By Cecilia Ologunagba
New York, Sept. 24, 2024 (NAN) Panelists at a dialogue on the Media of the Future have emphasised the importance of media representation for people of African descent and the need for Africa to build its mega media platforms.
The panelists made the call at an online dialogue on the theme: “The Media of the Future: Bridging the Gap Between the West and People of African Descent.”
The dialogue was convened in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future held during the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) High-level Week.
UNGA 79 opened on Sept.10 while the High-Level Week began on Friday, Sept. 20, and will run through Sept. 27.
At the dialogue which was organised by Mr. Simon Ibe, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Global Patriot Newspapers, the panelists discussed the challenges faced by Africans in gaining access to global media outlets.
Participants discussed the challenges faced by Africans in having their stories accurately represented internationally and stressed the need for them to take control of their narratives and destinies.
The participants also advised Africans to prioritise skills for sustaining economies, attracting investment, and creating wealth, and to leverage technology and leadership in the African economy to change media coverage and ensure adequate representation of Africa’s positive aspects.
In his presentation, Dr Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of Zinox Group, a tech company, stressed the importance of media representation for people of African descent and the need for Africa to build its mega media platforms.
Ekeh spoke of his contributions to the transition from analogue to digital media in West Africa and emphasised the importance of knowledge and content in the media industry.
He highlighted lack of awareness about the innovative and creative abilities of black people and stressed the need for Africa to become part of the global community through greater access to the global media.
He shared his experiences in building a tech group and digital retail business and how insufficient access to global media exposure was a major issue, and encouraged the African media practitioners to find financial resources to develop their own mega media platforms, driven by technology.
Also, Yul Anderson, President of the African American Future Society (TAAFS), spoke on the need for coordinated messaging by African media outlets to combat disinformation and promote positive stories about People of African Descent.
He spoke extensively about the Black Futures Summit, held on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future.
Laolu Akande, Editor-in-Chief of Empowered Newswire, conveyed a message from the former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) expressing support for the team’s efforts.
Osinbajo commended the convener of the dialogue, Mr. Ibe for creating the platform for the discussion and expressed the hope that the outcome of theevent will positively impact the Media of People of African Descent.
In his presentation as a panelist, Mr. Akande spoke of the significant gaps in understanding and representation of Africa globally, emphasising the need for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to understanding Africa and its people.
He identified four gaps hindering Nigeria’s development.
These include the gap between the elite and the masses; the gap between the elite and the media; the gap between the elite and the people; and the failure of political leadership to deliver national development.
Akande, spokesman for Osinbajo, stressed the importance of the African elite taking responsibility for the continent’s fate, human capital and infrastructure development.
He pointed to the need for media leaders to invest properly in journalism and for African billionaires to fund media out
