Talks end on hopeful note

The two-day Pan Africa Media Conference ended on Friday with a clarion call to African journalists to take charge of the continent’s renaissance.

Participants, among them journalists, academicians and entrepreneurs, said the task of developing the continent was major and should not be left to politicians alone.

Though participants appreciated the many challenges in the continent, they were of the view that African journalists could do more to make Africa the continent of the 21st century.

Nation Media Group’s board chairman Wilfred Kiboro set the ball rolling by asking journalists to take their task as agenda setters and opinion shapers seriously.

“Developing the continent should not be a preserve of politicians alone, journalists have a bigger role to play,” Mr Kiboro said.

Participants had earlier expressed concern that poor leadership, bad politics and a passive civil society and media was partly to blame for Africa’s problems.
However, Mr Kiboro said despite the problems there was light at the end of the tunnel for the continent.

“Though there is a long history of setbacks, we should also be ready to celebrate our achievements,” he said.

The conference was part of celebrations to mark NMG’s 50th anniversary.