COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 9th AFRICA CONFERENCE ON DEVELOPMENT JOURNALISM WITH THE THEME “MEDIA, INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT: A CALL TO ACTION FOR AFRICA’s FUTURE”, HELD ON 3RD – 4TH DECEMBER 2025 AT THE PYRAMID HOTEL KADUNA, NIGERIA.

The 9th Africa Conference on Development Journalism organized and hosted by the Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF, brought together about 200 participants including influential journalists, media executives, policy makers, media associates, academia, CSOs and development partners.

The theme of the conference, “Media, Inclusive Development: A Call to Action for Africa’s Future” was discussed along other topics.

The other topics, include Amplifying Voices, Bridging Gaps: The Role of the Media in Shaping an Inclusive Africa; Framing Integrity Through Strategic Communication:  Case Study of AGILE and the Safe School Initiatives Program in Bauc4 chi State; Youth Inclusion: Pathway to Sustainable Future; Harnessing Digital Media For Inclusive Development: Opportunities and Challenges; Shaping Africa’s Climate Future: The Transformative Power of Inclusive Media as well as Journalists’ Well -being, Trauma, Resilience and Mental Health.

Also featured, were panel discussions on the Role of Women in African Media: Breaking Barriers and Shaping Narratives; the Role of Media in Advancing Disability Inclusion for Social Progress; the Role of Investigative Journalism in Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Africa and From Roadmap to Headline: How Media Can Make the Kaduna Demographic Dividend a State Conversation

From the foregoing, the Conference resolved that: –

1. Africa’s inclusive growth will remain a mirage unless media amplify marginalized voices, deepen accountability and embrace modern story-telling tools that bridge widening information gaps across the continent.
2. Africa must urgently rethink the role of the media in shaping a future that is inclusive, secure and people oriented.
3. The global communication order still sidelines African perspective, making it imperative for the continent to tell Its story through Its own lenses.
4. The media should discard sensationalism for solution journalism to create more constructive public discourse and empower communities towards solving social issues.1a
5. The prevailing insecurity, poverty and gender inequality especially in the North as well as institutional fragility and issues of corruption in the country as a whole, be brought forward for transparent strategic communication which is a tool for social change.
6. The nation must intentionally create opportunities where young people are not merely beneficiaries but co-creators, co-leaders and architects of development.
7. No nation can attain sustainable development where women and young people remain outside the corridor of economic participation.
8. The media must expand its lenses to capture the full spectrum of the youths’ experience and not sensational headlines that portray young people as perpetrators of crime.
9. Journalists’ mental health must be prioritized, with training on trauma management and mental health support; recognizing the traumatic nature of their work and the need for resilience-building strategies to mitigate the impact of stress and trauma.
10. There must be a strong collaboration between the media, universities, government, and civil society to address development challenges and promote transparency and accountability.
11. Funding for media organizations should be transparent to enable editorial independence, strengthen public trust, and support sustainable development across African countries.

The Communique encourages academics, development experts and journalists to continue partnering with AMDF to strengthen home-grown knowledge and media capacity.

The Communique applauds the AMDF Journalist of the Year Contest which aims at encouraging high quality reportage that addresses development challenges and promotes transparency, accountability and good governance in Africa.

Commends the AMDF for its consistency in organizing the conference which aptly addresses issues facing the practices of contemporary development Journalism in the continent.

The Communique acknowledges partners including Sightsavers Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), Kaduna State Ministry of information, Kaduna State Media Corporation, (KSMC) and Daily Trust Foundation for supporting the conference.

Signed:

Abdulgafar Alabelewe – Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council

Zubair Abdurra’uf Idris – Executive Director, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC)

Sekyen Dadik – Executive Director, Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF