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Mr Gamal Eneyet, an Egyptian Media Expert, has suggested the establishment of an African common media platform to tell the African story to the world.

“This African website or portal should contain Africa news, including politics, economics, sports and music, which the Western World could use to obtain reliable and credible news and television materials from Africa”.

Mr Eneyet expressed disappointment that out of the number of communication companies in the world Africa still owns none.

The situation, he noted, gives leverage to owners of those communication channels to continue to hold on the “hearts and minds” of Africans with the news and television materials they channel out to them.

Mr Eneyet was addressing journalists and media practitioners on: “Challenges facing the media in Africa,” at a media training forum in Cairo.

He said the media in Africa is faced with a number of challenges including professionalism, economic, security and political issues, as well as technical, finances and language barriers, which hinder the efficiency and vibrancy of the media industry in Africa.

He said it is sad that ownership of communication channels and sources in Africa are limited to individual countries instead a major one that could speak for the entire African continent.

“Africa needs a common media platform to provide the world with news to tell its own stories in an African perspective.

“Africa should not sit and allow the West to continue to provide their side of stories and television materials to our people,” Mr Eneyet said.

He urged African governments to embrace the idea and translate it into a reality for Africa to take a centre stage in the communication industry.

He gave the assurance that Egypt is prepared to lead the crusade in ensuring that Africa does not lag behind.