Accelerating careers and fostering community through mentorship of young professionals is the focus of the inaugural INMA Africa Elevate Scholarship, whose class of 46 media professionals was announced today by INMA.

Some 145 people applied for the Africa Elevate Scholarship from 23 African countries.

The scholarship programme is designed to provide a leg up for high-potential young professionals from news media companies in Africa — to elevate careers with a spark that INMA is uniquely in a position to provide.

Scholarship recipients gain access to four mentorship-focused virtual sessions covering:

• Understanding the business of media.
  

• Navigating the corridors of power in media.
  

• What to know now about digital transformation.
  

• How AI is being deployed at media companies.
  

Recipients also receive certification after the four sessions, a private group for peer-to-peer communication, and one year of INMA membership.

To be considered, applicants must be employed by a news media organisation in Africa, under the age of 35, in the news industry less than five years, and demonstrate a need for on-the-job training and education.

“INMA is proud to continue to support rising young professionals in Africa with the access and training they need to compete on the global stage,” Earl J. Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA, said. “The news industry is stronger when we lift up and retain young talent.”

The 46 professionals selected for Elevate Scholarships are:

• Mark Acheampong, journalist, AGTV, Ghana.
  

• Martins Adegboyega, online content strategist and Web master, New Telegraph Newspaper, Nigeria.
  

• Ethel Adonu, social media consultant, BusinessDay Media, Nigeria.
  

• Patience Aghagberomwan, presenter TV/radio, Edo Broadcasting Service, Nigeria.
  

• Jennifer Ambolley, health journalist, The Chronicle Newspaper, Ghana.
  

• Benard Atta, senior video editor and cinematographer, Pulse Nigeria, Nigeria.
  

• Jamel Eddine Azlouk, student and freelancer, Tunisia.
  

• Iretomiwa Balogun, reporter, Technology Times, Nigeria.

• Medan Watukalusu Busalo, journalist project officer, IFC Congo Check, Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Abdulai Fasineh Dumbuya, reporter, FreeMedia Group, Sierra Leone.

• Gouba Gnintabouré Emmanuel, journalist/editor, Info Nature, Burkina Faso.
  

• Caroline Gichuki, early career journalist, Nation Media Group, Kenya.

• Vanessa G. Gonye, junior reporter, Alpha Media Holdings, Zimbabwe.

• Monishkã Govender, multimedia journalist, Independent Media, South Africa.
  

• Sani Hamza, senior editor, Naij.com Media Limited, Nigeria.
  

• Bezawit Huluager, senior reporter, Addis Fortune Newspaper (Independent News & Media), Ethiopia.
  

• Anthony Ibe, manager, Africa Tech Radio, Nigeria.
  

• Ashraf Yasser Imam, HR and technical Support, Exceed, Egypt.
  

• David Kagina, reporter, K24 TV, Kenya.
  

• E. Varney Kamah, station manager, Global Dream TV/FM Radio 92.3MHz, Liberia.
  

• Blessing Kanyemba, online journalist, Equity Axis, Zimbabwe.
  

• Jackson Karanja Kinyanjui, regional coordinator, Media Council of Kenya, Kenya.
  

• Oluthando Keteyi, digital journalist, IOL/Independent Media, South Africa.
  

• Angela Kezengwa, news anchor, Royal Media Services, Kenya.
  

• Jimmy Komakech, radio journalist/editor, Radio Pacis, Uganda.
  

• Kooko Lawrence, news reporter, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Uganda.
  

• Antony Magu, sub-editor/digital, Royal Media Services, Kenya.
  

• Kalele Makiwa, executive producer for programming and continuity, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe.
  

• Tariro Makaya, radio presenter, GZU Campus Radio, Zimbabwe.
  

• Promise Mboh, journalist, The Guardian Post, Cameroon.
  

• Kelly Milborrow, community manager, Arena Holdings, South Africa.
  

• Sonto Mlangeni, journalist, Eswatini TV, Eswatini.
  

• Simphiwe Motau, field reporter and writer, Highveld Chronicle, South Africa.
  

• Edith Mugabe, sub editor/community engagement manager, Bindura Eye, Zimbabwe.
  

• Eugene Muhoozi, business executive, Nation Media Group, Uganda.

• Yondela Ndlebe, marketing coordinator, Daily Dispatch, Arena Holdings, South Africa.
  

• Timothy Ndombi, digital video content lead, Mediamax Networks Limited, Kenya.

• Lisabeal Kojo Nqamqhele, editor, Habari Media, South Africa.

• Tanyaradzwa Ntuli, managing editor, Thisability Newspaper, South Africa.
  

• Oladayo Ojo, content producer, Premium Times Service Limited, Nigeria.
  

• Tracy Onchoke, fact checker and reporter, Africa Uncensored, Kenya.
  

• Paul Onogwu, news editor, KCC Communications, Nigeria.
  

• Emmanuel Peter, reporter, Parallelfact News, Nigeria.
  

• Deborah Sanusi, correspondent, Punch Nigeria Limited, Nigeria.
  

• Ndeye Fatou Touré, journalist, PressAfrik, Senegal.
  

• Beldeen Waliaula, multimedia journalist, BBC News, Kenya.

Read more about the scholarship here.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .