The African Media Initiative (AMI) has announced that award-winning American journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault, former Africa CNN bureau chief, and Trevor Ncube, who is the executive deputy chairperson of the Mail & Guardian and founder of the Zimbabwe-based Standard and Zimbabwe Independent, have been appointed co-chairs of its board.
The two were appointed at the recent Africa Media Leadership Forum in Lagos, Nigeria.
AMI is a pan-African endeavour that aims to improve democratic governance, social development and economic growth in Africa by strengthening the continent’s media sector.
“This is an ambitious project towards strengthening the private media on the continent and it is a great honour to be part of it,” said Hunter-Gault. “The quality of management, availability of funds for new media projects and expansion, and the restrictive political environment for media on the continent are issues that will receive our attention.”
Said Ncube: “I am pleased to join the AMI board as co-chair and to share my experience and knowledge with a highly talented and diverse group of professionals from Africa. It is time that the continent seriously addresses the core constraints that hinder the development of our nations and societies, and we know that without a strong and professional media, economic and human development will remain stunted.”
Amadou Mahtar Ba, executive director of the AMI, said he was delighted to have Ncube on the board. “I am honoured to have the opportunity to work under his leadership for the years to come.”
Other members of the AMI board are:
Kaitira Kandji (Namibia), regional director of the media institute of Southern Africa; Marie Roger Biloa (Cameroon), CEO Africa International magazine; Paolo Gomes (Guinea Bissao), CEO Constelor Group and former World Bank executive director; Mathatha Tsedu (South Africa), chair of the African Editors’ Forum; Professor Kwame Kari kari (Ghana), executive director media foundation of West Africa; Eric Chinje (Cameroon), manager external relations and communication, World Bank Africa Region; Nduka Obaigbena (Nigeria), chairperson and CEO THISDAY Linus Gitahi (Kenya), CEO Nation Media Group