By Ehis Agbon, Kaduna, Nigeria|4 December, 2025.
The city of Kaduna once again affirmed its reputation as the media capital of Northern Nigeria as policymakers, journalists, development experts and civil society leaders converged for the 9th Africa Conference on Development Journalism (ACDJ2025). The two-day event, organised by the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), focused on the theme: “Media, Inclusive Development: A Call to Action for Africa’s Future.”
Held at The Pyramid Hotel, the conference brought together some of the most influential voices in media and development to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing African journalism—especially at a time when misinformation, shrinking press freedom, and governance deficits threaten the media’s ability to drive inclusive growth.
The annual AMDF conference has grown into one of Africa’s major platforms for engagement on development journalism, attracting policymakers, media leaders, donor agencies and young journalists seeking a more inclusive, people-centred approach to reporting.
Setting the Tone: AMDF Calls for Inclusive Storytelling
In her opening remarks, Sekyen Dadik, Executive Director of AMDF, welcomed participants while emphasising the role of journalism in shaping Africa’s development trajectory.
She noted that Africa’s growth story is complex, but media remains central to amplifying marginalized voices, deepening accountability and promoting equitable development. She stressed that inclusive storytelling—particularly on issues such as gender, disability, climate change, agriculture, youth empowerment and journalists’ mental health—must remain a priority for the continent’s media ecosystem.
Commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the first panel was dedicated to disability-inclusive reporting. Dadik underscored that access to information for persons with disabilities is essential for a just society, and the media must ensure fair representation of all groups.
She thanked AMDF partners including Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), Sightsavers Nigeria, MTN, the Kaduna State Ministry of Information, KSMC and Daily Trust Foundation for supporting this year’s conference and enabling many participants to attend on scholarship.
Media Must Become the Guardian of Africa’s Inclusive Future — Commissioner Maiyaki
Delivering the keynote address, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, offered a powerful reflection on how African media can
evolve into a vehicle for unity, development and democratic accountability.
Maiyaki said Africa is at a critical moment: millions of young people are raising their voices, yet gaps in media credibility, trust and inclusion persist. He argued that while Africa has more platforms and storytellers than ever before, the continent is still struggling to take ownership of its global narrative.
According to him, “Africa is often spoken about rather than spoken with. Our stories are filtered through others before they reach the world.”
He referenced the MacBride Commission’s long-standing critique of global information imbalance, insisting that Africa must now define its own story with confidence, dignity and ownership.
The Commissioner highlighted Kaduna State’s commitment to inclusive governance under Governor Uba Sani, citing the re-establishment of the Ministry of Information as a deliberate step to restore credible communication and public accountability.
He also pointed to the innovative Project 255—which allocates ₦100 million to each of Kaduna’s 255 wards for community-chosen capital projects—and the Kaduna Peace Model, a community-driven conflict-resolution framework, as examples of participatory and inclusive development that rely extensively on responsible media reporting.
Maiyaki stressed that development journalism is nation-building and urged journalists to embrace data reporting, fact-checking, community media, and solutions journalism to counter misinformation and rebuild public trust.
WAMAC Warns Against Rising Attacks on Journalists
In his goodwill message, Zubair Abdurra’uf Idris, Executive Director of Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), expressed concern over increasing harassment, intimidation and violence against journalists across Africa—including in democracies.
He referenced recent actions by the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, which blacklisted two state governors and the Inspector General of Police for suppressing press freedom.
Zubair noted that journalists—who are constitutionally empowered to hold leaders accountable—continue to face threats, censorship, repression and wrongful arrests simply for performing their duties. He described these threats as a direct attack on democracy and good governance.
He urged African leaders, media institutions and civil society organisations to work collectively to safeguard media freedom, stressing that a free and independent press is the backbone of inclusive development.
Daily Trust Foundation Calls for Stronger Journalism in a Difficult Era
Representing the Board of the Daily Trust Foundation, Dr. Theophilus Abbah commended AMDF for sustaining a conference of this scale despite the financial difficulties often associated with development-focused events.
While noting Kaduna’s historic place as the hub of Northern journalism—from the legacy of Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo to Radio Nigeria and New Nigerian Newspaper—he warned that journalism today faces unprecedented challenges: shrinking revenues, propaganda-driven information spaces, hostile laws, and harassment by both state and non-state actors.
Abbah encouraged journalists to take advantage of the conference to sharpen their skills, emphasising that great journalism depends on two things—sources and methods.
He reminded participants that journalism awards are not just recognition but also a call to produce even more impactful stories that can lead to policy change.
Day Two: Youth Development Takes the Spotlight
Also speaking on the second day of the conference, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth Development, Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, said the AMDF gathering could not have come at a more critical time, particularly for young people in the state and across Nigeria.
She emphasised that the youth urgently need positive mentorship, which the media is well positioned to provide through responsible reporting and constructive storytelling. Barrister Ibrahim highlighted several of the state government’s youth-focused initiatives and pointed to the Kaduna State Demographic Dividend Roadmap as a defining blueprint for accelerating inclusive youth development in the state.
She urged young people to stay focused, avoid crime and social vices, and take advantage of opportunities being created for them through government programmes and media-led advocacy.
A Call for Greater Collaboration
Throughout the two-day conference, participants repeatedly underscored the importance of building stronger collaboration between media practitioners, academia, government agencies and development organisations.
AMDF announced that next year’s conference theme and dates would be unveiled soon, inviting more stakeholders to contribute toward strengthening the platform as a home-grown knowledge hub for development journalism in Africa.
The conference closed with the presentation of certificates to deserving participants, marking the end of two days of robust discussions, capacity building and networking.
Conclusion
The 9th Africa Conference on Development Journalism reaffirmed that the media remains central to Africa’s quest for inclusive growth, democratic accountability and social justice. As voices across the continent grow louder, the challenge ahead is to ensure that media can bridge—not widen—the gaps in society.
From calls for press freedom to demands for better representation of women, youth and persons with disabilities, the conference made one thing clear: Africa’s future depends on a media that is free, ethical, innovative and inclusive.
Sekyen Dadik, Executive Director of AMDF announced that the theme for 2026 is “Advancing Development Journalism in Africa in an Era of AI and Uncertainty.” and kicks off 2nd and 3rd December, 2026
