The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has organised a two-day training for journalists across northern states on ethical journalism and child rights reporting.
The workshop, held at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano State, brought together over 100 practitioners from mainstream electronic and print media, both public and private.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, urged journalists to embrace ethical reportage that promotes children’s confidence, protects their rights, and supports their growth into courageous and productive adults.
He cautioned that insensitive reporting on issues involving children—such as cases of rape, theft, or other traumatic experiences—could cause lasting harm to their psychological wellbeing and future development.
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“It is very important for journalists to avoid presenting reports in ways that may scare children from going to school or traumatise them into losing confidence in themselves and in society,” he said.
According to him, ethical reporting helps to build confidence, eliminate misconceptions, heal divisions, and create a society where children can live happily with hope for a better and sustainable future.
Farah stressed that the media plays a critical role in informing both leaders and communities about child rights, hence the need for practitioners to handle such sensitive stories professionally and responsibly.
He cautioned that unethical reporting not only endangers children’s lives but also fuels distrust, division, and unending societal crises.
“Professional journalists are always expected to avoid publishing stories about children—especially victims of sexual abuse or molestation—with their names, images, or any detail that could expose them to community stigmatization, gossip, or social deprivation,” he added.
He further noted that journalists in Nigeria operate within a complex society with multidimensional challenges, hence the need to always be guided by the fundamental ethics of the profession in order to drive sustainable campaigns against child abuse.
UNICEF therefore charged participants of the workshop to become champions of ethical reporting in both mainstream and social media, safeguarding the rights of children and strengthening societal cohesion.
