By Usman Aliyu
Marrakech (Morocco), Jan. 28, 2026 (NAN) The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Mohammed Ali, says growing cooperation among African news agencies under the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) will help project a more balanced and authentic image of the continent to the world.
Ali stated this while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the FAAPA General Assembly in Marrakech, Morocco.
The NAN’s managing director said the coming together of African news agencies on a single platform was already fostering unity of purpose through news exchange, capacity building, and cultural cooperation.
“A platform like this brings African nations, especially their press agencies, together.
“They are signing agreements on news exchange, capacity building and cultural exchanges, and with time, you will find a unity of purpose, all moving in the same direction and reducing friction,” he said.
Ali said that African news agencies had a responsibility to counter the persistent negative framing of the continent in global media, particularly narratives that focus almost exclusively on conflict, disasters, and crises.
“Most times, what comes out from the media, especially Western media, is negative about Africa.
“Is there a war? Is there a disaster? But with greater cooperation among African press agencies, this negativity is being balanced.
“What we are now projecting is an Africa of the right — an Africa told from its own perspective,” he said.
He explained that FAAPA provided a strategic space for African media institutions to share ideas, build capacity, and create common opportunities that could strengthen the continent’s information ecosystem.
“The opportunities presented by this platform are limitless,” Ali said, adding that beyond information exchange, FAAPA was helping to build long-term professional networks among African media institutions,”the NAN boss added.
Ali, however, stressed that African news agencies had a critical role in amplifying voices from across the continent’s diverse territories and ensuring that development efforts and success stories are visible.
“African news agencies can amplify the voices of the various territories.
“Through news exchange, cultural engagement and capacity building, they help drive these dynamics and ensure that Africa speaks with clarity and confidence,” he said.
He asserted that forums such as FAAPA marked a shift from fragmented communication to structured continental cooperation, positioning African media to shape narratives that reflect the continent’s realities, aspirations, and progress.
Ali also praised Morocco’s role as host of the General Assembly, citing the country’s growing investment in education, youth development, and South-South cooperation as a model for the continent.
The managing director pointed to Morocco’s scholarship programmes for African students and its technical support to other African countries as evidence of practical continental solidarity.
“Morocco is doing a commendable job in showing direction for the rest of Africa. From education to expertise in areas like fertiliser production, the country has supported many African nations, and that is something to be encouraged,” he said. (NAN)
