Child Rights: Kate Henshaw, Waje, Nuhu, Cobhams Unveiled As UNICEF Champions

Rebecca Ejifoma

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria has appointed prominent actors and musicians as its champions to raise awareness around child rights for 12 months.

The champions include Nollywood actors and producers Kate Henshaw and Ali Nuhu, music producer Cobhams Asuquo, and singer Aituaje Iruobe, known as Waje.

These artistes and influencers in their various spaces will serve as powerful voices amplifying child rights issues through creative programmes in Nigeria.

First, they will work with UNICEF over the course of the next year. They will elevate pressing concerns about children’s health, education, nutrition, protection, water sanitation, and hygiene.

The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Cristian Munduate, lauded the commitment and unmatched influence of the champions.

She emphasised: “We are delighted to join hands with such influential voices in the entertainment industry – Cobhams, Waje, Kate Henshaw, and Ali Nuhu.

“Their dedication and passion for children’s rights will undeniably amplify the urgency of the issues we fight for daily.” She added.

Munduate is confident their collaborations symbolise a bridge between the commitment to child rights and the power of art and storytelling.

According to the UNICEF representative, these champions would touch hearts, shift perspectives, and inspire action through music, film, and public engagement.

As UNICEF champions, Cobhams, Waje, Henshaw, and Nuhu will engage in numerous initiatives and campaigns to ensure every child’s right to survival, growth, development, and protection is upheld and championed.

In her reaction, award-winning actress and producer Henshaw emphasised the need to address fundamental child rights adequately to save the children’s future.

“Our children are so vulnerable, especially in our country Nigeria. They need special care and attention.

“No country should be in a position where their children are vulnerable, discarded and used as toys, and not given room to grow and actualise their potential,” she added.

Henshaw has an impressive 3.1 million active followers on Instagram, 1.2 million followers on Twitter and 924,000 on Facebook.

On his part, Nuhu underscored how becoming a UNICEF champion presented a huge opportunity to propel an igniting impact on child wellbeing in Northern Nigeria.

“There is a stereotype among Northern Nigerian children about deprivation of common amenities,” says Nuhu. “It troubles me.”

He decried that most children don’t have access to education, reiterating, “It bothers me a lot”.

In his resolve, the producer promised to take the message of change to many people in the North by communicating in their local language.

Nuhu has an admirable 2.8 million followers on Instagram, 468,000 followers on Twitter and a massive 3.4 million followers on Facebook.

On her part, Waje expressed honour to be named a UNICEF champion. “It is profound that we pull our resources together and experience to help us achieve that.

With about two decades in the music industry, the singer and The Voice Nigeria judge is sure their new roles will inspire many individuals and communities.

Waje has 1.5m followers on Instagram, 728,000 followers on Twitter and 735,000 followers on Facebook.

For Cobhams, he lent his voice to more Nigerian entertainers to use their talents and platforms to create awareness for child rights.

While acknowledging that it would take a collective effort to realise significant change, Cobhams is excited that Nigerian music has started taking centre stage.

He enthused: “If all I can do is pay my bills and not influence this generation who so heavily rely on my art form, it is not enough.”

In his words, it is the responsibility of everyone to use their platform to influence future generations.

Cobhams has 420,000 followers on Instagram, 165,000 followers on Twitter and 455,000 followers.

Together, these four champions have rolled up their sleeves and are ready to give UNICEF a leg up in protecting the child’s rights across Nigeria.