The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation have called on media professionals to uphold children’s rights and dignity in their reporting.
Speaking in Ibadan during a two-day training on ethical journalism and child rights reporting, Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, said every story involving a child must be handled with sensitivity and respect.
Delivering her keynote address titled “Why Ethical Reporting of Children Matters in Nigeria,” Lafoucriere emphasised that children are not miniature adults but individuals still developing emotionally, mentally, and socially.
“Ethical journalism builds trust,” she said. “In a world where misinformation spreads fast, your commitment to truth, fairness, and balance sets you apart. How you report children’s stories shapes how society sees its children — and how children see themselves.”
UNICEF Communication Specialist, Susan Akila, described the training as a refresher and a call to action for journalists to ensure every story about a child reflects truth, respect, and protection.
Also speaking, communication consultant Geoffrey Njoku traced the journey of children’s rights from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to Nigeria’s domestication through the Child’s Rights Act of 2003. He urged reporters to always consider the “best interest of the child” and avoid words or images that could cause harm or humiliation.
Representing the ministry, Toye Falayi of the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) said journalists must recognise that every image and word they publish can have a lasting impact on a child’s life and safety.
Researcher Jide Johnson highlighted the harsh realities many Nigerian children face, including early marriage, child labour, sexual abuse, trafficking, and neglect.
UNICEF Communication Officer Blessing Ejiofor added that every journalist has a duty to promote change and improve the lives of children and their families through ethical and compassionate storytelling.
