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The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has suggested the establishment of an annual Africa media award to acknowledge and highlight African journalists, correspondents, and media organizations that showcase the accomplishments and progress of Africa.
Speaking at a media leaders' summit organized by AllAfrica Media, Adesina proposed that the AfDB collaborate with AllAfrica Media and African financial institutions to create the award as part of efforts to encourage more positive reporting on developments in the continent.
He also recommended that the AfDB, Africa Import-Export Bank, and other regional financial institutions combine resources to support the emergence of a globally respected African media company that will report African news to the world.
Adesina emphasized the need for Africa to shape its own narrative and not rely on external perspectives, stating that positive stories about African investment opportunities often receive inadequate coverage in Western media.
He stressed the critical role of the media in promoting positive news about tangible African accomplishments and developments while also being fair, objective, inquisitive, and investigative.
He called for the establishment of a shared repository of verified and standardized stories, videos, and content by development institutions in Africa to facilitate the aggregation and reporting of African achievements.
Adesina also pledged that the AfDB, in collaboration with partners and African financial institutions, would support the creation of African Journalists' and Correspondents' Fellowships to enhance the capacities of media professionals working in Africa.
