A remarkable transformation unfolded in Abuja as 21 former Almajiri children graduated as certified technology technicians and entrepreneurs, turning a chapter of street begging and uncertainty into a future powered by digital innovation, technical expertise and entrepreneurship.

The graduates, made up of 14 boys and seven girls, completed an intensive six-month training programme organised by the Out-of-School Children/Almajiri-to-Tech Foundation. During the programme, they acquired hands-on skills in computer repairs, desktop assembly, robotics, drone technology, and the maintenance of mobile phones, laptops, power banks, televisions, microwave ovens, electric fans, torchlights and other electronic devices.

The graduation ceremony drew attention to what stakeholders described as a practical and sustainable solution to Nigeria’s growing out-of-school children crisis, demonstrating how vulnerable children can be transformed into productive contributors to the economy when given access to education and technology.

Founder of the Out-of-School Children/Almajiri-to-Tech Foundation and Managing Director of New Horizons System Solutions Limited, Mr. Tim Akano, described the achievement as nothing short of extraordinary.

According to him, many of the graduates arrived at the programme unable to write their names in English, but have now acquired advanced technical skills that enable them to build computers, robots and drones while repairing a wide range of electronic appliances.

“This is more than a graduation; it is a resurrection of hope and potential,” Akano said.

“These children were never born to beg on the streets. What they needed was an opportunity. Once you give a child education, digital skills and the right environment, there is virtually no limit to what they can achieve.”

Akano revealed that the foundation’s long-term goal is to eliminate street begging among children through its “Vision 2031” initiative, which seeks to remove vulnerable children from the streets and equip them with employable skills.

He called on governments, private organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to invest in practical programmes capable of addressing the nation’s out-of-school children challenge, warning that millions of young Nigerians remain untapped human capital.

Nigeria, he noted, has an estimated 30 million out-of-school children whose potential could significantly contribute to economic growth if properly harnessed through education and vocational empowerment.

Adding his voice, former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, cautioned against viewing the out-of-school children crisis as a problem confined to Northern Nigeria.

“The problem of out-of-school children is not a Northern problem; it is a Nigerian problem,” he said.

He stressed that the constitutional right of Nigerians to live and work anywhere in the country means the consequences of neglecting vulnerable children eventually affect every region.

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“There is a system breakdown, and that system must be fixed. We cannot continue to ignore this challenge and expect to be safe as a nation,” he warned.

Abubakar recalled a 2006 survey which estimated that Kano State alone had about three million commercial motorcycle operators, suggesting that the number of vulnerable and unemployed youths today could be much higher.

“We are not safe if we fail to take care of out-of-school children and unemployed youths,” he added.

The former police chief urged the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, alongside governors in the northern states, to intensify efforts aimed at removing children from the streets and integrating them into meaningful educational and vocational programmes.

“The government recognised the problem by creating the Almajiri Commission. It must now rise to the challenge by working closely with state governments to find lasting solutions,” he said.

Also speaking, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, hailed the initiative as a shining example of corporate social responsibility with a direct impact on society.

He praised Akano for committing private resources to empowering vulnerable children and giving them practical skills that can transform their lives and livelihoods.

“What we are witnessing today is truly inspiring. Twenty-one former Almajiri children have graduated with practical technical skills that enable them to repair computers, televisions, fans and other electronic equipment. This is the type of intervention Nigeria needs to confront one of its most pressing social challenges,” Neliaku said.

He added that the initiative aligns with the NIPR’s vision of supporting programmes that create measurable social value and sustainable development.

For the graduates, however, the ceremony represented more than certificates and applause. It symbolised a fresh start—one where lives once shaped by hardship, uncertainty and street survival are now defined by knowledge, innovation and opportunity.

Armed with practical technology skills and entrepreneurial training, the young graduates are stepping into a future filled with possibilities, proving that with the right support, even the most vulnerable children can become builders of technology, creators of wealth and agents of change.