Dave Ibemere, Legit.ng's senior business editor, has been selected as one of 42 media professionals from 10 African countries to participate in the inaugural MTN Pan-African Media Innovation Programme (MIP). The continental initiative, delivered in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and The African Editors Forum (TAEF), aims to strengthen journalism and accelerate digital transformation across the industry.
Ibemere is representing Nigeria in the programme, which brings together journalists, editors, and media practitioners from across the continent. The selection marks a significant recognition of his work and the broader commitment of Legit.ng to fostering innovation in African journalism.
Programme Curriculum and Structure
The curriculum of the MTN Pan-African Media Innovation Programme spans digital journalism, storytelling, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, audience engagement and analytics, media entrepreneurship, sustainability, ethics, and digital transformation. These modules are designed to equip participants with practical skills to navigate the evolving media landscape.
The programme is structured around a combination of online academic modules and an in-person learning and immersion phase hosted at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. This hybrid approach allows participants to benefit from both flexible remote learning and hands-on engagement with peers and experts.
Addressing Pressures on Modern Newsrooms
The initiative directly addresses the pressures facing news organisations today, including shifting audience habits, evolving technology, and the erosion of traditional media revenue streams. Participants are expected to develop practical approaches to newsroom innovation, ethical storytelling, and financially sustainable media operations.
According to the programme organisers, the goal is to build a network of media leaders who can drive meaningful change in their respective countries. The programme builds on a national pilot previously run in Nigeria and forms part of MTN Group's broader push to support professional development and innovation within the African media industry.
Building a Pan-African Media Network
Beyond the curriculum itself, the initiative aims to foster cross-border exchange among media leaders, creating a professional network capable of driving long-term change in African journalism. For Ibemere, the fellowship is an opportunity to engage directly with media professionals from across the continent and examine how technology, data, and new storytelling approaches can raise the quality and impact of journalism in Nigeria and beyond.
The selection of Dave Ibemere underscores the growing importance of collaborative, technology-driven approaches to media innovation in Africa, and his participation is expected to contribute to the development of a more resilient and forward-looking journalism ecosystem across the continent.
