By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

Kaduna state has emerged football champions at the North-West Basic Education School Sports Competition.

Kaduna state recorded five victories across the events.

Sokoto followed with three victories, while Katsina and Jigawa recorded one victory each in the competition organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), hosted in Kaduna

The results were announced at the closing ceremony on Friday in Kaduna, where Kaduna won gold in male football, with Jigawa taking silver and Katsina bronze.

Kaduna also clinched gold in both female and male volleyball, while Katsina and Sokoto won silver and bronze respectively in the female category.

In male volleyball, Sokoto took silver and Jigawa bronze behind gold medallist Kaduna.

Sokoto dominated the basketball events, winning gold in both female and male categories, while Zamfara secured silver in both events.

Katsina won bronze in female basketball, while Zamfara took bronze in the male category.

Sokoto also won gold in both female and male handball, with Kaduna securing silver in both categories.

Katsina took bronze in female handball, while Jigawa won bronze in the male category.

Speaking at the event held at the Police College, Kaduna, the UBEC Desk Officer for Basic Education School Sports, Mr Umar Dauda, said the competition was aimed at discovering young talents.

Dauda said sports remained an integral part of basic education, contributing to discipline, teamwork, healthy interaction and the holistic development of learners.

“The main objective is to discover and develop the talents of learners in basic education schools. Sports are part of education,” he said.

He explained that the competition began with inter-school contests before progressing to local government, state and zonal championships.

Dauda said the North-West finals featured participants from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

He added that winners from the zonal competition would advance to the national finals to compete against champions from other geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory.

The UBEC official expressed satisfaction with the standard of the competition, saying it showcased abundant sporting talents among pupils in the region.

He said the competition also provided an opportunity for children from different states to interact, build friendships and strengthen national integration.

The Executive Chairman of KADSUBEB, Malam Mubarak Muhammad, described the tournament as a commendable initiative by UBEC.

Muhammad, represented by the Board Secretary, Mr Hassan Othman, said the competition provided an avenue for identifying and nurturing future sporting talents at basic education level.

He attributed Kaduna’s victory in football to the commitment of coaches, pupils and officials, describing the achievement as the outcome of hard work and dedication.

He said KADSUBEB would continue to strengthen sports development in basic schools by expanding participation in sporting activities, improving facilities, providing equipment and deploying necessary manpower.

According to him, sports were integral to education and played a vital role in promoting discipline, teamwork, unity and the overall development of learners.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that highlights of the closing ceremony included presentation of awards to the Commandant of the Police College, Kaduna, AIG Dansabo Idi, and the KADSUBEB Executive Chairman.

Medals and trophies were also presented to outstanding teams and winners in the various sporting events.

The North-West Basic Education School Sports Competition forms part of UBEC’s efforts to integrate sports into basic education and promote talent development across the country.(NAN)