From David Hassan, Gombe
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reinforced its commitment to child rights, urging journalists to serve as active vanguards for the health, welfare, and public financing of children across Nigeria.
The Managing Director, Umar Mohammed Shira, stated this on Monday in Bauchi during a media dialogue organized to showcase the critical importance of public financing for children’s needs.
The capacity-building meeting drew media practitioners from Gombe, Plateau, and Bauchi states to collaborate on strategies to advocate for sustained and increased budget allocations targeting children.
Shira reiterated that every child deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic background.
He noted that through investigative reporting, public enlightenment, and sustained policymaker engagement, media practitioners can help expose funding gaps and amplify the voices of vulnerable children.
“Investing in children’s health is not an expenditure, but a direct investment in securing the future of our society,” Shira said, adding that adequately financing child healthcare builds a healthier and more productive nation.
He called on journalists to deepen their partnership with UNICEF by prioritizing child rights in newsrooms and media platforms, while encouraging them to use their editorial influence to drive policy reforms for underserved children.
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