Borno state government in conjunction with ‘I Concept Dot Net’, an NGO based in Maiduguri has tasked journalists in the state to help sensitise the populace on the provisions of the child protection law and popularise it.
Speaking at Unimaid Conference Centre in Maiduguri on Monday, during the flagging off of the 3-day sensitisation programme with the theme ‘A strategic sensitisation engagement with stakeholders in Borno, on the Borno Child Protection Law’, the commissioner of justice, Barr. Hauwa Abubakar said Borno has passed over 30 child protection bills into law.
She explained that the aim of organising the workshop is to discuss the usage and importance of the child protection law with journalists who will in turn pass it on to the people in the state.
According to her, the working journalists in Borno have the power to communicate the amended child protection law in the form of news and programmes to the people which will help in the fight against child labour, sexual abuse and violence against children.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Garba Chibok, said “The media should sensitise the people about the child protection law to ensure that children have access to education, health and protection against all forms of violence and abuse.
“The position of the law has been that ignorance of the law is not a defence, the position is equally the same that any law is gazetted is a general notice to the whole world.”
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Speaking, the convener of the workshop, Prof. Nassir Abba’aji, noted that journalists are people who set agenda for people to follow and they tell people what is happening in society as a matter of responsibility they would be the ones to sensitise people about the importance of child protection law, how does it work and how they would participate in ensure it.
“The bottom line is the protection of the interest of the child, journalist should play a role in investigating matters concerning child abuse and issues that relate to violation of the child protection law. The more journalists engage in investigation, the outcome is desirable and the desired change will happen.
“Journalists should inform people about the law, educating them, we believe that journalists are the closest people who have contact with the people at the grassroots.
“The purpose of the workshop is to see that the attention of media workers, and journalists is drawn to an aspect that is related to the child protection law so that they identify and understand that their participation and enforcement of the law is paramount.
Responding, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State Council, Comrade Dauda Iliya, stated that the role of the mass media is to hold government accountable to the people and also serve as agenda setters to policies for effective implementation.
He mentioned that the Journalists in the state will focus more on the child protection law and the issue of children.
“We will pay more attention to the welfare and needs of children, we will report on that, we will encourage media house to focus on the issues of children.
“To achieve that we need to work with government, NGOs and other stakeholders to see how we can reduce these cases and make the children of Borno productive in the society,” said Iliya.
