Standard Bank Invests in African Media Sustainability as a Catalyst for Continental Growth

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 sponsorship highlights the bank’s support for strong, trusted institutions that foster market confidence and expand economic participation across the continent.

The congress, hosted by the African Editors Forum and the Eastern Africa Editors Society, will take place at the Graduate School for Media and Communications at Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya. It is expected to convene more than 200 editors-in-chief, media owners, regulators and technology leaders from across the continent to confront the industry’s most pressing challenges under the theme, “Reclaiming Value, Rebuilding Trust, Redefining Sustainability.”

Through this partnership, Standard Bank is reinforcing its belief that sustainable economic growth depends on strong institutional ecosystems including a financially sustainable and independent media ecosystem. The bank recognises that trusted information systems support transparent markets, strengthen investor confidence, enable SME growth, and ultimately drive inclusive economic participation across Africa.

Standard Bank’s Regional Chief Executive for East Africa, Dr. Joshua Oigara said, “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.”

Anne Aliker, Head of Africa Regions-Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) at Standard Bank Group, spoke to the broader vision, “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.”