By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
MTN has launched the first
cohort of its Pan-African Media Innovation Programme, bringing together
journalists, editors and media practitioners from across its markets to
strengthen media innovation and promote African storytelling through an African
lens.
Delivered in partnership
with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and The African Editors Forum (TAEF),
the programme is designed to equip African media professionals with the skills
and knowledge needed to navigate a rapidly changing media environment shaped by
artificial intelligence, digital platforms, changing audience behaviour and
emerging business models.
The programme also advances
a broader vision of positioning journalists and content creators as Africa’s
“new cultural diplomats” by recognising their role in shaping perceptions,
connecting societies and communicating African stories to global audiences.
MTN said Africa needs to
tell more of its own stories and create narratives that strengthen connections
among Africans, particularly as the continent operates within an increasingly
digital and multipolar global environment.
Launching the programme, MTN
Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo Morafo
stressed the importance of strong and independent media institutions to
informed societies and Africa’s progress.
“Strong and independent
media institutions are essential to informed societies and to Africa’s
progress,” Morafo said.
The launch also coincided
with MTN welcoming the fifth cohort of the MTN Nigeria Media Innovation
Programme to South Africa for a week-long strategic visit.
During the visit, the
fellows engaged with MTN Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas and other senior MTN
leaders on Africa’s political, economic and technological landscape and the
role of credible media in shaping societies.
Jonas stressed the
importance of African integration and deeper people-to-people understanding as
drivers of the continent’s success. He also highlighted the role businesses
such as MTN can play in supporting programmes that connect Africans and deepen
understanding across markets.
The engagements brought
together MTN leaders including Chika Ekeji, Atul Dama, Marina Madale and Enzo
Scarcella, alongside representatives from government, diplomacy, media and
international organisations.
Participants included Nelson
Muffuh, UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa; Nigeria’s Consul General, Amb.
Ninikanwa Okey-Uche; Amb. Nyameko Goso of the Department of International
Relations and Cooperation; Phathiswa Magopeni of the Press Council of South
Africa; and Sbu Ngalwa of TAEF.
The discussions highlighted
the view that African integration cannot be driven solely by policy and trade
but must also involve stronger people-to-people connections.
MTN said journalists,
editors and content creators have an important role to play in telling stories
that promote greater understanding, strengthen connections among African
societies and help shape how the continent is represented to the world.
The Pan-African Media
Innovation Programme forms part of MTN’s broader engagement with the media and
reflects its focus on supporting skills development, innovation and stronger
storytelling capacity across Africa’s media ecosystem.
