By Teryima Andrew
Following increasing cases of child molestation, child abandonment, the Bauchi State Television (BATV) in-conjunct with UNICEF Bauchi field office on Wednesday organized a two day media training to retrain Journalists on ethical reporting on issues affecting child development in within the north eastern Nigeria, holding in Bauchi, Bauchi state.
Presenting a paper entitle “UNICEF and Children” lead facilitor of the workshop who is also the coomunication field officer of UNICEF Bauchi Field office Samuel Kaalu, informed that child survival was the cardinal objective of establishing UNICEF in Nigeria. While living with privileges and security, people should read more of such articles to know how childhood differs for every child.
Mr. Kaalu revealed that UNICEF have engaged policy makers in the five states of it coverage by his agency, to domesticate child Right Act, the communication named the states been covered by UNICEF Bauchi to include Gombe, Bauchi, Tarba Jigawa and Plateau states.
He said the workshop is aimed at reawakening the knowledge on ethical reporting on exploitation and bartering of the children. He stressed that UNICEF protects the child from conception to maturity.
The UNICEF Bauchi field communication officer tasked Journalists in Nigeria to wake up to their social responsibility of educating the public on the need to protect the Nigerian child from been killed through spread of diseases and harmful traditional practices.
Kaalu charged state government in Nigeria to hesting up in enacting laws that can protect the Nigerian child fully.
Delivering a keynote address, representative of the General Manager Bauchi State Television (BATV) Ibrahim Sani who is the Director News and Current affairs, of the television station, said the workshop was apt and timely, considering rising cases of child abuse among citizens.
The BATV General Manager urged UNICEF to continue the advocacy on the freedom and the right of the child for a better future Nigeria.
Similarly, officer in charge of the UNICEF Bauchi field office, Drissa Yeo, said the organization has enjoyed partnership with BATV and the entire Buchi state government.
Mr. Drissa charged participants of the two day media training on ethical reporting on issues affecting the Nigerian child.
Cautioning the public on open deification, a felicitator Uba Lawal, who spoke on hand Washing sanitation in a lecture revealed that one kilograms of feaces contains 10,000 bacteria.
Mr. Lawal emphasised the need for frequent hand Washing attitude should be adopted, according to him, it help in minimizing spread of very harmful diseases.
The facilitator urged policy makers cross Nigeria, Care givers and particularly parents to teach their children on the need for regular hand Washing.
On the need to eliminate polio in Nigeria, Parents were urged to avail their children for immunization as at when due.
It was gathered that 60 percent of children in Nigeria are violated before the attain adulthood; 38 percent of girlchild who are asexually molested by parents and others aduts are kept silence
The two day workshop entittled “Training on Ethical Reporting/Media Dialogue on Child Survival, Development and Protection Issues” the event ends this Thursday in Bauchi, participants were drawn from Taraba, Gombe, Plateau Bauchi, Jigawa and Adamawa states.