CBN Africa, in collaboration with its broadcast subsidiary, Flame TV, has trained more than 30 journalists and media professionals from partner television stations across Nigeria and other African countries on effective television production, storytelling and the responsible application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism.
The four-day training, held in Abuja from September 7 to 10, 2026, was organised under the 2026 Partner TV Stations Training Programme with the theme, “Effective Storytelling: Video Imaging and Scriptwriting (with AI Tips).”
Participants were drawn from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, including two journalists nominated by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council — Richard Alechenu of Aso Television and Ekene Ndulue of NTA News 24.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Regional Director, Anglophone West Africa, CBN Africa, Dr. Felix Oisamoje, said the programme was designed to add value to the organisation’s long-standing partnership with television stations across the continent.
Oisamoje noted that while the provision of quality content remains important, continuous capacity building is equally critical to improving productivity, reducing waste and developing a strong leadership pipeline within media organisations.
He said the annual training programme, which CBN Africa has sustained for 27 years, reflects the organisation’s commitment to strengthening professionalism, competence and excellence in broadcasting.
Also speaking, Ndambabo Yahaya, NUJ FCT Vice Chairman, who represented the Council Chairman, Grace Ike, urged journalists to embrace AI while ensuring that human judgment, ethical standards and professional responsibility remain central to journalism practice.
The training featured facilitators from CBN United States, including Dave Baldwin, Mike Malpass and Erica Linney, who took participants through television storytelling, video imaging, scriptwriting and the responsible use of AI in content production.
Yachat Sandra Nuhu, Officer-in-Charge of Communication and Information at the UNESCO Abuja Office, who represented the agency’s lead, Dr. Isaías Barreto da Rosa, stressed the importance of continuous professional development, honesty and accountability in journalism.
Nuhu also highlighted the growing importance of media and information literacy, noting that AI should be used to enhance human intelligence rather than replace it.
One of the participants, Richard Alechenu, said the sessions on scriptwriting and production had deepened his understanding of how fundamental production elements could significantly improve the quality and impact of television stories.
According to him, details such as lighting, location, costume and effective scripting play important roles in shaping compelling and professional television content.
Similarly, Ekene Ndulue of NTA News 24 expressed appreciation to CBN Africa for the opportunity to enhance his professional skills.
He said learning from facilitators with decades of industry experience was both practical and valuable, adding that the training had equipped him with skills and insights he could immediately apply in the newsroom.
In his closing remarks, Oisamoje encouraged the participants to share the knowledge gained with their colleagues and apply the skills acquired to improve the quality of production in their respective stations.
The training ended with the presentation of certificates to the participants.
The annual programme form part of CBN Africa’s continuing media capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening television production, journalism and storytelling skills among media professionals and partner stations across Africa.
