By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Children are now being allowed to anchor programmes on Radio and TV stations as a concrete steps of speaking on behalf of the entire children in Nigeria.
The development is as part of the inclusiveness drive by UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office which is partnering Media broadcast stations in order to give more spaces for children to highlight their own specific needs.
Under the approval, Child participatory on Radio and TV presentations are given priority so as allow the children air their views in their own languages and perceptions unhindered.
Through the initiative, children are allowed to anchor segments of programmes live and recorded covering key areas of their development concerns such as nutrition, health, security, education, rights protection among others.
When contacted on why the introduction of the new approach, a Communication Working Partner, who is coordinating the implementation, Umar Muhammad Shira, said that in as long as all the media stations have their functional children desks, UNICEF is keying into existing programmes by way of enhancing the capacity of Producers to bring in innovation in their works so that, there will be more visibility reportage on key issues affecting the children.
He stressed that, when properly reported, those at the helm of affairs, like policy makers will be tasked to also have a paradigm shift in areas of funding children development programmes.
He said that global attention especially in the implementation of SDFs is shifted towards collaborative efforts by all the stakeholders in order to push for better outcomes on the outline goals.
Media therefore, he echoed, has a role to play in the areas of information dissemination, sensitization of the society and mobilization for positive action.
The Coordinator charged media stations to see the partnership as a call to duty to offer their platforms for the survival and development of children while on its part, UNICEF promises to come in from time to time with little support to keep the flag on in the best interest of the children.
In an interview, the Communication Implementing Partner, Umar Muhammad Shira, said that, with the new approach, media stations are expected to encourage the children to directly participate in the programming so as to be able to expand their cognitive thinking in line with present circumstances of global attention to their flight and to speak for themselves.
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