At the anniversary breakfast meeting in Lagos, leaders from business, academia, and the media stressed that stronger cross-border reporting and cultural exchange are essential to building trust, trade, and cooperation between Africa’s two largest economies.

Dr Ije Jidenma, chairman of NSACC, stressed the importance of developing a new generation of media professionals who can drive economic and diplomatic progress.

“We need to emphasise a generation of media professionals who are not just content creators, but like I said, they are capitalists,” she said.

According to her, cross-exposure for journalists in both countries would “create a more nuanced understanding of our shared values,” encourage balanced reporting, and “support business partnerships rooted in trust and context.”

MTN’s Media Innovation Program as a Diplomatic Tool

Tobechukwu Okigbo, chief corporate services and sustainability officer at MTN Nigeria, presented the company’s Media Innovation Program (MIP), developed in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University.

“We launched at the Lagos Business School. The intent was to get the media in Nigeria to understand the telecommunications industry, not just MTN, but to understand the entire telecommunications industry,” he said.

The six-month fellowship, fully sponsored by MTN, exposes participants to the company’s operations, regulatory engagements, and a study trip to South Africa. Okigbo noted: “We see how people abuse the media space, fake news and so on. Whatever is accurate, and factual is not just to the media, but to the country itself.”

He added that the fellowship has taken on a diplomatic role, with the long-term goal of making it “central to the conversation at Bi-National Commission level.”

“MTN is an African company… we invest as aggressively as we do in Nigeria… The intention is, Africa, for Africa to stand,” he stated.

He also announced plans to continue the fellowship into its ninth cohort, expand training to include project management, and use cultural exchanges such as music and film to strengthen ties. “The aim is to ensure the program builds sustainable bridges.”

Academia’s Perspective

Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean of the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, described the media as central to shaping foreign relations. He explained that coverage influences public perception and can either strengthen cooperation or fuel division.

“With the Media Innovation Program and the partnership with MTN, we see the heights to which such collaboration can get to,” he said at the NSACC 25th anniversary, linking the initiative to the university’s mission of forming competent and ethical professionals.

A Panel of Journalists

Again, at the NSACC 25th anniversary, a panel of past fellows, including CNBC Africa’s Akinkunmi Obakeye, Channels Television’s Amarachi Ubani, Nifemi Oguntoye of TVC, and Oluwadunsin Sanya of BellaNaija, shared how the MTN MIP program influenced their work.

“When we speak better about what happens, there’s a lot that goes on, from point A up to point B,” the panellists said, adding that exposure made journalists “a little bit more sympathetic, not just judging from one side.” Another participant stressed, “Media is beyond storytelling; it’s diplomacy, action, and collaboration. It’s not a single story. It’s a very diverse one.”

Diplomatic Lens

South Africa’s Consul-General in Lagos, Dr Bobby J. Moore, pointed out that perceptions remain one of the greatest challenges between the two nations.

“One of the greatest issues facing South Africans and Nigerians is perception. And what does a perception do? It becomes a reality over a period of time, and it becomes a lived experience,” he said.

While acknowledging the influence of social media, Dr Moore called for reciprocity, suggesting that South African journalists should also be given opportunities to visit Nigeria under the program.

Private Sector as Architects of Progress

Closing the session, Dr Jidenma urged more companies to emulate MTN’s investment in capacity building:
“We are not just talking about it. We are not just observers of progress, but architects of it.”

It shapes opinions, informs decisions, and holds governments accountable. With a growing democratic landscape and an evolving media industry, the importance of skilled media practitioners in Nigeria cannot be overstated.

The MTN Media Innovation Program (MIP), a six-month fellowship launched in 2022, is designed to address this critical need by equipping media professionals with the skills and knowledge required to innovate and thrive in this dynamic environment.

The program, a partnership between MTN Nigeria and the School of Media & Communication, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), has trained over 60 media practitioners since its inception.

With a rich curriculum delivered through seminar-like classroom sessions and industry tours, participants are empowered to create impactful content and tell stories that truly matter. In doing so, the program not only elevates individual careers but also strengthens Nigeria’s democratic fabric.

By fostering innovation in the media, MIP is positioning itself as a crucial tool in the development of a well-informed and engaged society, one of the fundamental pillars of any functioning democracy.

Democracy thrives on the ability of its citizens to make informed decisions. Without a free and robust media, this capacity is severely diminished.

The media is often referred to as the “fourth estate” because it plays a crucial role in providing checks and balances to government actions, alongside the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

The press informs the public of societal issues, scrutinises those in power, and ensures transparency in governance. When the public is well-informed, democracy is fortified; when information is absent, democracy falters.

In Nigeria, where political, social, and economic challenges continue to evolve, the role of the media has become more critical than ever.

We live in an era where technological advancements are reshaping how information is consumed. The rapid evolution of digital platforms means that traditional media outlets must adapt or risk becoming obsolete. Moreover, misinformation and fake news pose significant threats to democratic societies by distorting public perception and undermining trust in institutions. For media practitioners to thrive in this new environment, continuous training is essential.

The MTN Media Innovation Program has been at the forefront of this mission, equipping participants with the tools needed to navigate the complexities of the digital age.

The training is rigorous, combining academic excellence with practical experience.

Participants are not only taught the technical skills required for modern journalism but are also immersed in ethical journalism practices, ensuring that the stories they tell are fact-based, impartial, and impactful.

Through their engagement with the program, many of the fellows have become leaders in their respective fields, driving innovation in radio, television, and online media platforms.

Some of the MIP graduates have been instrumental in creating content that resonates with diverse audiences, while also maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity.

The ability to produce high-quality, fact-checked content is more important than ever in a society where the public’s trust in the media is increasingly fragile.

The fellowship also offers international exposure through tours and visits. This exposure broadens the fellows’ perspectives, enabling them to compare global media practices and adopt international standards of excellence in their work.

The recent cohort had the opportunity to visit key media and cultural institutions in South Africa, gaining insights that are invaluable to their growth as professionals.

While the MTN Media Innovation Program has made significant strides, for Nigeria’s media industry to fully realise its potential, greater support is needed from both the government and other industries.

The government must recognize the media’s pivotal role in democracy and provide an enabling environment for media practitioners to flourish. This includes supporting initiatives like the MIP and creating policies that protect press freedom and promote transparency.

The media should not be seen as a peripheral industry, but rather as a cornerstone of national development.

By investing in media practitioners, organisations can contribute significantly to the long-term health of Nigeria’s democracy.

Stories told by well-trained journalists shape public opinion, inspire civic engagement, and bring accountability to public and private sectors alike. The impact of such investment extends across society, enriching everything from politics to business and culture.

This is a call to other corporate entities to follow MTN’s lead and recognise the media as a vital partner. The media industry thrives on collaboration, and private sector investment in media development programs is essential. When industries support media advancement, they aren’t just investing in better storytelling, they’re strengthening the very structures that allow businesses, technologies, and communities to flourish.

Beyond national borders, the MTN Media Innovation Program also presents an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its bilateral relationships.

The media exchange visits organised as part of the programme allow Nigerian journalists to learn from their South African counterparts and vice versa.

By sharing best practices and learning from each other’s experiences, media professionals from both countries can develop a more nuanced understanding of the African media landscape.

This exchange is essential in countering the often-skewed international narratives about Africa. When African journalists tell African stories, the result is more authentic and representative of the continent’s diverse cultures and challenges.

The MTN Media Innovation Program is not just a training initiative; it is a call to action for the entire media industry.

It is a recognition that media practitioners are key players in shaping public discourse, influencing policy, and ensuring that democracy functions as it should. With continued support from the government, private sector, and international partners, this program can evolve into a continent-wide initiative, setting the standard for media excellence in Africa.

The record already shows that the MTN Media Innovation Program has made an impact on the Nigerian media landscape, but its true potential lies in its ability to inspire future generations of media practitioners and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.