African human capital discussed at Istanbul media summit

ISTANBUL

Turkish media organizations are sharing their experiences with African outlets to help prevent misconceptions on the continent in the media, the deputy head of Turkiye's Presidency of Turks and Related Communities Abroad (YTB) said on Thursday.

"We're conducting media studies at the YTB, especially with non-governmental organizations that know the sociology of Africa," said Abdulhadi Turus, speaking at a panel titled "Investing in Africa's human capital" held under the Turkiye-Africa Media Summit in Istanbul.

At the summit, organized by Turkiye's Communications Directorate, Turus underlined the importance of how events are perceived and that the YTB aims to build accurate perceptions in the world, against those that are false.

Likewise, Turkiye also aims to prevent misconceptions and spread the truth, as well as to help people facing oppression or poverty in any part of the world, he added.

Besides Turus, the panel was attended by Rahman Nurdun, vice president of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), and Birol Akgun, the chief of Turkiye's Maarif Foundation. It was moderated by Ibrahim Bachir, a researcher at the University of Bayreuth in Germany.

Nurdun noted that TIKA, which serves as Turkiye's state-run aid agency, opened its first office in Africa in 2005, when it opened its Addis Ababa branch in the Ethiopian. This was followed by its offices in Kenya and Senegal, he added.

"TIKA carries out an average of 400 projects every year in Africa. Our difference from the aid activities of other countries is the Turkish type of development model that our president (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) has always expressed. We never impose our own demands on African countries," he added.

Meanwhile, Akgun emphasized that Turkiye-Africa relations have strengthened and evolved to a new dimensions since Ankara launched an initiative in 2005 to expand ties with the continent.

Turkiye and Africa complement each other and their relations have gone beyond humanitarian aid and development, he added.

The two-day summit kicked off on Wednesday, marking Africa Day on May 25.

A range of issues were discussed, including post-pandemic challenges in journalism, journalism under digital siege, and women in journalism.

Among the participants were 80 members of the media from 45 African countries, African diplomats, public officials, and civil society members.

The program aims to strengthen Ankara's cooperation with African media outlets and professionals.