By Mustapha Dumbuya
A delegation from Africa Institute for International Reporting (AIIR) this week met with faculty, students, and senior lecturers at the University of Makeni (Unimak) as part of an initial effort to establish media partnerships with universities across Africa.
The meeting which was held at the Mass Communications Department, Unimak campus in Makeni, was the first between AIIR and a major university in Africa.
“We are delighted to be here and hope to provide a unique opportunity for students and media professionals,” said Issa A. Mansaray, Executive Director of AIIR.
Mr. Mansaray said the US-based organization plans to establish media partnership with an African university is the first of series of undertakings designed to assist aspiring Journalism students and Mass Communications professionals. Mr. Mansaray added that AIIR is currently working with a number of media powerhouse organizations, and professional journalists to assist in AIIR’s pursuit to expand media coverage in post-conflict countries and in underserved communities in America and Africa.
In 2021, AIIR collaborated with the City of Brooklyn Center, MN, to host more than 50 journalists from Liberia, and other African countries where the group met for a week to discuss politics and challenges facing journalists in post war Liberia.
Mr. Mansaray said the partnership between AIIR and Unimak will facilitate academic, Journalism initiatives, and research partnership between the university and AIIR in areas such as Entrepreneurial, Human Interest, New Media, Emergency, and Citizen Journalism. The relationship will also provide opportunity to share new learning through education, cultural exchange, and Mass Communications leadership, Mansaray added.
Rev. Fr. Prof. Joseph Alimamy Turay, Vice Chancellor of the University of Makeni said UNIMAK needs this type of partnership as the university is expanding and with a growing student population. He encourages AIIR to come to Makeni with various media initiatives.
“We are always ready for such collaboration and our university has partnering with a lot of International learning institutions especially from the United States of America” Prof. Turay explained.
The AfricaPaper; a publication arm of AIIR, received funding and recognition for its coverage of COVID-19 in minority communities in America.
Regarding the proposed partnership with Unimak, he looks forward to working with everyone to have AIIR’s first office in Makeni by 2024.
“We employ a collaborative team approach by both organizations,” Mr. Mansaray said.
Africa Institute for International Reporting Co-founder, Alie Badara Sheriff emphasized the importance of a strong and impartial media organization in emerging democracies in the wake of military coups and challenging election results across West Africa.
“As journalists and Mass Media professionals, we have a huge role to play in a modern democracy. We must not focus on traditional press releases designed to promote draconian political ideas held by those in power. We must hold everyone accountable, Mr. Sheriff said.
Dr. Rebecca Esliker, Head of the Clinical Psychology Department and Research, who serves as AIIR’s Chair in Sierra Leone said she is thrilled about the proposed partnership between Unimak and AIIR and urged the group to proceed with preparing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which would provide accurate information about the bilateral relationship.
Mohamed Sorie Conteh of Mankind’s Activities for Development Accreditation Movement, (MADAM) shared similar sentiment as Dr. Esliker and provided inputs regarding AIIR future site in Makeni. The team later visited the proposed office site for AIIR.
AIIR is an independent non-profit media organization registered 501 (C)(3) in the USA, and a Media Institute in Sierra Leone that is dedicated to strengthening and supporting Journalism. Visit: www.theaiir.org for more information.
