Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
Association of Arch/Diocesan/Religious Directors of Social Communications in Nigeria is currently meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital to seek ways to address the issue of communication as it relates to real, honest and sincere news and the basic reality of what humanity and Society needs to know.
Speaking in a chat with newsmen on Monday, Director of Social Communication, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Rev. Fr Moses Iorapuu said the objective of the conference is to bring to the front burner, issues that lead to division, conflict and crises around the world.
Fr. Iorapuu explained that the Conference which is the first plenary to hold in Benue has the theme “We are members one of another (Eph 4:25) from social network communities to human communities”
“The church sees communication, whether it is modern or traditional, electronic or print, as its own patrimony because God is the first communicator and since God communicated to the world by its Creation, the church being of God, sees all forms of communication as the property of the church and that is why the church continues to communicate.
“In this era of fake news, it is important for members of the church communication or directors of social communications across the country to always meet to go deeper into the Pope’s message on world communications day this year, which is the theme of the conference.
He stated that while the world sees the media, whether mass or traditional, as an instrument of communication, the church sees it as a means which edifies the dignity of humanity.
Iorapuu posited that the choice of Makurdi as venue for the conference was significant as it will give the religious body a clearer view of events that have happened in the state within the last few years.
He identified some of the sad events to include the crises of herdsmen to the persecution of the church which led to the killing of priests and some parishioners among others stressing that with effective communication, the world will in solidarity, understand what the Church in Benue state and Nigeria is being subjected to.