CBN Africa trains over 30 Journalists in TV Production, AI Skills

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 as part of its 2026 Partner TV Stations Training Programme.

The four-day training, which held in Abuja from September 7 to 10, was themed “Effective Storytelling: Video Imaging and Scriptwriting (with AI Tips).”

It brought together participants 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, the Regional Director, Anglophone West Africa, Dr. Felix Oisamoje, said the training was designed to add value to the long-standing partnership between CBN Africa and its partner television stations across the continent.

He noted that beyond providing quality content, capacity building remains critical to improving productivity, reducing waste, and developing a strong leadership pipeline within media organizations.

According to him, the annual training programme, which CBN Africa has sustained for 27 years, underscores its commitment to strengthening professionalism and excellence in broadcasting.

In his remarks, Ndambabo Yahaya, NUJ FCT Vice Chairman, who represented the Council Chairman, Grace Ike, urged journalists to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) while maintaining human judgment, ethical standards, and professional responsibility.

The training featured facilitators from CBN United States, including Dave Baldwin, Mike Malpass, and Erica Linney, who led sessions on television storytelling, video imaging, scriptwriting, and the responsible use of AI in content production.

Also speaking at the event, Yachat Sandra Nuhu, Officer-in-Charge of Communication and Information at the UNESCO Abuja Office, represented Dr. Isaías Barreto da Rosa, the agency’s lead. She emphasized the importance of continuous capacity building, honesty, and accountability in journalism.

Yachat also highlighted the need for media and information literacy, stressing that AI should enhance human intelligence rather than replace it.

One of the participants, Richard Alechenu, said the scriptwriting and production sessions deepened his understanding of how fundamental production elements can significantly improve the quality of television stories.

He noted that attention to details such as lighting, location, costume, and scripting plays a vital role in effective storytelling.

Similarly, Ekene Ndulue of NTA News 24 expressed appreciation to CBN Africa for the opportunity to enhance his professional skills.

“Learning from facilitators with decades of industry experience has been both practical and valuable. “The training has equipped me with skills and insights that I can immediately apply in the newsroom,” he said.

In his closing remarks, the Regional Director, Anglophone West Africa, CBN Africa, Dr. Felix Oisamoje, encouraged participants to share the knowledge gained with colleagues and apply the skills acquired in their respective stations.

The training concluded with the presentation of certificates to all participants.

The annual programme is part of CBN Africa’s ongoing media capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening television production, journalism, and storytelling skills among media professionals and partner stations across Africa.