By Esther Onyegbula

No fewer than 7,000 Almajiri children in Kano State have benefitted from a humanitarian intervention organised by the Bella Amor Global Aid Foundation, BAAF, in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, under the “Boy Child Life Matters Initiative/Mo’Feed Project.”

The four-day outreach programme, held between May 14 and 17, targeted vulnerable children across five Tsangaya schools in Kano metropolis, with the organisers providing meals, clothing materials and copies of the Holy Qur’an to the pupils.
The benefiting schools included Dakata Tsangaya 1, Dakata Tsangaya 2, Dakata Tsangaya 3, Dakata Tsangaya 4, and Goron Dutse Tsangaya.

Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony held on May 15, representatives of the foundation stressed the need for increased support and protection for vulnerable children, particularly Almajiri pupils who continue to face harsh living conditions and limited access to welfare support.

The event was attended by Islamic clerics, community leaders, heads of the participating Tsangaya schools and other stakeholders, who advocated stronger collaboration towards improving the welfare of Almajiri children.

According to the organisers, over 7,000 pupils received meals during the outreach, while more than 5,000 children were supported with clothing materials.
Copies of the Holy Qur’an were also distributed to the pupils as part of efforts to support their religious education.

Speaking on the intervention, the Chief Executive Officer of Bella Amor Global Aid Foundation, Mrs Mirabel Etuk, said the initiative was aimed at restoring hope, dignity and humane living conditions for vulnerable Almajiri children.

According to her, the foundation was deeply moved by the harsh realities encountered during visits to the Tsangaya schools.

“What we witnessed during the outreach was heartbreaking. Many of these children sleep on bare floors in overcrowded and unhealthy environments. Every child deserves care, dignity, protection and the opportunity to live in humane conditions regardless of their background,” she said.

Etuk added that the foundation, in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service, would commence a second phase of the project focused on improving the children’s welfare through the provision of mattresses and other essential materials.

The foundation disclosed that outreach teams encountered disturbing living conditions during visits to the schools, noting that many of the children slept on bare floors in overcrowded and unhealthy environments.

BAAF stated that the situation exposed the pupils to serious health risks and underscored the urgent need for sustained intervention.
Moved by the conditions observed during the visits, the foundation announced plans for a second phase of the intervention in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to BAAF, the next phase will focus on improving the sleeping conditions of the children through the provision of mattresses and other welfare materials.

“We are sincerely grateful to the Nigeria Customs Service and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for their compassion, partnership and commitment towards improving the lives of vulnerable children across Nigeria,” Etuk added.

The foundation reiterated its commitment to advocating the welfare, dignity and protection of vulnerable children across the country.
It noted that every child, regardless of social background, deserved humane living conditions, care and opportunities for a better future.

The group further described the intervention as a demonstration of the importance of partnerships between government institutions, non-governmental organisations and community leaders in addressing humanitarian challenges.

BAAF also expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service for its collaboration and support towards the success of the outreach.

The foundation particularly commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for what it described as his leadership and commitment to humanitarian causes.

“We specially appreciate the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his exceptional leadership, compassion towards vulnerable communities, and continuous commitment to humanitarian causes that positively impact lives across Nigeria,” the foundation said.

The organisation equally appreciated the Corporate Social Responsibility Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service for its active involvement in the project.

Special recognition was also given to Comptroller MP Ibrahim for his contributions during the outreach activities.

BAAF thanked religious leaders, volunteers, partners and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative, expressing optimism that sustained collaboration would continue to restore hope and dignity to vulnerable children and underserved communities.