Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has revealed plans by his administration to adopt the Indonesian Pondok Pesantren Madrasah system of education as an alternative to the existing Almajiri system in the state.
Tambuwal stated this yesterday, when he received the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, AVM Usra Hendra Harahap during a courtesy visit to Sokoto.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, explained that the Pondok system employs mosques and langgar (a blend of Islamic and Western education) as well as adopt existing local institutions such as surau (Islamic assembly buildings) and pesantren (a Muslim school in Indonesia operated by religious leaders) as the places for Muslims to study Islam.
The governor further explained that for the state government to have a home grown system similar to the Pondok, it will consult the Sultan of Sokoto and other stakeholders in order for them to have a buy-in.
He noted that his administration was not in a hurry to ban the Almajiri system as some states had done without providing an alternative.
Tambuwal expressed confidence that the Pondok system once adopted “can serve as an alternative to the Almajiri system.”
“We are intensifying efforts to ensure that the Pondok system is adopted before banning the Almajiri system. This is because we are desirous of ensuring that Sokoto children are exposed to both Western and Islamic education,” Tambuwal emphasized.
While expressing gratitude to the Indonesian government for taking interest in Sokoto, he assured the ambassador that his visit will deepen Indonesia’s relationship not only with the state but also the country, with which it shares religious, cultural and climatic similarities.
He said that the state was already pursuing further ties with Indonesia in the areas of healthcare, economy, Islamic models of business and economic enterprises.
Tambuwal further applauded the Indonesian government for agreeing to send experts to share knowledge with the state on economic inclusion derivatives.
Earlier, Harahap, had explained that his visit to the state “is to increase the bilateral relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Nigeria, especially in Sokoto state in the areas of education and agriculture, including animal husbandry.”
