Key Points
- Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) has organised a two-day workshop to improve school sports development.
- The training brought together sports masters, physical and health education teachers, and coaches from the state’s three senatorial zones.
- Participants were trained to identify talented pupils and guide them towards suitable sporting opportunities.
- Officials say school sports can improve pupils’ physical and mental well-being while supporting academic performance.
- The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots sports development by nurturing young talents from an early age.
Main Story
The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) has organised a two-day capacity-building workshop to equip sports teachers and coaches with the skills needed to identify and develop young athletic talents in schools.
The workshop, organised in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), also seeks to increase pupils’ participation in sports and improve physical and health education at the basic education level.
The training brought together sports masters, physical and health education teachers, and coaches from the three senatorial zones of Kaduna State. It was designed to help participants adopt improved approaches to teaching physical education, managing sporting activities, and recognising pupils with athletic potential.
Speaking at the workshop in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Deputy Director of School Management at KADSUBEB, Isiyaku Abdulkarim, described sports as an important part of children’s physical and mental development.
He explained that participation in sporting activities could improve pupils’ well-being and contribute to better academic performance.
Abdulkarim also commended the KADSUBEB Chairman, Mubarak Muhammad, for prioritising sports development and encouraging sporting activities in schools.
He emphasised the need to introduce children to different sporting activities early enough to help them discover their interests, develop their abilities, and build confidence.
According to him, giving pupils opportunities to participate in sports can help schools identify promising athletes before their talents go unnoticed.
The Issues
For many children, school may be the first place where their sporting abilities become apparent. However, without proper guidance, access to training, and opportunities to compete, talented pupils may struggle to develop their potential.
School sports can provide a starting point for discovering future athletes in football, athletics, basketball, volleyball, and other sporting activities.
Beyond competition, physical education encourages discipline, teamwork, confidence, and healthy habits. These benefits make sports an important part of children’s overall education rather than simply an extracurricular activity.
The Kaduna workshop seeks to address these needs by equipping teachers and coaches with practical knowledge to recognise different abilities and provide appropriate guidance.
However, sustaining the initiative will require schools to provide adequate sporting facilities, equipment, regular training, and opportunities for pupils to demonstrate their skills.
What’s Being Said
The Permanent Member of School Management at KADSUBEB, Dr Jamil Haruna, said the workshop would help participants identify talented pupils and assess their sporting abilities.
Haruna, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Fatima Muhammad, explained that the training would also enable sports trainers to guide pupils towards sporting opportunities that match their interests and abilities.
He said the initiative was expected to strengthen grassroots sports development by creating opportunities for children to discover and nurture their talents within the school system.
Haruna added that increased participation in sports could make school activities more engaging and encourage pupils to take part in extracurricular programmes.
Participants also expressed optimism that the initiative would help establish a stronger foundation for sports development in Kaduna State by identifying and supporting promising young athletes from an early age.
What’s Next
The success of the programme will depend on how effectively participants apply their new skills in their respective schools.
Teachers and coaches will need to encourage pupils to explore different sporting activities, monitor their progress, and recommend promising athletes for further training and competitions.
Continued collaboration between KADSUBEB, UBEC, schools, and relevant sports organisations could also help provide young athletes with better opportunities to develop their abilities.
Regular inter-school competitions and improved access to sporting facilities would further support the identification and development of emerging talents.
Bottom Line
Kaduna State’s investment in sports education offers an opportunity to discover young athletes while helping pupils develop important life skills.
By giving teachers the knowledge to recognise sporting potential, the initiative could help more children find their strengths and pursue their interests.
But training alone will not be enough. Sustained support, proper facilities, and regular opportunities to compete will be essential to turning the promise of school sports into lasting results.
