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Unleashing AfCFTA’s Economic Promise: The Strategic Role of Public Relations
The recent Public Relations Society of Kenya Annual Summit which was held from November 27th to December 1st, 2023 at the Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort in Diani, Kenya, held a spotlight on Leveraging Public Relations to unlock the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), shedding light on how strategic communication can shape perceptions and foster cross-border collaborations.
On the panel were Njideka Akabogu, Regional Manager and Lead Adviser at ID Africa, Nelson Karanja, Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement, FSD Africa, Maureen Mambo, Ag Director, Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency and Veronica Abuede, Coordinator, African Public Relations Association.
A critical aspect highlighted during the discussions was the role of storytelling across PR channels in humanising the impact of AfCFTA. Speakers emphasised the necessity of reaching diverse audiences to educate them about AfCFTA’s benefits and opportunities. “The success of AfCFTA relies on accessibility. We must educate the public, media, corporations, governments, and policymakers about its potential,” highlighted Njideka Akabogu, Regional Manager and Lead Adviser at ID Africa – a BHM Holdings company. By sharing success stories and adopting a pro-Africa approach, the aim is to break down borders and create a more unified continent.
Addressing concerns about misconceptions and miscommunication surrounding AfCFTA, Akabogu went on to stress the need for a strategic repositioning of the PR profession. “We’re more than just press releases and media coverage. To bring true value, we need to be embedded in decision-making processes.” There’s a call for PR professionals to be regarded as subject matter experts, offering insights that governments and businesses can rely on. The emphasis was on proactive involvement rather than reactive engagement, highlighting the need for early integration into projects to offer holistic perspectives and pre-empt potential issues.
The dialogue also extended to utilising the creative economy to unlock AfCFTA’s potential. Drawing from the success of the African music industry and films, speakers highlighted the power of collaboration and creativity in changing global perceptions of the continent. “Our talent and creativity are our greatest assets. Collaborating to showcase these can transform not just individual countries but our entire continent.”
The success of contemporary Nigerian pop musicians and the global recognition of the country’s film industry stands as compelling evidence of Africa’s potential. Despite prior hurdles like piracy, funding constraints, and talent development issues, Nigeria’s entertainment sector has shown remarkable progress over the past decade. Stakeholders now report significant resolutions to these challenges, reflecting the industry’s resilience. This positive transformation resonates with the summit’s focus on proactive engagement and strategic communication, underlining the industry’s global acclaim. Nigeria’s entertainment achievements underscore the potency of collaboration and strategic communication, symbolising Africa’s unity and growth prospects.
As discussions concluded at the PRSK Summit, emphasising unity and collective action for the benefit of Africa’s current and future generations, it’s crucial to recognize Africa’s demographic strength. With an estimated population of 1.4 billion as of 2023, accounting for 18.2% of the world population according to the International Monetary Fund, the continent’s potential becomes even more evident. Embracing the opportunities presented by initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can not only impact individual countries but also contribute to the prosperity of the entire continent.
“Africa must work for us; it’s our only home. Brain drain is a challenge we face and according to findings from the Africa PR and Communications Report with over 3,000 respondents, the emigration intent of Africa’s communications professionals was as high as 90% who were willing to leave the country. But, collectively making AfCFTA work will benefit us all and can impact this,” Akabogu said, highlighting the importance of embracing the continent’s potential for the sake of current and future generations.
The PRSK Summit gathered over 500 PR and communication professionals from over five African countries including Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. It aimed to address emerging trends and challenges while exchanging best practices in the field. Under the theme “Retrospect, Reimagine, Reposition – Adopting Agile PR Practices in a Disrupted World,” this year’s summit underscored PRSK’s commitment to fostering professional development and ethical standards within the PR and Communication Management industry.
Njideka Akabogu’s recent induction into the Public Relations Society of Kenya aligns with ID Africa’s recent expansion into Kenya, a pivotal step in its Pan-African strategy. With a background in Information Science from Abia State University and over eight years of experience in media and communications, Njideka has contributed significantly to various international brands, demonstrating her expertise and commitment to the field.
MTN Group has begun rolling out MTN One TV, a new entertainment proposition designed to make digital video content more accessible, relevant, and flexible for customers across African markets.
Introduced in line with MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN One TV brings together local storytelling, live channels, international programming, and market-specific viewing options tailored to how customers across the continent access and pay for digital entertainment.
The proposition is designed to give customers greater choice in how they watch content, with viewing models that may vary by market and can include free-to-view content, advertising-funded experiences, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.
Depending on local availability, customers may also be able to pay through airtime, Mobile Money, and other locally supported payment methods, helping to reduce common barriers to streaming access.
Beyond enhancing customer experiences, MTN One TV creates new opportunities for African creators, broadcasters, advertisers, and ecosystem partners by helping connect content to wider audiences through MTN’s scale across connectivity, payments, and digital services.
By bringing together a broad mix of content experiences under a single proposition, MTN aims to support greater content discovery, broader audience reach, and sustainable growth across Africa’s digital entertainment ecosystem.
Anchored in MTN’s strategic platforms of Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure, MTN One TV forms part of the Group’s broader ambition to build digital experiences that create value for customers while enabling participation and growth across Africa’s digital economy.
“Entertainment is increasingly becoming an important gateway to digital participation,” said Selorm Adadevoh, MTN group chief commercial, strategy and transformation officer.
“Through MTN One TV, we are leveraging the scale of our connectivity, fintech, and digital capabilities to make relevant content more accessible while creating new opportunities for Africa’s creative and digital economies. This is aligned with our ambition to deliver digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”
MTN One TV is being introduced progressively across MTN markets through a phased rollout approach that reflects local market needs, existing services, and partnership opportunities.
Over time, MTN will bring together a combination of video capabilities, content partnerships, and customer experiences under the MTN One TV brand to create a more consistent and scalable entertainment proposition across its footprint.
Through MTN One TV, MTN continues to extend its role beyond connectivity by combining entertainment, payments, and digital services to deliver experiences tailored to the needs of African consumers.
The rollout supports MTN’s Ambition 2030 vision of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress while expanding access to digital entertainment across the continent.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified Nigeria as one of the most expensive countries in the world for airline operations, citing high taxes, charges and operational costs that continue to weigh heavily on local carriers.
IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, disclosed this during the association’s Annual General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro.
Al-Awadhi said that although Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had been pursuing reforms aimed at improving the aviation sector, airlines operating in the country still faced enormous cost pressures.
According to him, the high-cost operating environment has continued to affect the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian airlines, making it difficult for the industry to realise its full potential.
He noted that excessive taxes, regulatory charges and other operating expenses remained major obstacles to airline growth across the region, with Nigeria ranking among the most challenging markets from a cost perspective.
Al-Awadhi urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States to adopt a proposed 25 per cent reduction in aviation taxes and charges to ease the burden on airlines and passengers.
According to him, lowering taxes and charges would reduce airfares, stimulate passenger traffic and strengthen the competitiveness of carriers operating within West Africa.
He stressed that a more supportive policy environment was critical to unlocking the economic benefits of aviation, including increased trade, tourism and regional integration.
Industry stakeholders have consistently advocated lower taxes and regulatory fees, arguing that the current cost structure makes air travel less affordable and limits the growth of the sector.
IATA’s latest remarks add to calls for governments in West Africa to implement policies that will promote a more sustainable and competitive aviation industry across the region.
Broadcasting
NASENI Trains 50 Women in Kano on Renewable Energy Technologies Under She-Powers Initiative
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has trained 50 women in Kano State on inverter and battery technologies through its She-Powers Energy Initiative.
The three-day programme, held at the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano which ended yesterday, was designed to equip participants with practical renewable energy skills, promote women-led enterprises, and enhance sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative forms part of NASENI’s broader commitment to empowering women, creating economic opportunities, and expanding participation in Nigeria’s growing clean energy sector. It also aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by supporting job creation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic development.
Through targeted interventions such as the She-Powers Energy Initiative, NASENI continues to demonstrate its commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve lives and drive sustainable development across the country.
Photos: Participants at the She-Powers Energy Initiative training organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) held at the the Technology Incubation Centre, Farm Centre, Kano yesterday.
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