The MTN Media Innovation Programme (MTN-MIP-2) kicked off on Monday, 15 May, with 20 selected media professionals in attendance.
The Professional Programme which is being organised in collaboration with Pan-African University (PAU) is part of the telecom company’s drive to provide learning opportunities for media professionals in the country and to foster the best practices in the industry.
MTN said almost 3000 media professionals applied and in the end, it selected 20 people from print-only, radio and television platforms.
Tobechukwu Okigbo, Chief Corporate Officer of MTN said the fellowship was conceived in 2021 when the company was planning its 20 years anniversary. The earlier plan was to celebrate the milestone with a lavish party hosting different celebrities. However, the company took a different direction when the idea was pitched by a media professional and its communications team.
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“We want you to have a better understanding of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector as well as the telecom industry,” Okigbo said.
MTN has committed to sponsoring the programme for the next three years. The programme runs for a period of six months and includes one-week immersive classes at Pan-African University and other locations. The fellows will also travel and participate in cross-country learning with media professionals in South Africa.
The first cohort kicked off and graduated in 2022. The current cohort will be graduating in November 2023.
Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean, of the School of Media and Communication, PAU, said the programme became necessary because of the technology revolution that has seen anyone with a mobile device become an information distributor or a citizen journalist. The goal is to help practitioners get a better understanding of the nature of the media industry and properly disseminate information that benefits society at large.
