African Media Initiative (AMI) has elected a Nigerian, Mr. Wale Aboderin, as its Board Chairman to take-over from Mr. Trevor Ncube, who has been chairman since inception in 2008, the board announced.
Aboderin is the Chairman of Punch newspapers and the first Nigerian to be elected AMI Chair.
Aboderin trained as a commercial pilot at the Burnside-Ott Flying School, Florida, United States and was appointed chairman of the Punch Newspapers’ board of directors in 2012.
A popular sports enthusiast, Aboderin founded Dolphins Basketball Club, a leading African female basketball club, with local and continental honours.
He is a former chairman of the Lagos State Basketball Association and a former member of the Nigerian Handball Federation.
In his acceptance speech, he said: “I thankfully accept this role and I believe AMI should help African Media Bridge the communication gap between policymakers and the citizens to allow for a two-way feedback engagement.”
“During my tenure I will champion the AMI cause everywhere and ensure that Africans stop being suspicious about home-grown initiatives and support this organization.”
Mr Eric Chinje, CEO of the African Media Initiative, stated: “With more than two decades of direct involvement in media, Aboderin brings a wealth of experience to the organization.
“He will surely help AMI refocus its work around the four major pillars of activity around which a new strategy is being developed: strengthening media capacity (thematic specialization); content development and promotion; research; and performance incentives for media professionals.”
AMI expressed gratitude to Ncube, and his co-Chair, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, for their valuable support and guidance of AMI during its formative years.
AMI is a pan-African organization that seeks to strengthen the continent’s private and independent media sector with a view to promoting democratic governance, social development and economic growth.
It does so through a set of strategic activities aimed at transforming the media and communications landscape on the continent.
AMI’s overall goal is to promote the development of pluralistic media as a necessary and critical ingredient of democratic governance, as well as economic and human development in Africa.
