L-R: Asaf Rubin, graduate, INSEAD Business School, France; Ire Aderinokun, graduate, INSEAD; Babalola Oyeleye, chief strategy & innovation officer, MTN Nigeria; Tosin Taiwo, consultant, The Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund; Yahaya Ibrahim, chief technical officer, MTN Nigeria; Lena Jiao, graduate, INSEAD, and Anita Akpan, senior manager, business operations, strategy and innovation, MTN Nigeria, during the recent INSEAD graduates’ courtesy visit to MTN Nigeria.
The Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) and MTN Nigeria are exploring initiative towards building a more cordial bilateral relationship between both countries, leveraging the media as a bridge builder.
This was the focus of the recent visit of INSEAD graduates to the corporate head-office of MTN Nigeria, exploring how Africa’s telecom transformation can translate into national development goals to benefit citizens of both Nigeria and South Africa.
Themed, ‘Media as a Bridge: Strengthening Nigeria-South Africa Ties through the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP),’ the session highlights media’s role in strengthening Nigeria-South Africa ties, as NSACC commemorates its 25th anniversary.
Tobe Okigbo, chief corporate services and sustainability officer, MTN Nigeria, said the MIP was created to tackle misinformation and stereotypes in reporting, disclosing that there are plans to expand the programme across Africa.
He described the programme as a diplomatic tool, and pointed to its study tour in South Africa, which gives Nigerian journalists first-hand exposure to the country. “If Nigeria and South Africa can get their act together, the rest of the continent will follow.”
Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, in keynote address said the media remains a bridge in shaping perspectives. According to him, the MIP helps participants develop the skills to tell balanced stories and manage ethical issues.
He emphasised three key pillars for building stronger relations, disclosing that the mission of the university is to train competent professionals with a sense of social responsibility, and sustainable university-industry collaborations, which is vital for shared growth and value creation.
Obiaya also emphasised the importance of training journalists to report with accuracy and context, and commended the partnership between academia and industry.
“The media will not achieve this if practitioners are not well-formed and adequately exposed to the realities they report on.”
Ije Jidenma, chairperson, NSACC, described the media as a catalyst for development, highlighting its influence on public debate. She also commended the telco for the media innovation programme as a clear example of ideas put into action.
The Chamber marks its 25th anniversary; Jidenma noted that the media plays a key role in fostering partnerships between nations, highlighting its impact on the NSACC trajectory.
In unveiling the NSACC’s anniversary logo, Jidenma said that the anniversary marks a symbolic step towards a new phase of growth for the NSACC and greater access to opportunities for its members.
