FG moves to boost knowledge of child rights reporting for journalists. For efficient information transmission by the media, the Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new curriculum on Child Rights Reporting for Polytechnics in Nigeria.
At a two-day media workshop put on by UNICEF, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated that the instructional guide was created to close the knowledge gap on children’s rights for journalists and communications schools.
The new curriculum, according to Mohammed, “will assist the transfer of all journalists from the current level of Child Rights awareness to a specific degree of understanding bringing about the crucial paradigm change in covering topics as it impacts children.”
According to him, the curriculum’s factual reporting would make youngsters aware of their legal entitlements to life, growth, protection, and participation.
Juliet Chiluwe, the Chief of Field Office for UNICEF in Enugu, stated that it is still difficult to communicate children’s rights given the wide range of abuses against children that stem from a lack of understanding of what those rights are.
She asserted that the media has a crucial role in spreading awareness of issues related to the Child Rights Act and in facilitating communication.
“I am happy to report that the media continues to be a crucial ally of UNICEF in promoting the greater dissemination of knowledge on problems pertaining to children’s rights.
“Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State for becoming the first institution to choose the Child Rights and Responsibilities Curriculum (CRRC) as a general studies course and making it a requirement for in-school mass communicators.
“This fantastic opportunity will aid in broadening the knowledge and exposure of mass communication students and professionals by incorporating child rights issues, which are also current issues for human development.
