The United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) has urged the media to step up advocacy efforts to ensure a speedy passage of the Child Rights Acts in all the 36 states in the country.

The call was made at the weekend by the child rights specialist, UNICEF D-Field Office, Bauchi, Maryam Enyiazu, at a two-day meeting with Bauchi State Media Alliance members in Bauchi. She expressed concern about  plight of millions of Nigerian children, adding that the Child Rights Acts, when passed into law, would protect their overall interest.

Enyiazu further lamented that lack of a legal instrument in the country had exposed children to violations, trafficking, child labour, exploitation, sexual abuse, maltreatment, among others and disclosed that over seven million children in the country were orphans while another 30 per cent of them between the ages of 6 and 11 were out of school.

The UNICEF child rights specialist also said that at least 19 per cent of Nigerian children engaged in forced labour even after school hours while 40 per cent of them were trafficked to other countries and expressed the belief that with support and partnership from the media and other stakeholders, leaders would be encouraged to support the Child Rights Acts being passed into law in the country.