Sharon Betts (Intern–FBC) AYV News, September 24, 2025
The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire, Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr., has welcomed twenty university students from across Sierra Leone as part of AYV’s Academy Internship Programme.
Meeting the Interns for the first time since they commenced a three-month internship programme aimed at empowering students through practical media experience, Amb. Navo Jr. encouraged them to uphold AYV’s core values and editorial policies, further admonishing them against putting forward personal, tribal, or political interests at work.
He encouraged them to give their best, while warning that AYV is a non-political institution with a priority to showcase Sierra Leone in a positive light both locally and internationally.
Amb. Navo said, “I want to encourage you all to respect the AYV workplace policies and Code of Conduct, attendance, punctuality, reporting structure, confidentiality, and also respect teamwork and workplace ethics, safety guidelines and equipment handling”.
Speaking on behalf of the Interns, Mariatu Khadijatu Bah from Fourah Bay College thanked the CEO for making time out of his busy schedule to meet them, while informing him that since the commencement of the Internship programme, they have learnt a lot.
“Sir, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the management of AYV for providing us with this incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of journalism. This initiative has not only deepened our practical understanding but also will allow us to connect with mentors we have long admired and respected. We truly appreciate every effort that made this possible, and we are committed to giving our very best moving forward.” Mariatu Khadijatu Bah concluded.
As part of their orientation, the interns were introduced to the history, vision, mission, and structure of AYV, as well as its major platforms—TV, radio, print, and digital.
The AYV Academy and Internship Programme is a key part of AYV’s commitment to youth empowerment, media development, and national transformation. It aims to nurture the next generation of Sierra Leonean media professionals by equipping them with the right skills and newsroom discipline.
The program is expected to run for several weeks, culminating in hands-on experience in radio, print, television, and digital journalism.
AYV continues to play a leading role in empowering youth through media literacy and professional development skills.
