Minister of information pledges support for BMIA

By Chioma Obinagwam

The Minister of information, Mr. Lai Muhammed has pledged his support for the sustainability of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA)  Executive Training Program aimmed to advance financial journalism in Africa.

Speaking through his representative, Mrs. Martha Onyebuchi, during the gradution ceremony which took place in Lagos, Nigeria he said: “We would do our best to see that the programme is sustained.”

He noted that accurate, dependable and relevant data is critical for increasing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country and commended  Bloomberg and its partners for coming up with a wonderful idea.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg announced that 260 graduates received recognition at graduation ceremonies in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, which marked the completion of its first year of the programme.

However, the series of ceremonies, it stated, was concluded in Kenya on 22 February, 2016.

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The six-month certificate program, Bloomberg disclosed, is offered to journalists and mid-career professionals in business and civil society to strengthen their skills in capital markets and data analysis and enhance their knowledge in financial and economic reporting. The program is a core componentof the BMIA, which aims to accelerate development of a globally competitive media and financial reporting industry as well as promote transparency, accountability and good governance in Africa.

“We hope participants will consider this exposure to business and financial reporting as a lifelong vocation to further the development, quality, accuracy and impact of the field in Africa.

Bloomberg is proud to partner with preeminent journalists and leading universities in Africa to make this program possible,” says Erana Stennnett, Director, Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa.

“I am proud of the journalists and executives who completed the program, and thank their employers for giving them the opportunity,” she adds.

Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with additional support from the Ford Foundation, the BMIA Executive Training Program brings together leading faculty from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and five other preeminent business and

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journalism schools in Africa, including: Rhodes University School of Journalism in South Africa; the University of Lagos Department of Mass Communication and Radio, and the Pan Atlantic University Lagos Business School in Nigeria; and University of Nairobi, School of Journalism and Mass Communications and Strathmore Business School in Kenya.

Dr. George Njenga, Dean of Strathmore Business School, Kenya says: “Extraordinary business journalists who have completed the BMIA Executive Training Program in Kenya will help grow the financial and business sector to greater heights. This is possible thanks to Bloomberg.”

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This interactive program aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of media professionals to better serve the public interest as a critical part of continental development and progress.

Program participants received instruction from world-class faculty and industry experts. The 19-day program over six months consists of six modules featuring Public Policy, Financial Journalism, Financial Markets, Accounting and Finance. Delegates also receive copies of “The Bloomberg Way”, a guide for reporters and editors written by Matthew Winkler, Editor-in-Chief

Emeritus, Bloomberg News, as well as a free subscription to leading financial and business information system, the Bloomberg Professional service.

“It gives us a great sense of accomplishment to graduate 90 participants in Nigeria’s BMIA Executive Training program. Several graduates are already on their way to higher responsibilities in their careers, demonstrating the quality of the faculty and relevance of the program. We hope to keep attracting outstanding candidates to the program and generating real influence in financial reporting in Nigeria,” Dr. Bongo Adi, Consortium Faculty at the Pan Atlantic University Lagos Business School in Nigeria added.

More so, Linda Sing, Director, Secretariat adds: “We have two more programs, which will offer aspiring African media professionals, and all communicators focused on Africa’s economies, an opportunity to expand their theoretical knowledge base and to enhance their understanding of the critical interdependencies shaping the African growth and development narrative.” Applications for the third intake are now open. Interested individuals who possess a recognized tertiary qualification (bachelor’s degree or diploma) and have experience in journalism, finance, communication or a related field are encouraged to apply via www.gibs.co.za/bmia or email [email protected] for further information.