In a landmark move set to elevate automotive journalism across the continent, the Association of Africa’s Automotive Journalists (AAAJ) was officially launched in Kigali, Rwanda, heralding a new era of professional collaboration and industry-focused storytelling in Africa’s burgeoning auto sector.
The unveiling, which coincided with a test-driving event featuring Volkswagen’s latest models, brought together over 25 leading motoring journalists from across the continent.
Representatives from Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Malawi were in attendance, marking a significant step toward continental media integration in the automotive sphere.
At the forefront of the initiative is Mike Ochonma, former Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), who now serves as the inaugural President of AAAJ.
In his remarks, Ochonma described the association as the outcome of years of dialogue and strategic collaboration among automotive media professionals across Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The AAAJ is more than just a network of journalists; it’s a vision-driven platform to shape the future of automotive storytelling in Africa. Our goal is to ensure that the continent’s voice is heard, accurately, and professionally in the global auto narrative.”
The newly formed executive committee includes: Mike Ochonma (Nigeria) – President, Trevor Lamenya (Kenya) – Vice President, Fact Jeke (Zimbabwe) – Secretary General, Moses Akaigwe (Nigeria) and Richard Wiley (South Africa) – Advisers.
Driving Professionalism and Industry Growth
AAAJ’s core objectives include:
– Organizing training workshops, conferences, and seminars.
– Promoting knowledge-sharing and best practices in auto journalism.
– Creating a unified platform for news, features, and analysis across Africa.
– Advocating for accurate, balanced, and insightful reporting.
– Recognizing excellence in automotive journalism through annual awards.
Importantly, AAAJ aims to complement the efforts of the Association of African Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), which has led industrialization efforts across the continent since 2015.
By promoting regional value chains and engaging governments to shape investor-friendly policies, AAAM’s work aligns with AAAJ’s journalistic mandate to spotlight Africa’s role in the global auto landscape.
Industry Backing and Encouragement
In a strong show of industry support, Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa, and Victoria Backhaus-Jerling, CEO of AAAM, congratulated the AAAJ leadership and pledged their support.
Both called on the AAAJ to use its platform to reshape the narrative of Africa’s auto sector through informed, consistent, and impactful storytelling.
As Africa moves to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its regional manufacturing potential, the AAAJ stands ready to play a vital role, not just as observers but as storytellers of a continent on the move.
