WABMA Graduates Q2 Trainees, Deepens Push For Ethical Media Practice

The West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) has graduated participants of its Q2 Long Course programme, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, professionalism and excellence in media education. The graduation ceremony, held at the Academy’s Abuja campus and streamed live to participants and guests in Enugu and Lagos, brought together media professionals, faculty members, graduates and their families to celebrate another academic milestone.

In his welcome address, the Rector of the Academy, Dr Ken Ike Okere, said the media profession was experiencing unprecedented transformation driven by artificial intelligence and the rapid expansion of social media, which has effectively given everyone a publishing platform. Despite these changes, he stressed that the core values of journalism remain unchanged.

“Truth, credibility and integrity still matter. At WABMA, we place great emphasis on ethics, professionalism and fact-checking because while skills may get you noticed, it is character that builds lasting careers,” he said. Delivering a keynote lecture titled Mastering the Craft: Meeting Change Where Opportunity Beckons, veteran journalist Mr Emma Ozoemena examined the changing nature of journalism in the digital age. He highlighted technological advancements that have transformed news gathering and dissemination while warning against the erosion of traditional gatekeeping mechanisms.

Ozoemena expressed concern over the growing tendency on social media to sensationalise virtually every press release, text message or write-up as “breaking news,” urging media practitioners to uphold professional standards and exercise sound editorial judgment.

In his closing remarks, WABMA’s Executive Director, Mr Mike Yawe, reiterated the Academy’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in media training. “Excellence is not a destination but a continuous journey. At WABMA, every quarter must be better than the previous one. That commitment informed the introduction of our inaugural lecture series as part of the Q2 curriculum,” he said.

Yawe disclosed that one of the key innovations introduced during the quarter was the inaugural lecture delivered by internationally renowned communication scholar, Dr Nwosu Ndem Orji, titled The Fine Art of Communication in Leadership. According to him, Dr Orji reminded participants that effective communication extends beyond speaking. Quoting communication expert George Bernard Shaw, he noted: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

He stressed that communication is complete only when a message is understood, trusted and acted upon. The ceremony also featured goodwill messages and testimonies from graduating participants, who expressed appreciation for the practical, industry-focused training they received at the Academy.

Certificates of completion were presented to the graduates by the Dean of Studies, Mr Felix Okoro, who congratulated them and encouraged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism as ambassadors of the institution.

The event ended on a celebratory note as graduates, faculty members, friends and family members marked the successful completion of another academic quarter. WABMA said it remains committed to positioning itself as a leading institution for practical media, communication and leadership training in Africa through innovative programmes designed to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving global media landscape.