Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The United Nations Children's Fund has issued a powerful and urgent call to Nigerian journalists, demanding that they place the safety, dignity, privacy and best interests of children at the very centre of their reportage, warning that careless headlines, intrusive photographs and the unnecessary disclosure of identities could expose vulnerable children to stigma, discrimination and lifelong trauma. The charge was delivered on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at a two‑day Zonal Workshop on Ethical Reporting of Children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, organised by the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State in collaboration with the UNICEF Enugu Field Office. The workshop brought together editors, correspondents and media practitioners from print and broadcast organisations across nine states, including Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Rivers, Cross River, Benue, Delta and Kogi, to strengthen professional capacity and promote a common understanding of child‑sensitive journalism.
The Chief of the UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Juliet Chiluwe, who delivered the keynote address titled "Why Ethical Reporting of Children Matters in Nigeria," described journalists as "shapers of society" and stressed that their responsibility becomes even greater when reporting stories involving children. She said a child featured in the media is not simply a subject for a story, but a person with dignity, rights, aspirations and a future. "Ethical reporting must never be treated as an option or an extra add‑on to good journalism," Chiluwe declared. She warned that a careless headline could stigmatise a child, an inappropriate photograph could expose a child to discrimination, and an unnecessary disclosure of identity could follow a child for years. "When in doubt, protect the child," she emphasised, urging media professionals to emerge from the workshop as child‑rights champions.
Chiluwe noted that the digital age had heightened the risks associated with reporting children because photographs, names and recordings could remain online indefinitely and reach national and international audiences within minutes. "A photograph uploaded today can remain online indefinitely, while a child's name can remain searchable for years," she said. She therefore stressed the need for journalists to pay particular attention to consent, privacy, identity and digital safety when reporting children affected by violence, abuse, exploitation, displacement or legal proceedings. She identified children affected by violence, abuse, displacement, conflict, exploitation, disability and legal proceedings as requiring particular sensitivity, adding that responsible reporting could expose injustice, mobilise communities, influence policy, hold institutions accountable and amplify solutions.
In his welcome address, the Director‑General of BCA, Apostle Francis Nwubani, represented by the Director of News and Current Affairs, Mr Blessing Egbu, said ethical reporting of children was not only a professional requirement but a moral obligation. He warned that sensationalism, inappropriate identification, intrusive interviews and stigmatising language could deepen the trauma of vulnerable children. "The way we report on a child who is a victim of violence, abuse, exploitation, conflict, displacement, poverty, or other forms of vulnerability can either contribute to the child's protection and recovery or, inadvertently, deepen their trauma," Nwubani said. He urged journalists to consider the possible consequences of their reports before publication, asking: "Will this report harm or endanger the child? Does the story respect the child's dignity and privacy? Are we reporting in the best interest of the child?"
Nwubani challenged journalists to always ask themselves critical questions before publishing or broadcasting stories involving children, including whether a report would protect or endanger the child, respect the child's dignity and privacy, serve the child's best interest and provide a voice without exposing the child to further harm. He, however, stressed that ethical journalism did not mean avoiding difficult stories involving children, but reporting such issues accurately, sensitively and responsibly in ways that promote solutions and protect children's rights.
Presenting a paper titled "Ethical Principles in Reporting Children's Issues," Dr Geoffrey Njoku identified early marriage, female genital mutilation, rape, child trafficking, child prostitution, child labour, war and violence, racial discrimination, refugee crises and displacement among issues requiring responsible media coverage. He urged journalists to avoid sensational reports that could result in further abuse of children, describing media practitioners as agents of social change with a responsibility to promote, protect and institutionalise child rights.
Also speaking on "Media as Protector or Violator: Foundation of Child Rights," Dr Jide Johnson of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism presented figures from the 2022 Child Labour Survey, highlighting the scale of child vulnerability. He said 50.5 per cent of children were engaged in economic activity, while 39.2 per cent were involved in child labour. He added that 22.9 per cent of children were engaged in hazardous work, while nearly one in two children lived in income poverty. Mr Johnson further said neonatal mortality stood at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births, underscoring continuing challenges affecting child survival.
UNICEF Nigeria Communications Specialist Sussan Akila, in her keynote address, urged journalists to report issues involving children responsibly and sensitively to prevent trauma, stigmatisation and further harm. She stressed that in cases involving serious assault or molestation of children, journalists should focus their reports on ensuring justice while protecting the dignity, privacy and emotional well‑being of the child. "Reports should be presented in a manner that justice can be done. A stigmatised child feels he has nothing to lose and, therefore, has a greater propensity to become an armed robber, bandit, or engage in other forms of criminality," she warned.
Speaking on balancing public interest with child protection, rights activist Lanre Idowu outlined children's rights to survival, development, protection and participation. He also stressed the importance of quality, inclusive and child‑friendly education in promoting children's development and well‑being. The speakers urged journalists to avoid identifying child victims while obtaining appropriate parental consent and children's assent where required. They advised journalists to anonymise identifying details and focus on systemic problems rather than producing pity‑driven stories. The experts said ethical reporting should protect vulnerable children while ensuring that serious issues remain visible to the public.
The workshop highlighted that insecurity, poverty and stigma continue to expose Nigerian children to significant risks. The speakers stressed that the media could either compound children's burdens or help protect them and hold institutions accountable. They, therefore, urged journalists to adopt responsible, child‑sensitive reporting that promotes justice, dignity, protection and practical solutions. UNICEF reiterated its commitment to working closely with the media and other partners to promote the well‑being of children across the country, stressing that child‑focused journalism remains central to changing the narrative in all of Nigeria's most vulnerable regions.
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