The African Development Bank Group has announced the establishment of an Annual Africa Media Prize to recognise African journalists, correspondents and media houses that promote African stories, achievements and progress on the continent.
This was stated by the President of the AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, on Thursday, in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the AllAfrica Media Leaders’ Summit, in Nairobi, Kenya.
He also proposed that the AfDB, Africa Import-Export Bank (Afreximbank), and all regional financial institutions pool resources to support the emergence of a globally respected African media company that will promote and position the news of Africa globally.
The Summit, themed, “Re-engineering African Media in Times of Critical Transformation,” brought together over 300 African media owners and executives, government officials, leaders from the corporate world, academia, civil society, and development partners to discuss the business of media and the critical role it must play in shaping Africa’s future.
Adesina said the African Development Bank would work with the AllAfrica Media organisation and African financial institutions to establish the prize as part of efforts to promote more positive reporting of developments on the continent.
“Africa must shape its own narrative, and not depend on what others think about it or the perspectives they prefer to share about it, its achievements, and opportunities… Positive stories of African investment opportunities need to be well showcased, as they unfortunately do not get sufficient coverage, if any at all, in western media.
“The media has a critically important role, by being fair, objective, inquisitive, investigative yes, but also by being a catalyst for development, and promoting positive news about tangible African accomplishments, achievements, and developments,” he added.
Dr Adesina also called on development institutions in Africa to set up a joint repository of verified and standardised stories, videos and content that will make it easier to aggregate and write stories on what is being achieved in Africa.
The AfDB President also pledged that the African Development Bank, working with partners and the African financial institutions would also help establish the African Journalists’ and Correspondents’ Fellowships to help build and strengthen the capacities of journalists and correspondents working in Africa.
“Together let us continue to promote Africa. I call on you as leaders of the media, become the vuvuzelas for Africa! Tell Africa’s positive stories,” he noted.
