UniMAC, B&FT rekindle partnership to boost media education and reading culture

By Buertey Francis BORYOR

The University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) and the Business and Financial Times (B&FT) have taken steps to strengthen their collaboration to promote media education and foster a reading culture among students.

Nana Afua Rockson, Director-Public Affairs, UniMAC announced this during a courtesy call, to B&FT’s head office in Accra.

Ms. Rockson, interacting with the Chief Executive Officer of B&FT Dr. Godwin Acquaye, expressed UniMAC’s commitment to rebuilding relationships with media houses including B&FT, Africa’s leading provider of business information.

She highlighted her longstanding personal and professional connection with the newspaper, dating back to 2012 when she worked with Allure Ghana Ltd.

“Over the years, B&FT has supported my work at various organisations, including SOS Children’s Villages and GLICO. It is a brand I deeply respect and want UniMAC to associate with,” Ms. Rockson said.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of credible media outlets like B&FT in an era of misinformation and disinformation. “When something is reported in the Business and Financial Times, you know thorough research has gone into it,” she said.

Ms. Rockson, while sharing UniMAC’s vision, said it aims among other things to train the next generation of media professionals who are ready for the industry. To achieve this, she proposed closer collaboration between the university and B&FT, including opportunities for students to learn from practitioners and for faculty to stay updated on industry trends.

While emphasising access to the publication’s digital archives as a key focus for teaching and research, she pointed out that the country lacks a strong culture of archiving – making it difficult for students to access local content.

“B&FT’s archives could help students understand the evolution of media reporting and improve their skills in business journalism,” she added.

Ms. Rockson furthermore highlighted the importance of language training for journalists, especially in French, to enhance regional integration and storytelling across West Africa. In relation to this, she said that UniMAC’s Institute of Languages offers training in eight languages, including French, Chinese and Spanish, to prepare students for global opportunities.

In response, the CEO of B&FT outlined the newspaper’s efforts in cultivating a reading culture among young people, elaborating that it has been partnering with educational institutions to introduce learners to business news and encourage research.

“We want to create a platform where students can refer to B&FT as a credible source for their academic work,” he said.

Dr. Acquaye also mentioned B&FT’s digital version, which is accessible via an app. He said that the newspaper offers special subscription packages for students, making it easier for them to access content. “Our goal is to ensure that every student can benefit from our resources,” he added.

Both parties agreed on the need to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Ms. Rockson emphasised UniMAC’s resolve to produce graduates who represent excellence in media and communication.  The B&FT CEO on the other hand, reiterated the publication’s willingness to support the university in achieving this goal.

They both pledged to explore further ways of strengthening their partnership and contributing to growth of the country’s media landscape.

The B&FT team included the Head – Human Resources Department, Rhoda Mensah- Ankrah, Director of Operations, Dr. Daniel Anim and Sales and circulation Manager, Daniel Hollie.

The Director of Public Affairs was accompanied on her visit by UniMAC’s Institute of Languages Public Relations Officer, Kow Payin Nketsia-Richardson.

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