The Nigeria Media Innovation Programme (NAMIP), and The Daily Trust Foundation have put together a conference on Media Sustainability with the theme “Future-Proofing Nigeria’s Journalism Media – A Sustainability Dynamic.”
The two-day event, scheduled to hold 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 organizations 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 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:
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation
Harlan Mandel, CEO, Media Development Investment Fund
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.
The Program Director of the Nigerian Media Innovation Program, Deji Adekunle also said: “This convening gives us an opportunity to share learnings, 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 look like.”
The Programme Director of Daily Trust Foundation, Dr Theophilus Abbah, said about the conference: “It will be a unique opportunity for Nigerians in the media and journalism business to learn from business models and practices that work in other parts of the world. It is becoming clearer that the media business is not a hopeless one. In spite of the disruptions created by digitization, 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.”
Attendance is by registration. Interested participants can apply via the link below. Conference details will be shared only with confirmed attendees.
https://airtable.com/appVWU0BIQK5uYuvJ/pagmxg6GreixoUh11/form
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About NAMIP
The Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) is a multi-year initiative implemented by the Media Development Investment Fund and funded by the MacArthur Foundation. NAMIP supports independent media organizations in Nigeria to develop new revenue streams, improve operational sustainability, and innovate for audience impact.
About MDIF
The Media Development Investment Fund is a mission-driven investment organization that provides affordable financing and strategic support to independent media in environments where press freedom is under threat.
About Daily Trust Foundation
The Daily Trust Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Media Trust Limited, dedicated to education, capacity development, and the advancement of ethical journalism and media excellence. It served as the local implementation partner for NAMIP throughout the program’s first phase.
