ANA launches book on Almajirai

Reviewing the book, Professor Salisu Ahmed Yakassai of the department of Nigerian Languages, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, said the book contains more lessons beyond the issues of the Almajiri. Professor Yakassai said other important lessons contained in the 120-page book which he referred to as ‘small but mighty’ include issues affecting the common Hausa man […]

Reviewing the book, Professor Salisu Ahmed Yakassai of the department of Nigerian Languages, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, said the book contains more lessons beyond the issues of the Almajiri.

Professor Yakassai said other important lessons contained in the 120-page book which he referred to as ‘small but mighty’ include issues affecting the common Hausa man as well as challenges facing women and children.

Other issues addressed in the book include marital life, girl child education, friendship, effect of modernity on life, relationships, destiny, love general hygiene and the impact of films on the society among other things.

Also speaking during the launch, Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu of the faculty of Education, Bayero University, Kano, tasked the writer to reproduce the book in the a

Arabised text of ajami. He said that is the only way through which the book could be useful to the common Almajiri who has no knowledge of the Hausa text in which the book is written.

Abdallah commended the writer for the initiative and creativity exhibited in the book. He stressed the need for involving the Qur’an students in issues affecting their training, saying, it is the best way they could benefit and also help in making decisions about themselves.

On her part, Maryam, said the idea of the book was born out of experience gathered while mingling with almajirai and the need to enlighten the public on the need to assist them in the course of their training and proffer solutions to their problems which are so obvious but often neglected.

She said all other ideas contained in the book were aimed at addressing some vital societal issues affecting almost all people in one way or the other. She said she has the conviction that through literary works, a lot could be achieved in addressing such issues.

At the occasion chaired by Alhaji Hashimu Ubale, a total of N1.9m was realised where over N500, 000 was cash and the rest were pledges by individuals and organizations.

Maryam Ali Ali is a prominent creative writer in Kano and a very active member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).  She read Islamic studies at the University of Jos.