The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has solicited the support of media practitioners to change the narratives and improve indices relating to children’s status in the country.
UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kano, Mr Maulid Warfa, made the call on Tuesday at a one-day partnership strengthening meeting between UNICEF and the media in Kano.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with ARTV in Kano.
Warfa lamented the disturbing indices as related to infant mortality, malnutrition, and Almajiri menace, among others.
He said that UNICEF was soliciting media support to improve the children’s status, to change the narrative, using the power of the media.
“UNICEF is committed to reaching out to those who can change the narrative, to improve the condition of the children.
“We are seeking partnership with the media to make sure that the children are not left behind,” Warfa said.
On Almajiri, he said parents should be held responsible for allowing their children to roam about the streets.
“UNICEF is working with the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Governor’s Office, to make sure that children are integrated into formal education in the state.
“It is a long-term programme. It will indeed take time before it is modernised due to social, cultural, religious, and financial issues.
“The same method is applied to child labour and child hawking. We make efforts, in collaboration with the state government, to ensure these problems are mitigated.
“We always go out to the authorities and policymakers in a bid to find lasting solutions to all problems bedeviling children,” Warfa said.
He commended the Kano state government for its resolve to integrate the almajiris into formal education.
Earlier, Hajiya Sa’a Ibrahim, the Director-General of Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), tasked media practitioners with credible information while discharging their duties.
“The media are gatekeepers and front liners in disseminating information. Journalists need to partner with UNICEF, there is the need for us to build a strong partnership so that we can build a confident Nigerian child.”
NAN reports that the one-day partnership strengthening meeting attracted journalists from various media outfits, including NAN, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), and Daily Trust.
NAN recalls that UNICEF was set up in the UN General Assembly in December 1946, to cater to children of Europe affected by World War II and mandated to advocate the protection of children’s rights to meet their basic needs. (NAN)
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