By Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Commitment
Rabat, March 29, 2018 (NAN) The Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA), have called on its members to redeem their financial commitments to strengthen the operations of the organisation.
Mr Mohamed Anis, the Secretary-General of the agency, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Rabat, Morocco.
Anis recalled that member agencies made promises to ensure a sound funding for FAAPA when it was formed in Casablanca, Morocco, in October 2014.
However, he said that “we only have 10 active financial members now out of 28’’
.
Anis explained that only the General Assembly could disclose the names of defaulters at its annual meeting.
According to him, the lean resources is affecting the activities of FAAPA and posing serious technical problems.
Notwithstanding these challenges, the general scribe revealed that the organisation had opened a training centre for African journalists in Rabat on March 25, 2015.
Anis said the African Centre for Training of Journalists would be hosting 60 journalists yearly “within the framework of three thematic training sessions (fall, winter and spring), averaging 20 at each session’’.
The training programmes include; web journalism, information computer science and digital media management, among others
.
Besides, the secretary-general said FAAPA had trained computer scientists from member countries on “digital transformation of African news agencies’’ in Rabat between Oct. 9 and Oct. 13, 2017.
He said that the seminar on: “The role and function of the community managers in a modern press agency’’ was the latest capacity building for members.
Anis also disclosed that there was a planned training for directors of news and editors-in-chief of member news agencies awaiting the approval of the general assembly.
According to him, the about four-year-old organisation has adopted rules for an annual competition and grand prize for the best article, best photo and best audio reports.
The general scribe said winners of the various categories of the awards would collect 1,000 dollars each and a certificate as well as enjoy a week-long trip to host countries of FAAPA general assembly.
He therefore urged member agencies to start sending their entries as an incentive and encouragement for journalists of member countries, to give out their best
.
Anis commended the FAAPA members, demonstrating financial support and urged others to emulate to make the organisation more vibrant. (NAN)
MST/SH
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edited by Sadiya Hamza