2019 Children Day: Minister Advocate for Media Takeover for Children
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
In view of the upcoming 2019, International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB), Nigeria Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has requested for an open airwaves from the media to children so they can air their views on issues that concerns them as they celebrate.
The minister’s request is contained is a statement signed by Olumide Osanyinpeju, Deputy Director, Head, Advocacy, Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Ministry, made available to newsmen on Thursday.
The Minister noted that, “in Nigeria, as in other countries, most stations will give control of their operations to children, who will take part in newscasts, productions and presentations.
“Articles 12 and 14 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child say that children have the right to form their own views and to express their views freely through the media on matters affecting them. This is what the International Day of Broadcasting tries to realize.
“The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘End Malnutrition: Protect the future of the Nigerian child’. The theme highlights the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child that all children irrespective of their status and situation should enjoy their rights to Survival and Development as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003.”
The ICDB which comes up on Sunday, 3rd March, 2019, is a day set aside for a media campaign by children to promote their rights, especially their right to participation.
The statement added, “Minister of Information and Culture, calls on the Media to give Nigerian children the opportunity to commemorate this year’s ICDB by making their platforms available for children irrespective of their status, location, ability or disability a chance to promote their rights and to contribute to national development.
“The Broadcast Media in Nigeria has participated in commemorating the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting since 1992.
“We therefore enjoin Broadcasters to open airwaves to the children for this year’s celebration.”
