By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana,Egypt, Cairo,
Direct communication, knowledge sharing and the exchange of professional experiences among African journalists are among the key areas highlighted during the 63rd Training Course of the Union of African Journalists, named “Mahfouz El-Ansary,” in Cairo.
Ambassador Ahmed Haggag, Advisor to the Union of African Journalists, welcomed the participants and stressed that direct communication among African journalists represents an important opportunity to promote mutual understanding and exchange views on the future of media on the continent.
Charles Ndi Chia, President of the Cameroon Journalists’ Union, expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s hosting of the course.
He emphasized the importance of benefiting from Egyptian expertise in the media field and strengthening cooperation among African journalists’ unions and associations in a way that serves journalists and supports media freedom and responsibility.
Dr. Mohamed Fayez Farahat, President of the Union of African Journalists and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Ahram Foundation, also welcomed the African journalists participating in the course.
He emphasized the importance of training programs in providing opportunities to exchange knowledge and expertise and to learn about the Egyptian experience in various fields, particularly the development projects and experiences witnessed by Egypt since 2014.
Farahat stated that the Union of African Journalists works to strengthen communication and knowledge-sharing among African journalists and to create broader opportunities for professional cooperation and the exchange of experiences. He said these efforts contribute to the development of journalistic performance and enhance the role of the media in serving the issues of the African continent.
Counselor Reem Hindi, Member of the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR), emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Union of African Journalists. She noted that the Council is keen to provide all necessary support to ensure the success of the course and strengthen journalistic cooperation with African colleagues.
In her speech, delivered on behalf of Counselor Yasser El-Maabady, Secretary-General of the SCMR, Hindi said that hosting and organizing such events reflects Egypt’s commitment to supporting African journalistic communication, exchanging expertise, and building sustainable bridges between media institutions across the continent.
The 63rd Training Course is being held in cooperation with the SCMR and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the participation of a number of African and Egyptian journalists. The course is part of efforts to support journalistic cooperation and promote the exchange of expertise and knowledge among media institutions and journalists across the African continent.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Samia Abbas, Secretary-General of the Union of African Journalists; Amal Abdel-Motaleb, Director General of the Media Training and Studies Center at the SCMR; Ambassador Mohamed Hegazy; broadcaster Maher Abdel Aziz; media professional Ayman Adly; as well as Zeinab Helmy, Director of Training Courses at the Union of African Journalists.
The 63rd Training Course of the Union of African Journalists comes as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen media cooperation between Egypt and African countries, enhance journalists’ professional skills, and exchange professional experiences, thereby reinforcing the role of the media in promoting communication and mutual understanding among the peoples of the continent.
