Nairobi: Journalists had Media Training programme on coverage of ICT sector

On this 25 September2015, over 25 journalists drawn from the East Africa region have convened in Nairobi for a five- day training event aimed at expanding and deepening media understanding and coverage of technology and related issues on the continent.

The training is organized by the African Media Initiative (AMI) in partnership with Huawei, African Telecommunications Union (ATU), and the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute (AFRALTI). Journalists from Rwanda,Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya , Ethiopia, and South Sudan will be trained on ICT application and broadband strategies, use of ICT in telling development stories, as well as effective data journalism.

The journalists will work with top trainers from Africa and across the globe on how to gather and analyze  ICT data and generate reports that are easily understood across all levels of media.

The training workshop is the first in a series of events that will be held in different parts of Africa to develop a critical mass of skilled reporters who are specialized in covering the ICT sector.

The journalists will become part of a professional network and continental community of practice. With a minimum of three reporters per country in Africa’s fifty-four nations, the network will, at full capacity, comprise at least 150 – 200 reporters.

Network members will enrich the national and regional dialogues on ICT policy, animate an online network platform with their reports and documentaries, and allow for well-researched and informed articles and audio-visual products to be widely disseminated beyond their own media organizations.

“We have been working hard to collaborate with important stakeholders in our industry to build a healthy ecosystem to realize our vision of building a better connected Africa,” Mr. Dean Yu, CEO of Huawei Kenya said while speaking during the opening session of the training.

The Secretary General of ATU, Abdoulkarim Soumaila added that “ICT is increasingly becoming an enabler thus driving the social development of Africa. To enhance ICT development in Africa, all parties in the ICT industry/sector must work together to share experience and resources.”

While delivering remarks on behalf of AMI CEO Eric Chinje, AMI’s Information Officer Mumin Maslah noted that “AMI is working to establish networks of media specialists on subjects that are central to regional development. ICT is a sector that is crucial to increasing the pace of development in Africa. AMI is grateful to Huawei, ATU and AFRALTI for their partnership in this endeavour.”

In this training Huawei signed a MoU with the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) during workshop co-hosted by ATU , African advanced level Telecommunications Institute , and African Initiative (AMI) in Nairobi Kenya.

And which includes partnership on ICT training, technical support to continental ICT development in Africa, ICT development and innovation, and contribution to the local,regional and international ICT policy and regulation.

UM– USEKE.RW