The Amajiri system, though funded, was not over-dependent on the state. The students were at liberty to acquire a vocational and occupational skill in-between their Islamic lessons and so were involved in farming, fishing, well construction, masonry, production, trade, tailoring, small businesses etc.
Many of them were the farmers of the northern Nigerian cotton and groundnut pyramids. They formed the majority of the traders in the commercial city of Kano. They were the leather tanners and leather shoe and bags makers in the old Sokoto Empire. The cap weavers and tailors in Zaria city were said to be Almajiris.
Thus they formed the largest percentage of the community workforce and made significant contribution to the economy of the society before the introduction of white collar jobs. After colonialization, they were recruited by the British as columbite and tin miners in Jos city, which was then under Bauchi before the creation of Plateau State.
The system also produced the judges, clerks, teachers, etc and laid an elaborate system of administration in Northern Nigeria. They provided the colonial administration with the needed staff. The first set of colonial staff in Northern Nigeria was provided by the Almajiri schools and this went on for years.
In fact, the Almajiri system was a civilising agent second to none. This was before they were gradually replaced, phased out and indeed abandoned.
Abba Abubakar Elmassa is of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Borno State.