UNICEF Urges Nigerian Media to Strengthen Child Protection

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on media practitioners in Nigeria to play a greater role in child protection through ethical and responsible reporting.

The appeal was made by Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, during a two-day training on Ethical Journalism and Child Rights for journalists in Northwest Nigeria.

Farah urged journalists to act with professionalism and moral responsibility, particularly when reporting on children’s issues.

“Ethical reporting builds trust and heals division, especially in nations or societies with diverse ethnicities, religions, and perspectives like Nigeria,” he said.

He stressed that stories about Northwest Nigeria, where insecurity has been a challenge, should not only highlight hardship but also resilience, community, and hope.

According to him, the choices media professionals make daily, what to report, how to report it, and how to protect vulnerable subjects, directly shape both public narratives and the future of children.

In his welcome address, Mr. Tote Falayi, Director of the Child Right Information Bureau (CRIB) under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, reaffirmed UNICEF’s partnership in the initiative.

He noted that the workshop aimed to help journalists:

• Understand the legal and ethical frameworks guiding child-related reporting, including the Child Rights Act.

• Recognize and mitigate risks when reporting on children.

• Safeguard the safety, privacy, and dignity of minors in all media coverage.

Children in Nigeria are often among the most vulnerable to insecurity, exploitation, and neglect. Ethical journalism can play a powerful role in protecting them by ensuring their identities are shielded, their stories are told responsibly, and their rights are prioritized above sensationalism.