AfriPulse
The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, as well as civil society groups, have again expressed worry over the unfavourable conditions in which many children in Nigeria are living.
They said a significant number of children in the country are faced with serious challenges that deny them their fundamental rights, including access to quality education, clean water and sanitation systems, quality healthcare, and protection.
They said these conditions are calling for urgent and stronger action by all stakeholders to change the narrative to a positive one where every Nigerian child has equal opportunities for a secure future.
The UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Wafa Saeed, and the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Eze Anaba and many others raised these concerns on Tuesday in Lagos at a high-level symposium convened by UNICEF in conjunction with the Guild and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).
The forum brought together representatives from UNICEF, key government ministries, embassies, the media, civil society groups, parents as well and students. It also featured a panel discussion and children’s presentations.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF’s Saeed highlighted the importance of children accessing quality life and being able to grow and become responsible citizens in any nation of the world.
Unfortunately, she said, millions of children are facing serious challenges ranging from out-of-school, poor nutrition, non-vaccination, security treats and home displaced and even child marraiges, among others.
She noted that three out of four children aged 10 in Nigeria, for example, cannot read and understand a simple text, describing such a scenario as learning poverty.
Saeed, therefore, called for full implementation of the Safe School Declaration to protect children from attacks and disruptions.
She, however, observed that even though “Nigeria has made progress for children over the last two decades, the current pace of progress is too slow and will be difficult to reach acceptable results.
“So, we must accelerate efforts as too many children are still being left behind,” she stressed. “And what encourages me is that we know what works: routine immunisation, quality education, nutrition, and protection.
“When we invest in these areas, we save lives and build the foundation for a stronger future for every Nigerian child.
“That is why achieving this is a shared responsibility.
“It is not what the government can do alone. The media should amplify children’s voices in their reporting. They should hold the government accountable.
“The civil society groups should also do their bit. Parents, too, have their own roles to play. Even the society at large must also do something without leaving any child behind.”
In his own remarks, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, observed that Nigeria is in a “state of emergency,” especially as far as child welfare and other conditions of living are concerned.
He said the conditions of Nigerian children have not been this bad except during the civil war, when it was difficult for children to survive.
According to him, Nigeria now has the world’s highest number of out-of-school children, warning that deteriorating indicators are undermining the country’s human capital prospects. Anaba urged the media to prioritise evidence-based reporting on child rights and protection issues.
“These are not mere statistics. They are the lived experiences of children whose dreams and our country’s future are being derailed,” he said.
“The media is not a passive observer. It is an active participant in shaping public consciousness. We must therefore amplify the voices of the voiceless, use verifiable data, and embrace solution-based investigative journalism to change the narrative”
Also speaking, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, Mr Michel Deelen, described the state of many Nigerian schools as unacceptable, referencing the widespread shortages of roofs, water, sanitation facilities, and teachers.
He observed that, “As long as schools are not functioning the way they should without roofs, water, and teachers, we cannot say things are gett
Source: TribuneOnlineNG | Read the Full Story…
