Nigerian elected chairman of African Media Initiative

Wale Aboderin, new Chairman of AMI

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 out-going chairman is the Executive Vice-chairman of South Africa’s Mail & Guardian while Aboderin is the Chairman of Punch newspapers based in Lagos.

Aboderin trained as a commercial pilot at the Burnside-Ott Flying School, Florida, United States and was appointed chairman of the Punch’s 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 early 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.