New Horizons, an ICT training and solution provider, has positioned technology skills as a tool for social stability and re-engineering with the launch of a ₦50 million ($35,000) empowerment programme targeting Almajiri children, a vulnerable group often associated with street begging and social exclusion in northern Nigeria.
The initiative, designed to curb unemployment while contributing to national security and economic inclusion, will equip participants with practical ICT and electronics skills that can translate directly into sustainable livelihoods, according to a report by ITWeb.
Known as “Almajiris-to-Tech,” the 90-day intensive training programme is scheduled to begin on January 19, 2026, at the New Horizons Training Centre in Abuja.
Participants will undergo hands-on training to become certified computer and electronics technicians, with a strong focus on skills that are immediately relevant to the job market.
Speaking at the programme’s launch, Managing Director of New Horizons, Tim Akano, described the Almajiri phenomenon as a symptom of long-standing societal neglect rather than individual failure.
He argued that meaningful change can only come through empowerment, mindset reorientation and humane, non-coercive interventions.
“You cannot fix a social problem with force alone,” Akano said, noting that education and economic opportunity remain the most effective tools for lasting transformation.
According to him, trainees will receive practical instruction in the repair and maintenance of laptops, desktop computers, mobile phones, televisions, projectors, radios, fans and power systems such as inverters.
The programme also integrates environmental sustainability, including training on how to repurpose scrap laptop batteries to produce rechargeable fans and backup power solutions.
Akano further disclosed that graduates will benefit from post-training support, including access to workspaces and market placement opportunities as certified technicians.
He added that the best-performing participant will be fully equipped with tools and resources to establish an independent business upon completion of the programme.
Through the initiative, New Horizons aims to demonstrate how targeted skills development can address unemployment, reduce social vulnerability and promote long-term stability.
