In line with the decision of the African Union Ministers of Communication and Information Communication Technologies (STC-CICT) of 2017, which resolved to recognise the contributions of journalists towards the achievement of Agenda 2063, five African women journalists have been awarded grants to enable them to produce detailed stories on key sectors of Africa’s development under Agenda 2063. The grants valued at US$10,000 in total were supported by the African Union, the GIZ and the International Organisation for Migration, IOM.

The awards were given at a ceremony held in Nairobi on 28th July 2019, which marked the end of a three day conference organised by the African Union’s Directorate of Information and Communication and African Women in Media (AWiM). 

The award winners were: Zahara Tunda of Tanzania for the African Continental Free Trade Area; Mary Mwendwa of Kenya for Silencing the Guns by 2020; Culton Scovia of Uganda for the African Passport and Free Movement of People; Christabel Ligame of Kenya for Free Trade Migration and Vinzensia Fuko of Tanzania for the Women and Free Trade award.

In recognition of her contribution to promoting Africa’s development narrative, the late journalist Ms. Hodan Nayaleh was posthumously awarded the Changing Narratives award, after she was murdered in a terrorist attack in Kismayo, Somalia on the 12th of July 2019. The award was received, on behalf of Hodan’s family, by Mr Mukhtar Ogle, Secretary for Strategic Cabinet Initiatives from the Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya. 

The AWiM 2019 Conference which was held under the theme “Showcase” was an interactive meeting, bringing together women from all spheres of the communication sector to discuss the opportunities for advancing the narrative of African women, and also to enhance the role of women in defining and retelling the narrative of Africans. While spotlighting the challenges facing the industry and women in media, the conference also sought to showcase the expertise of African women in media in addressing the urgent issues affecting the industry. Some of the challenges, barriers and injustices discussed included sexual harassment in the workplace, unequal pay, under representation of women in media leadership, and disinformation and the post truth era. Different panel discussions on these and other topics provided spaces for debate on possible solutions, sharing of ideas, and mentoring as well as opportunities, such as the  business of media, media innovation and growing the reach of media in Africa.

The conference was an opportunity for the African Union to address African media women based both within and outside and in her a keynote address, the AU Director of Information and Communication Ms Leslie Richer noted the power of words in retelling Africa’s story especially in the digital age and called for a redefinition of media educational and training standards, to ensure its relevance and that Africa was not only producing the right type of journalists for the digital age but that the curricula promoted areas such as developmental journalism and gender studies in media. She also encouraged the media to not ignore or forget the large segment of the African population largely made up of women in the rural communities, who remain disconnected from the information highway.

the pen is still mightier than the sword and in the digital era, the keyboard is the new high tech pen and should be used effectively and with purpose, to ensure that Africa’s stories, and especially the stories of African women and girls are no longer relegated to the footnote of history or current affairs

Noting that AWiM is about action and results, the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Yemisi Akinbobola announced the launch of a visibility project to promote and profile the stories of African women on Wikipedia. She also announced a research network to comprise media professionals, policy makers and scholars to result in the publication of a book that gives an insight into the places and spaces tin which African women work, with a view to impacting policies at various levels.

The African Women in Media will work with Wikipedia on a visibility project to improve not only the profile but increase the presence of and facts about African women on its platform

The AU Acting Director of Women and Gender Directorate Mrs Victoria Maloka presented the AU Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and also urged journalists to start telling the stories of the women who formed the Pan African Women’s Organisation (PAWO), especially as the continent celebrated the organisation’s founding on 31st July 1962.

African Media should tell the stories of African women who were part of Africa’s liberation struggle and celebrate and honour the women who formed the Pan-African Women’s Organisation in 1962

Also in attendance at the awards ceremony was Hon Majala Mlagui the Deputy Governor of Taita Taveta County in Kenya who was elected to the position at the age of 26 years. Hon Mlagui highlighted the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and its commitment to ensure women have equal participation in all areas of development, and reminded the media on the need to give women equal coverage and to provide the platforms to allow them to be active players in the policy space, supporting young women especially in their endeavours to serve their communities.

The media should give women in the policy making and public arena equal coverage focsiung on issues that affect development at community and national level