The two-day event, scheduled to be held in Abuja on July 30 and 31, 2025, will bring together media entrepreneurs, editors, technologists, policymakers, media investors, philanthropic partners, and stakeholders from across the media ecosystem in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
The conference will present an opportunity for participants to engage in critical conversations around media viability, revenue models that are profitable, diverse media innovations that attract audiences, and the future of independent journalism in Nigeria.
The conference also marks a significant milestone for NAMIP, a programme of the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), as it concludes its first phase after three years of implementation in Nigeria.
With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, NAMIP has supported 28 media organisations across the country to explore new business models, adopt emerging technologies, and test audience-centric strategies to enhance sustainability.
The Daily Trust Foundation, on its part, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, has trained over 1,000 journalists in the craft of investigative reporting in the last eight years. The works of some journalists who benefited from the Foundation’s workshops have won local and international awards.
The two-day event will feature keynote addresses, research-based reports, thematic panel discussions, product demonstrations, and strategy workshops, designed to reflect on the past three years of innovation while building practical insight for the years ahead.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation
- Harlan Mandel, CEO, Media Development Investment Fund
- Malam Bilya Bala, Chairman, Daily Trust Foundation
- Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher, Premium Times
- Professor Umaru Pate, Vice Chancellor, Federal University Kashere
- Mannir Dan-Ali, Board Member, Daily Trust Foundation
- Angela Agoawike, Founder, Omalicha Radio
- Toun Okewale Sonaiya, Co-Founder, Women Radio 91.7
- Isiaq Ajibola, a former Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Daily Trust
- Members of the NAMIP Advisory Committee
- Daily Maverick, South Africa
The Media Sustainability Conference will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and peer learning while also celebrating the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerian media founders and practitioners.
It is designed to foster continued collaboration between local media innovators and the ecosystem of support that enables their growth, including donors, investors, researchers, and civic actors.
According to the Programme Director of Daily Trust Foundation, Dr. Theophilus Abbah, the conference will expose Nigerian media practitioners to sustainable practices culled from media outlets across the world.
“It is becoming clearer that the media business is not a hopeless one. In spite of the disruptions created by digitisation, experts have come up with innovations and strategies that could keep media businesses alive. Some of these will be unveiled at the media sustainability conference,” he said.
Deji Adekunle, the program director of the Nigerian Media Innovation Program, also remarked, “This convening gives us an opportunity to share learnings and ideas and confront the questions we all face on the subject of sustainability of public interest media. We hope that participants leave the conference inspired, connected and well informed about what the future of independent media and its innovations looks like.”
Interested participants can click this link to apply. Conference details will be shared only with confirmed attendees.
The Nigeria Media Innovation Programme (NAMIP) and the Daily Trust Foundation are hosting a conference on Media Sustainability in Abuja on July 30 and 31, 2025. The event, themed “Future-Proofing Nigeria’s Journalism Media—A Sustainability Dynamic,” aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders from the media ecosystem, including entrepreneurs, editors, technologists, policymakers, and investors, among others, from Nigeria and across Africa. The conference will facilitate discussions on media viability, profitable revenue models, media innovations, and the future of independent journalism.
The event marks the conclusion of the first phase of NAMIP, funded by the MacArthur Foundation, which has supported 28 media organizations in Nigeria over three years. This support has allowed these organizations to explore new business models, adopt emerging technologies, and test audience-centric strategies. Similarly, the Daily Trust Foundation has trained over 1,000 journalists in investigative reporting, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, contributing to award-winning journalism.
The two-day conference will feature keynote addresses, reports, panel discussions, product demonstrations, and strategy workshops. Confirmed speakers include high-profile figures such as Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Harlan Mandel, and Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi. The conference serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, emphasizing the resilience and innovation within Nigerian media.
Program directors from Daily Trust Foundation and NAMIP have highlighted the opportunity for Nigerian media practitioners to learn sustainable practices and innovative strategies in the face of digital disruptions. The event aims to inspire participants and equip them with insights into the future of independent media. Interested individuals can apply to participate via the provided link, with details shared upon confirmation.
