AUB-UNESCO Regional Workshop in Chad; ONAMA Officially Joins the African Union of Broadcasting (27 to 29 July 2026)

The National Office of Audiovisual Media of Chad (ONAMA) has officially joined the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), marking a significant milestone for regional media cooperation in Africa.

The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of the AUB-UNESCO Regional Workshop on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Reporting in Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Contexts, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in N'Djamena, Chad.

Organized under the high patronage of Chad's Ministry of Communication and Government Spokesperson, the workshop brings together journalists, media executives, policymakers and environmental experts from Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, alongside representatives of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), international organizations and the diplomatic community.

The opening ceremony, held on July 27 2026, was attended by the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, Mr. Gassim Chérif Mahamat; the Minister of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Mr. Hassan Bakhit Djamous; AUB Director General, Mr. Grégoire Ndjaka; and ONAMA Director General, Mr. Boukar Sanda.

A colorful performance by Chad's National Ballet welcomed participants and celebrated the country's rich cultural heritage before the official proceedings.

Welcoming ONAMA into the Union, AUB Director General, Mr. Grégoire Ndjaka, described the development as an important step in strengthening collaboration among African public service broadcasters.

"ONAMA's membership expands the AUB family and reflects our shared commitment to harnessing the power of media to address the continent's most pressing challenges, including climate change and disaster risk reduction," he said.

The three-day regional workshop focuses on strengthening the capacity of journalists to report effectively on climate change, disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action in fragile and conflict-affected settings across the Lake Chad Basin. Participants are also exploring strategies to improve early warning communication, promote solutions-oriented journalism and enhance public awareness to help protect vulnerable communities from climate-related disasters.

The workshop is part of the AUB-UNESCO project, Support for Media in the Lake Chad Basin in Climate Action and Disaster Management, which seeks to strengthen the role of the media in building climate resilience and supporting disaster preparedness across the region.