The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised the alarm over the exclusion of children’s voices in policy decisions that affect their lives in the North East region.
Joseph Senissie, UNICEF Chief of the Maiduguri Field Office, made this known during the media launch of the “Da Rarrafe Yaro Kan Tashi” (“Young Shall Grow”) radio programme in Maiduguri on Monday.
Senissie noted that children’s perspectives and opinions are rarely sought or considered in policy decisions related to education, healthcare, and welfare.
“For too long, children’s voices have been absent in discussions and policy-making that directly affect them,” he said.
He called on the government and policymakers to prioritise children’s needs and actively seek their perspectives when formulating policies.
UNICEF pledged to intensify its efforts in empowering child rights champions in Borno State, providing them with the necessary knowledge and platforms to advocate for their well-being.
Senissie explained the importance of the participating schoolchildren, including six child presenters now part of the Borno State Children’s Parliament, who represent the diverse population of children, including those with disabilities and those displaced by conflict.
With the support of Goalprime Organization of Nigeria, the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs, and generous donors like the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the program has reached over 5.5 million listeners across Borno State and beyond.
The “Da Rarrafe Yaro Kan Tashi” radio programme, designed by children for children, aims to amplify their voices and involve them in finding solutions to the challenges they face.
Hajia Yabawa Kyari, Child Development Director of the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, commended UNICEF for the programme and pledged that the ministry would henceforth prioritise seeking children’s opinions in decisions affecting them.
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