The Media and Development Conference 2024 officially opened in Abuja on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, with a call on journalists and media practitioners to rise to the occasion by safeguarding information integrity in an era of information disorder.
Prof Audrey Gadzekpo, a member of the Board of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) who made the call, also underscored the media’s vital role as a pillar of democracy in the 21st century.
She delivered the opening remarks for the Media and Development Conference 2024, which was organised to stimulate impactful dialogues and transformative outcomes within the media and development sectors.
The conference theme is “Navigating Global Shifts: Media and Technology for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Africa.”
Prof Gadzekpo also highlighted the significant influence of artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and rapid technological advancements, reshaping industries in unprecedented ways. These developments, she said, are challenging traditional boundaries in the defence of democracy, enhancing accountability, promoting inclusive governance, and exploring new frontiers.
Despite the impact of the new media in the digital age, Prof Gadzekpo said that the media serves as a powerful mechanism for informing, educating, and entertaining billions around the globe. By fostering public engagement, transparency, and accountability, the media gives citizens access to accurate, reliable, and timely information, enabling them to make informed decisions.
“And we do this from political debates and elections to economic activities and social events,” she stated, highlighting the breadth of the media’s influence in contemporary society.
The #MDC24 conference brought together diverse stakeholders, including media professionals, academics, policymakers, civil society leaders, and technology experts, to discuss how media and technology can drive inclusive and sustainable development across Africa amidst the backdrop of global shifts. The event provided a platform for critical discussions on the intersection of media, technology, and development, paving the way for innovative solutions to the challenges faced by the continent.
The discourse at #MDC24 highlighted the collective responsibility of media professionals and stakeholders to uphold the integrity of information and champion the values of democracy in Africa and beyond.
CJID’s Impact
Prof Gadzekpo added that ten years ago, CJID embraced the challenge of misinformation emerging as a regional media portal to drive innovation through digital technology, combat disinformation, and advance investigative journalism in defence of democracy.
“Over the past decade, our broader strides have led to impactful work across 11 African countries, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.”
DUBAWA’s fight against misinformation
In recognising disinformation as a significant threat, CJID launched the Dubawa.org platform in 2017 to champion truth in public discourse, public policy, and journalistic practice while promoting media and digital literacy.
“Beyond disseminating information, the media amplifies marginalised voices, spotlights present social issues and stimulates public debate, inspiring active civic participation.”
“Across the 15 ECOWAS nations, from Senegal to Nigeria, where challenges such as education, health care, and social justice persist, the media acts as a beacon, driving citizens to advocate for change and contribute to societal progress. The media is not merely a conduit to a path but a custodian of free expression and a platform for diverse perspectives.”
She emphasised that the media space will continue to play a vital role in advancing democracy and development.
Over the three days, speakers like Festus Okoye, Esq., Barrister, Solicitor, and Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Ms Audrey Quarcoo, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana, Mr Kabir Ibrahim, President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Dr Ololade Shyllon, Head of Privacy Policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey at Meta, Musa Sangarie, Regional Programs Manager for West and Central Africa at Internews Network shared insights at the conference.
Other speakers included Maupe Ogun-Yusuf, Supervising Producer and Presenter at Channels Television, Damilola Adegoke, Research Associate and Head of Data Labs at the African Leadership Centre (ALC), King’s College London, Ogechi Okebugwu, Programme Coordinator at the SmallScale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria, and Ayantola Alayande, Researcher at the Global Center on AI Governance.
The Summit ended on Nov. 27, 2024, after awards and dinner night which honoured deserving fact-checkers who have done impactful work throughout their fellowship and journalists who submitted entries for the Excellence in Journalism Award in honour of CJID’s 10th Anniversary celebration.[2]
