By; TINA PHINEAS, Yola
The media has been commended over commitment in the reportage of women and children issues as it affects them.
Mr. Drissa Yeo, officer in charge UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi field office, gave the commendation on Wednesday at a two-day training for journalists organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Bauchi State Television (BATV) on ethical reporting/media dialogue on child survival, development and protection.
According to Yeo, UNICEF has recorded so many successes as a result of media support in promoting women and children issues.
“Without the media, there will be no success by UNICEF”, Yeo stated.
He also disclosed that UNICEF is starting a new programme from 2018 – 2022, which will focus on child survival, starting with health, nutrition, WASH etc.
The Officer in charge therefore solicit for media support for the success of the programme stating that “the media will be the backbone of the success story of the programme”.
In his presentation, the Managing Director BATV, Ibrahim Idriss Shall, said the workshop is important because it is geared towards actualizing the objective of the UNICEF.
While commending the relationship between UNICEF and BATV, which dates back to the 1990’s, he promised the station will always support UNICEF to achieve its mandate.
Shall who was represented by the director news Ibrahim Sani challenged journalist to reach the grassroots in campaigning for child survival as such areas are mostly neglected.
Earlier, the communication officer of UNICER, Bauchi field, mr. Samuel Kaalu, said UNICEF focues on children because they have a United Nation’s mandate given by the UN general assembly in 1943, to protect children.
He said the objectives of the training is to enhanced participant’s knowledge on ethical reporting of children’s issues, to update participant’s knowledge on journalism based ethical issues.
Kaalu stated further that the training will also dialogue on current child survival, development and protection issues in the states supported by UNICEF Bauchi field office.
The workshop which was held at Destination Hotel in Bauchi drew its participants from Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Plateau and Jigawa states.
