Korede Abdullah in Lagos
UNICEF’s Nigeria Representative, Christian Munduate, has called on the media to prioritize children’s issues and raise awareness to foster a culture of accountability within society.
Munduate made this call on Sunday, at a symposium in Lagos, themed “Reinforcing the Role of Media in Mainstreaming Child Rights”, as part of World Children’s Day celebrations.
The event brought together renowned editors, seasoned journalists, broadcasters, government officials, private sector representatives, influencers, and child rights advocates to discuss the pressing issues affecting children in Nigeria.
Munduate highlighted the critical role of the media in advocating child rights, emphasizing the need for them to make children’s welfare a central focus in their reportage.
According to Munduate, the media holds a unique power to connect with the public and shape societal attitudes.
“By using your platform, you can inform the public about the state of children, raise awareness, and encourage everyone to understand their role in ensuring the well-being of children,” she added.
Munduate also stressed that the influence of media professionals could drive meaningful behavioral change by reaching both policymakers and everyday citizens.
Munduate also highlighted alarming statistics about the state of children in Nigeria, including the fact that one in two children lives in poverty, 41 out of every 1,000 newborns die from complications, 40 per cent of children under five are stunted due to malnutrition, and 2.1 million children remain unvaccinated.
Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, echoed the need for the media to focus on telling the right stories and urging Nigerian leaders to invest in children’s future.
Mr. Eze Anaba, President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), also addressed the media’s responsibility to advocate children’s rights and well-being.
The symposium emphasized the critical need for the media to draw attention to issues like education and health disparities and mobilize public support to pressure policymakers.
