Speaking at the ceremony, AUB Director General, Mr. Grégoire Ndjaka, described the agreement as a milestone in AUB’s mission to advance responsible and impactful journalism across Africa.

“Today is more than a formal signing; it is the affirmation of a shared vision,” Mr. Ndjaka said. “In a world confronted with climate change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation, the way these issues are communicated is just as important as the solutions themselves. The Global Media Academy will equip African media professionals with the skills, ethical grounding, and scientific understanding needed to inform, educate, and empower society.”

Mr. Ndjaka emphasized that hosting the Global Media Academy in Africa was a strategic decision, noting that the continent faces some of the most visible intersections between environmental challenges and human livelihoods, while also possessing a young and dynamic media workforce.

In his statement, Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, highlighted the importance of the media in translating scientific knowledge into public understanding and policy action.

“Effective communication is essential for turning science into impact,” Prof. Madani said. “Through this partnership with AUB, UNU-INWEH is committed to supporting African journalists and media institutions to report accurately, responsibly, and compellingly on water, environment, and climate challenges that affect millions of people.”

Providing an overview of the partnership, Dr. Javad Mottaghi, Lead of the Global Media Academy, explained that the African Centre will serve as a hub for training, knowledge exchange, and innovation in science-based journalism.

“The Global Media Academy is designed as a platform for excellence,” Dr. Mottaghi noted. “By combining rigorous scientific knowledge with modern storytelling tools, data-driven journalism, and contextualized narratives, the Academy will help build a new generation of African media professionals capable of reporting global challenges with depth and credibility.”

The ceremony also featured the formal signing of the MoU, exchange of documents, a ribbon-cutting to symbolize the launch of the African Centre, and a press briefing with senior officials of both institutions.

The partnership positions the AUB Secretariat in Dakar as a continental hub for media training and capacity building, reinforcing Africa’s role not only as a recipient of global initiatives but as an active contributor to global discourse on sustainable development.