A consortium of 20 veteran media professionals has launched the Media Integrity Initiative Africa (MIIA) to promote ethical and responsible journalism across the continent.
The initiative, announced in a press statement on Wednesday, is a non-governmental organisation committed to training media practitioners for free on the ethics and demands of responsible journalism.
MIIA aims to equip journalists through structured online training, mentorship and leadership programs. The organisation’s mission is to develop a new generation of ethical and proficient media professionals.
“At the heart of MIIA’s mission is the principle of ‘training the trainers and the trainable’—ensuring that media professionals not only attain personal excellence but also become role models and influencers within the industry,” the statement read.
MIIA will offer a quarterly curriculum featuring online courses and electives tailored to different sectors of the media space, ranging from investigative journalism and ethical reporting to broadcast presentation, financial reporting and entertainment media.
“To drive this vision, MIIA has assembled a formidable Board of Facilitators—an exclusive network of renowned editors, broadcasters, media executives, and journalism scholars,” the statement added.
These distinguished professionals include Lanre Ìdòwú, Richard Akinnola, Ohi Alegbe, Tony Onyima, Tokunbo Ojekunle, Adeboye Ola, Azu Ishiekwene, Seun Olagunju, Marcel Okeke and Lekan Otufodunrin.
Others on the list include Yakubu Lawal, Fisayo Soyombo, Michael Effiong, Deji Balogun, Yinka Shokunbi, Monday Ashibogwu, Olumide Iyanda, Johnson Onime, Lanre Arogundade and Alex Ogundadegbe.
“All training sessions will be conducted virtually, ensuring unrestricted access to aspiring and practicing media professionals across Africa.
“Participation is entirely free, with no financial, political, or ideological barriers—except that enrollees must be Africans involved in, or interested in, media-related careers,” the statement emphasized.
Femi Akintunde-Johnson, the coordinator of MIIA said, “We are building a future where African media is defined by trust, accuracy, and a commitment to the public good.
“Our facilitators are not just teachers; they are industry icons with decades of experience, stepping forward to ensure that the next generation of journalists and media practitioners uphold the highest ethical and professional standards.”
As MIIA opens enrolment for its first training sessions in April 2025, it invites media professionals, students, and enthusiasts to seize this rare opportunity.
“With the right training and mentorship, MIIA is set to redefine the African media landscape—one principled journalist at a time.
“More details on the initiative, programmes, and facilitators can be found on the MIIA website at https://bsacademy2000.wixsite.com/miia,” the statement concluded.
