From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Canada has reaffirmed its support for efforts to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict in Nigeria, urging journalists to use ethical, child‑centred reporting to expose recruitment networks and protect vulnerable youngsters.
Speaking at the opening of a five‑day workshop on “The Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Conflict and Violence,” Omar Alihashi, Counsellor (Political) representing Canada’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, said Canada sees the media as a key partner in implementing the Vancouver Principles and in safeguarding children affected by violence.
Alihashi told participants in the programme, organised by the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights and funded by Global Affairs Canada that “Canada remains committed to supporting international efforts to protect children affected by armed conflict and to advance the principles reflected in the Vancouver Principles.”
He stressed the long‑term harm caused when children are drawn into violence, saying, “Beyond immediate dangers of violence, recruitment into armed groups can have lasting consequences for their education, well‑being, opportunities, and of course, their future. He called for coordinated action from the governments, communities, civil society, security actors and the media.
According to the organisers, the workshop aims to equip Nigerian reporters with trauma‑informed, gender‑sensitive and safety‑focused reporting skills. “Over five days, participants will learn how to ethically report on children’s vulnerabilities and build trust between media and security institutions. “We need the pen, the voice and the moral clarity of the media,” the Dallaire Institute’s country representative and retired Superintendent of Police, Offiong Nsa, said at the opening session. “You, as journalists, are not merely chroniclers of conflicts. You are powerful human rights advocates.”
She urged reporters to shift the narrative from portraying the children purely as perpetrators to recognising them as vulnerable victims and agents of peace.
African Director of Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), Mustapha Dumbuya, outlined the practical training elements that will guide participants. He described a curriculum covering the safety and security of reporters in conflict zones, the mental‑health implications of reporting traumatic events, ethical use of images on social and digital platforms, gender‑sensitive reporting and how to pitch child‑centred stories effectively to editors.
“By the end of the five days, you will be equipped with the skills and the knowledge of how to report on children who are impacted by conflicts in a sensitive and a compelling manner,” Dumbuya said.
He announced a pitching competition that will offer a modest grant to successful submissions, encouraging journalists to apply what they learnt in real reporting.
Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Grace Ike also pledged support. “The media has a central role to play in addressing this crisis,” she said, warning against sensationalism that could further endanger children.
Ike, who was represented by Treasurer Sandra Chukwujekwu, added: “We can help prevent recruitment by telling accurate, sensitive stories that highlight root causes such as poverty, lack of education, family breakdown and social marginalisation.”
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