By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Government and UNICEF has called on private Broadcasting organizations to open the Airwaves for Children talk issues like education, their hopes and aspirations concerning them.
This call was made in Nigeria by government and UNICEF to mark the 2023 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting , ICDB with the theme ”More money for primary education’. which comes up on Sunday 4th, March 2023 to create awareness on children’s issues.
Although the Nigerian Government officially declared education free and compulsory yet 18 million children of between 5 – 14 are not in school while only 61 percent of 6 -year-olds regularly attend primary school.
The call is for adequate funding of primary education to create an enabling environment for increased demand for qualitative education which is the bedrock of enhanced knowledge, improved behaviour and personal growth of the children.
In a joint statement Nigerian Government and UNICEF therefore enjoin broadcasters to open airwaves to the children for this year’s celebration and throughout the year and also to produce documentaries that highlight the plight of children in Nigeria
The ICDB was launched by UNICEF in 1991 to encourage broadcasters worldwide to create awareness on children’s issues. It’s a day broadcasters allow children to be part of the programming process, to talk about their hopes, dreams and exchange ideas with their peers on issues affecting them.
