By: Yunus .S. Saliu
The University of The Gambia (UTG) School of Journalism and Digital Media (SJDM) in collaboration with the UNESCO/UNPBF Friday wrapped up a four-day workshop on its developed curriculum under the theme – Mainstreaming Education on Hate Speech, Fact-Checking, Media and Disability and Media and Artificial Intelligence into the Curriculum of Tertiary Media Institutions in The Gambia.
The training held at the GAFNA Hall, Kanifing kicked off on the 27th and ended on the 30th of May 2025 and was attended by a diverse group of educationalists, journalists, activists, writers, and others.
Participants covered different topics including a general overview of the curriculum recommendations from previous workshops, fact-checking, hate speech, inclusion/disability, ethics, gender, and crosscutting issues relating to artificial intelligence (AI) education, these were respectively presented by Prof Mel, Usman, Omar Saibo, Mustapha Ceesay, and Dr. Onifade.
Meanwhile, Professor Melchizedek Onobe, Dean of the University of The Gambia’s School of Journalism and Digital Media (SJDM), delivered a powerful message at the opening of a four-day workshop.
Quoting an adage, he said “When a man bites a dog, it is news. But when the media bites the truth, it’s a tragedy.”
However, he underscored the vital role of ethical journalism while urging journalists to be fearless in their pursuit of truth and to uphold humility and integrity in its delivery.
Fatou Njie of The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO delivered a heartfelt call to action, she urged participants to engage in the training not only for their personal growth but also for the benefit of the communities they serve
“The media is not just a tool. It’s a mirror of who we are and who we aspire to be,” she emphasized.
The workshop’s modules, she reiterated focused on Hate Speech, Fact-Checking, Media and Disability, and Media and Artificial Intelligence (AI), saying they were both timely and profoundly relevant to the evolving media landscape.
Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu, Focal Person for the Tertiary AI Education Project and Lecturer at the SJDM, announced that the curriculum will first be piloted at the University of The Gambia, with plans to expand it to other institutions as a national standard. This initiative reflects a bold and transformative vision: to foster a journalism culture in The Gambia that is ethical, inclusive, courageous, and deeply human.
His Excellency, the President of the ECOWAS Commission has said that ECOWAS today, represents more than an Institution—it is a symbol of the enduring aspirations of over 400 million citizens.
