UNICEF Trains Media, Lecturers To Assist Promotion Of Child’s Rights In Nigeria
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Child abuse has persisted in Nigeria even though Nigeria’s Child Rights Act 2003 was assented to by the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in September 2003.
For this, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has not relented in partnering the media, communication institutions, and other development partners in diverse ways to promote child’s rights and mainstreaming it in all core areas working against children which usually emanates from ignorance of what constitutes a child’s right.
Child’s Rights abuses, are often occassioned by poverty or lack of economic empowerment of women hence a majority of abused children are those given out to guardians as help hence the dire need for the implementation of the Child Rights Act in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Two-day Training Of Trainers On The Presentation Of The Child Rights Curriculum Reporting For Polythecnics in Enugu, UNICEF’s Chief Field Officer for Enugu State, Juliet Chiluwe, charged journalists and Lecturers of National Polytechnics to work towards promoting implementation of the Child Rights Act in the country.
The two day event is aimed at brainstorming on the critical steps for the media and educators to disseminate Child’s Right messages to boost commitment,
According to Juliet, mainstreaming of the Child’s Rights curriculum at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, was a huge success having been implemented as a general studies course, thereby, making it compulsory for in-school mass communicators.
She said as this success has been applauded by scholars, others should emulate the track record to enhance child’s rights reportage in Nigeria.
The UNICEF Chief Field Officer for Enugu State, said there are enormous challenges with communicating children’s rights, which is why the training would address a whole range of abuses that has hindered a child’s brain development.
She said the training will help broaden the scope of knowledge and exposure of communication students and practitioners of Mass Communication by way of infusion of the Child’s Rights concerns, which are also topical concerns for human development
Earlier, the Chief Information Officer,
Federal Ministry of Information and Culture Zira Zakka Nagga, who had commended UNICEF for its commitment to ensuring the protection of the Rights of the Nigerian Child said the new curriculum will bridge the inequality gap in the country.
The Information Officer noted the new curriculum and manual for Journalism/Mass Communications as well as instructors guide have been developed to fill the gaps for Polytechnics and will facilitate the movement of all journalists from the present level of Child’s Rights awareness to a certain degree of knowledge thereby, bringing about the needed paradigm shift in reporting children and exposing them to the rights to survival, development, protection, and participation.
