The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on journalists across Nigeria to safeguard the identities of children in their reporting, in line with the Child Rights Act (CRA 2003), to prevent exposing minors to public scrutiny or harm.
The appeal was made during a two-day training workshop on ethical reporting of children, organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation for media practitioners from the North-East and North-Central zones in Gombe State on Monday.
Over 70 journalists, including reporters, editors, and state correspondents from both print and electronic media, attended the workshop, which aimed to promote ethical and child-sensitive reporting across the regions.
Delivering the keynote address, UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Abdelatef, represented by Communication Specialist Susan Akila, stressed that responsible reporting is essential to protecting children and supporting their development, particularly for those affected by crises.
Akila highlighted that journalists often operate in challenging environments, including conflict zones, but emphasized that “access to information must never compromise the rights or safety of children. Publishing names or photographs of minors without consent violates both ethical standards and the Child Rights Act”.
She further noted that the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception and influencing societal responses to issues affecting children. “Ethical reporting begins with empathy”, she said, urging journalists to consider how their stories, images and headlines may impact young lives.
Assistant Director of the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB), Toye Falayi, explained that the training was designed to strengthen journalists’ understanding of child rights, improve coverage of issues affecting children, and ensure compliance with both national and international legal frameworks.
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