Panelists at the “Future of Media” dialogue stressed the importance of media representation for people of African descent and the need for Africa to build large media platforms.
United Nations General Assembly
The panellists made the call during an online dialogue titled “The Future of Media: Bridging the Gap Between the West and People of African Descent.”
The Dialogue took place in New York on the sidelines of the UN Future Summit during High-Level Week of the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA79).
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly will open on 10 September 2024, with the High-Level Week starting on Friday 20 September and running until 27 September.
The conversation, hosted by Simon Ibe, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Global Patriot Newspapers, saw panellists discuss the challenges Africans face in accessing global media.
Participants discussed the challenges Africans face in accurately telling their stories internationally and emphasized the need for Africans to take control of their own narratives and destinies.
Participants also advised Africans to prioritize skills to sustain their economies, attract investment and create wealth, and to leverage technology and leadership in African economies to change media coverage to ensure the positive aspects of Africa are properly portrayed.
In his presentation, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of technology company Zinox Group, stressed the importance of media representation for people of African descent and the need for Africa to build large media platforms.
Ekeh spoke about his contribution to the transition from analogue to digital media in West Africa and stressed the importance of knowledge and content in the media industry.
He pointed to a lack of recognition of the innovative and creative capabilities of black people and stressed the need for Africa to become part of the international community by expanding its access to global media.
He shared his experience in building a technology group and digital retail business and how insufficient access to global media exposure was a major challenge, encouraging African media players to find funding to develop their own huge technology-enabled media platforms.
Yul Anderson, president of the African American Future Society (TAAFS), also spoke about the need for African media to coordinate their messaging to combat misinformation about people of African descent and promote positive stories.
He spoke extensively about the Black Future Summit, held on the sidelines of the United Nations Future Summit.
Empowered Newswire Editor-in-Chief, Laolu Akande, conveyed a message from former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), expressing support for the team’s efforts.
Osinbajo commended the organizers of the dialogue, Ibe, for creating a forum for discussion and said he hoped the outcome of the event would have a positive impact on African media.
In his presentation as a panelist, Akande said there is a significant gap in the global understanding and representation of Africa, stressing the need for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to understanding Africa and its people.
He identified four gaps that are impeding Nigeria’s development.
These include the gap between the elites and the masses, the gap between the elites and the media, the gap between the elites and the people, and the failure of political leadership to realise national development.
Akande, Osinbajo’s spokesman, stressed the importance of African elites taking responsibility for the continent’s destiny, human capital and infrastructure development.
He noted that media leaders need to make proper investments in journalism and that African billionaires need to fund media outlets that shape the narrative on the continent.
Nicky Spencer Coker, spokesperson for Sierra Leone’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York, spoke of her background as a lawyer and activist.
In her talk, she discussed the important role of media in shaping society and narratives, highlighting the challenges people of African descent face in accessing global media and having their stories told accurately.
She highlighted the low percentage of black-owned media in the United States and acknowledged that African media is expanding rapidly due to advances in communication technology.
Spencer Coker also noted that American media influences perceptions of Africa, often leading to negative and stereotypical portrayals.
She stressed the importance of African voices being heard and the need for more Africans to be represented in global media and leadership roles.
In her address, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, agreed with the importance of dialogue on media representation and moving the narrative forward.
Abike stressed the need to change the negative perception of Africa, especially Nigeria, and suggested that Africans should take control of the media portrayal and increase investment in the continent.
She highlighted the potential for African immigrants, especially in the Americas, to contribute greatly to the development of the continent.
Abike also criticised the treatment of Africans among each other on the continent and encouraged the team to focus on promoting trade and cooperation between African countries.
She discussed the challenges Nigerians face in investing and owning homes in Africa, noting the Diaspora Commission’s programmes to promote home ownership and investment opportunities.
Dabiri-Erewa stressed the need for Nigerians at home and abroad to work together to change perceptions about Africa through initiatives such as the upcoming Diaspora Investment Summit by NiDCOM.
Toyin Umesili, CEO of Nazar, a global influencer, stressed the importance of wealth creation and productivity in building economies, rather than just focusing on poverty alleviation.
She discussed the challenges of promoting business and trade with Africa, especially in the United States, and stressed the need for individuals to control their own narrative.
Umesili also highlighted his educational background and experience developing entrepreneurs and working with investors.
She opposed a focus on poverty alleviation and foreign aid, stressing the need to prioritise skills to sustain the economy, attract investment and create wealth.
Also speaking, Professor Akil Khalfani, Director of the Africana Studies Institute at Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey, stressed the need to rethink journalism and media representation, and advocated for a pan-African approach that draws on historical foundations to tell the stories of Africa and African people.
Khalfani criticized the Eurocentric approach to education and suggested that African history and culture should be presented in a broader perspective.
Mr. Khalfani also stressed the importance of African institutions and the need for critique of African-centric strategies and other perspectives.
He stressed the importance of Africanizing how we do business, how we think about international commerce and identity.
In his presentation, Simon Kolawole, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Cable Newspapers, stressed the need to strengthen the media power of people of African descent for effective global outreach.
The highly respected columnist stressed that the African media is currently grappling with serious challenges that are constraining its operations and its ability to compete at a global level.
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, NJ (NIDO), Dr Adeola Popoola, has suggested strengthening control of the editors’ union to ensure that all media houses contribute to a weekly digest of news headlines from across the continent.
However, Ibe thanked all participants for the fruitful discussions and said that he plans to hold a sequel in the future, especially since this issue was too important to be fully discussed in one meeting.
Cecilia Ologunaba
