Stakeholders across Civil Society Organisations have intensified efforts to address exploitative child domestic work, a nin- government organisation, Cece Yara Child Advocacy Center convened a high-level consultative forum to promote and protect the rights of children in Nigeria.
The consultative forum, part of the Nigeria Hotspot Program – Addressing Exploitative Child Domestic Work, was organized in collaboration with Street Project Foundation to strengthen advocacy and reshape public narratives through ethical and responsible media engagement.
Delivering the keynote, award-winning media consultant, Mrs. Blessings Oladunjoye, emphasized the critical role of the media as a driver of social change.
She noted: “We get tired, we want to hope for the next thing, but we need to keep reporting it.
Someone like me, I focus on gender and disability issues, and at some point you really get overwhelmed.
That’s why journalists have beats, so you can concentrate and focus on that key area.”
She urged journalists and content creators to adopt more effective and responsible reporting approaches when covering child exploitation cases.
She highlighted the importance of amplifying voices against exploitative child labor while exposing systemic issues that perpetuate abuse.
According to her, reframing these narratives can significantly shift societal perceptions and improve protection for vulnerable children.
Also speaking, Eduvie Olutomayin of the Street Project Foundation presented case studies from advocacy efforts, stressing the need for ethical storytelling.
She advised media professionals to avoid sensationalism and instead focus on balanced reporting, in-depth interviews, and consistent follow-ups when covering child abuse stories.
In her welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Cece Yara Child Advocacy Center, Bisi Ajayi-Kayode, reiterated the organization’s commitment to transforming narratives around child protection.
She explained that data has shown the intersection between child domestic work and various forms of abuse such as sexual violence, physical harm, emotional trauma, forced labour, and trafficking.
Bisi Ajayi-Kayode described the forum as a strategic and collaborative platform aimed at strengthening ethical reporting standards while driving awareness and actionable solutions to protect children.
The event featured a panel discussion with media professionals, including representatives from Radio Nigeria, where expectations between NGOs and media stakeholders were explored to enhance coordinated responses to child rights issues.
The initiative is sponsored by Freedom Fund and funded by Gift from the US Government is aimed at ending modern slavery, eliminating child exploitation and safeguarding children’s rights across Nigeria.
Written by Olusegun Haastrup