The African Women in Media (AWiM) organization, now hosting its ninth annual conference at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has emerged as one of Africa’s most compelling success stories in media advocacy. What began as a simple digital gathering point has evolved into a powerful continental movement driving gender equality, media safety, and fair representation across African newsrooms.
AWiM’s journey started in August 2016 when Co-founder and CEO, Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola created a Facebook group to connect African women working in media. The online community quickly flourished, offering professional support, inspiration, and a shared identity among women who often navigated similar challenges in their careers. The rapid expansion of this digital space revealed the need for a more structured platform. In response, Dr. Akinbobola and Co-founder and COO, Bamidele Ogunleye, transitioned the initiative into a formal international non-governmental organization, leading to AWiM’s first conference in 2017.
Since then, AWiM has grown into a leading voice shaping Africa’s media landscape. The organization is recognized for convening the continent’s largest annual gathering dedicated to advancing women’s rights and media development. Through research, capacity-building, and sustained advocacy, AWiM works to create a safe, supportive, and equitable environment for African women in media while reshaping how women are portrayed in media content. Beyond training journalists, AWiM collaborates with editors, publishers, and media executives to challenge stereotypes, strengthen policies, and promote gender-sensitive reporting. These efforts have contributed to major policy developments, including the Kigali Declaration on the elimination of gender violence in and through media in Africa by 2034.
AWiM’s influence is reinforced by its strong engagement with continental policy actors. Its partnership with the African Union Commission positions the organization at the center of regional decision-making processes, enabling it to advocate for improved media safety standards and gender responsive legislation across Africa.
This year’s conference, AWiM25, is taking place at the African Union Headquarters under the theme “Beyond Commitments: Advancing Policies for Gender-Safe Media.” The two-day event, held from December 4 to 5, focuses on turning policy promises into actionable and enforceable measures. Discussions highlight accountability frameworks and the implementation of continental instruments such as the recently adopted AU convention to end violence against women and girls. By staging this important dialogue at the African Union, AWiM is reaffirming its role as a continental leader pushing for a media environment where all African women can work safely, freely, and with dignity.
Over the years, AWiM has built strong and influential partnerships with key institutions such as the African Union, Luminate, the Fojo Media Institute, and UNESCO. These are among its notable partners, but the organization collaborates with many other regional and international institutions committed to advancing media development and gender equality. Through this broad network of partnerships, AWiM has strengthened its research capacity, expanded its training initiatives and amplified its advocacy efforts, helping to shape a more equitable, inclusive and gender responsive media landscape across the continent.
Patrick Niyonkuru
