The fifth cohort of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) has commenced a ten-day study trip to South Africa, running from August 28 to September 6, 2026, as part of the Fellows’ six-month, fully funded fellowship focused on innovation and the future of journalism, supported by South African Airways as the official travel partner.
The study trip builds on the milestones recorded by the programme since the commencement of the fellowship, which has continued to equip the Fellows with practical learning and exposure to leading practitioners and institutions across the media ecosystem.
Ahead of the trip, the fellows paid a courtesy visit to the MTN Plaza in Lagos, where they met with the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Karl Toriola, and Professor Bobby Moroe, Consul-General of South Africa in Lagos, before departing for Johannesburg.
Addressing the media practitioners ahead of their departure, Toriola charged them to uphold fairness and balance in their reporting while remaining open to new ideas, experiences and perspectives that can strengthen their practice. He urged them to sustain the curiosity developed through the programme and continually seek opportunities to learn and deepen their understanding of the changing media landscape.
“My charge to you is to keep that fire burning. Keep exposing yourselves to new things, keep learning and challenging yourselves, and never stop growing,” Toriola said.
The South Africa immersion will combine academic sessions, industry engagements and cultural experiences, giving the Fellows first-hand exposure to the country’s media, business, diplomatic and creative sectors. A key highlight is the two-day MIP-5 Summit at the University of Johannesburg, where the Fellows will engage academics, media professionals and creators on the business of journalism, media business opportunities in Africa, development journalism and the role of new media in shaping public discourse.
The Fellows will also engage leading institutions and stakeholders, including MTN Group, Primedia, the Press Council of South Africa, Brand South Africa and the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), with discussions covering media accountability,innovation, nation branding and the evolving African information environment.
Beyond professional engagements, the Fellows will visit historically significant sites including Soweto, the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, gaining deeper insight into South Africa’s history, identity and nation-building. The immersion will culminate in Pretoria, with engagements on diplomacy, , and Nigeria- South Africa relations, before the Fellows return to Lagos on September 6.
The study trip is a key experiential component of the MTN Media Innovation Programme, complementing the Fellows’ classroom learning with exposure to leading institutions and practitioners across the African media ecosystem. It is expected to broaden their perspectives on the business of journalism, new media and technology, while strengthening their capacity to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s development and public discourse.
