By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Benin has called for greater
use of technology to transform the media sector and strengthen information
accessibility, digital inclusion, cultural preservation and information
sovereignty across Africa.
The country presented its
vision during the 7th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation, held in Beijing,
bringing together public institutions, media organisations, audiovisual
enterprises, universities and research centres from China and Africa.
Benin’s Minister of
Communication, Aurélie I. Adam Soulé, outlined the country’s priorities for
using technology to support the development and modernisation of the media
sector.
A major focus was social
well-being, with Benin advocating the use of technology to make information
more accessible, including through the production of content in local languages
using artificial intelligence.
The country also highlighted
the need to support a diversified economy by developing digital and creative
skills, strengthening creative industries and promoting co-productions capable
of taking Beninese stories and cultural heritage to international audiences.
On national cohesion and
security, Benin called for stronger measures to combat disinformation, improve
fact-checking and strengthen information security as digital platforms continue
to reshape the media environment.
The digitisation and
preservation of audiovisual archives was identified as another priority, with
the objective of protecting Benin’s collective memory and ensuring that its
historical and cultural records remain accessible to future generations.
At the forum, Benin
reaffirmed its position that technology, when effectively deployed within the
media sector, can serve as a driver of development, inclusion, information
sovereignty and international influence.
The Ministry of
Communication said it intends to build strategic partnerships to support the
transformation and modernisation of Benin’s media landscape and strengthen the
sector’s capacity to respond to the opportunities and challenges created by
digital technologies.
