| dc.description.abstract | Adult secular music in Nigeria, particularly genres such as pop, hip-hop, and afrobeats, frequently contains explicit lyrics promoting sex, violence, substance abuse, and profanity. These contents have become highly accessible to children via radio, digital streaming platforms, social media, and even school events. A recent observation at a primary school Christmas celebration revealed young pupils dancing and singing along to inappropriate adult oriented songs, underscoring a widespread failure by schools and event organizers to protect children from such exposure.
Extensive research links repeated exposure to degrading sexual lyrics with earlier sexual initiation, increased risky sexual behaviours, poor body image, especially among girl child, depression, and anxiety. Violent and substance-glorifying lyrics are associated with heightened aggression, antisocial tendencies, substance use, and normalization of harmful behaviours during critical developmental years. In Nigeria’s cultural and religious context, which prioritizes modesty, respect, and moral upbringing, this exposure undermines parental and societal efforts to instill positive values in children.
To safeguard Nigerian children, especially in primary and secondary schools, the brief recommends urgent legislative and regulatory measures:
• The National Assembly may wish to amend Section 2(1) of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act 1992 to ban adult secular music on radio, TV, and public events during family hours (6 AM–10 PM), and may also wish to establish a National Music Classification Board under the NBC – modelled after the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) for films – to classify all secular music releases (physical, digital, or streamed) using categories such as G (General), PG (Parental Guidance), and 18+ (Adults Only).
• The National Assembly may wish to advise the Minister of Education to prohibit unrated or adult-rated music with vulgar language in primary and secondary schools during celebrations.
• The National Assembly may wish to amend the NBC Act to create a National Music Classification Board under the NBC (similar to NFVCB for films) to rate all secular music releases physical, digital, or streamed, using categories such as G (general), PG (parental guidance), and 18+ (adults only).
• The National Assembly may also wish to fast-track passage of the Child Online Access Protection Bill (HB 244, 2023) to require content moderation, age verification, and penalties for online platforms that expose minors to harmful music lyrics or videos. | en_US |
