IBADAN, Nigeria (FN) — The Nigerian government, in partnership with the United Nations Education Trust Fund, has called on media organizations and journalists to uphold ethical standards in reporting on children, emphasizing the media’s role in protecting the rights and dignity of the nation’s youngest citizens.
Speaking at a two-day training on ethical journalism and children’s rights reporting in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Ogbodo Nnam, said the government is committed to building a media culture that safeguards children’s identities and promotes responsible storytelling.
Represented by Temitoye Falayi, head of the ministry’s Child Rights Information Bureau, Nnam said the training was designed to help journalists reflect on their ethical obligations, explore best practices in reporting on children’s issues, and deepen their understanding of child rights as outlined in national laws and international conventions.
“The media holds immense power — the power to inform, to inspire, and to hold institutions accountable,” Nnam said. “But with that power comes a profound responsibility: to report with integrity, sensitivity, and respect for human dignity. When it comes to stories involving children, that responsibility becomes even greater.”
He added that the Federal Government recognizes the media as a strategic partner in its child protection agenda and is working to institutionalize ethical reporting frameworks across all platforms. “We are not just training journalists; we are building a coalition of advocates who will help shape a safer, more inclusive narrative for Nigerian children,” he said.
In her keynote address, Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of UNICEF’s Lagos Field Office, stressed that ethical reporting on children is not only a professional obligation but a moral imperative.
“At UNICEF, we believe that every child has the right to be seen, heard, and protected,” Lafoucriere said. “It is about ensuring that children are portrayed with dignity, that their stories are told with care, and that their rights are never compromised in the pursuit of headlines or profit.”
She urged journalists to leave the training with not only new skills but a renewed commitment to champion ethical reporting in their newsrooms and communities.
“The way we report on children today shapes the kind of society we build tomorrow,” she said. “By choosing ethics, you choose protection, you choose dignity, and you choose a better future for every child in Nigeria.”
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Federal Government to strengthen child protection systems and ensure that media coverage contributes positively to the well-being and development of children across the country. The Ministry of Information and National Orientation reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing collaboration with media stakeholders, civil society, and international partners to promote responsible journalism and uphold children’s rights nationwide.
