Global Patriot Newspapers’ Dialogue Champions African-Led Media Rebranding for the Future

By Emmanuel Enebeli

NEW YORK/United States of America: The Global Patriot Newspapers’ Dialogue, themed “The Media of the Future: Bridging the Gap Between the West and People of African Descent,” convened on Friday, 20th September 2024. The event, a significant side meeting of the Black Futures Summit, was held alongside the United Nations Summit of the Future. It gathered prominent figures from the media, government, civil society, and academia to discuss the crucial role of media representation in reshaping the global narrative about people of African descent.

The international dialogue addressed the wide media disparity between Africa and the West, emphasising the urgent need for African media platforms to control their stories and project positive narratives. The meeting focused on the future of media for people of African descent and the importance of developing influential, globally competitive African-led media platforms that can challenge negative portrayals and build a strong, unified voice in international communication.

Speakers and participants expressed concerns over the persistent negative representations of Africans in Western media, calling for a concerted effort to rebrand African journalism and communications. The dialogue underscored the necessity of elevating African media standards to garner global respect and credibility, while reducing over-reliance on Western media outlets.

Panelists included high-profile personalities such as Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group; Simon Kolawole, Founder and Publisher of TheCable Newspaper; Yul Anderson, President of the African American Future Society (TAAFS); Laolu Akande, Editor-in-Chief of Empowered Newswire; Nicky C. Spencer-Coker, Spokesperson for Sierra Leone’s Permanent Mission to the UN; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM); and Professor Akil Khalfani, Director of the Africana Institute at Essex County College in New Jersey.

Key discussions centred on several critical issues, including the development and support of African-owned media platforms, the need for content focused on wealth creation and business education for African audiences, and the promotion of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) opportunities. Speakers also called for increased capacity-building initiatives for African journalists and the integration of artificial intelligence in journalism to enhance the continent’s media landscape.

Highlighting the gap between African media and Western news agencies, the dialogue explored ways to empower African media professionals and provide educational resources to help them reclaim their narrative. It also stressed the importance of promoting African success stories, strengthening pan-African media collaborations, and enhancing the coverage of the African diaspora worldwide.

In his goodwill message, former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, commended the efforts of Simon Ibe, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Global Patriot Newspapers and convener of the dialogue. He praised the platform for promoting African causes and encouraged continued work in reshaping Africa’s media landscape.

The dialogue was moderated by Tunde Akindele and Professor M.O. Ene, and featured diverse participants, including senior journalists, academics, religious leaders, and media executives. Notable attendees included Pastor (Dr.) Toyin Laoye, Regional Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Americas 1; Chief Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari; Dr. Remi Alapo, a professor of Black Studies at the City University of New York (CUNY); and Mr. Eze Anaba, President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors.

Prominent African and diaspora figures, including Professor James Small, former bodyguard to Malcolm X and International Vice President of the World African Diaspora Union (WADU); Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, Lagos-based lawyer; and several media publishers such as Isaac Umunna of News Express, Sufuyan Ojeifo of The Conclave, Prince Onochie Jon-Igwesi of Pacesetter magazine, were also in attendance, and Emmanuel Enebeli, Publisher, Ndokwa Reporters and Chairman, Delta Online Publishers Forum, DOPF

The dialogue ended with a collective call for continued efforts in reshaping media narratives and ensuring that African voices are heard globally. Simon Ibe, in his closing remarks, expressed gratitude to all participants and reiterated the commitment to follow up on the key discussions, ensuring that the vision of a media reformation for Africa and people of African descent continues to advance.

Communiqué from the Dialogue

Global Patriot Newspapers’ Dialogue:

“The Media of the Future: Bridging the Gap Between the West and People of African Descent”

Friday, September 20, 2024

The Global Patriot Newspapers’ Dialogue on the theme: “The Media of the Future: Bridging the Gap Between the West and People of African Descent” was held on Friday, September 20, 2024, as a side event of the Black Futures Summit convened on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future.

The international meeting, attended by personalities from the media, government, civil society, and academia, emphasized the importance of media representation for people of African descent worldwide. It also addressed the need for Africa and people of African descent generally to rebrand journalism for effective mass communication and to build influential international media platforms to close the wide gaps existing between the media of people of African descent and the media of the West. It focused on the future of people of African descent and the role of the media in shaping a new narrative about the potentials of African peoples worldwide. It emphasized the importance of people of African descent controlling their own stories, changing negative narratives about themselves, and having a clear vision for a better future.

The meeting criticized the tendency to repeat negative portrayals of people of African descent from Western media and called for media professionals to elevate their game to gain more respect and credibility. The speakers highlighted the issue of low trust in African media and the reliance on Western media sources by media platforms in the continent and elsewhere. The conversations ended with a call for African peoples to take control of their own destiny and to be proactive in shaping their future.

The panelists included Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman of Zinox Group; Simon Kolawole, Founder and Publisher of TheCable Newspaper; Yul Anderson, President of the African American Future Society (TAAFS), Laolu Akande, Editor-in-Chief of Empowered Newswire and host of ‘Inside Sources…’ on Channels TV; Nicky C. Spencer-Coker, Spokesperson for the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the UN; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chair/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM); Toyin Umesiri, CEO of Nazaru, LLC, USA; and Professor Akil Khalfani, Director of Africana Institute, Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey, USA.

The issues covered included:

1. Explore ways to develop and support African-owned media platforms
2. Focus on wealth creation and business education content for African and black audiences
3. Prioritize covering of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and its potential for wealth creation
4. Invest in capacity building of and education for African journalists,
5. Develop strategies for incorporating artificial intelligence in journalism
6. Create a collaborative network for sharing positive African stories
7. Reduce reliance on Western news agencies for African content
8. Promote Diaspora investment opportunities in African media
9. Focus on telling African success stories and highlighting positive developments
10. Develop African-centered critiques of global issues and events
11. Improve working conditions and timely payment for journalists in media owned by people of African descent
12. Create global pan-Africa media platforms
13. Increase coverage of African diaspora communities worldwide
14. Educate African media professionals on African history and cultural views
15. Continue the dialogue on changing media narratives of people of African descent to combat disinformation and promote positive stories.

In a goodwill message delivered by Laolu Akande, the immediate-past Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, expressed support for the meeting and commended the efforts of Simon Ibe, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Global Patriot Newspapers and convener of the Dialogue, in promoting African courses and encouraged him to sustain the efforts.

Ably co-moderated by Tunde Akindele and Professor M.O. Ene, the meeting involved a diverse group of attendees, including senior journalists, scholars, clerics, activists, community leaders and family members, such as Pastor (Dr.) Toyin Laoye, Regional Pastor, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), the Americas 1, in charge of New Jersey and Vermont; Chief Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to Nigeria’s ex-president Muhammadu Buhari; Dr. Remi Alapo, professor of Black Studies and Cultural Diversity, City University of New York (CUNY); and Mr. Eze Anaba, president, Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).

Also present were Professor James Small, a scholar activist, pan Africanist, former bodyguard to Malcolm X, International Vice President, Organization of Afro-American Unity (O.A.A.U.) and Int’l Vice President of World African Diaspora Union (WADU); Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, Lagos-based lawyer and leader, Credibility Group; Dr. Matilda Osei-Bonsu; Isaac Umunna, publisher of News Express online and Business Express magazine; Sufuyan Ojeifo, publisher, The Conclave; Mr. Prudence Arobani, Nigerian Consulate, New York; Prince Onochie Jon-Igwesi, publisher of Pacesetter magazine; Dr. Adeola Popoola, president of NIDO, New Jersey chapter; Chief Uzoma Nwagwu; Mr. Shawn Yearwood and Mr. Garfield Simpson.

Equally part of the program were Mrs. Olanike Awoleye, CEO, Lord & Nike’s LLC; Mrs. Grace Yusuf, former NAN Deputy Editor-in-Chief; Mr. Obi Emekekue, former United Nations, New York correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Prof. Mondy Gold, president, Ijaw Diaspora Council and chairman, NADECO USA; Surveyor Jide Adeyemo; Engineer (Mrs.) Temi Boyo-Aboderin; Publishers Emmanuel Malagu, Yemisi Izuora, Remmy Nweke, Pastor Olatunji Jegede; Barrister Paschal Egerue; Deacon Sunday Ode; Ms. Lilly Anyanwu; family members, including Mrs. Florence Ibe, Sir (Architect) Linus and Dr. Mrs. Stella Korieocha, Sir Lawrence Ibe, Princess Caroline Onyesonwu, Chief Dike & Lolo Maureen Ogbuehi; Barrister Maureen Nwankwo, Emmanuel Enebeli, Publisher, Ndokwa Reporters and Chairman, Delta Online Publishers Forum, DOPF, among many others.

In his closing remarks, Simon Ibe thanked everyone for participating and expressed gratitude for the insightful discussions, assuring that there would be a follow-up soon.