In order to promote the necessary change and give hope to the vulnerable and adolescent children, the United Children’s Nation Fund (UNICEF) has teamed with Nigerian celebrities as its advocates.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria’s representative, said that the champions would be strong voices in highlighting concerns around children’s rights in Nigeria while speaking at the event on Wednesday in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Cobhams Asuquo, Waje, Kate Henshaw, and Ali Nuhu are among the celebrities who have been named by Munduate as UNICEF champions for a 12-month term.
They are crucial for drawing attention to the challenges faced by children in Nigeria and other nations.
“UNICEF champions volunteer their time to spread awareness and organise support.
“These champions will collaborate with UNICEF over the course of the coming year to raise important issues relating to children.
“We will give priority to the spanning sectors, such as health, education, nutrition, child protection, water sanitation, and hygiene,” she continued.
The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria also praised the champions’ dedication and unrivalled influence.
She pointed out that the partnership represents a link between the dedication to children’s rights and the potency of art and narrative through music, film, and community involvement.
She said with much enthusiasm that “we hope to touch hearts, shift perspectives, and inspire action.”
“We are genuinely thrilled to work with such powerful figures in the entertainment world as Waje Asuquo, Henshaw, and Nuhu.
The urgency of the issues we fight for every day will unquestionably be increased by their commitment to and enthusiasm for children’s rights.
To ensure that every child’s right to survival, growth, development, and protection is protected and championed, the champions took part in a variety of activities and campaigns.
Henshaw stated, “Every Nigerian child will get a chance from all of us to live and develop into a better person who can benefit the country and environment as a whole.”
There needs to be cooperation between the zones, Nuhu added, whether through songs like the anthem or a campaign to spread the word.
Asuquo, a visually impaired man, stated in his statement that the attention he received as a young child helped shape who he is today and that it is important to return the favour.
He declared his intention to use his position as UNICEF’s champion to improve not only the lives of children in Nigeria but also those of children everywhere.
“As individuals in the context in which we find ourselves, it is incumbent upon me/us to use the artistic expression and gift with which we have been endowed to positively impact the lives of the next generation.
We have a responsibility to share our experiences with the younger generation that has relied significantly on the UNICEF platform since that is the only way we can advance and maintain progress.
Asuquo, who is also a UNICEF Ambassador, recognised that the system has many shortcomings but noted that “in locations where things have worked, people use their art forms as what we have now to impact positively.
