From Salim Umar Ibrahim, Kano
Kano State government has expressed readiness to observe termly sporting activities in public and private schools in the state.
The state Commissioner of Education who was represented by the Deputy Director, Schools Sport Directory of the ministry, Kabir Shehu, made this known at a one-day rugby tournament held in Kano.
Themed, ‘iTry Nigeria youth rugby tournament’, organised by Swipha, Reaching Everyone with Accessible Community Healthcare (REACH), and other partners, the event saw 30 males and 11 female secondary school teams in Kano State with 800 students as participants.
“As far as our schools are concerned, we don’t practise activities like this, but with the development so far, we are committed to putting facilities in place to keep up with it on a termly basis where all schools will be participating.
“It is no doubt, this kind of activity will develop sports in the state, especially among the upcoming generation.”
The Chief Operating Officer, EHA Clinics and REACH programme, Paul Hogan, said the event which was started in Kano nine years ago on an annual basis is aimed at engaging school children from the ages of 12 to 14 years to be exposed to sporting activities and sports education.
“The programme has stopped three years ago because of COVID-19 and now this is the first tournament after the pandemic. It is just for the kids to have fun and be educated sport-wise,” he said.
On her part, the programme manager, REACH, Dr Maryam Bashir Dantata, said the initiative has targeted 1,200 students and other people to receive the basic and necessary healthcare services they need which include health education, screening for genotype and counselling, malaria screening, eye screening, diabetes, ulcer, and other health challenges.
