The Kebbi State Government has about N1.5 billion annually on early childhood development (ECD) programmes to strengthen foundational learning and promote children’s development.

The state government also continued to prioritise early childhood education through sustained investment in infrastructure, learning materials and teacher support.

The Executive Chairman of the Kebbi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Suleiman Khalid, said this on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi during the commemoration of the 2026 International Day of Play organised by the board in collaboration with UNICEF.

In March 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing June 11 as the International Day of Play to emphasise the importance of safeguarding children’s right to play and recognising play as essential for health.

The 2026 edition of the global observance has “Protect Play, Protect Childhood” as its theme to champion and protect this right and to raise awareness about the importance of play.

The Kebbi SUBEB chairman, therefore, said the state’s investment underscored the government’s recognition of the critical role early learning plays in shaping children’s future educational outcomes.

According to him, over 15 per cent of the board’s annual intervention fund, amounting to about N1.5 billion, is dedicated to ECD centres across the state.

He added that “play is not merely a recreational activity; it is an important educational tool that helps children to develop cognitive, social and emotional skills necessary for lifelong learning.

“These activities are deliberately integrated into the learning process to improve children’s understanding, creativity and problem-solving abilities.”

The chairman said that Kebbi State has more than 2,000 primary schools, with 590 ECD centres serving over 54,000 children.

He said the funds were utilised for classroom construction and rehabilitation, provision of modern teaching and learning materials, and creating a conducive environment for early childhood learning.

Mr Khalid commended UNICEF for its consistent support towards improving access to quality education and child development programmes in the state.

He also lauded parents, teachers, development partners and SUBEB staff for their contributions to advancing basic education.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of SUBEB, Hassan Umar, said the International Day of Play was dedicated to promoting every child’s right to play in a supportive environment.

He described play as an essential component of quality education and child development.

He said, “This is a day set aside to celebrate the right of every child to play. When play is embedded in teaching and learning methods, it enhances children’s cognitive abilities and supports their physical, social and emotional development.

“Play remains an integral part of education and contributes significantly to children’s overall growth.”

Mr Umar thanked UNICEF for partnering SUBEB to commemorate the day, expressing optimism that the collaboration would further enhance learning outcomes in schools across the state.

The Director of Statistics at SUBEB, Hauwa Yusuf, emphasised the need for stakeholders to create a safe and supportive environment where children could engage in educational play.

She said play-based activities should be properly designed and monitored to ensure children derived maximum educational and developmental benefits.

“We appreciate the importance of education, and any activity that promotes learning deserves support from parents, teachers and communities.

“Play should be encouraged and conducted in a safe environment because it contributes immensely to children’s educational and character development,” she said.

Ms Yusuf urged parents to support activities that would help children to acquire positive values and improve their learning experiences.

Highlights of the event included recreational games, storytelling sessions, creative play activities, drawing and colouring competitions, as well as demonstrations of play-based learning techniques.

Pupils from various primary schools across the state participated in the activities.

(NAN)