By Iyakale Yakubu
Jos (Nigeria) — Some religious leaders in Nigeria have frown at the rate at which uncensored films infiltrate homes and destroy good manners and morals of children, urging parents to take proactive measures in forestalling the trend.
They were speaking when they received in audience leadership of the National Films and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), North Central Zone, who were on Media Literacy Campaign to some worship centres, schools and markets in Jos.
Pastor Francis Philips of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Goodnews near Terminus, Jos, expressed concern that certain cartoon movies have misled children to behave in ways contrary to the teaching of their parents.
Pastor Philips who emphasised on parental role in upbringing of children said, the church would encourage parents to train their children in the “proper way, by guarding what they watch, whether they (parents) are around or not.”
Also speaking, Sheikh Abdulaziz Yusuf, the Administrative Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Plateau State Chapter, expressed concern that some movies have promoted guerilla wars, contradicting the “campaigns for sustainable peace preached by the two major religions [Christianity and Islam] in the country.”
He however commended NFCVB for enlightening the public on the classification of movies and dangers of not adhering to such classifications.
Earlier, North Central Zonal Coordinator of the Board, Mr Ailewon Danlami said the Media Literacy Campaign was to create awareness on the ills of exposing children to movies and videos that have strong language, violence and obscene scenes.
He said, the campaign is partnering with a search engine – Google, which he described as timely, adding “especially with the influx of access to information and communication technology gadgets especially to children.
“This is the first media campaign that involves the internet which is tagged `Safer Internet’ where Goggle is being involved to preach against using the internet for the wrong or unhealthy reasons.”
He said as people who command high respect in the society, religious leaders have a role in educating parents to control what their children watch.
In other campaign spots, which included markets and schools, the NFVCB told parents that insurgency, rape and other nefarious acts were majorly caused by what children see and gradually build in their subconscious minds.
The campaign was targeted at parents, community and religious leaders, as well as adults on the “essence of adopting internet for information on development and not immorality or nefarious acts,’’ Danlami said.
