By Praise Otor Peters
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 its first-ever international cohort to attend an intensive training programme physically at the Academy’s Abuja campus.
The graduation ceremony brought together media professionals and trainees at the WABMA campus in Abuja, following a five-week professional development programme designed to strengthen participants’ skills in media, communication and related fields.
A graduand receives her certificate at the WABMA Q3 graduation ceremony.
A major highlight of the programme was the participation of 12 media aides from the Liberian Senate, who travelled from Liberia to Nigeria for the training. Their participation represents a shift from WABMA’s previous experience with international participants, who had largely joined its programmes virtually.
The Liberian delegation was sponsored by the President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, as part of efforts to strengthen the professional capacity of the Senate’s media team.
Training Focuses on Practical Media Skills
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, WABMA Rector, Dr. Ken Ike Okere, congratulated the graduands on completing the programme and urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their training in their respective workplaces.
He stressed that the value of professional training goes beyond receiving a certificate, encouraging the participants to translate their classroom experience into improved performance and professional conduct.
Okere particularly charged the Liberian participants to return home and demonstrate the skills gained during their five-week stay in Nigeria, saying their performance would reflect the quality of training received at WABMA.
Participants follow proceedings during the WABMA graduation ceremony in Abuja.
The ceremony also featured the representation of the Liberian Ambassador to Nigeria by the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Kansualism Berk Kansuah, who commended the Liberian media aides for their discipline and conduct throughout the programme.
Kansuah noted that some members of the delegation distinguished themselves academically by completing several courses with distinction.
He also acknowledged the sponsorship provided by the Liberian Senate, describing the initiative as an investment in strengthening the capacity of Liberia’s legislative media professionals.
The Team Lead of the Liberian delegation, Mr. Roland Glay, conveyed the appreciation of the President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate to WABMA for the training and exposure provided to the participants.
Glay said the programme exceeded expectations, noting that the delegation’s visits to institutions and media organisations, including the National Assembly, Radio Nigeria, Silverbird Television and Arise TV, provided participants with practical insight into Nigeria’s media and legislative communication environment.
He disclosed that the President Pro Tempore was pleased with the outcome of the programme and had expressed willingness to sponsor additional participants for WABMA’s Q4 programme scheduled to begin in September 2026.
WABMA Urges Graduands to Become Ambassadors
In his closing remarks, WABMA Executive Director, Mr. Mike Yawe, described the graduation as an important milestone for the Academy, particularly because of the physical participation of international trainees.
Yawe said the development demonstrated WABMA’s growing capacity to attract media professionals from different parts of Africa and promote cross-border knowledge exchange.
He reminded the graduands that their certificates should be viewed as the beginning of their professional journey rather than the end.
“The certificate you receive today is not the destination. It is the beginning,” Yawe said.
He urged participants to demonstrate the skills acquired through their communication, writing and professional conduct, charging them to become ambassadors of the Academy in their respective workplaces.
“Let your competence advertise WABMA. Let your professionalism advertise WABMA. Let your integrity advertise WABMA,” he said.
WABMA officials present a certificate to a graduand.
Strengthening Regional Media Capacity
The graduation also provided an opportunity for participants to interact and build professional networks, particularly between Nigerian and Liberian media professionals.
WABMA said the successful completion of the programme reinforces its commitment to providing practical media and communication training while creating opportunities for knowledge exchange across Africa.
Participants and guests at the WABMA Q3 graduation ceremony.
The Q3 programme concluded with the presentation of certificates to successful participants, with graduation activities taking place across WABMA’s three campuses.
The Academy expressed appreciation to the Liberian Senate, the Liberian Embassy in Nigeria, its faculty, facilitators, partners, families and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the programme.
The Q3 graduation marks another step in WABMA’s efforts to position itself as a regional centre for practical media, communication and professional development, while expanding opportunities for media professionals across the continent.
