Meet the Leadership Team
Jamilah Tangaza
Jamilah Tangaza
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Training Coordinator
Profile
Jamilah Tangaza is a veteran journalist, communications expert, mentor, writer, and social analyst with decades of experience spanning international broadcasting, media leadership, strategic communications, and public sector engagement.
She began her journalism career with the BBC World Service, where she rose from a junior broadcast journalist to hold senior editorial leadership positions including BBC Abuja Editor and Head of the BBC Hausa Service. During her years with the BBC, she led editorial operations and oversaw content that reached millions of audiences across Africa and the wider Hausa-speaking world. Her extensive experience covering major political, social, and developmental issues gave her deep expertise in public interest journalism, newsroom leadership, conflict-sensitive reporting, and international editorial standards.
Throughout her career, Jamilah has participated in numerous professional development programmes and executive education courses in the United Kingdom. She also attended the Effective Strategies for Media Companies (MED) programme at Harvard Business School, USA, further strengthening her expertise in media leadership, strategic management, and organisational development.
Beyond broadcasting, she also served in Nigeria’s public sector as a Media and Communications Strategist, contributing to government communication initiatives and stakeholder engagement strategies. Her work across both media and governance sectors has provided her with unique insight into the relationship between journalism, public policy, and democratic accountability.
Academically, she holds a Master of Science degree in Management, Organisations and Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is also a Journalism Fellow of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Oxford University, where she further strengthened her expertise in contemporary journalism, media innovation, and the future of news in the digital era. She is currently a researcher on AI & Political Communication.
Tangaza continues to work as a consultant, mentor, media practitioner, and advocate for ethical journalism and responsible communication.
Karenga Ramadhan
Karenga Ramadhan
Associate Director, Journalism Training & Editorial Standards
Profile
Karenga Ramadhan is a distinguished Burundian statesman, international journalist, and governance expert whose career spans public service, diplomacy, media leadership, and national reconciliation. With decades of experience at the highest levels of government and public communication, he has played significant roles in strengthening democratic institutions, promoting dialogue, and advancing public accountability in Burundi and across the region.
His extensive public service career includes appointments as Minister of Information, Communication and Relations with Parliament, Government Spokesperson, Minister of Regional Integration, Special Advisor to the President of Burundi on Policy, Diplomacy and Security, Member of Parliament, President of the Rumonge Communal Council, Spokesperson of the National Assembly, President of the National Communication Council, and Member of Burundi’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Through these positions, he contributed to governance reforms, institutional development, peacebuilding initiatives, media regulation, and national cohesion.
Alongside his government service, Karanga built a respected career in international journalism. He served as a correspondent for Deutsche Welle, BBC Africa, and NHK World Japan, reporting on politics, governance, security, development, and international affairs. His journalism experience provided him with a deep understanding of public communication, media ethics, and the role of independent journalism in democratic societies.
A multilingual communicator and accomplished public affairs professional, Karanga combines practical experience in governance with expertise in diplomacy, strategic communication, crisis management, political analysis, and media policy. His work has consistently focused on fostering informed public discourse, strengthening institutions, and supporting peaceful and inclusive societies.
Karanga holds a Diploma in Mass Communication from the Egyptian Institute of Mass Communication. He is fluent in Kirundi, French, English, Swahili, German, Arabic, and Japanese, enabling him to engage effectively across diverse cultural and international environments.
As Associate Director, Journalism Training & Editorial Standards at Media Impact Initiative (MII), Karanga Ramadhan provides strategic leadership in journalism capacity building, editorial excellence, media ethics, and professional standards. Drawing on his unique experience in journalism, governance, diplomacy, and media regulation, he supports MII’s mission to strengthen ethical journalism, combat misinformation, and promote credible, responsible, and impactful reporting across Africa.
Idy Baraou
Idy Baraou
Senior Programme Associate, Journalism & Media Development
Profile
Idy Baraou is a veteran Nigerien journalist and communications professional with more than 25 years of experience in international broadcasting, media relations, and public diplomacy. He spent 12 years with the BBC World Service (1999–2011), reporting and presenting in English, Hausa, and French. During his tenure, he covered a wide range of issues, including current affairs, politics, security, governance, and environmental matters across Africa and beyond.
Throughout his career, Idy has participated in numerous high-level professional development programmes, including BBC World Service training courses for African journalists in London and Abuja, the U.S. Government’s prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on the American electoral system, and the Voice of America (VOA) workshop for African journalists in Dakar, Senegal. These experiences strengthened his expertise in journalism, international affairs, and strategic communications.
Academically, Idy holds a Master’s Degree in Communication for Development from the Institute of Journalism and Communication (ESSCOM-IFTIC), Niger, and a Master’s Degree in English Language from Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Since May 2021, Idy has served in the Political Section of the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. Prior to this role, he spent a decade as a Media Specialist in the Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Section, where he worked on media engagement, strategic communications, and public outreach initiatives.
In addition to his work with the BBC and the U.S. Embassy, Idy has contributed to a range of respected international media organisations, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), The Economist, CBS News, the Smithsonian Institution, Radio France Internationale (RFI), and Radio Canada International (RCI).
A passionate advocate for informed public discourse and cross-cultural understanding, Idy continues to contribute to the media landscape while increasingly pursuing his interests in writing and storytelling.Baraou is a professional translator and interpreter – in Hausa, French and English.