MTN pledges support to developmental journalism

By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA  –
THE MTN Group has said the advancement of the media is critical to the development of Africa and pledged its continued support to journalism growth on the continent.
MTN general manager for corporate communication and stakeholder management Xolisa Vapi said the media was cardinal to development.
Mr Vapi said this during the Highway Africa, the continent’s most prestigious annual journalism conference in South Africa.
MTN Group was proud to once again collaborate with Rhodes University on the event.
The event continues to drive conversation and debate around key issues related to the media and Information Communication Technology (ICT) on the continent.
“We believe that Africa has many good news stories to tell and that platforms like Highway Africa go a long way to boost the media sector so that these stories can be shared.
“We have been part of this conference for the past fifteen years and our continued support is based on our commitment to the development and advancement of journalism on the continent,” he said.
The conference is being held under the theme ‘The Internet and Media – Celebrations, Reflections and the Future’.
Highway Africa 2016 was expected to kick off at the weekend in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
“We believe that Africa has many good news stories to tell and that platforms like Highway Africa go a long way to boost the media sector so that these stories can be shared,” Mr Vapi said.
He said MTN had been part of this conference for the past fifteen years and our continued support was based on commitment to the development and  advancement of journalism on the continent.
As part of its support of Highway Africa 2016, MTN has sponsored journalists from media houses in seven of its markets to attend the conference.