The United Nations Children’s Fund has lamented that the voices of Nigeria’s children have been missing in decision-making and policies that affect their well-being.

Addressing guests during the unveiling, Joseph Senesie, the UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, unveiled the 4th and 5th editions of Da Raraffee Yaro Kan Tashi, a radio programme that targets children’s development and child rights campaigns in Borno State.

He maintainedthat since the commencement of the program in 2022, it has been an impactful platform for building the capacity of children and educating them to know their rights.

“And what are these rights? The right to education, the right to life, the right to health, protection from discrimination and so on. The voices of children have been missing for too long in discourse and the formulation of policies on issues that affect them.

He noted that children who have been part of the programme in recent times have been making meaningful impacts in society.

“With support from donors such as Global Partnership Education, over 70 episodes have been produced on different topics reaching atleast 5.5 million people in Borno state and beyond,”he said.

Senesie maintained that children can truly become future leaders when their voices on issue concerning their life are recognized.

“If we want our children to be the leaders tomorrow, then we have to start listening to them now and recognise their voices when making decisions concerning their rights,” he declared.

In the new seasons, Senesie said 23 children affected by conflicts have led the programme with their capacity built as radio presenters and child rights champions.

“They have benefitted from public speaking skills, and their knowledge improved on issues that affect children in Borno,” he added.

He said the radio programme in House language tagged Da Rarrafe Yaro Kan Yashir has been useful in building the capacity of children to know and defend their rights, including rights to education.

He said over a million children are still out of school in northeast Borno State, largely exacerbated by years of armed conflict.

Speaking, Hajiya Yabawa Kyari, the Director of Children Affairs in the Ministry of Women Affairs, commended UNICEF and other partners for initiating the radio programme. She assured that the Borno State government will continue to support the promotion of child rights and access to education.

She urged leaders of the state children’s parliament to embrace the initiative and prioritise ideas that reflect the needs of various categories of children in the state.