The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, has emphasized the crucial role of media practitioners in promoting children’s rights and welfare. Speaking at a symposium in Lagos, Munduate called on journalists to give priority to children’s issues through quality investigative reporting.
The symposium, organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, brought together stakeholders from the media industry, government, and private sector to discuss critical issues facing children in Nigeria. The event was part of activities to mark the 2024 World Children’s Day, with the theme “Reinforcing the Role of Media in Mainstream Child Rights.”
Munduate stressed that the media has the power to shape public opinion and influence policymakers, adding that “your words are powerful” and can drive real change. She also highlighted the importance of translating complex data into understandable language to raise awareness about children’s issues.
The UNICEF Nigeria Representative cited alarming statistics, including that one in two children in Nigeria live in poverty, and 41 newborns out of 1,000 births do not survive due to complications and teenage pregnancies. She also noted that 40% of children under five are stunted due to malnutrition, affecting their intellectual capacity for life.
Other speakers at the symposium included the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba, who called for collective commitment to child rights, and the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Mr. Tunde Onakoya, who described the Nigerian child’s future as contradictory and at risk.
The National Programme Coordinator and Technical Lead of Rotary International’s PolioPlus Programme, Mr. Olugbenga Olayiwola, also emphasized the importance of polio vaccination, stressing that caregivers and parents must present their children for vaccination to build their immunity faster.
