URGENT IMPERATIVE FOR A GLOBAL IGBO MEDIA AGENDA - 1 [ friday Blues 1-006]

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THE URGENT IMPERATIVE FOR A GLOBAL IGBO MEDIA AGENDA

- by Noble Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje (KSJI)

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druzoadirieje2015@gmail.com

 

The Igbo nation is one of the most dynamic, enterprising, and globally dispersed ethnic groups in the world. From the bustling markets of Onitsha and Aba to thriving Igbo communities in Lagos, London, New York, Johannesburg, Beijing, and scores of other countries/cities, the Igbo spirit of industry, innovation, and resilience is evident. Yet, despite our remarkable contributions to commerce, governance, academia, technology, and culture, the global narrative about Ndi Igbo remains fragmented, often shaped by external perspectives that do not reflect our realities, aspirations, or achievements.

 

This gap underscores the urgent need for a Global Igbo Media Agenda—a coordinated, strategic, and professionally driven media framework that will define, defend, and disseminate our identity, history, and developmental priorities to the world.

 

For too long, Ndi Igbo have relied on scattered voices and ad-hoc initiatives to tell their stories. While individual Igbo journalists, broadcasters, filmmakers, and digital creators have achieved notable success, the absence of a unified media vision has allowed misconceptions, stereotypes, and underrepresentation to persist. In a globalised information era—where narratives shape perception, perception drives policy, and policy impacts prosperity—controlling and projecting our story is no longer optional; it is an existential necessity.

 

A Global Igbo Media Agenda must serve three core functions: identity preservation, strategic advocacy, and global influence.

1. Identity Preservation: Our language, cultural heritage, and communal values are under threat from assimilation, migration, and neglect. Media platforms—television, radio, digital channels, podcasts, films—should be harnessed to teach, promote, and normalise Igbo language and traditions, especially among our diaspora youth. This is not nostalgia; it is survival.
2. Strategic Advocacy: Ndi Igbo face political, economic, and developmental challenges that require informed advocacy. A robust media agenda would provide factual, data-driven narratives that counter misinformation, highlight our needs, and position Igbo interests in policy conversations locally and internationally. From infrastructure demands to fair political representation, our media voice must be consistent, credible, and influential.
3. Global Influence: Igbo ingenuity and success stories abound—from Nollywood icons to global business leaders, from groundbreaking scientists to Olympic athletes. A global media framework will not only celebrate these achievements but also position Ndi Igbo as a partner and contributor to global progress, innovation, and peace.

 

Implementing such an agenda demands collaboration between Igbo media professionals, cultural organisations, business leaders, and policymakers. It requires investment in state-of-the-art media infrastructure, training for young Igbo communicators, and the creation of globally competitive content. It also calls for the establishment of a central coordinating body—an “Igbo Global Media Council”—to set standards, fund projects, and ensure sustained visibility.

In an age where information is power, Ndi Igbo cannot afford to be passive consumers of narratives; we must be active architects of our own story. The time to act is now. A Global Igbo Media Agenda is not just a communication strategy—it is a survival blueprint, a development tool, and a legacy project for generations yet unborn.

 

The world is listening. Ndi Igbo must speak—clearly, boldly, and in one united voice.

 

Noble Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a distinguished and multidimensional communicator whose work as a writer, columnist, blogger, reviewer, editor, and author bridges the intersections of global health, sustainable development, human rights, climate justice, and governance. He holds a number of chieftaincy titles including ‘High Chief Ugwumba I of Amaruru’, and ‘Ahaejiejemba Ndigbo Lagos State’.