By Suara Sherif
African governments must invest in state media institutions, professional expertise and technology to strengthen the continent’s influence in international affairs, Botswana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Philda Kereng, has said.
Kereng made the call during a diplomatic meeting with the Founder and Chief Executive of Media Diplomacy Studies, Dr Mkpe Abang, in Abuja. The meeting focused on Africa’s position in the evolving global information order and the role of state media in shaping how the continent is perceived globally.
According to a statement by Abang, Kereng emphasised that African countries must take greater responsibility for communicating their own stories rather than allowing external representations—which may be distorted or incomplete—to shape international perceptions of the continent.
She highlighted the need for deliberate public policy, sustained institutional investment and technological capacity-building to improve the effectiveness of African state media in international diplomacy.
Abang said the exchange reinforced the argument that credible, professionally managed state media could serve as instruments of national image projection and international influence when supported by strong institutions and clear strategic objectives.
The meeting also discussed the forthcoming presentation of Abang’s book, Weapons of Mass Manipulation: State Media, Global Influence and the New Diplomacy of Power, and the inauguration of Annual Diplomacy Day, both scheduled for November 20, 2026, in Abuja. The Botswana High Commission indicated its willingness to participate.
For Africa, the message is clear: if the continent does not tell its own story, someone else will—and it may not be the story Africa wants the world to hear.
