By Tasi’u Hassan
Participants at a two-day Media Dialogue on addressing Child Poverty in Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa States want state governments to prioritize children’s well-being in budgeting and decision-making processes and policies as well as other issues that directly concern them.
In a communique issued at the end of the media dialogue organized by UNICEF Bauchi Field Office in Gombe, the participants consisting of policymakers, social policy specialists, and journalists drawn from the three states, noted with concern the growing poverty indices among Nigerian Children.
Therefore, they stressed the need for strategic policy shifts by governments at all levels to improve the lives of children affected by the poverty phenomenon.
The participants, equally enjoined heads of households and community stakeholders to support women and adolescent girls to access healthcare services for an improved quality reproductive, maternal, and child health status in states.
They also commended UNICEF for sustained engagements with the media, a development that provides an opportunity for the media to have first-hand information required to continue and strengthen the advocacy for children and women-friendly policies.
See the full communique below:
Communique at the end of a two-day Media Dialogue on addressing Child Poverty in Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa States facilitated by UNICEF Bauchi Field Office. 12th and 13th March, 2024 .At Evolution Hotel, Gombe, Gombe State.
Introduction
The media plays a pivotal role in raising awareness about issues surrounding child poverty in Gombe, Adamawa, and Bauchi States. Through various medium such as investigative journalism, documentaries, and advocacy campaigns, media outlets have the power to shine a light on the root causes of child poverty and hold policymakers accountable for implementing effective solutions.
By amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and showcasing success stories of interventions, the media can catalyze positive change and mobilize public support for addressing child poverty.
Recognizing the significance of the media in addressing child poverty, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office (BFO) organized a Media Dialogue aimed at Addressing Child Poverty in Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa States. The event, scheduled from March 12th to 13th, brought together journalists from print, electronic, and online platforms to inform and empower them on issues affecting children in these states.
At the end of the 2-days dialogue, the participants resolved as follows:
1. The Team commends UNICEF for sustained engagement with the Media, an initiative that has provided opportunity for the media to have first-hand information required to continue and strengthen the advocacy for pro- children and women policies and programmes.
2. The Media Roundtable/Dialogue has noted with concern the growing poverty indices among Nigerian Children and therefore calls for strategic policy shift by governments at both States and National levels to improve the lives of children bedeviled by the poverty phenomenon.
3. The meeting calls for a seamless policy implementation across all tiers of governments to empower Nigerians against the present high cost of living which its devastating effects are unprecedented especially on the children and women.
4. Nigerian Social Safety Register should be cleaned up to ensure transparency and honesty are driving its implementation.
5. The meeting calls on heads of households and community stakeholders to support women and adolescent girls to access healthcare services for an improved quality reproductive, maternal and child health status in states.
6. Participants at the meeting have resolved to continue to advocate for child friendly policies as part of their contribution to achieving an egalitarian society using different platforms of communication.
7. The meeting calls on state governments to prioritize children’s wellbeing in budgeting and decision-making processes and policies as well as other issues that directly concerns them.
8. The meeting equally calls on state governments to assist small farmers with farming inputs at subsidized rates easily enough to address food insecurity and child poverty.
9. The meting calls on states governments and stakeholders in the education sector to beef up monitoring system in education sector to enhance school safety for improved learning outcomes and safe environment for all.
10. The meeting calls on governments at all levels to empower women especially in conflict affected areas and rural communities to address child poverty and stimulate rapid development.
11. The meeting commends Gombe State as the host state for a conducive environment.
Ishola Michael Adeyemi
Nigerian Tribue, North-East Bureau -Chairman
Rebecca Caleb Maina
Gombe Media Corporation.- Member
Mohammed Aisha
Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM , Yola.- Secretary.
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