The oil city of Warri on October 14, played host to Catholic Directors of Communication from all over Catholic arch/dioceses and Religious Congregations in Nigeria for their second plenary conference with the aim to promoting peace, security and total eradication of fake news through a balanced reportage.
With the theme; ” Communications Media and Security in Nigeria”, the conference attracted the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Chairman for Communication, Most Rev. Denis Isizoh, the host bishop, Most Rev. John Oke’Oghene Afareha and host of priests from different dioceses.
Declaring the event opened, the host bishop, Most Rev. John Afareha appreciated the Bishop Chairman for Communication, Most Rev. Isizoh on his dogged effort ensuring the communication department is active.
In his words; “I welcome you all with great affection and cordial greetings. I say a big thank you to the National President for his work. In the same vein, I offer sentiments of gratitude to all diocesan communication directors. I offer my affection of love to you all for your presence in Warri diocese. Your roles in the Church is essential for so many reasons”.
Reiterating the importance of Communication, Most Rev. Afareha noted that Communication is the creation and exchange of meaning, noting that the mass media in Nigeria has been effective as seen from the several strides she has recorded but lamented the inflow of too many fake news. The bishop maintained that truth is sacrosanct to communication activities, and urged all media workers to be objective in their reportage.
He however challenged them to the task of stemming the spread of fake news and to rediscovering the dignity of journalism and the personal responsibility of journalists to communicate the truth.
While wishing participants a peaceful deliberation, he called on them to effect meaningful and impactful changes to the holistic structure in Nigerian: from security, formulation of economic policies, and gathering national statistics in all strata in Nigeria.
The conference which began on Monday, October 14, will last through October 17, 2019 and it will feature paper presentation, workshop and meetings of directors.ors of Communication.