Obasanjo, Jonathan, Utomi task African media on reclaiming continent’s narratives

FORMER Nigerian presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan  and a political economist, Professor Pat Utomi and a former Botswana president, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, have urged African media to challenge negative stereotypes, promote African enterprise and strengthen continental integration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the African leaders gave the charge at the unveiling of C54 News Global Streaming Dome platform in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Wednesday.

They called on African media organisations to reclaim the continent’s narrative by telling its stories through authentic African perspectives, credible journalism and balanced reporting.

The leaders, in their remarks, described the initiative as a significant step toward correcting distorted perceptions of Africa and amplifying the continent’s achievements, aspirations and development opportunities.

Obasanjo, while speaking, said that the responsibility for telling Africa’s story rested  primarily with Africans themselves.

He observed that, for too long, the continent had either outsourced its narrative or allowed others to appropriate and interpret its experiences through perspectives that frequently failed to reflect the realities of African societies.

“When Africans surrender the responsibility of telling their own stories, those stories are inevitably presented through the interests and interpretations of others,” he said.

He urged C54 News to extend its coverage beyond the continent’s 54 countries to what he described as Global Africa, including people of African descent whose histories and experiences are integral to the wider African identity.

Jonathan, in his remarks, said the emergence of C54 News was timely, particularly as Africa continues to contend with what Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie calls the danger of a single story.

“International media coverage had often presented Africa predominantly through images of conflict, hunger, disease, insecurity and destruction.

“This leaves insufficient room for the continent’s innovation, entrepreneurial energy, cultural richness, expanding markets and immense human potential,” Jonathan said.

In his keynote address, Masisi said the unveiling was an important milestone in Africa’s broadcasting and communications landscape.

The former Botswana president noted that the continent had never lacked stories, talent, wisdom or creativity.

He recalled Africa’s longstanding storytelling traditions, through which elders passed knowledge, history, values and cultural identity to younger generations through folktales, music, dance, language and other forms of oral expression.

“The challenge is not the absence of African stories but the need to build effective platforms, through which those stories can travel across national borders and reach global audiences.

“The dominance of externally shaped narratives has often placed greater emphasis on Africa’s failures than its achievements, undermining confidence and reinforcing perceptions of superiority elsewhere,” he said.

Masisi called for investments in digital infrastructure, reliable electricity, internet connectivity, research and development, education and technological innovation to enable Africa to compete effectively in the global information economy.

ALSO READ: 2027: Atiku is Nigeria’s Odinga, he can never win – Shettima

Earlier in his remarks, Utomi, said the platform was an opportunity for Africans to begin documenting their own experiences and correcting narratives that have influenced international perceptions of the continent.

Utomi said Africa had for too long, been described more by others than by its own people.

He noted that negative perceptions of African countries could carry tangible economic consequences, including higher borrowing costs, reduced investors confidence and missed opportunities for intra-African trade.

The professor said that credible information about African markets, businesses and investment opportunities would help build confidence, strengthen commercial relationships and encourage economic cooperation across borders.

Utomi commended Akwa Ibom for providing a home for the initiative, noting that the state had supported the project from its early stages, when it existed largely as an idea.