By Aishat Omowumi Yekeen
The West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) has graduated participants of its third-quarter (Q3) Long-Term Professional Courses, marking a significant milestone with the participation of 12 media aides from the Liberian Senate as its first international cohort to attend an in-person training programme at its Abuja campus.
The five-week professional programme brought together Nigerian and Liberian media professionals, providing participants with practical knowledge, professional exposure and opportunities to build networks within the media and communication sector.
The Liberian delegation was sponsored by the President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence. Their physical participation marked a new development in WABMA’s international training programme, as international participants had previously attended largely through virtual platforms.
The Liberian media aides also had the opportunity to engage directly with Nigerian media professionals and gain exposure to Nigeria’s media and legislative communication environment.
At the graduation ceremony, the Rector of WABMA, Dr. Ken Ike Okere, commended the graduands for their commitment and diligence throughout the five-week programme.
Okere urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training in their respective workplaces, stressing that the value of professional training is demonstrated through its practical application beyond the classroom.
He specifically encouraged the Liberian participants to return home and uphold WABMA’s reputation by demonstrating the knowledge and skills acquired during their stay in Nigeria.
The ceremony also had the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Liberian Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Kansualism Berk Kansuah, representing the Liberian Ambassador to Nigeria.
Kansuah commended the Liberian media aides for their discipline and exemplary conduct throughout their stay in Nigeria. He noted that some members of the delegation distinguished themselves academically by passing several courses with distinction.
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He also expressed appreciation to the President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate for sponsoring the 12 media aides, describing the initiative as an investment in strengthening the capacity of Liberia’s legislative media team.
Speaking on behalf of the Liberian delegation, the Team Lead, Mr. Roland Glay, conveyed the appreciation of the President Pro Tempore to WABMA for the quality of training and exposure provided to the participants.
Glay said feedback from the participants and their visits to major Nigerian institutions and media organisations showed that the programme had exceeded expectations.
The delegation visited the National Assembly, Radio Nigeria, Silverbird Television and Arise TV, where they gained further insight into Nigeria’s media and legislative communication environment.
According to Glay, the experience provided the participants with valuable professional exposure and a better understanding of the Nigerian media landscape.
He disclosed that the President Pro Tempore was pleased with the outcome of the programme and had indicated her willingness to sponsor additional participants for WABMA’s Q4 programme scheduled to commence in September 2026.
In his closing remarks, the Executive Director of WABMA, Mr. Mike Yawe, described the Q3 graduation as a particularly memorable milestone in the history of the Academy.
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Yawe said the physical participation of international students in an intensive five-week programme had opened a new chapter for WABMA and demonstrated the Academy’s growing capacity to attract participants from across Africa.
He reminded the graduands that the completion of the programme was only the beginning of their professional journey.
“The certificate you receive today is not the destination. It is the beginning.”
Yawe urged the participants to apply their training effectively in their respective workplaces.
“Practice what you have learnt. If you learnt to communicate better, let people see it in your communication. If you learnt to write with clarity, let your writing demonstrate it,” he said.
He described the graduands as ambassadors of WABMA and charged them to promote the Academy through competence, professionalism and integrity.
“Let your competence advertise WABMA. Let your professionalism advertise WABMA. Let your integrity advertise WABMA,” he said.
The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates to successful participants across WABMA’s three campuses, alongside goodwill messages and testimonies from the graduands.
The Q3 graduation represents another step towards WABMA’s vision of becoming a regional centre of excellence for practical media, communication and professional development while fostering knowledge exchange among media professionals across Africa.
