UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate has highlighted the need to advocate for child protection rights adding that 32.7 per cent of the country’s inflation was putting additional strains on families and household income and had made it difficult for children to realize their full potential.
She cited food insecurity crisis, high record of food inflation, subsidy removal, climate change and devaluation of local currency as the major factors creating existential threats to families and underprivileged communities in the country.
She also stated that Nigerian child was facing staggering realities to survive and contribute skills, talents and assets to global economy.
Cristian Munduate, made the declaration while addressing Journalist and media practitioners at the UNICEF World Children Day Symposium with the theme: “Reinforcing The Role of Media in Mainstreaming Child Right”.
She said the alarming frequency of inflation across the country signals a crisis that requires immediate and determined action from all levels of government and society.
Munduate emphasised urgent need for action. She said, “Children are at the centre of the food insecurity crisis and face irreversible consequences both physical and cognitive, and potentially even death. It is our moral imperative to ensure that the right of every child to adequate food and nutrition is upheld.”
She urged the Nigerian government, donors, and stakeholders to commit resources and implement measures to avert a potential food and nutrition disaster, while emphasising the need for immediate multi-sectoral support across the nation.
She bemoaned the state of Nigerian economy while stressing that high record of inflation has put additional shocks on household income, budget spend and allocation of resources coupled with record of food inflation (which reached 40.9 per cent for food, and 34.2 per cent for all items in June 2024). This is a record increase in food prices amid record high transportation costs.
She assumed that these economic shocks resulted to the continuous devaluation of the local currency (Naira) against the United States Dollar (USD), external economic factors, and last year’s policy changes on discontinuation of the fuel subsidy.
Munduate further urged the media to explore strategies to report stories that affect child right, child protection and families adding that, adequate investments in education should be top priority in their manifestos.
Also speaking, president of Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, said the media should amplify advocacy efforts to explore remedies within the margins of the new circle by ensuring that stories are grounded in policies that encourage replications.
We must commit actionable steps that shape right policy with advocacy efforts by encouraging media campaigns to drive awareness. Anaba said.
