By Ijeoma Ukazu |
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting, (ICBD) 2020, the federal Government has called on media houses across the country to allow children air their views through the media.
Making this known in a statement, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed also urged the media to open their airwaves to children.
He said, the ICDB is a day set aside for media campaign by children to promote their rights, especially their right to participation.
The Minister further added that Nigeria and other countries expect most stations to give control of their operations to children who will take part in newscasts, productions and presentations.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, ” Nigerian Children: A Generation to be Protected”, Lai highlighted 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 Protection as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003.
He however stated that, 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, stressing that, this is what the International Day of Broadcasting tries to realize.
He urged the Media to give Nigerian children the opportunity to commemorate this year’s ICDB by making their platforms available for them irrespective of their status, location, ability or disability a chance to promote their rights and to contribute to national development.
The Minister said, children must also be allowed to speak on national issues and make necessary comments on government policies and programmes as well as issues affecting them.
ICBD is celebrated every 1st of March with the aim of giving voice to the children.
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