Standard Bank, operating as Stanbic in Kenya, has reaffirmed its commitment to Africa’s long-term economic transformation through its Platinum Sponsorship of the 2026 Africa Editors Congress.
The continental gathering, hosted by the African Editors Forum and the Eastern Africa Editors Society, will be held at the Graduate School for Media and Communications at Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya.
The inaugural congress is expected to convene more than 200 editors-in-chief, media owners, regulators, and technology leaders from across the continent under the theme: “Reclaiming Value, Rebuilding Trust, Redefining Sustainability.”
Through its sponsorship, Standard Bank is underscoring its belief that sustainable economic growth depends on strong institutional ecosystems, including a financially sustainable and independent media sector. The bank says trusted information systems are critical to transparent markets, strengthened investor confidence, SME growth, and inclusive economic participation across Africa.
Standard Bank’s Regional Chief Executive for East Africa, Dr. Joshua Oigara, described journalism as central to economic vitality.
“The media is the circulatory system for the information that fuels our economies. In a rapidly changing landscape of AI and digitization, our support for the media remains firm. For East Africa to realize its immense growth potential, we need a vibrant media ecosystem that fosters transparency and builds investor confidence. Our support for the Africa Editors Congress is a commitment to the partners who are essential in building an informed and growing market,” he said.
Anne Aliker, Head of Africa Regions–Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank Group, framed the sponsorship within the bank’s broader continental strategy.
“Our purpose is to drive Africa’s growth, and that growth is inextricably linked to the health of its key institutions. A trusted, innovative, and sustainable media sector is not a peripheral concern; it is a fundamental engine for progress. When the media succeeds in creating informed and engaged societies, we all benefit. This investment is about ensuring the storytellers who shape our continent’s future have a sustainable platform,” she said.
Churchill Otieno, President of the African Editors Forum, said the congress represents a defining moment for African journalism.
“The Africa Editors Congress is a continental assertion of African agency in how journalism defines value, shapes public trust, and influences the economic and democratic architecture of our societies. At a time when global information flows are uneven and the business models underpinning journalism are under strain, African editors are choosing not to be passive participants in the system, but active authors of its reform. We are grateful to partners who understand that investing in journalism is, fundamentally, investing in Africa’s voice, accountability, and future,” Otieno said.
The 2026 Africa Editors Congress will focus on developing tangible outcomes, including a Continental Statement on Public-Interest Media Regulation aimed at securing the future of journalism in Africa.
This marks the first edition of the Africa Editors Congress, positioning it as a new continental platform for redefining journalism’s value and sustainability in a rapidly evolving digital era.
