Our correspondent who visited Abubakar Gumi market in Kaduna observed many school teachers, proprietors/proprietresses and Sunday school teachers among others thronging shops where such items are sold.
The buyers were seen picking varieties of toys including bubbles, water game, wrist watches, toy phones, Christmas caps and hair bands, Christmas crowns, Santa clause bikes, pianos, guitars, toy cars, toy motorcycles, toy aeroplanes, masks and party bags especially those which have brand names like Winni de pooh, Ben 10, Mickey Mouse, Barney and Dora the Explorer, among others.
In an interview with one of the buyers who is the proprietress of Triple Kay International School in Kaduna, Mrs. Ruth Godwin, said that they decided to buy variety of toys for children as they celebrate the end of the year party because children appreciate toys.
“The celebration is a period to thank God for keeping us throughout the year; it also creates an opportunity for the children to catch some fun after many days and months of schooling, doing class-work, home-work and other extra-curricular activities. The toys do not necessarily have to be expensive. There are some that are as cheap as N50 and N100 because apart from the toys, we will also give them other items like snacks, juice and other gift items to make the children happy in the spirit of the celebration,” she said.
Alhaji Musa Idris, who sells toys in wholesale, said that this season is known for high patronage of toys and decoration items, adding that majority of schools, churches, organizations come for variety of toys that they will distribute to their students during the end of year and Christmas celebrations.
Commenting on the prices of the toys, he said that they vary depending on the type, size and quality.
“There are toys that cost N50 each, some N100 to N150 while there are also some that cost as high as N2,000, N4,000 and even N5,000 and above depending on what the buyer wants,” Alhaji Idris said.
Apart from toy sellers, traders who sell hair accessories including ribbons, weave-on, hair attachments as well as sellers of decoration materials are making brisk business this period.
