AFRICAN media practitioners have a vital role to play in shaping public opinion, fostering democratic dialogue and advancing human rights for the region to achieve rapid development, a global civil servant has stated.

 Michel Toto, the local representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) made this assertion at a strategic meeting of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA) in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

The gathering brought on board a technical team and board members to establish an operational framework for the network, to draw up basic terms of association, and set the ground for the highly anticipated 2025 NIMCA conference in the city.

Affirming the strategic significance of the gathering, he said that the media plays an essential role in reflecting the diversity of the societies it serves, urging the technical team to prioritize gender and disability inclusion within media institutions across Africa.

As a catalyst for social transformation, the media must ensure that women, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups are not only represented but actively involved in shaping ‘narratives’ that uphold equality, dignity, and respect.

The UNESCO official pointed at the practical manual and master class video series on disability equality in the media as valuable resources for the NIMCA network, noting that UNESCO is committed to transforming media institutions to embrace inclusivity and representation.

“By embedding gender and disability inclusion, we can foster a more equitable society where all voices are heard and all stories are told,” he stated.

NIMCA announced plans for virtual and in-person meetings, where the technical team will review and improve documents to be presented to board members.

Ernest Sungura, the NIMCA chairperson, said that the December meeting, taking place in South Africa, will finalize operational frameworks and strategically position NIMCA for the kickoff

NIMCA’s inaugural meeting of media councils from across Africa in June 2025 will be a significant milestone bringing together media councils to find ways of strengthening media freedom, ethics and public accountability, he explained.

 “NIMCA invites independent media regulators from other African countries to join the organization,” he said, hinting that the December meeting will focus on the importance of independent media councils as a core criterion for membership in NIMCA.

Its ethos and operations will be guided by the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights back in 2019, he added.