Digital sector: journalists trained in covering digital issues
More than twenty journalists took part, on Tuesday 15 September 2020 in Cotonou, in an awareness workshop on covering digital issues in the Republic of Benin. The Government’s vision for the digital sector, the flagship projects of the Government Action Programme (PAG) 2016-2021 in this cross-cutting sector, the main reforms, the sector’s bodies and agencies, and expectations regarding media relations were on the agenda of this day of discussions initiated by the digital sector.
At the opening of the workshop, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, Mr Ahmed Sacca YAROU, recalled the vision of His Excellency President Patrice Talon, which is to transform Benin into the “digital platform of West Africa… and make Information and Communication Technologies the main lever of its socio-economic development”.
Four activities were on the agenda of this day of discussions. In the first presentation, on the theme “The Government’s vision and actions in the digital sector”, Chief of Staff Ahmed Sacca YAROU gave further details on the Government’s six flagship projects in the digital sector. According to his presentation, the deployment of broadband and very high-speed internet throughout the country, the transition to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), the implementation of smart administration (Smart Gov), the widespread use of e-commerce, the widespread use of digital technology through education and training, and the promotion and development of digital content had all reached a very advanced stage of implementation in 2020.
Working in synergy with the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation (MND), the Digital Development Agency (ADN), the Information Services and Systems Agency (ASSI), the National Information Systems Security Agency (ANSSI) and the Beninese Agency for Universal Service in Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ABSU CEP) are the stakeholders in public action in the digital sector in Benin. In turn, the heads of these government agencies presented their organisations and flagship actions to the journalists. The presentations by the Director General of ADN, Mr Serge ADJOVI, the Director General of ANSSI, Mr Ouanilo FAGLA MEDEGAN, and the Director General of ABSU CEP, Emile KOUGBADI, gave participants a better understanding of the sector’s institutional framework and governance. In response to participants’ questions, they presented some key results in the areas of digital infrastructure, the digitisation of public services, the universal electronic communications service, digital security and capacity building for various stakeholders. Reforms in the sector, in particular issues relating to the Digital Code, were also discussed.
The aim of this workshop was to consolidate the existing relationship between the media and government stakeholders in order to encourage the production of quality content on the digital economy. Since 2018, a Digital Economy Communication and Marketing Unit (CCMEN) has been in place to support the communication activities needed to promote the digital economy and increase its impact in Benin and in the sub-region. After discussing this unit’s expectations regarding media relations, the participants resolved to set up a network of journalists specialising in digital issues.