Officer-in-Charge of the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Dr Idris Baba, said the organisation has renewed strategic engagement with media executives, editors and partners to deepen collaboration on issues affecting women and children.

Mr Baba disclosed this while speaking at the second edition of the strategic engagement with the media professionals, eitors and partners in Zaria on Thursday.

The event was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Kaduna State Ministry of Information.

The engagement has ‘Partnering With The Media To Enhance The Reach and Impact of Essential Health Services in Kaduna State’ as its theme.

Mr Baba said the initiative was revived to brief the media on UNICEF’s planned activities for 2026 and to strengthen meaningful interaction with the media.

He stated that the media remained a critical platform for presenting evidence-based information and shaping public discourse.

“We want to hear from them, get their support, and explore how we can jointly educate the public and ensure community ownership of our interventions,” Mr Baba said.

According to him, one of the key outcomes expected from the engagement is securing the buy-in of the media to sustain conversations on women and children’s issues on the public agenda.

Mr Baba added that the initiative would also deepen collaboration and mutual understanding between UNICEF and the media in reporting on UNICEF’s thematic areas in partnership with the Kaduna State Government.

He stated that in 2026, UNICEF would intensify the use of evidence across all its programmes, while leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to improve impact.

“With shrinking physical capacity and funding, we must be more clinical and strategic in how we implement our activities,” he said.

The UNICEF chief commended the Kaduna State Government for revitalising the state ministry of information, noting that the development would enhance coordination between UNICEF and the media.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Information, Kaduna State, Ahmed Maiyaki, urged the media to embrace corporate social responsibility by giving robust coverage to UNICEF’s thematic areas.

Mr Maiyaki said the state government had demonstrated commitment to social development through improved budgetary allocations to key sectors.

“In the last three years, Kaduna State has allocated 25 per cent of its budget to education and 15 per cent to health,” he said.

The event was attended by various media managers and editors from across the state. 

(NAN)