Across Africa, storytellers are shifting the focus from problems to possibilities.
That vision guided the opening of the Solutions Journalism Africa Summit 2025, themed “Reframing Africa’s Narratives Through Solutions-Focused Storytelling.”
The Summit brought together journalists, editors, creators, and partners who are committed to reporting that highlights resilience, innovation, and what truly works in communities across the continent.
The Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, opened the day by reflecting on the growth of solutions journalism in Nigeria and beyond, noting the rising number of newsrooms, trained journalists, and evidence-based stories shaping public understanding and decision making.
Representing the Director-General of Radio Nigeria, Henrietta Ibrahim, reinforced the media’s responsibility to inspire as well as inform.
She highlighted the importance of telling stories that build trust and amplify progress.
In her insightful presentation, Fatimah Alkali, Senior Communications Officer at the Gates Foundation Nigeria, explored how the media can help align Nigeria’s aspirations with measurable impact.
Funding challenge amidst opportunities
She highlighted the tightening of global development funding but underscored the opportunities that still exist, particularly through stronger accountability, fiscal prioritisation, and intentional collaboration between government, civil society, and journalists.
Nina Fasciaux from the Solutions Journalism Network shared the impact of the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative, which has strengthened newsrooms, supported thousands of journalists, and expanded solutions-focused learning across universities.
The panel session on conflict reporting offered some of the strongest insights of the day. Speakers, including Dina Aboughazala, CEO, Egab; Patrick Gathara, Senior Editor for Inclusive Storytelling, The New Humanitarian; Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director of The ICIR; and Nathaniel Bivan, Freelance Journalist, Editor and Author, showed how journalists can uncover solutions even in times of crisis by listening deeply to communities and examining systems that deliver results.
The Lightning Talks session showcased surprising community-driven solutions, from cultural protection of the Osun Sacred Grove, to an all-female mechanic workshop breaking gender barriers in Sokoto, to traditional leaders in Kaduna creating a structured system for reuniting missing children with their families, to the women leading bottle recycling efforts in Abuja and the lessons learned from earning community trust.
Day 1 delivered energy, insights, and stories that demonstrate Africa’s capacity for self-driven change. Day 2 today promises to be better and more impactful. It will deepen the conversation on elevating solutions-focused storytelling across the continent.
