By Godwin Utuedoye,
Catholic Media Practitioners from within and outside the African continents met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the SIGNIS-Africa Congress.
Nigerian delegates
According to the organisers, the meeting of the Catholic media practitioners in Africa which began on September 3-7, 2019, was to brainstorm and share ideas geared towards promoting the use of the new media in evangelization and as well inculcating positive values in the African youth.
The congress which attracted both the lay and the clergy in the media from all over Africa, was declared open on September 4, 2019 by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa and President of Ethiopian Catholic Bishops Conference, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphierl.
With the theme; “African Youth in the Digital World: Promoting Creativity For Integral Development“, participants said the congress is apt in this era of new media which have become a swift tool for communication and a platform for the expression of creativity, especially by the youth.
In a chat with one of the participants, Tony Agugba of the Veritas Newspaper Lagos Nigeria, maintained that regardless of the amazing advantages of the new media, there is a number of negative impacts on the youth such as cyber bullying, fraud, unhealthy addiction to mention but a few.
He said the onus is on the society to ensure that young people as ambassadors of Christ, use new media to propagate messages of love and hope.
In light of that, the Congress strongly highlighted the need for Communicators to seek ways of using communication to form the youth of today, as indisputably, young people are energetic and creative. It is important that they are encouraged and given an opportunity. They have a vision; and should be helped to build & shape the world.
Most Rev. Dennis Isizoh, Bishop Chairman, communication commission of the CBCN, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo of Oyo Diocese,Rev. Fr. Prof. Walter Ihejirika, President SIGNIS-Africa, Rev. Fr. Dr. Alumuko, President, SIGNIS Nigeria and Rev. Fr. Dr. Chris Anyanwu, National Director of Communication, Catholic Secretariats of Nigeria and others were among delegates that attended the congress.