For decades, many narratives about Africa have been dominated by images of crisis. Conflict, poverty, disasters, political instability, and social challenges have headlined stories about the continent. While these realities remain important and deserve attention, a growing movement of African scholars, journalists, and communication practitioners is asking a different question: what happens when African stories also make visible resilience, innovation, community action, and pathways to change?
This question was central to conversations at the Lagos Studies Association (LSA) 2026 Conference, one of Africa’s largest academic gatherings and arguably one of the most significant African studies conferences globally. Convened by Saheed Aderinto, a Nigerian American Professor of History and African and African Diaspora Studies at Florida International University, an award-winning author, and a filmmaker, the conference brought together scholars, researchers, practitioners, and students from across Africa and beyond, creating a space where ideas about communication, culture, identity, and social transformation intersected.
Beyond the richness of the programme content, what stood out was the culture of intellectual engagement. The presentation rooms were not spaces dominated by personalities, titles, or professional advancement. They were spaces where ideas were presented, questioned, challenged, and strengthened via constructive and conversational engagement. Titles and academic ranks appeared less important than the quality of ideas being exchanged.A professor and an early-career researcher could be found in the same space, engaged in the same process of knowledge creation. Constructive criticism was not treated as a rejection of ideas but as part of the academic process. It is a reminder that scholarship grows through dialogue.
One of the conversations that reflected this spirit was the Solutions Journalism panel, which explored how storytelling can move beyond simply documenting problems to highlighting responses, possibilities, and evidence of change.
The panel, co-organised by myself and Jamiu Folarin, brought together researchers and practitioners from universities, media organisations, and civil society, demonstrating the growing interest in Solutions Journalism as a field that cuts across traditional boundaries.
The presentations examined different dimensions of solutions-oriented storytelling.
Khadijat Adedeji-Olona of Lagos State University explored constructive storytelling in Nigerian documentary practice, examining how documentary producers negotiate narratives that move beyond merely capturing challenges to highlighting possibilities and responses.
Ridwan Abiola Kolawole of the University of Ibadan examined solutions perspectives in Nigerian media reportage of farmer-herder conflicts. His work challenged dominant crisis-driven narratives and explored how journalism can contribute to deeper understanding and social cohesion.
The question of whether Solutions Journalism has fully moved from theory into practice was examined by Samuel Chukwuemeka Nwamini and Jeremiah Anene Nwankwegu of Ebonyi State University, who explored the realities of newsroom adoption within the Nigerian media ecosystem.
The future of journalism education also received attention. Ismail Durojaye Oladosu of Summit University examined pathways for integrating Solutions Journalism into journalism curricula, highlighting the need to prepare future journalists with approaches that prioritise constructive and impactful storytelling.
Other presentations demonstrated the wide application of Solutions Journalism beyond conventional reporting.
Oluwaseun Durojaiye of Social Voices examined the role of Solutions Journalism in strengthening accountability and trust, while Adakole James Ojo of Legit.ng highlighted newsroom-classroom collaborations as a practical model for strengthening journalism training.
The relevance of solutions-oriented storytelling for social change was also explored through research on health communication, gender, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion. Ibrahim Olalekan Odenike and Ganiyat Tijani-Adenle examined how Solutions Journalism can support HPV vaccination awareness among Lagos residents, while Tijani-Adenle further explored gendered solutions through digital journalism and civil society engagement.
Raheem Adegbenga Akintunde examined innovative audio-visual storytelling through documentary approaches focused on entrepreneurship solutions, while Arowona Kamildeen Tunde and Yinusa Olumuyiwa Ganiyu explored financial inclusion narratives through evidence-based mobile money stories.
Lateefat Ibrahim’s presentation reflected on constructive storytelling as a practice, pedagogy, and sustainability model for African journalism.
One of the major lessons from the panel was that Solutions Journalism is moving beyond being a newsroom practice into an important area of academic inquiry. As universities increasingly engage with the field, there is a need for stronger representation of Solutions Journalism conversations at academic conferences, more research collaborations, and deeper engagement between scholars and practitioners.
The presence of Solutions Journalism at LSA 2026 was significant because it placed the conversation within wider debates about African development, identity, communication, and social transformation.
Another important conversation emerging from the conference was the need for stronger local resources for teaching Solutions Journalism. While global resources have provided important foundations for the field, African journalism education requires materials, examples, and case studies drawn from African newsrooms, communities, and lived realities.
The next phase of Solutions Journalism in Africa will depend on stronger partnerships between universities and media organisations ensuring that classrooms and newsrooms continue to learn from one another.
Beyond the intellectual exchanges, LSA 2026 also demonstrated the importance of hospitality and cultural connection in academic spaces. For five days, participants were treated to three meals daily, featuring a rich variety of local delicacies. It was inspiring to see participants from different parts of the world enjoy meals that are part of everyday Nigerian life.
Food became another form of cultural exchange. It was a reminder that conferences are not only about papers and presentations but also about relationships, shared experiences, and building communities across borders.
LSA 2026 demonstrated that African storytelling is evolving. The goal is not to ignore challenges or romanticise realities, but to expand the frame to tell stories that recognise problems while also making visible the people, ideas, and systems working towards solutions.
The future of African storytelling may not lie in choosing between reporting problems and reporting progress. It may lie in doing both with greater depth, balance, and imagination.
Rasheed Adebiyi is an Associate Professor of Mass Communication, Fountain University, Osogbo, Nigeria