News Central, AFP To Strengthen Journalism Across Africa

News Central, Africa’s leading pan-African news broadcaster, and Agence France-Presse (AFP), a global leader in international news and digital verification, have initiated high-level discussions to explore a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing news coverage, content sharing, and media innovation across the continent and beyond.

At a recent meeting held at News Central’s headquarters in Lagos, senior executives from both organisations explored various collaborative opportunities. The focus was leveraging AFP’s vast international news-gathering network and digital expertise alongside News Central’s strong regional presence and commitment to fearless, independent journalism.

AFP’s Executive Director for Africa, Pierre Ausseill; Sales Director for Africa, Joaquin Iturralde; and other AFP representatives were present at the meeting. They were received by News Central’s Managing Director, Kayode Akintemi.

Describing the meeting as a “significant step,” Akintemi said, “We believe that by combining our strengths, we can set new standards for journalistic excellence and expand the reach of authentic African narratives.”

Both organisations expressed enthusiasm about the potential partnership, which they said could help strengthen news reporting, encourage knowledge exchange, and drive innovation in multimedia content production.

The leadership teams also stressed the importance of cross-border media partnerships in promoting transparency, fostering informed public discourse, and amplifying African voices globally.

The meeting concluded with a joint agreement to establish a working group tasked with identifying specific areas of collaboration. These include content syndication, co-produced multimedia projects, and professional development initiatives for journalists.

If formalised, the partnership is expected to enrich news delivery across Africa, improve media capacity, and broaden the visibility of African stories within the global news ecosystem.