The Media Integrity Initiative Africa (MIIA) has successfully concluded its April 2025 Training Series, marking the inaugural installment of its quarterly capacity-building programme for the year.

The series attracted significant participation, with over 190 initial registrations and 150 active participants admitted to the official MIIA 2025 WhatsApp group for the virtual training.

The virtual training sessions, held on Saturday, April 12, and Saturday, April 19, served as a transformative learning platform for both emerging and practising media professionals across the African continent.

The programme featured a lineup of seasoned industry experts who addressed key themes relevant to contemporary media practice. Facilitators included Dr. Tony Onyima, FNGE, who trained participants on Writing for Digital Media; Alex Ogundadegbe on Crisis Communication and Management; Tokunbo Ojekunle on The Art of Effective Presentation; and Dr. Adeboye Ola on Photography: The Critical Minimum.

According to a report by Lagos Eye News, participants provided glowing feedback, describing the sessions as “insightful,” “engaging,” “game-changing,” and “wholesome.” Attendees particularly highlighted the quality of facilitation and the practical value of the training content.

“MIIA April 2025 Cohort exceeded expectations. Toks Ojekunle’s Effective Communication session was game-changing for me. Highly recommended,” commented participant Jolly Egbodo.

Divinegrace Ogbodo, a student journalist, stated, “As a student journalist transitioning into PR, I found the Crisis Communication session incredibly relevant and wholesome.”

“Dr. Adeboye Ola brought the essence of photography to life. His session was very relatable. Truly, pictures speak!” shared Tope Orororo.

Afolabi Faramade added, “The inaugural training programme has been very beneficial and impactful. Kudos to the MIIA team for a job well done.”

Other participants praised the initiative for its accessibility and depth, with some comparing the experience to world-class academic programmes. “The MIIA Cohort is now a class of shared ideals. What we learnt—you cannot get at Harvard or Stanford,” noted Adamu Ayuba from Bauchi.

Johnmac Chidiebere Clement highlighted the significance of completing the programme, stating, “Receiving the Certificate of Participation is more than recognition—it’s a reminder of our role in promoting media integrity.”

Several participants also offered constructive suggestions for future sessions, including the introduction of advanced modules, hands-on practicals, and modest participation fees to help sustain the programme.

Reaffirming the initiative’s commitment to providing open-access, high-quality training, MIIA Coordinator Femi Akintunde-Johnson commented on the success: “We are deeply inspired by the overwhelming response to the inaugural training. MIIA is not just a project—it’s a movement toward media excellence, accountability, and transformation across Africa.”

The next MIIA training series is tentatively scheduled for July 2025, with registration expected to open in June. Interested media workers, students, and communication professionals are encouraged to stay connected via MIIA’s official platforms for updates.