But somewhere between the ring light and the repost button, there is a quiet question of “when parents become influencers, who speaks for the child?”

Across Nigeria, social media has evolved from a place of connection to a place of attention-seeking. Parents, especially the young, digitally knowledgeable ones have discovered that family life sells. Birthday parties, school runs, bedtime routines and even discipline moments have now become content. Children, often too young to understand the camera pointed at them, become central characters in their parents’ online brands.

For many Nigerian parents, documenting their children’s lives is not new. Photo albums, video tapes and framed portraits have always existed, only the rate and permanence have increasingly changed. Unlike the family album tucked away in a cupboard, today’s posts live forever, searchable and shareable by strangers.

A child’s embarrassing moment, which was once a private family joke, can now rack up thousands of views. A child’s tears can now become viral content, and while the internet moves on quickly, digital footprints do not.

Some parents argue that they are simply celebrating their children. Others admit, quietly, that the numbers matter, saying likes translate to influence while, influence helps build a strong brand; and, in an economy where every extra income counts, children sometimes become the most engaging asset on the page.

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Consent is at the heart of the debate, yet it is also the most complicated part. Can a three-year-old agree to being posted online? Can a child truly understand what it means to have their image consumed by millions?

In Nigeria, the idea of children having autonomy over their image is not strong yet. Culturally, parents are seen as the ultimate decision-makers. “It’s my child” is usually the argument. But the digital age demands new thinking.

A child who grows up to find their childhood mischief, punishments or vulnerabilities archived online may not share their parents’ enthusiasm. What was once “cute content” may feel like too much exposure. What was once a joke may become a source of shame.

The tragedy is that this conversation often begins when it is already too late, when the content has spread, screenshots taken, and control lost.

There is also the part of security. “Self-acclaimed” influencer wives of well-to-do husbands expose their children to the public all in the name of showing-off wealth for influence and likes. Showing what the children are being fed at home and the lunches they take to school, the schools they attend and many more, exposing not just the kids, but vital details about their families to people with bad intentions.

Not all family content is harmful. Many Nigerian parents share responsibly, blurring faces, limiting details, and focusing on moments rather than identities. The concern arises when content exploits vulnerability.

Videos of children being scolded publicly. Clips of minors re-acting adult jokes they do not understand. Content built around a child’s disability, poverty, or emotional distress. Boundaries blur in the race for engagement. The internet rewards what is dramatic, emotional and shocking.

Unfortunately, children cannot opt out of this system. They cannot say, “Please don’t post that.” They cannot negotiate contracts or protect their future selves.

Nigeria’s legal structure around child rights exists, but enforcement in the digital space remains weak. The Child Rights Act prioritises the best interest of the child, but social media is a boundary it hardly touches.

Platforms have policies, but regulations have not fully captured subtle violations of child rights like this one. Therefore, the responsibility falls heavily on parents, whose influence should come with accountability, but the influencer economy rarely pauses to ask ethical questions.

This is not a call to shame parents or ban family content, but a call to pause and reflect if the content is for the child’s memory or for metrics, and if the content will not haunt the child in future. Parents need to ask themselves: “Would I be comfortable if this video resurfaced when my child is 18? Am I protecting my child, or performing for an audience?”

We need to let children be children. Children deserve privacy, even from love. They deserve to grow, make mistakes and find themselves without an audience watching their every move

As Nigerian parents continue to navigate the digital world, they need to raise children, not content. Document memories they would see and be happy and not their vulnerabilities. They need to build platforms for their children and not footsteps that may one day become burdens to them.

The post When Parents Become Influencers: Children, Consent and Content in Nigeria appeared first on Afinju FM.

JAMB issued the advisory today via a statement by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin following a series of complaints, including a recent case involving Godwin Nsan, who accused the University of Calabar of unjustly denying his son admission.

JAMB clarified that the candidate in question scored 201 in UTME with an aggregate score of 34%, falling below the university’s admission cut-offs of 55% (Merit), 35% (Catchment), and 35% (ELDS).

Benjamin explained that he had unduly castigated the university, but when he finally provided the required details, it became clear that his child did not meet the admission criteria.

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JAMB also responded to a case where a father alleged that his son, who scored 345 in UTME, was unjustly denied admission by the University of Jos. The Board invited the father and son to its headquarters, where it was revealed that the candidate ranked 86th, while only 68 candidates could be admitted based on merit.

JAMB further warned against abuse of the “exceptionally brilliant window” introduced for candidates under 16 years old, stating that an unrealistic number of candidates have been registered through this category, unlike global standards where only a few qualify.

The Board reaffirmed its commitment to fair and transparent admissions, warning that a senior university official is currently being prosecuted for admission fraud, with four others under investigation.

The post JAMB cautions parents to stop false admission denial claims appeared first on Afinju FM.

The child health specialists noted that such practices cause diaper rash in the pubic area of the babies, which could further lead to an infection.  The physicians also urged parents not to return to recycling old clothes and rags as alternatives to diapers.

The child doctors recommended using reusable diapers and having babies wear pants at home to allow fresh air around the skin between the genitals and anus.

Recently, Nigerians donated over N10m to Sodiq Olayode, whose wife Abiodun, gave birth to quadruplets.  This generosity followed a post on X, formerly Twitter, by Olayode’s colleague, James, who shared that the quadruplets used 105 diapers in six days.   It was reported that as of July 24, the donations had exceeded N10m.

The paediatrician also advised that, given the high cost of disposable diapers, parents could consider alternatives such as cloth diapers, reusable diapers, and pants.

Another paediatrician, Dr Tolulope Asare, stated that it was important to change soiled diapers as often as possible.

Johns Hopkins Medicine defines diaper dermatitis as skin inflammation in the diaper area, commonly seen in babies and toddlers.

The post Leaving wet diapers on babies for too long unhealthy, paediatricians tell parents appeared first on Afinju FM.