Africa’s Future at Risk Without Inclusive, Solutions-Based Journalism …. calls for urgent media reforms

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna 

The 9th Africa Conference on Development Journalism has warned that Africa’s inclusive development will remain “a mirage” unless the media takes deliberate steps to amplify marginalized voices, strengthen accountability reporting, and shift from sensationalism to solutions-driven journalism. 

These were the key concerns and recommendations outlined in the communiqué issued at the end of the two-day conference held at the Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna.

According to the communiqué, Africa is losing critical ground because the continent’s stories are still largely underreported, misrepresented, or told through foreign perspectives. 

It noted that widening information gaps continue to disadvantage rural communities, women, young people, and persons with disabilities — groups whose experiences are often overshadowed by elite narratives in mainstream media.

The communiqué expressed deep concern that persistent insecurity, poverty, gender inequality, corruption, and weak institutions, especially in northern Nigeria are not receiving the transparent and strategic communication required to catalyze solutions. 

It warned that the media’s continued reliance on sensational headlines instead of constructive reporting is worsening public mistrust and undermining development efforts.

On youth inclusion, the communiqué stressed that Africa cannot achieve sustainable growth when its young population is excluded from decision-making or repeatedly portrayed as perpetrators of crime. 

It emphasized that young people must be recognized as co-creators and co-leaders of national development, not passive beneficiaries.

Women’s exclusion also featured prominently, with the communiqué reaffirming that no nation can attain sustainable development when half of its population remains outside economic participation and media representation.

Despite these challenges, the communiqué outlined a series of solutions. It called for a complete rethinking of Africa’s media culture beginning with a shift toward solutions journalism, where reporting highlights how communities and institutions respond to problems and drive change. 

It said media organizations must intentionally give space to neglected voices, ensuring that national conversations reflect the true diversity of the continent.

The communiqué also emphasized the need to prioritize journalists’ mental health. Recognizing the traumatic nature of their work, it urged newsrooms to adopt resilience-building strategies, provide psychosocial support, and train journalists in trauma management.

Another major recommendation was the need for transparent media funding to safeguard editorial independence and strengthen public trust. The communiqué further encouraged deeper collaboration between media, universities, government, and civil society to tackle development challenges and uphold accountability.

It called on African media to reclaim the continent’s narrative by leveraging modern digital tools, expanding media literacy, and telling Africa’s stories through Africa’s own lenses.

The communiqué also commended the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) for its consistency in hosting the annual conference, as well as its Journalist of the Year Awards, a platform it said continues to elevate high-quality development reporting. 

It acknowledged partners including Sightsavers Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, WAMAC, the Kaduna State Ministry of Information, KSMC, and the Daily Trust Foundation for supporting the 2025 edition.

The communiqué was signed by Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, Zubair Abdurra’uf Idris, Executive Director, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC); and Sekyen Dadik, Executive Director, Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF).