About Us

Oslo Challenge, November 1999
The child/media relationship is an entry point into the wide and multifaceted world of children and their rights — to education, freedom of expression, play, identity, health, dignity and self-respect, protection — and that in every aspect of child rights, in every element of the life of a child, the relationship between children and the media plays a role.
Participatory media in civil societyChildren are among the most marginalized people, yet their profoundly urgent issues remain on the fringe of national debates. YMCI proposes to demonstrate the benefits of turning children from objects to subjects in the media because:

  • Children want and have the right to speak out;
  • They have fresh and interesting things to do;
  • They have a different perspective from adults;
  • Some issues (such as education, play, child abuse) affect children more than they affect adults, so their opinions and experiences are vital;
  • Sharing what children have to say increases mutual understanding, helps narrow the generation gap, and benefits community development; It boosts children’s self confidence and helps them develop their potential;

Who We Are

The Youth Media & Communication Initiative (YMCI) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation actively engaged in developing the involvement of children and youth in the media. YMCI equips children and youth from 10 to 18 years with media and communication skills on child rights, gender, conflict resolution, HIV/AIDS, environment, globalisation, leadership, and development to cope with living in a multi-ethnic and multicultural society, thus laying the foundation for social justice for future generations of Nigerians.

It is open to every Nigerian child/youth irrespective of religious affiliation, language or social background. YMCI aims to provide an opportunity for them to examine the country, its strength and shortcomings in a congenial atmosphere devoid of the tribal and religious tensions that have dogged Nigeria since independence.

The common purpose and focus for all participants in YMCI activities will be how to empower themselves to build a future that will give Nigerians equal opportunities. YMCI will provide a level playing field for children and youth in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. Our agenda is not to teach children and youth to become journalists, but to train them as agents for social mobilization and social change; to develop their capacity for effective communication and self-expression so that they can positively impact their schools, communities and society.

By fostering the culture of dialogue and debate among children and youth, YMCI hopes to develop a better appreciation of diversity, peaceful co-existence and national integration to enable young people play an active role in democracy and development. YMCI will initiate dialogue and collaboration between media practitioners and young people. It will train children and youth to develop media literacy skills to evaluate and respond to the media for a more informed and empowered citizenry. By adding children and youth voices to the regular mix of mainstream media, YMCI will ensure accurate, relevant and fair representation of issues that affect young people and their communities.