African journalists have been urged to look beyond crisis-driven coverage and tell more stories about people and institutions building connections across borders.
Fellows made the call during a session at the 2026 MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) summit in South Africa, moderated by a cohort member, Tolulope Ajibola and titled ‘Storytelling Across Borders: Finding the Untold Nigeria-South Africa Stories.’
The session was part of the South African study visit for the fifth MIP cohort. The fellows noted that African journalism often crossed borders only in times of crisis, while stories about entrepreneurs, students, artists, researchers, technology innovators and professionals building relationships across countries received less attention.
They called for more coverage of everyday experiences and relationships between communities in Nigeria and South Africa.
The two-day summit, held at the University of Johannesburg, brought together 25 senior Nigerian journalists alongside South African editors, researchers and media practitioners.
Professor Sifiso Mnisi, Director of the Centre for Data and Digital Communications at the University of Johannesburg, said the summit offered journalists from both countries a chance to examine how media narratives shape relations between the two nations and social cohesion.
He noted that perceptions in Nigeria and South Africa are often shaped by news reports, social media and popular culture rather than direct interaction, placing greater responsibility on journalists and editors to shape how citizens understand one another.
The summit also examined how media practitioners can report conflict without worsening tensions. A session moderated by MIP 5 Fellow Progress Godfrey, titled ‘From Xenophobia to Social Cohesion: Reporting Conflict Without Fuelling It,’ stressed the importance of historical context, verified information and perspectives from communities working towards reconciliation.
Another session, moderated by Goitsemang Mvula, called for collaborative investigations, regional reporting projects and stronger editorial partnerships to help African audiences understand continental issues beyond national boundaries.
Closing the discussions, Funso Aina, Senior Manager, External Relations at MTN Nigeria, said the summit represented more than a professional development initiative. He noted that by bringing together journalists, newsroom leaders, content creators and communication professionals, the programme has become a platform for strengthening journalism’s role in promoting democratic participation, regional integration and social cohesion.