In a landmark effort to improve the quality of Arabic language education in Nigeria’s insurgency-affected North East, the Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala, in partnership with the North East Development Commission (NEDC), has officially commenced a two-week intensive “Train-the-Trainers” workshop for Arabic teachers. The program was flagged off on Monday, May 12, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The initiative is designed to upgrade the teaching capacity of instructors from Sangaya and Islamiyya schools by equipping them with modern pedagogical skills, curriculum enhancement strategies, and foundational training in Arabic calligraphy. The workshop also aims to bridge longstanding educational gaps by standardizing Arabic instruction across the region.
The event marks the implementation of a broader plan to train 600 Arabic teachers across the six states of the North East geopolitical zone—Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, and Taraba. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NALV and the NEDC to collaboratively support Islamiyya and Arabic education as a means of social reconstruction and literacy advancement in the region.
One hundred teachers from Borno State’s three senatorial districts formed the inaugural batch of trainees, with sessions beginning immediately after the official opening ceremony. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking government officials, traditional leaders, Islamic scholars, and education sector stakeholders.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Vice Chancellor of Al-Ansar University, Professor Abubakar Kundiri, described the training as “timely and transformative.” He emphasized that the program will not only strengthen instructional capacity but also contribute to rebuilding educational infrastructure in conflict-impacted communities.
“This is not just a workshop; it is a foundational effort to rebuild minds and institutions,” Prof. Kundiri said. “We hope this program continues beyond the current scope and reaches more regions in need of educational support.”
In his welcome address, the Director and Chief Executive Officer of NALV, Professor Ibrahim Muhammad, commended the fruitful collaboration between NALV and NEDC. He noted that the workshop is rooted in a shared vision of uplifting Arabic education in northern Nigeria. He thanked the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and NEDC Managing Director, Dr. Muhammad Goni Alkali, for facilitating the collaboration and ensuring the program’s success.
Professor Muhammad added that the two-week course would cover diverse areas, including effective teaching methodologies, classroom management, and cultural approaches to language instruction. Participants will also learn the basics of Arabic calligraphy—a traditional skill that is being integrated into the broader curriculum to preserve linguistic and cultural heritage.
Representing the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, the Honourable Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Hon. Babagana Malarima, praised the initiative as a critical step toward restoring quality education and religious scholarship in the state. He reaffirmed the state government’s support for similar interventions aimed at revitalizing Arabic and Islamiyya education.
Traditional institutions were also well represented at the event. His Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi CFR, was represented by Terab Kyari Sandabe, a senior member of the Borno traditional council. The Shehu of Dikwa was represented by Abba Musa Abba Adam. Religious leaders in attendance included Imam Shettima Mongunoma, who represented the Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Zanna Laisu Ibrahim Ahmad.
Other notable attendees included representatives from the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), led by Dr. Musa Ridwan, and the Borno State Arabic and Sangaya Education Board, represented by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Abdulkadir Abdulkarem Harun.
The workshop is seen as a critical intervention in the region’s post-conflict recovery, particularly in restoring educational services that have suffered due to years of insecurity. Stakeholders expressed hope that this investment in human capital will foster long-term peace, religious harmony, and intellectual growth in the North East.
Alhaji Musa Bakari
Directorate of Public Affairs
Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala
12 May 2025
Read Also: New study highlights role of Arabic language in nation building
