends basically that the programme was not well thought-through and was poorly implemented due to deliberate sabotage by some stakeholders. The paper therefore concludes that the Goodluck Johnathan Almajiri schools initiative was a top to down intervention. It ended as a futile attempt by the Federal government to resolve a problem that had local tap roots. Key words: Goodluck; Johnathan; Almajiri; Schools; Initiative; Nigeria. 1. Introduction The Almajiri problem is a puzzling national question. The complexity of the quandary is due essentially to the cultural and religious basis of the system. Religious issues are often sensitive and fragile. Resolving issues with religious links through secular approaches usually pose enormous challenges. This is because the sentiments that are constructed around theological questions tend to undermine attempts at altering the status quo. There is a near consensus on the fact that the Almajiri system is generating contradictions inimical to national security and indeed human capital development. But how to confront the ills of the system has remained controversial due to the divergent views that have been proffered as remedies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Corresponding author.