Leadership (Abuja)
NEWS - 16 June 2008As the world marks the African Child today, Youth Media and Communication Initiative, (YMCI) an international organisation dedicated to children and media has called for the introduction of media education into the school curriculum in Nigeria as a way of giving voice to children. In a statement to mark the Day of the African Child, 2008, whose theme is Right to Participation - let children be heard and seen, YMCI noted that it is the easiest way for children to participate in national development.
The Day of the African Child has been celebrated every year on June 16 since 1991 as an opportunity for people to reflect on a nation's progress toward health, education, equality and protection for all African children and on the implementation of the regional African Charter on the Rights of the Child.
Children and youth in Nigeria are among the most marginalised people, yet their profoundly urgent issues remain on the fringe of national debates. This situation needs to change because children want and have the right to speak out, they have fresh and interesting things to do, some issues (such as education, play, child abuse, etc) affect children more than they affect adults, so their opinions and experiences are vital.
According to Chido Onumah, Coordinator of YMCI, "as an organisation whose aim is to train children and youth, using media, as agents for social mobilisation and social change and develop their capacity for effective communication and self-expression so that they can positively impact their schools, communities and society, YMCI recognises the opportunity this year's celebration presents in drawing attention to issues of children and youth in the country and having these issues addressed as priorities on the political agenda".
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