Headlines
UNICEF urges ethical reporting to protect children, promote trust
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Media practitioners in Kano and Jigawa States have been urged to uphold ethical standards in reporting, particularly on issues involving children, to safeguard their dignity and promote societal trust.
KANO FOCUS reports that this call was made by Dr. Karanveer Singh, Officer-in-Charge and Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kano, during a keynote address at a training on Ethical Journalism and Child Rights held in Dutse on Wednesday.
Addressing participants, Dr. Singh commended journalists in the region for their dedication, noting that they often operate under challenging conditions to inform the public. He described journalism as a vital service to democracy and community development.
Dr. Karanveer Singh
He stressed that ethical reporting of children is not merely a workshop theme but a fundamental pillar for building a responsible society, especially in regions facing insecurity and social tensions.
According to him, ethical journalism fosters trust and helps bridge divisions in diverse societies. He explained that accurate, fair and balanced reporting can counter misinformation and hate speech, while irresponsible journalism could inflame tensions and worsen conflicts.
Dr. Singh also emphasised the need to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children, noting that they are highly impressionable and easily affected by how they are portrayed in the media.
A Cross Section of the Participants
“Children are not miniature adults. Ethical reporting requires protecting their identity, ensuring their dignity, and prioritising their best interests at all times,” he said.
He warned against practices such as publishing identifiable details of child victims, using graphic images, or conducting exploitative interviews, stressing that such actions could cause long-term psychological harm and social stigma.
The UNICEF official highlighted that ethical journalism enhances credibility and professionalism, especially in an era dominated by unverified information on social media. He urged media practitioners to distinguish themselves through integrity and adherence to professional standards.
A Cross Section of the Participants at the training
While acknowledging the pressures journalists face, including security risks and political influence, he urged them to remain committed to truth, fairness and responsibility.
Dr. Singh further called on journalists to play an active role in promoting child rights by prioritising issues such as child protection, education, and wellbeing in their reporting.
He also challenged the media to hold political leaders accountable on child-focused policies, particularly as Nigeria prepares for future elections.
“The choices journalists make every day—what to report, how to report it, and whom to protect—will shape the future of this region and its children,” he said.
The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of media practitioners to report responsibly on child-related issues while promoting ethical standards in journalism across Kano and Jigawa States.
A Cross section of the participants at the training
Rano urges journalists to uphold ethics in child rights reporting
Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director of Radio Kano, Comrade Abubakar Adamu Rano, the station’s UNICEF Focal Person, Mustapha Ahmad Sani, emphasised the critical role journalists play in shaping public opinion and influencing government policies.
Sani, who conveyed the goodwill message of the Managing Director, expressed appreciation to UNICEF for organising the training and commended the resource persons for their commitment to knowledge sharing.
He noted that journalism carries significant responsibility, particularly when reporting on children, who are among the most vulnerable members of society.
“Children need protection, and careless reporting can harm their dignity, expose their identity, or create stigma. However, responsible reporting can safeguard their rights and contribute to building a better society,” he said.
He described the training as timely and essential, urging participants to take full advantage of the sessions by engaging actively, asking questions, and learning from one another.
The training, facilitated by seasoned experts including Dr. Jide Johnson, Jumoke Falayi, and Mr. Lekan Sote, is aimed at strengthening journalists’ capacity to report child-related issues ethically and responsibly.
Participants drawn from various media organisations across Kano and Jigawa States are expected to gain practical insights into best practices in child rights reporting.
Sani concluded by wishing the participants a productive and successful training on behalf of the management of Radio Kano.
In a presentation titled Ethical Principles in Reporting Children’s Issues, UNICEF Kano Communications Specialist, Samuel Kaalu, stated that countries that are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are legally bound to implement its provisions, which are monitored by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Mr. Samuel Kaalu
Kaalu outlined four guiding principles of the convention: non-discrimination; the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival, and development; and respect for the views of the child.
In her presentation, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, Jumoke Falayi, discussed the considerations and challenges of reporting on children across television, radio, digital media, and social media platforms.
Another facilitator, Dr. Jide Johnson, described the media as a protector—not a violator—of children’s rights.
Mr. Lekan Sote, in his presentation, highlighted when journalists should report issues concerning children and when they should refrain, placing strong emphasis on the choice of words used in reporting, depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
KANO FOCUS reports that the workshop was designed to strengthen ethical journalism principles, reduce sensationalism, and curb the spread of misinformation in the reporting of incidents involving children.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Imam Nura Garba Mato has urged Muslims to remain conscious of their actions, saying that divine reward and punishment often correspond to the nature of people’s deeds.
KANO FOCUS reports that the imam made the call while delivering a Friday sermon at Jami’u Ansar wal Muhajirun Jumaa Mosque, Cotton Ginnery Layout, Zawaciki, Kano State.
The sermon, titled “Al-Jazā’u Min Jinsil-‘Amal” (Recompense Is According to the Nature of Deeds), focused on the Islamic teaching that people’s actions have consequences and that good deeds attract divine reward.
Imam Mato said Allah had established enduring principles in human life that do not change, urging Muslims to understand these principles and allow them to guide their conduct.
He explained that one of these principles was that recompense corresponds to the nature of one’s actions, stressing the importance of living righteously and fulfilling one’s responsibilities to Allah and fellow human beings.
The imam called on Muslims to observe *taqwa* (consciousness of Allah), remain steadfast in their faith and follow the teachings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He also highlighted the importance of helping people in difficulty, easing the burdens of others and showing compassion to fellow Muslims.
Quoting a prophetic tradition, the imam emphasised that whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship in this world will receive relief from Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
He further explained that whoever conceals the faults of a fellow Muslim would receive Allah’s concealment of their faults on the Day of Resurrection, while those who make things easier for people in difficulty would receive Allah’s assistance in this world and the Hereafter.
The sermon also underscored the importance of supporting others, noting that a Muslim’s relationship with Allah should be reflected in their treatment of fellow human beings.
Imam Mato urged Muslims to reflect on their deeds and recognise that their conduct carries consequences, encouraging them to embrace good actions, assist those in need and uphold the teachings of Islam in their daily lives.
He stressed that Muslims should make righteousness, compassion and service to others central to their lives in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has directed all civil servants who have attained their statutory retirement age or completed the required length of service to immediately vacate their offices and hand over government property in their possession.
KANO FOCUS reports that the directive was contained in Circular issued on Tuesday by the Establishment Directorate, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Kano State.
The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Abba A. Danguguwa, on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, was titled: “Unauthorized Continuance in Service After Statutory Retirement by Civil Servants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government – Call for Immediate Handing Over of Official Documents, Properties.”
The government said it had observed that some civil servants continued to remain in office and operate in official capacities after reaching their statutory retirement period.
According to the circular, such conduct was a “negation to the reputation of the Civil Service of Kano State,” noting that the service had a long-standing tradition of ensuring seamless transition by retiring civil servants.
It described the continued stay in service after retirement as a direct infraction and aberration of relevant provisions of the State Civil Service Rules and other applicable service regulations.
The government stressed that it was legally and administratively untenable for any officer to remain in service or perform official functions beyond the statutory limit.
Consequently, all civil servants who had retired either by age or length of service were directed to immediately exit and hand over all official documents, government property and duties to their immediate subordinates in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.
The circular also directed all Accounting Officers, including Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives, as well as Directors of Administration and Personnel Management, to ensure strict and immediate compliance with the directive.
It warned that any officer found aiding, abetting or condoning the continued stay of a retired officer in service would face appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.
The directive takes immediate effect, the circular stated.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf says his administration has settled approximately N32 billion out of the N48 billion inherited backlog of gratuities and related liabilities owed to retirees in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Gov Yusuf disclosed this on Thursday while addressing residents at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium in Kano.
The governor said the government had also sustained the regular payment of monthly pensions while increasing the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000.
He said the welfare of workers and pensioners remained a priority of his administration, citing timely payment of salaries, improved remuneration and measures aimed at strengthening the public service.
According to him, the state has maintained the practice of paying workers’ salaries on or before the 25th of every month while implementing the N71,000 minimum wage for civil servants.
Gov Yusuf also said his administration was sponsoring public servants for professional training, including programmes at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), to strengthen their administrative and leadership capacity.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a professional and motivated workforce, while ensuring that the contributions and sacrifices of serving workers and retirees were recognised and treated with dignity.
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