Children take over the media for International Children’s Day of Broadcasting
International Children’s Day of Broadcasting provides children with a unique platform to communicate with far reaching audiences
March 2017, Kaduna, Nigeria – Bilkisu Usman and Dorothy Jagaba jumped at the opportunity to broadcast live to fellow Nigerians about their perspectives on giving children a good start in life. This week the two 17 year-olds were joined by hundreds of children at TV and radio studios around the country broadcasting live on the topic of how children can achieve their full potential. The initiative, for International Children’s Day of Broadcasting, aimed at providing children around the world with a unique platform to communicate with far reaching audiences.
Several Nigerian media stations collaborated with UNICEF to provide children with the opportunity to take control of their operations for a day, including newscasts and the production of dramas, songs and presentations. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a driving force for this initiative, stipulating that children have the right to form their own views and to express them freely through the media.
“I am delighted to see a thought-provoking profession that informs my decision to become a journalist in the future,” said Dorothy Jagaba to her friend and classmate during their live discussion at the Kaduna State Media Corporation. The media plays the role of advocate by providing children with a platform to have a voice and freedom of expression on matters affecting them.
The first Sunday of March every year has been set aside for the world's largest media campaign for children to promote rights of the child, especially their right to participation. Over 200 broadcast media in Nigeria have been participating in the programme since 1992.
The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting provides another platform to communicate and promote the fundamental rights of children. UNICEF and the media partners involved in the initiative believe that programmes like this are extremely empowering for young. It can be an especially important tool for helping promote equality and provide children with the means and language to understand why it is important to promote the rights of all children and young people.
“This year is my seventh moment actively participating in a studio to mark this important day in our honour – the children,” Bilkisu said upon reflection at the end of her time on the air.
