UNICEF Nigeria has announced the appointment of award-winning musician, songwriter, and producer, Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, as National Ambassador amidst the 2020 Children’s Day celebrations in the country.
Asuquo, who was thrilled at the news of his appointment, said ‘It’s a huge honour to become a UNICEF Nigeria Ambassador. I am passionate about children’s rights, and I am passionate about Nigeria – and securing its future. The only way we can truly do that is through ensuring every child can fulfill their potential’.
He continued further, ‘I am thrilled to join the very impressive list of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors around the world supporting the protection and promotion of children’s rights globally and look forward to making my contribution to the improvement of the lives of Nigerian children and young people’.
A lawyer by training, Asuquo has risen to the peak of the music industry with his craft, producing hit singles, including ‘Fire on the Mountain’ and ‘Jailer’ by Nigerian sensation, Asa. He later added to this list with collaborative work with UNICEF Nigeria, producing ‘I’m a Nigerian Child’, which calls for the protection and respect of every Nigerian child’s rights. This collaboration extended further when he produced ‘We go Win’ to raise awareness on the safety measures to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 in Nigeria.
Asuquo is no stranger to awareness campaigns for encouraging social and behavioural change as he collaborated with the United Nations Global Goals campaign in 2015 to produce ‘Tell Everybody’, a song to raise awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Asuquo’s role as an ambassador will be to help raise awareness of child’s rights, concerns, and solutions across key issues including immunisation, education, birth registration, and child protection from violence.
Concerning Asuquo’s appointment, UNICEF Nigeria’s Representative, Peter Hawkins, said, ‘I am delighted to welcome [Asuquo] to the UNICEF family, particularly on Nigerian Children’s Day, a day that is dedicated to every Nigerian child, to give Nigerian children a better place to survive, thrive and develop’.
‘Cobhams has already supported UNICEF to raise children’s and youth issues. I am sure that he will use his singing, his passion, and dedication to continue to defend the rights of vulnerable children and young people in Nigeria’, he added.
Source: UNICEF Nigeria
Photo source: World Intellectual Property Organisation
