Olanshile Ogunrinu
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) will host its 2025 Media and Development Conference in Abuja, bringing together about 500 journalists, policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, technologists and students for four days of dialogue and innovation.
The conference, which will take place from November 24 to 27 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, is themed *“Reimagining Democracy, Development, and Data for the Next Decade.”* “It comes at a time when many African countries are grappling with democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space and development challenges worsened by climate shocks and health emergencies,” says the organisers.
Organisers say the gathering will offer a much–needed space for reflection on the state of democracy on the continent, while encouraging fresh ideas on media sustainability, governance, civic trust, women’s health, climate accountability and the rising influence of Big Tech and artificial intelligence in public life.
This year’s edition will also shine a spotlight on the CJID Openness Index, launched in July 2025 to track transparency and accountability across African governments. Attendees will experience research exhibitions from CJID’s data and innovation hub, DAIDAC, alongside partner showcases, technical workshops, a National Health Dialogue, and an AI Innovation Showcase featuring emerging African startups.
The conference will end with the Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards, which recognise outstanding investigative and fact-checking journalism across Africa — a tradition CJID says reflects its commitment to strengthening public-interest reporting.
Founded in 2014 as the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), CJID has grown into a leading media development think-tank in West Africa. The organisation now works across Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia, with expanding programmes in Francophone countries including Cameroon, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its flagship projects — DUBAWA, UDEME, Campus Reporter, Press Attack Tracker and NAREP— continue to drive accountability, open data use and media innovation in the region.
With stakeholders from across the continent expected to be in attendance, the 2025 Media and Development Conference is set to become a major meeting point for ideas, collaborations and solutions shaping Africa’s next decade.
