The Directors of Social Communications from the various dioceses and Religious Congregations in Nigeria have met at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State for their plenary to deliberate on the theme “Communicating God’s Mercy in a Multicultural Society. Beginning from Monday October 12through Wednesday October 14, 2015, the directors were hosted at the Cardinal Ekandem Pastoral Centre named after the eminent prince of the Church Dominic Cardinal Ekandem. The theme of the plenary is one that reflects the theme of the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by the Holy Father Pope Francis as well as his message for the 2016 World Communications Day titled “Communication and Mercy: A fruitful encounter.” The conference was attended by about fifty communications directors and their representatives including the delegation from the Catholic Diocese of Warri Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Benedict Ukutegbe and Rev. Fr. Israel Inaede.
On the day of arrival, the directors and their representatives were heartily welcomed by Fr. Chris Anyanvwu on behalf of the Episcopal Chairman for Social Communications Most Rev. Godfrey Onah who was unavoidably absent, and the communications director of the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene Rev. Fr. Thomas Ebong. The latter encouraged everyone to feel at home, relax and enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Akwa Ibom. To aid the relaxation, the choir of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Ikot Epkene gave a melodious welcome song.
On Tuesday October 13, 2015, the communicators gathered at the Immaculate Conception Parish church for the celebration of the Holy Mass. It was fitting to first have the communion of God’s love so that they can be strengthened to communicate his love and mercy. The Mass was presided over by His Lordship Most Rev. Camillus Umoh represented by Very Rev. Fr. Prof. John Umoh. In his Homily the bishop reflected on the theme of the conference “communicating God’s mercy in a multicultural society.”
The opening ceremony started at about 9:30am as the participants were in high spirits. The Host Bishop Most Rev. Camillus Umoh represented by the Chancellor Very Rev. Fr. Godwin Otu gave a welcome address to the participants and urged them to make use of the time of the conference to seek how better to use the media for the promotion of the faith.
Interestingly, the conference witnessed the presence of the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Moses Ekpo who welcomed and thanked everyone for choosing the state as the venue for such an august meeting to deliberate on such a timely topic. The Episcopal Chairman for Social Communications Most Rev. Godfrey Onah represented by the Director for Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Fr. Chris Anyanwu, gave the Keynote Address on “Communicating God’s Mercy in a Multicultural Society”. He says that Nigeria needs God’s mercy to overcome the challenges of Boko Haram and the evil of corruption and admonished that the deliberations should take the Nigerian context into consideration.
Also, the communications director of the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Epkene Rev. Fr. Thomas Ebong gave an address in which he welcomed everyone reminding the communicators that “what marks us out as Catholic media professionals is that we are bearers of saving and not breaking news.”
At the end of the opening ceremony, there was a meeting of all the directors. In the meeting it was made known that the province of Ibadan will play host to the next plenary session of the meeting of directors of communications. After the meeting, the directors were taken on a tour around Akwa Ibom. The day was crowned with a “gala night” where the delegates were treated to a plethora of entertaining performances.
On Wednesday 14th October, 2015 bade farewell to the city after the closing Mass at 6am. Everyone gave thanks to God for the blessings of the conference and look forward to the meeting in the Ibadan province next year.
