MTN Group has launched a Pan-African Media Innovation Programme to combat the growing issue of disinformation across the continent. In collaboration with the University of Johannesburg and the African Editors Forum, this initiative seeks to enhance journalism in 18 African countries.
The programme was officially introduced on September 12 at the Johannesburg Innovation Centre, building upon the successful MTN Nigeria initiative established in 2022. This comes in response to what experts highlight as significant threats to Africa’s media landscape, including increased fake news and disinformation.
“Africa, similar to other regions, is facing a surge in false information and fragile media business models,” the programme announcement stated, underscoring the critical need for media resilience throughout the continent.
With ongoing challenges in content moderation, particularly the lack of fluent moderators in African languages, policing extremist content and misinformation is increasingly difficult. This concern intensifies amid fears of foreign interference in important African electoral processes.
Nompilo Morafo, the Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at MTN Group, drew attention to the interdependence between digital infrastructure and democratic institutions during the programme’s launch. “The future of Africa’s digital landscape hinges on the infrastructure we create and the robustness of the institutions that nurture trust and accountability,” Morafo remarked, connecting the initiative to wider development goals for the continent.
This 12-week certified curriculum merges online academic studies with practical experiences in Johannesburg. Participants will dive into digital transformation, media sustainability, journalistic ethics, law, and entrepreneurship. The programme features industry masterclasses and real-world experiences to explore how emerging technologies impact information ecosystems.
The curriculum, targeted at senior media professionals, will equip participants with advanced skills in innovation, digital storytelling, technology, and policy reporting, as well as access to encrypted communication tools to enhance their journalistic security.
The launch was marked by Nigerian journalists from the MIP Alumni Association, reflecting the programme’s expansive vision, which has shifted from a national to a continental focus. The curriculum will cover digital storytelling, fact-checking, data journalism, and ethical reporting, addressing crucial skills gaps in African newsrooms amidst the evolving landscape shaped by artificial intelligence.
Research has highlighted the pressing disinformation issues challenging African democracies. From 2017 to 2023, social media campaigns notably affected voter behaviour during national elections in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. This highlights the urgent need for improved media literacy and rigorous fact-checking.
The programme, which includes the University of Johannesburg, ensures academic thoroughness while remaining relevant to newsroom realities. A UJ representative noted that the initiative aims to guide journalists in managing disruption and establishing sustainable business models vital for the profession’s future.
The African Editors Forum applauded the initiative as a step toward fostering greater resilience, collaboration, and trust within independent media across the continent, recognising journalism’s fundamental role in upholding democratic governance.
This initiative aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to create inclusive, informed, and democratic societies. Efforts to safeguard electoral integrity against misinformation have grown, with recent workshops facilitated by the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions addressing these critical challenges.
MTN’s approach reflects an understanding that media challenges extend beyond national borders. Analysts have noted that foreign entities, including Russia, China, and Gulf States, are taking advantage of Africa’s shifting information landscape.
Representing MTN’s largest investment in media capacity building, this programme expands the company’s influence beyond telecommunications, reinforcing democratic institutions. With 288 million customers across 18 African nations, MTN’s platform offers unique insights into communication trends and challenges on the continent.
The inaugural cohort of fellows will commence in 2026, and application processes are anticipated to launch across MTN’s service areas. The success of this programme could serve as a model for future corporate-academic collaborations aimed at addressing information integrity challenges in emerging markets.
As global anxieties surrounding AI-generated misinformation, journalist safety, and media viability rise, MTN’s Pan-African initiative positions Africa at the forefront of innovative solutions to 21st-century information challenges. The programme’s focus on secure communication tools highlights a growing recognition of journalists’ safety issues, especially those dedicated to fact-checking amid rising harassment.
