By: Alusine Rehme Wilson
Selected students from the Mass Communications Department at the University of Makeni-(UNIMAK) have received capacity building training from the United Nations International Children Education Fund-(UNICEF) on how to ethically report on Children’s issues and activities in the Media.
The training according to UNICEF’s country representative in Sierra Leone Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, is among the activities UNICEF has lined up in commemoration of its 75th anniversary which are all aimed at improving the wellbeing and safety of Children in the country that is in tandem with the commemoration’s theme: "Reimagine a happy, safe and healthy future for every child.”
In his remarks, Dr. Braimoh advised students to accord special appreciation for children and to as well put into proper practice the skills and knowledge the training would provide which he believed will allow them to report on the happenings around children in an ethical way.
He further disclosed that, "the road is still wide despite some workable strides from UNICEF and its partners to improve education, combating child hunger in schools through its school feeding among other numerous programs that are all geared toward enhancing the absolute safety of Children among other liberty that they must enjoy.
Acknowlegded that "UNICEF has been very proactive but there is still some more work needed to be done which should not been seen totally been banked on the shoulders of UNICEF especially beating the high rate of child mortality, violence against children, discrimination and the likes.
"Government, Parents, Religious Leaders and other Key Community Stakeholders, Teachers and the children themselves must take ownership to know and fully execute their obligations, roles and responsibilities accordingly in order to ensure that all children are safe, healthy, self-motivated among other responsive issues for Children," he rallied.
Media Trainer, Journalist and Development Communications Practitioner Tamba Tengbeh and famous Commissioner at the Independent Media Commission Mustapha Sesay enjoined to school the prospective media practitioners on a wide range of topics regarding how they should be reporting fairly on the children’s activities in their surroundings.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Margai John Sebeh Conteh told journalists that he feels gratified for being part of the training, expressed thanks to their university authorities in their department as well as UNICEF for proving the platform for them them to learn and understand the relevant reporting ideas and techniques on how they should morally be reporting on Children as prospective media practitioners which he said "they will put into the best use in their eventual children’s reporting."
The training which was hosted at the university’s Abety Hall in Makeni city, Bombali District in the North-East region of Sierra Leone attracted media experts among other dignitaries from different spheres in society including the Print Media representative at the Independent Media Commission-(IMC) Board Commission Mustapha Sesay, Regional Manager at the National Children’s Commission Dr. Mohamed B. Sesay, Deputy Mayor of the Makeni City Council Santigie Brima Mansaray, the UNIMAK Register Foday Augustine Bangura amongst others.
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