INTERCEP’s 2nd drip irrigation workshop from February 18-22, 2008 in Maiduguri, Borno State targeted the indigenous people at the grassroots level. Our hope was to train the “almajirai” (disciples) who often beg the streets scavenging for food. However, to access the “almajirai”, one has to first seek the approval of the “malamai” (teachers) in their “tsangaya” (Quranic school). Therefore, we equally invited a number of “malamai” along with their “almajirai” to insure that everyone was comfortable with the training arrangement. One graduate professor at the University of Maiduguri in sociology also encouraged me to invite some of the parents of these “almajirai” from distant villages which we did.
To additionally encourage the participation of the “almajirai”, we requested for the assistance of the Borno Youth Empowerment Forum (BYEF) in recruiting these “malamai”. BYEF is a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) in Borno State committed to launching self-help services that will decrease the rate of unemployment among Borno youth. 2 of the members are close friends of mine: 1) Bulama Abiso, who is a principal of government primary school; 2) Ahmad Shehu, who is a lecturer in the College of Agriculture in Maiduguri. Bulama and Shehu were absolutely instrumental in securing the permission of these “malamai” not only to allow their “almajirai” to attend but to insurance their participation along with parental involvement. Other groups invited to attend were 10 members of BYEF, 6 proclaimers of Messiah from southern Borno, and 3 members of the Wulari youth group.
On the first day of the workshop, the caution, reservation, and timidity could be witnessed throughout the tent. However, everyone sat up to take notice as the Hausa translation kicked in to the key elements of successful farming: 1) sun (rana); 2) water (ruwa); 3) air (iska); 4) soil (kasa); 5) animals (dabobi). Finally at the end of the first day as we entered the field to gathering composting materials, every person felt a measure of accomplishment. On the 2nd day as we began constructing our compost heaps, all eyes were gathered around the manure, kitchen scraps, and green vegetation. As we raised our first plant beds by the end of the 2nd day, all participations could easily harmonize the interaction between composting and the new beds.
On the third day, the “malamai” began approaching me concerning extending INTERCEP’s drip irrigation training into their “tsangaya”. The drip irrigation kits began to be constructed on the newly raised beds and the joy of all trainees was uncontainable. Discussions broke out everywhere concerning forming a “Cooperative Society for Drip Irrigation.” On the fourth day, tender care was taken to carefully transplant our seedlings into the newly raised beds to the excitement of all participants. Later that evening, I was approached by a group of proclaimers from southern Borno State concerning the integration of drip irrigation and curriculum development in their school.
Nevertheless, the greatest highlight of the week was the graduate ceremony at 11:00AM on Friday when we called out the “almajirai.” There were 2 special “almajirai” of note who couldn’t have been more than 10 years old, without their parents, but worked tirelessly throughout the week. As I uttered the name of 1 little “almajiri” boy, “Muhammadu”, the entire tent was almost blown off the stakes with the volume of applause, jubilation, and shouting. “Muhammadu” represented what INTERCEP’s 2nd drip irrigation workshop was all about: empowerment of “the least of these.” We will never forget the seed planted in little “Muhammadu” and “Muhammadu” will never forget the seed of faith planted in him. 
(Muhammadu is pictured above)
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