Assalaam Alaikum!
Permit me to observe that, the culture of games and sporting activities is dying generally across Nigeria but more so in Northern Nigeria particularly among us hausawas.
The last time i visited my alma mater secondry school in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, i could not locate our used to be football or soccer field, neither could i see the athletic, hockey or volley ball pitches. As i could see, they have all become built up areas curved up as plots for people to build houses. I was and am still bleeding from the heart for our society.
If my observation is correct, is this a good or bad omen for us? Do we really need games and sporting activities as part of an important aspects of our life that we need to pay attention and encourage?
Who should participate in these activities?
I will appreciate response from ALL on this issue.
To start with me, i am of the opinion that, games and sporting activities are very very fundamental to human development that we need to encourage as part of our culture.
Apart from the encouragement at all schooling levels, i want to see it at personal level across all gender and ages. Example, i want to see maigida and Matan sa ko matarsa involved, i want to see our senior citizens also encouraged to do so. Anytime, i am home, i always try to get my grand mother (a senior citizen) to go on a work with me even if it is for some few hundred meters, the same for my Mom.
No group where this important aspect of life is neglected like amongst our girls. I want to see our girls participate actively in sporting activities, but dress decently as moslems.
Sporting activities promote a healthy and quality life that will positively impact on our contribution to our society.
These are my thoughts folks.
Ma'assalaam Dan-Sokoto.