UNICEF, Bauchi urge media to push for more funding and accountability for children’s healthcare

As Nigeria’s 2027 general elections draw closer, UNICEF and the Bauchi State Government are asking journalists to make children’s healthcare and welfare a central election issue.

The appeal came at a media dialogue organized by the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination in partnership with UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office. The meeting, held at Yimir Hotel, brought together 60 media practitioners from Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states as part of UNICEF’s campaign to strengthen public financing for children.

Umar Muhammad Shira, managing director of the Bauchi Radio Corporation and Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria zonal chairman for Zone B, said the press had a social responsibility to defend children’s rights, health and welfare. “We must use our platforms to advocate for adequate public financing of children’s health and ensure that child health remains a priority in government policies and budgets,” he said.

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We must use our platforms to advocate for adequate public financing of children’s health and ensure that child health remains a priority in government policies and budgets.

Shira urged journalists to combine investigative reporting, public education and constructive engagement with policymakers. He said those tools could expose funding gaps, amplify the voices of vulnerable children and press duty-bearers to account for their decisions.

He also framed spending on children’s health as a long-term investment. “When we finance children’s health today, we secure a healthier, stronger and more productive generation tomorrow,” Shira said. He added that every child should have access to quality, affordable healthcare regardless of location or family background.

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When we finance children’s health today, we secure a healthier, stronger and more productive generation tomorrow.