By Vivian Ojomu
From December 4th to 7th, NAMIP led a delegation of four organisations from the cohort to participate in various pre and post events at the African Women in Media (AWiM) Conference.
Themed Media and Sustainability, #AWiM24 conference in Dakar, Senegal, brought together media professionals, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss the future of African media. As a key participant, the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) led conversations on media sustainability, innovation, and resilience, with insights from MDIF’s approach to sustainability through media investment and special programs.
Keynote Panel – MDIF’s Approach to Media Sustainability
Leveraging on MDIF’s close to 30-year expertise, a panel of four MDIF staff including Lebogang Maphada, Oluwadara Ajala, Nolwazi Tusini and Sebenzile Nkambule set the context for the conference with a keynote panel that discussed MDIF’s approach to media sustainability.
Senior Investment Officer, Lebogang Maphada’s talk discussed MDIF’s approach to sustainability through three key pillars: providing concessional capital, leveraging local expertise, and supporting innovative business models. She emphasized the unique challenges African media faces, including economic fragility, political interference, digital disruption, and limited access to capital. Lebogang encouraged participants to reflect on a critical question: What is the one issue facing African media that, if solved, could unlock sustainability in the sector?
NAMIP’s Program Manager Shares Theory of Change
Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) Program Manger, MDIF, Dara Ajala, shared insights into MDIF’s incubator programs including NAMIP, which blend grant support, personalized coaching, and capacity-building workshops tailored to the unique challenges of media organisations. She outlined the three spheres through which NAMIP measures the programs theory of change—control, influence, and interest—and highlighted key program achievements, including significant revenue and audience growth across cohort members.
“Everything rises and falls on leadership,” Dara remarked as she shared learnings from the program, emphasizing the importance of adaptive, visionary leadership in driving media resilience in challenging ecosystems.
Insights from ASA’s Nolwazi Tusini
Amplify South Africa’s Program Director, Nolwazi Tusini, discussed the importance of strategic leadership as the bedrock for a wholesome media business outfitted for the future. She stressed that producing great journalism alone is no longer enough. She highlighted the need for collaboration and maintaining media integrity as vital components of sustainability.
Reflections from Sebenzile Nkambule, Program Director for Africa and MENA
MDIF’s Program Director for Africa and MENA, Sebenzile Nkambule closed the keynote panel by emphasizing to media organisations the need to develop market-driven products and equip themselves with the skills necessary to remain relevant in an ever-changing landscape. This was highlighted through three essential principles of innovation: taking risks for a powerful future, moving quickly and challenging the status quo, and building solutions that do not yet exist.
Participants were urged to adopt a mindset of transformation, inspired by the wisdom of “looking with better eyes” to reimagine the media landscape and their roles within it. This session served as a powerful call to action for leaders to rise to the occasion, drive organisational resilience, and unlock the sector’s full potential.
Empowering Success: Case Studies in Media Business Models
NAMIP and ASA showcased real-world success stories through a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola, co-founder of AWiM and convener of the conference. Featuring NAMIP Participants, Dorcas Taiwo from WithChude and Angela Agoawike from Omalicha FM, the panel delved into the practical application of effective business models:
- Angela Agoawike shared how Omalicha FM navigates advertising by strategically selecting clients, viewing every new output as product and a revenue opportunity, and instilling a product-development mindset among staff.
- Dorcas Taiwo highlighted the value of social listening, tailoring products to audience needs, and adopting a “fast-failing” approach to innovation.
“Such valuable insights from Angela and Dorcas! From client-focused advertising to social listening and embracing “fast failing,” these lessons are shaping sustainable media practices. Thank you for sharing your insights at AWiM media and sustainability conference” – AWiM Team
Business Model Workshop: Building Thriving Media Businesses
Day 2 of the #AWiM24 conference featured a workshop led by the MDIF team, where participants engaged in developing new business ideas using a comprehensive business canvas. The canvas outlined key components essential for creating sustainable and thriving media enterprises. Participants brainstormed innovative business strategies, learned practical tools for revenue diversification, and explored audience engagement tactics tailored to the African media landscape.
Hands-On Learning: Elevator Pitch Session
The conference also featured a mock elevator pitch session, providing attendees an opportunity to present their media business ideas and receive constructive feedback from the MDIF team. This interactive session focused on refining participants’ pitches and addressing key questions related to value proposition, revenue generation, and long-term sustainability. It offered actionable insights to help media professionals enhance their business strategies and investment readiness.
Side Event: Fireside Chats on Media Sustainability
The NAMIP and Amplify South Africa (ASA) delegation hosted an insightful side event, featuring four interactive fireside chat sessions that explored critical aspects of media sustainability and innovation:
- Monetizing Media in a Digital Age
Anita Eboigbe and Temitayo Ishola (Big Cabal Media) discussed strategies for monetizing media content in the digital era, focusing on leveraging data and technology to drive revenue. - Collaborative Models for African Media
Nolwazi Tusini emphasized the importance of collaboration within the media industry, highlighting that challenges are not unique to any single organization. She encouraged participants to identify what works when collaborating with other media houses and build on those successes. Using Slindile Khayile of Likhanyile and Moipone Malefane of Vutivi Business as case studies, she illustrated how collaboration is already fostering growth and innovation in the media space. - Future-Proofing Revenue Streams
Dara Ajala asked participants to critically assess their current revenue models, questioning their confidence in these sources remaining relevant over the next 5-10 years. This spurred a conversation about the effectiveness of existing revenue streams and their long-term sustainability. She urged participants to consider these factors carefully when developing media products, emphasizing the risks of leaving revenue generation to chance and the importance of strategic thinking in ensuring financial resilience. - Finance Meets Media – Navigating Investment and Funding
Anita Eboigbe kicked off the discussion with talking about the different funding channels available for media organisations, stating the props and cons of each. Lebogang Maphada discussed ways to get your organisation ready for investment and what investors look for in media businesses, equipping participants with the information needed to assess their readiness for investment and secure funding effectively.
Conclusion
NAMIP’s participation in #AWiM24 highlights the importance of strategic investments, collaborative innovation, and adaptive leadership in driving media sustainability. By equipping media organisations with the tools and resources to thrive, NAMIP continue to champion a vibrant, independent media landscape. The side event fostered a sense of community among the NAMIP and ASA cohorts, highlighting shared challenges and collective solutions.