Ibrahim Mustapha, Executive Director of Kanem Press Digital Hub, was charged to improve collaborative efforts to amplify stories about cultural heritage so it may spearhead improved reporting on the issue in Borno state. The charge was made by the Abigail Ndisika-Ogwezzy, Technical Adviser, Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability (CMEDIA) and Motunrayo Alaka, the Executive Director/CEO of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) during the virtual visit of the WSCIJ team to Kanem Press, one of the media organisations supported by the WSCIJ with support from MacArthur Foundation on the CMEDIA project.
Kanem Press investigated the cultural heritage of the Lake Chad region as part of their activities under the CMEDIA project. They also orchestrated interactive sessions discussing the significance of traditional institutions, women, and historical monuments in fostering cultural heritage and inclusive development in Borno and Yobe states within the Lake Chad region. Mustapha emphasised their growing recognition and the innovative use of artificial intelligence.
In her feedback, Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Technical Adviser on the CMEDIA project, noted the importance of collaboration with Local Government officials, the hospitality industry, traditional institutions, state governments and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for accelerated and amplified impacts. She said UNESCO can help maintain and preserve these cultural sites and turn them into world heritage sites. She recommended that Kanem Press continue to pursue the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state ministries of information to expedite the delivery of crucial outcomes.
Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO, WSCIJ, reiterated the importance of storytelling in local languages (Hausa and Kanuri) to bridge the language barrier and aid their work as local journalists operating at the subnational level. She said crafting stories in easily understandable languages would empower people to take ownership and call for accountability from their leaders. In her conclusion, she appealed to Kanem Press to give a voice to the people as she highlighted an untapped niche in reporting cultural heritages in Nigeria for Kanem Press to fill.
Mustapha on his part thanked the MacArthur Foundation and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) for their intervention through CMEDIA saying that it has impacted their efforts in reporting cultural issues and historical sites in Borno and Yobe states. During the virtual visit of the WSCIJ team to the organisation based in Borno state, Mustapha highlighted the collaboration with Standard Vision, headquartered in Los Angeles, for pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in digitising cultural heritages across Borno and Yobe states.
