Media owners, chief executives, editors and other categories of journalists are converging on Nairobi, Kenya for the biggest AllAfrica Media Leaders’ Summit (AMLS).

Organised by AllAfrica Global Media, the launch of a new convening platform: the AllAfrica Media Leaders’ Summit is focusing on African Economic Transformation, AI, Technology and Digitization, Regional Integration and Peacebuilding, Misinformation and Disinformation, Governance, Standards, and Capacity Building, and Creating Sustainable Business Models.

The summit will take place May 8-10, 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya with the theme: “Re-engineering African Media in Times of Critical Transformation.”

As part of this year’s edition, AllAfrica will also present the 2024 Media Excellence Awards.

According to the organisers, the 2024 edition of the AllAfrica Media Leaders’ Summit, will feature innovations to leverage the ever-changing media landscape revolutionized by emerging technologies like a digital approach to public debate, innovations from the Newsroom Innovation Youth Challenge, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and a specialized metaverse from Ubuntu Tribe.

A statement from the All Africa Media Summit organisers and released by Sisa Sibanda, said during this pivotal event, AllAfrica and technology pioneer Ubuntu Tribe will introduce the “Ubuntuverse,” a state-of-the-art metaverse platform designed to bridge cultures and accelerate educational and technological engagement across Africa.

This partnership, according to the organisers, marks a significant milestone in digital media and technological integration, fostering a new era of innovation and connectivity.

The founder and CEO of Ubuntu Tribe, Mamadou Kwidjim Toure, “We are thrilled to partner with AllAfrica to present the Ubuntuverse at this year’s summit. This collaboration is more than a technological venture; it’s a cultural bridge. The Ubuntuverse is designed to foster a community that thrives on mutual respect and collective progress, using technology to empower and unite.”

Dr Tendai Mhizha, AllAfrica Senior Advisor said,  “The partnership with Ubuntu Tribe comes at a crucial time. As we tackle the challenges of misinformation in our digital age, the connected technologies we are showcasing, especially the Ubuntuverse, provide transformative tools for factual reporting and cultural exchange. This is a leap forward in our mission to inform and empower.”

Amadou Mahtar Ba, co-founder and executive chairman of AllAfrica added “As technologies become more and more available and impact progress in Africa, it is crucial for media leaders to experiment and understand the positive changes these innovations can bring to the continent and how their industry will be highly transformed. The partnership with Ubuntu Tribe marks a significant step towards mobilizing new technologies and funding for media in Africa.”

Ubuntu Tribe, backed by 500 Global leading Silicon Valley VC Firm, is a global pioneer, continuing to break new ground in the realm of Real World Asset Tokenization of resources and assets. One of the first to launch GIFT (Gold International Fungible Token) backed 1:1 by real gold and made available from 1mg, as well as Utribe Wallet, hosting GIFT and future Real World Assets, currently available on AppStore and Googleplay.

The AllAfrica Media Leaders’ Summit is a conversation bringing together African media leaders (CEOs, Managing Directors & Editors-in-Chief), policy-makers, activists, academics and leaders of organizations championing Africa’s growth and development.

“We believe celebrating excellence in media and African development is of utmost importance to ensure the continuity of high-quality journalism and impactful contributions to the prosperity of our continent,” said Amadou Mahtar Ba, co-founder and executive chairman of AllAfrica, talking about the 2024 Media Excellence Awards.

He invited African leaders to elevate “Media’s critical role to advance African development across sectors through the dissemination of valuable information that serves to inform the public and hold leaders accountable.”

AllAfrica will celebrate the winners at a gala dinner and awards ceremony on May 9, 2024, at the Glee Hotel.

CREDIT: LEADERSHIP NEWS

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has emphasised the need for increased budgetary allocation to carter for, not only the expansion of Army Barracks, but for the welfare of the serving Military personnel, the Legion, their orphans, their wives and other dependants.

The Governor made the proposal when the House of Representatives Committee on Army on oversight function in Imo State paid a courtesy visit on him at the Government House, Owerri on Monday, May 6, 2024.

Governor Uzodimma pleaded with the National Assembly to consider giving the Army the necessary support so as to encourage them to come out and defend the State effectively, noting that, “sufficient funding is the answer.”

He added that the welfare of the Military should be of utmost priority to the Federal Government and National Assembly for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

The Governor welcomed the Committee to Imo State and urged the Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze to seize the opportunity of the visit to show the members the problems facing the Army in the State in general and the Command in particular.

He expressed hope that the visit will bring  reprieve to the myriad challenges facing the the Army and possibly, proffer solutions confronting them in Imo State.

Governor Uzodimma recalled that recently, the Army in Imo State and the South East were challenged by criminal elements who indulge in banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and destruction of public and private investments, suggesting that it has become  necessary to ask for the assistance of the Nigerian Army in Imo State and South East to deal with the afore mentioned vices.

He recalled that recently, some military officers lost there lives to banditry, leaving behind orphans, widows and family dependants, and emphasised that such persons need support and assistance from the Federal and State Governments.

To cushion the effect of the problems those families living in the barracks are having, the Governor suggested that they need empowerment, power supply, means of transportation and even skill acquisition to  survive the vagaries of life they go through.

Governor Uzodimma however acknowledged the synergy between the Army and other Security Agencies, saying that such has become necessary to enable all of them to put in their best.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee on Army, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Mamudu, accompanied  by other members told the Governor that they were in Imo State on oversight function of the Military formations and thanked the Governor for giving them the opportunity to visit him despite his tight schedule.

The Chairman added that their visit to the Governor, who is their senior colleague and veteran lawmaker, is to draw from his wealth of experience and seek his blessings.

He said their responsibility is to look at the budget of the Nigerian Army and to go round to ascertain what is on ground in relation to what the National Assembly provided for them.

He congratulated the Governor and the people of Imo State for reelecting him for the second tenure and described Senator Uzodimma as “a transparent and straight forward man who is leading his people aright,” just as he urged him to continue to do well for his people.

Present to receive the Committee were the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and members of the Imo State Expanded Executive Council.

Other members of the Committee who came with the Chairman include Hon. Emeka Chinedu, Hon. Harrison Anozie Nwadike, Hon. Mathew Nwogu, Hon. Fom Dalyop Chollom and of course, the Commandant 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze,  Brig. Gen. U A Lawal.

CREDIT: Oguwike Nwachuku

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has advised President Bola Tinubu against permitting the presence of French and United States (US) soldiers within Nigeria’s borders. Sani emphasized the importance of adequately funding Nigeria’s military to address the nation’s security challenges.

In a post on X, Sani stated: “We should not allow the French forces and American troops expelled from Niger Republic to establish themselves on Nigerian territory. President Tinubu should ensure that our Military and other security forces receive sufficient funding and resources to effectively tackle our security issues. This should be straightforward and unequivocal.”

His caution comes amid concerns raised by some Northern leaders, who have urged the Nigerian government to reject proposals from the US and French governments to relocate their military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria. They cautioned that such a move could pose significant risks to Nigeria’s security.

These leaders alleged that the US and French governments have been lobbying Nigeria and other regional countries to sign new defense agreements that would permit them to redeploy their expelled troops.