(NAMIP) is thrilled to announce the first participants in the program. They were selected from over 200 applications after careful consideration by an Advisory Committee comprising leading professionals in journalism, business, academia and innovative enterprise.
The 11 participants are media organisations who are building innovative news and information products which explore opportunities to reach and connect with broader audiences through digital platforms and technologies, and develop new revenue generation opportunities and sustainable business models.
These participants are mission-driven organisations passionate about trying new approaches to local news and information:
Culture Custodian– A youth media organisation in Nigeria that focuses on collecting, curating and sharing the stories and events that matter to the Nigerian and African millennial. Through an incisive and cross-cutting array of text-based and audio-visual content, they delve into the intricacies of politics, policies, music, fashion, pop culture, technology and many other salient issues.
Dubawa– A West African independent verification and fact-checking project which helps amplify the culture of truth in public discourse, public policy and journalistic practice. Through media literacy articles, fact-checks, explainers, fact sheets and online/offline engagement, Dubawa seeks to encourage a more engaged and information-literate citizenry who can make informed decisions about issues that affect their development.
Edugist– An independent impact media telling the story of education in Africa on air, online, in communities and in person. They seek to lead and drive a new educational conversation using technology and media. Edugist is a community for education news, with an audience that includes all stakeholders: students, teachers, parents and policy-makers with influence on the education industry.
Farming Farmers Farms– An agricultural-based newspaper that works to promote the cause of agriculture in Nigeria through specialised reporting and journalism by providing real-time information through online publishing.
Foundation for Investigative Journalism– An independent, not-for-profit organisation that combats injustice, holds power to account and speaks for the voiceless. FIJ seeks to uncover the truth by neutralising propaganda and making it accessible to the public in a way that eases and influences their everyday decision-making.
HumAngle– A niche media platform committed to insightful and objective coverage of Africa’s humanitarian, conflict and development issues. Their primary duty is to investigate, analyse and report conflict issues in a sensitive, in-depth and human-centred manner. HumAngle helps to paint accurate pictures of crises and how they affect different communities and demographics.
Lavun Community Radio– Nigeria’s first community radio station gives farmers a vehicle to share agricultural, health and education information with both the local community and throughout Niger State. The station helps to create awareness of the agricultural value chain, health programs, educational awareness and promote peace and unity among the communities it reaches.
Prime Progress– A solutions-focused online media documenting how people and groups respond and solve humanitarian, economic and social problems in Nigeria. Prime Progress aims to inspire hope and encourage citizens to start thinking about solutions and to get involved in development endeavours.
Solacebase– A development-centred and solutions-driven media platform that contributes to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, as well as advance the socio-economic wellbeing and rights of the people through investigative and data-driven journalism.
TV 360– An exclusively online based television news channel whose goal is to keep people always informed so that they can use the information to form opinions, take decisions and ultimately help to build a better and democratic society.
Voix Collective– A podcast production company using the power of audio to document and tell immersive African Stories. Voix Collective is on a mission to deliver great narrative and journalism podcasts from the African perspective, while curating a diverse portfolio of compelling African audio content that is globally acclaimed.
NAMIP is a 3-year initiative working to increase capacity, generate sustainable and diverse revenue streams, and build audiences of independent media in Nigeria, particularly those reaching underserved communities. Launched in February 2022, it seeks to support the editorial independence of media organisations by strengthening their financial sustainability.
Bilal Randeree, MDIF’s Program Director for Africa & MENA, said that the participants will benefit from a combination of grant funding, technical assistance and strategic capacity building interventions.
“We look forward to assisting these organisations with finding the space and opportunity to innovate, so that they can grow their audiences and increase their revenue to become financially sustainable.”
NAMIP is implemented by Media Development Investment Fund, a not-for-profit investment fund for independent media, and funded by MacArthur Foundation to accelerate digital innovation and foster new business models for independent media in Nigeria.
More than 200 applications across Nigeria were received since the calls for applications were made. There was an even distribution of non-profits, start-ups and private organisations all looking to secure NAMIP’s unique blend of capacity building, including a combination of grants, coaching and tailored technical assistance, either to get their ideas off the ground or to expand what they have developed.
In the coming months, NAMIP will be opening applications for further entry into the program. Sign up to the NAMIP newsletter for more details about participants progress and new opportunities.