2016 Review: UNICEF, Applauds Media Performance in Kaduna
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commended the efforts of media practitioners in Kaduna state for their excellent performance in reporting issues relating to women and children through out 2016.
UNICEF Kaduna Chief of Field Office, Utpal Moitra explained on Thursday, while declaring open, the 2016 end of year media review meeting, that the media has remained a critical stakeholders in addressing issues affecting children in Kaduna state.
He commended the media for their support in carrying UNICEF flag flying in the current efforts to uplift the lives of children in the state.
Moitra added that, UNICEF has recorded a huge success in 2016, a development he attributed to the support of the media.
He urged all media partners in the state to build on the achievements recorded in 2016 for better outcome in 2017.
“It is not about doing it more, but doing it better and move from doing better to excellence in 2017 interventions in Health, Nutrition, HIV and AIDS, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, immunization and education among other interventions in collaboration with Kaduna State.
“The goal should be on how to take these issues to the debating table in the state that would translate into practical and achievable interventions on children issues in the state”. Utpal said.
He equally commended the initiative and skills of the UNICEF Media and External Relations Officer of the Kaduna Field office to engage the media in monitoring project implementations and assess impact in all UNICEF intervention support areas in the state.
He recommended doing things differently in 2017, particularly by bringing children into the discussion table and give them a voice on issues affecting them.
He reiterated UNICEF’s continued partnership with the media and how together both can do better for children and women in the state.
The Media and External Relations Officer, Malam Rabiu Musa, also commended the media in the state for supporting UNICEF work in support of Kaduna state.
Rabiu also said that plans are being concluded for journalists to visit some Local Government Areas to conduct interviews and document results achieved by sector to help document UNICEF and Kaduna state joint partnership for children and write stories on their findings to accord visibility to the state and UNICEF as well as to keep the public abreast on the successes being achieved in the state.
“This strategic approach to issues would continue in 2017”, he added.
Participants were drawn from Kaduna State Media Cooperation (KSMC), Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN), Nagarta Radio, DITV/Alheri Radio, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Newswebexpress.
