Ms Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria representative
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria Representative, Ms Christian Munduate, has called on media practitioners to be more thorough in reporting issues relating to children.
Munduate made the call on Saturday in Lagos at a symposium organised by UNICEF in collaboration with Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
The symposium was part of activities to mark the 2024 World Children’s Day, and had the theme, “Reinforcing the Role of Media in Mainstream Child Rights”.
The event had stakeholders in the media industry; eminent journalists, broadcasters, senior government officials from the ministry of education, representatives from the private sector, influencers and advocates present.
The stakeholders were engaged in three-panel sessions where they addressed critical issues facing children in Nigeria and underscored the media’s role in advocating for child rights.
Munduate said that journalists needed to give priority to anything that related to children through their quality investigative reports, and going beyond the individual story and following through.
According to the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, the media has the ability to communicate deeply with the people through which they can inform the society about the true state of children.
“You need to make it a long term vision so that you can contribute towards ensuring that government, religious bodies, traditional leaders, community and families are equipped with the right information.
“These efforts will go a long way in raising awareness, as well as fostering a culture of accountability across society. That is the powerful impact that communication professionals and media outlets can have in driving behavioural change.
“Your words are powerful,” she said concerning the media, adding that their words had the potential to shift the perspectives of diverse actors, whether they are policymakers or everyday citizens, thereby driving real change.
“Together, you have the capacity to reach millions with your message, impacting not just hundreds or thousands, but entire communities,” She added.
The UNICEF Nigeria Representative cited grim data on the state of Nigerian children, saying that, one in two children live in poverty and 41 newborns out of 1,000 births, do not survive due to complications and teenage pregnancies.
She said that 40 per cent of children age five are stunted due to malnutrition which affected their intellectual capacity for life.
Muduate added that 2.1 million children were unvaccinated and one-in-five households practiced open defecation among the poorest households.
She explained that while UNICEF provided critical data on children’s welfare, “the real impact comes from the power of communication in engaging communities.
“And translating complex technical data into understandable language, ensuring that information about children’s situation reaches a broader audience.
Earlier, the President of the NGE, Mr Eze Anaba, called for collective commitment from media practitioners, policymakers and health professionals to give utmost attention to child rights.
Anaba identified implementation of child-friendly policies, community-driven solutions and young changemakers making impact as part of measures to drive the course.
“As journalists, editors and media practitioners, we wield a unique power; the power of story telling and our role in the mainstream is very important.
“We must uncover and amplify the voices of the voiceless by highlighting the challenges children are facing and advocate solutions.
“These narratives can inspire, mobilise and drive change, let us channel this power towards a course that demands our collective attention, the right and well-being of Nigerian children.
Similarly, Mr Tunde Onakoya, Founder, Chess in Slums Africa, in a remark, described the Nigerian child’s future as contradictory and Nigeria’s future workforce was at risk.
Onakoya, however, noted that the Nigerian child represented hope and potential, adding, “the Nigerian child faces staggering odds just to survive.
“If we are faced with 20 million out-of-school children and with no skill or education, how will they participate in the future economy?, without education, they will become liability rather than assets,” he added.
Also, the National Programme Coordinator and Technical Lead, Rotary International’s PolioPlus Programme, Mr Olugbenga Olayiwola, said that Polio vaccination was essential.
Olayiwola reiterated that caregivers and parents must present their children for the exercise, adding, “normally, two drops should do it, but when we give multiple drops, it’s just to build their immunity faster.
“So, there is no case of overdose on the polio vaccine, but we can make their immunity stronger by repeated multiple routes.
“That is why we keep coming until we are sure that we have vaccinated all the children. The goal is to make sure that no child is left unvaccinated,” he said.(NAN)