Executives from leading media houses on Saturday, March 18, 2023, graduated from the Aga Khan University at a ceremony held at the Aga Khan Pavillion and Complex.
The event that was graced by Beatrice Inyangala, the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, saw 170 graduands conferred degrees, 14 of whom were awarded with an Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation (EMMLI) from the Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC).
The executives were drawn from top media houses in Kenya including the Nation Media Group (NMG), Standard Group, Citizen TV, Kenyans.co.ke and Tuko News among others. Also represented were top institutions in Uganda such as Vision Group and Tanzania’s Mwananchi Communications Limited, owned by NMG as well as Azam TV.
This was the first cohort of students in the EMMLI programme that included well-known media personalities.
The ceremony coincided with the university’s historic 40th-anniversary celebrations.
The two-year programme saw a diverse faculty that included Prof. Nancy Booker (Dean), Prof. George Nyabuga, Dr. David Muturi, Prof. Hazel Gachunga, Thrity Engineer, Joseph Odindo and Mark Briggs - a seasoned media professional based in the US among others.
Additionally, notable guest lecturers included former Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney and Kenya's Ambassador to Belgium as well as the European Union, Prof. Bitange Ndemo.
“We have succeeded in creating a network of media leaders across the competitive divide who can lead in an agile and adaptable industry,” said Prof. Nancy Booker, the Dean at GSMC in an interview with Kenyans.co.ke.
Caroline Kimutai, who graduated top of the class, said: “The EMMLI course exposes media leaders and communication experts to all aspects of the media business. From HR, Marketing, Financial Management, Corporate Governance, law to innovation. These are useful in navigating an industry that is going through a lot or disruptions.”
Citizen TV's Jamila Mohamed, who was the class President, added: "It was a honour to lead a group of hardworking and dedicated peers in the industry. The class discussions, brainstorming sessions and solutions based learning were an eye opener for all of us. We finish this class having created memories and life long bonds of friendship and networks in the media industry in East Africa."
The programme, which brought together mid to senior-level managers, began in early 2021 and concluded in February 2023.
EMMLI is designed to equip media leaders with the requisite skills needed to develop innovative solutions for current and future problems in the media industry.
Here is the full list of the 2022 Class of Graduates
1. Aly Ramji - Director, Mediapix Limited
2. Bakari Machumu - CEO, Mwananchi Communications Ltd. (NMG, Tanzania)
3. Bernard Mwinzi - Managing Editor, Nation Media Group
4. Caroline Kimutai - Managing Editor, Digital at Standard Group
5. Caroline Mwangi - Communications Consultant
6. David Rupiny - Communication Manager, Uganda Investment Authority
7. Doreen Ogolo - Procurement Manager, Nation Media Group
8. Frank Sanga - Managing Editor, Azam Media, Tanzania
9. Jamila Mohamed - Managing Editor, Citizen TV
10. Joseph Kariuki - Lead, Communications and Media - International Justice Mission (IJM)
11. Julia Majale - Managing Editor, Tuko Media
12. Moses Ateng' - Head of Content Distribution at Vision Group, Uganda
13. Robert Ndungu - Managing Director, Kenyans.co.ke
14. Stephen Kimani - Former Managing Editor, Metropol TV, now with Apex Porter Novelli
