Pan-African Ecobank Group and AMA Academy, an e-learning platform providing free training to African journalists, have announced the inaugural cohort of graduates from their fintech-focused, Finance Journalism Training Programme.
The promoters said the programme is a ground-breaking initiative providing five weeks of training modules covering the history of financial services, blockchain, open banking and the fintech transformation of financial services and regulation.
In a statement yesterday, they explained that “the course is specially designed to train and build the capacity of journalists covering finance, business and technology by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and experience that they need to fully understand and accurately report on the issues, challenges, opportunities and benefits of the African financial sector.”
Managing Director of the AMA Academy, Eloine Barry, was quoted as saying: “The Finance Journalism Training Programme delivers on the huge need to provide high-level knowledge and understanding to African journalists on the emerging trends in finance, and especially those relating to the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.
“It is particularly fitting that we are collaborating with the Ecobank Group for this programme as it shares our vision of creating a world where everyone should be able to learn about the new trends that affect the development of our continent.”
Also commenting, the Communications Manager, Ecobank Group, Christiane Bossom, said: “This fintech training course aligns with Ecobank’s strategy to support the growth of the African fintech ecosystem. We applaud this first graduating cohort for their willingness and curiosity during these training modules.
“They and future attendees of this programme will help to ensure the robust media reporting necessary to drive public education and awareness of the financial sector across the African continent. We also thank our partner AMA Academy for successfully implementing the programme.”
In August, over 400 journalists from 30 African countries were selected to participate in this free Financial Journalism Training Programme.
The course is specially designed to train and build the capacity of journalists covering finance, business and technology by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and experience that they need to fully understand and accurately report on the issues, challenges, opportunities and benefits of the African financial sector.
Fintech journalists’ awards
Felix Abely, Editor-in-Chief of Congo Media Plus from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Joseph Ndamu Sandu, Editor of Business Times in Zimbabwe, won the Fintech Journalist of the Year Award for Francophone Africa and Anglophone Africa, respectively.
They were selected as the winners by a jury of experts and journalists for writing the best fintech articles in their final assignment of the programme. The two winners were given free access to the Africa Financial Industry Summit, courtesy of Jeune Afrique Media Plus, which took place on 28 – 29 November in Lomé.
On behalf of the two winners, Sandu said: “We pay tribute to pan-African bank, Ecobank, and its partner African Media Agency for delivering a programme that gives journalists the right toolbox to report with real knowledge and understanding on the fintech revolution.”
A total of 22 journalists who completed the training modules competed for the Best Fintech Journalist Award, 11 in Francophone Africa, and 11 in Anglophone Africa.
In Francophone Africa, Anselme Akeko, and Acheck Yacoub Hassan, finished second and third respectively, while Gugu Lourie and Isaac Aidoo finished 2nd and 3rd in Anglophone Africa.
Commenting on the awards, Ecobank Group’s Chief Executive Officer Ade Ayeyemi, congratulated the winners as he handed them their awards on the sidelines of the African Financial Industry Summit.
He also congratulated all participants in the training program and highlighted the value that training of financial journalists brings within the context of Africa’s Financial Sector.
