In the landscape of Nigeria’s evolving education system, Mrs Lawson Omotola is one of the pioneers of two wonderful things. Being the founder of Delightful Toyshop, the company leading the toy industry in Nigeria, which has changed the way children learn and play. Also, she is a well-trained teacher who goes beyond business and advocates for the empowerment of teachers, mainly with the benefits of play-based learning.

In a statement signed by Mrs Lawson Omotola, She said, “Play is not a mindless activity, it is the cornerstone of a child’s growth, encouraging problem-solving skills, creativity and the love to learn.”

This stands as the driving force behind Delightful Toyshop’s vision which is to empower children through play. The store has a series of toys for different age ranges and learning styles, from educational building blocks to imaginative play sets. Despite this, her goal is beyond just making profits. They build relationships with schools and train teachers to implement play into their teaching curriculum.

Lawson said: “Traditional form of the classroom is too rigid for young learners. By inserting play-based learning activities in the classroom, we can access their curiosity and make the environment more engaging.”

The importance of play-based learning is noted. It has been seen that it helps to improve mental development, social skills and emotional intelligence in young learners. She also said, “Imagine a mathematics class where children use building blocks to solve fractions or a science class where they experiment through role-playing. These play-based learning activities make learning interesting and memorable, leading to an in-depth understanding.”

Equipping Teachers: The Missing Piece

The importance and benefits of play-based learning cannot be overemphasized, and that is why Lawson said it is crucial to equip teachers with the necessary tools. “Sadly, many teachers are not trained or given resources to implement play-based learning into their classrooms; this is where they need capacity building.” She mentioned. She stated why schools and governments must invest in teacher’s workshop programs on play-based learning. “Teachers need to know how play can be useful in children’s development and how to use toys and games to attain these objectives. These training sessions can help them with the tools and ways to transform their classes.”

Beyond training, getting used to the culture of play is beyond a one-time training. She argues that “Schools need to implement a culture that allows play-based learning ” All Pre-Primary Schools need to give ample time for play activities, have a special area for play, and get diverse age-appropriate toys and learning materials

A Ripple Effect: Empowering Teachers, Empowering Children

There are effects on the empowerment of teachers in play-based learning. She believes that empowered teachers provide engaging learning classrooms, which will motivate children and lead to a change in academic achievement as it will improve their social skills, and make them love learning.”

A Call to Action: Investing in a Brighter Future

In conclusion, Lawson’s passion for education continues to shine. She believes that Nigeria has a load of talented young people. With teachers’ empowerment of tools and methods of play-based learning, these young people can have their potential unlocked and give us a brighter future in this nation

The story highlights the exceptional power of play. From Delightful Toyshop to the way she advocates, she has opened a new door to this country’s education, one building block and playful lesson at a time. This vision is a call to action for the government, community and schools to empower teachers to open the magic power of play and have a generation of ever-ready learners.