Shehu of Borno Endorses Modern Teaching Method for Islamic Educators

By News Editor

The Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr) Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, has endorsed the moves by the Nigeria Arabic Language Village to equip Islamic educators in the state with the knowledge of modern teaching standards with a view to combat wrong teaching in the society.

The traditional ruler gave the endorsement on Sunday, when the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala, Professor Ibrahim Muhammad, led a strategic advocacy visit to his palace in Maiduguri.

The visit, held in collaboration with the North East Development Commission, forms part of a broader public sensitisation campaign in anticipation of the forthcoming Train-the-Trainer programme designed for Tsangaya and Islamiya school teachers across Borno State.

Professor Muhammad, accompanied by senior NEDC officials including Murtala Bappah and Engineer Aisha Aminu Musa, as well as key personnel from NALV including Dr. Kasim Alkali, Deputy Director, and Architect Mohammed Yusuf Mohammed, Director of Procurement, presented the objectives and long-term vision of the training initiative.

According to the NALV Director, the programme is a bold educational intervention aimed at equipping traditional Islamic educators with modern teaching methodologies while harmonising their instructional practices with national education standards.

He emphasised that the initiative would play a transformative role in mainstreaming Arabic language instruction and integrating Almajiri and out-of-school children into formal education frameworks.

“The future of Islamic education lies in our ability to blend tradition with innovation,” Professor Muhammad stated.

“This training initiative not only uplifts educators but also repositions our educational landscape for inclusivity, sustainability, and national relevance.”

The visit, he said, sought to secure royal endorsement and to enlist the Shehu’s influence in mobilising community awareness and participation among Tsangaya and Islamiya school proprietors and instructors.

Professor Muhammad noted that the success of the initiative hinges on the active involvement of traditional leadership and grassroots stakeholders.

In his response, the Shehu of Borno offered his royal blessing to the initiative and provided insightful recommendations to strengthen its implementation.

He praised the enduring partnership between NALV and NEDC and commended their shared commitment to educational advancement in the region.

The Shehu also extended commendations to the Federal Government for establishing the NEDC, acknowledging the roles of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Managing Director of the Commission for championing bold interventions aimed at redressing educational challenges in the North East.

“The importance of education, particularly in this region, cannot be overstated,” Shehu remarked.

“Programs like this bring hope and structure to thousands of children who have long been left behind.” he added

The royal endorsement marks a milestone in the rollout of the Train-the-Trainer programme and reinforces the institutional and community-based support critical to its success.

The Train-the-Trainer program is slated to commence in the coming weeks, with stakeholders expressing optimism about its potential to positively reshape the Tsangaya and Islamiya education systems and significantly impact the lives of young learners in the region.