The Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Thursday marked World Play Day at Kuka Bulukiya Primary School, Kano, to promote play-based learning in schools.

The International Day of Play is celebrated every year on June 11, following its establishment by the United Nations General Assembly in March 2024. The 2026 theme is “Protect play, protect childhood”, highlighting the importance of safe, inclusive, and healthy play spaces for children worldwide.

The event brought together government officials, education stakeholders, teachers, parents and pupils, highlighting the importance of play in the holistic development of children.

UNICEF Education Programme Officer, Mr Mustafa Shehu, said the annual World Play Day, observed globally on June 11, underscores the role of play in children’s learning and growth.

“Play is not just leisure; it is a powerful tool that nurtures cognitive, emotional and physical development.

“Through such initiatives, we encourage educators and policymakers to adopt child-centred and interactive teaching approaches that make learning engaging and effective,” Shehu said.

He added that UNICEF hoped the celebration would inspire teachers to create supportive classroom environments where pupils could reach their full potential.

Chairman of Dala Local Government Area, Alhaji Surajo Imam, described the programme as timely, noting that incorporating play into education enhances children’s learning experience.

“When lessons are combined with games and recreational activities, children not only retain knowledge better but also develop critical-thinking skills, creativity and social interaction,” Imam said.

Similarly, Education Secretary of Dala Local Government, Alhaji Bala Magawata, stressed the significance of World Play Day, saying play is critical to the growth and well-being of children.

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman, Alhaji Musa Ali, described the occasion as a global call to action for governments, educators and parents to create learning environments that are both educational and engaging.

A parent, Mrs Aisha Labaran, expressed delight over the activities, thanking organisers for arranging events that brought joy to children while enhancing their learning experiences.

Highlights of the event included the distribution of school bags, shoes, uniforms and other learning materials to selected pupils in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) class.

Interactive and recreational activities also featured, demonstrating practical ways teachers can integrate play into lessons.

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The wife of Katsina State Governor, Zulaihat Radda, said no girl should miss school due to menstruation, intensifying efforts to promote hygiene and girls’ education across the state in the region.

Radda spoke during distribution of sanitary pads to schoolgirls under the Renewed Hope Initiative led by First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu, in Katsina on Tuesday as part of major outreach programme.

She said the programme targeted challenges faced by schoolgirls, especially in rural communities, who often skipped classes due to lack of access to sanitary products and basic hygiene education support services.

Radda described the situation as unacceptable, stressing menstruation should never be a barrier to education or personal dignity for any girl in the state at any time or under any circumstances.

She urged society to ensure no girl missed classes because of menstruation, adding every girl deserved a safe and supportive learning environment to thrive and achieve her full potential without fear.

“Under the initiative, about 10,000 schoolgirls will receive a year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads as part of a nationwide intervention targeting 370,000 beneficiaries nationwide to improve menstrual health outcomes overall.”

She said the programme aimed to provide hygiene products while restoring confidence among young girls and eliminating stigma often associated with menstruation in communities through awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagement efforts.

Radda called on local authorities to ensure effective distribution of items, urging community leaders and stakeholders to support and monitor the process for transparency and accountability across benefiting schools and communities.

She appealed to corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to partner government in expanding the initiative’s reach and sustaining support for girls’ education statewide in underserved rural and hard to reach areas.

Health Commissioner Musa Adamu-Funtua, described the initiative as timely and important for improving hygiene practices and overall well-being of young girls across the state while promoting public health outcomes for future.

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A political support group, Tinubu/Dikko Assured (TDA 2027), has launched a free computer training programme for 2,250 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) candidates across Katsina State.

The initiative was meant for candidates whose registration was sponsored by the campaign group, under the leadership of Umar Ahmad-Zayyad.

The training was officially launched for more than 1,000 students from Katsina Zone, on Thursday, at the state Institute of Technology and Management (KTSIM).

Speaking at the event, the Katsina State Coordinator of the group, Ibrahim Khalil, explained that the initiative is just one of several programmes being implemented by the organisation.

Speakers at the event commended the efforts of the organisation, particularly its commitment to promoting educational development in the state.

The state Deputy Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bala Musawa, urged the candidates to remain focused and take full advantage of the training.

According to Musawa, such attention will enable the beneficiaries to achieve the intended objectives of the programme.

Member representing Katsina Local Government in the State Assembly, Aliyu Abubakar-Albaba, commended the gesture, calling on other groups to also emulate.

In his remarks, TDA patron, Dr Muttaka Rabe-Darma, assured adequate support to equip the candidates with the required knowledge that will help them to pass the examination.

Also speaking, the TDA leader, Zayyad-Ahmad, pledged to sponsor the first school registration for those who score 200 marks or above in the examination.

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