Catholic Journalists in Nigeria Encouraged to Engage Social Media to Spread Gospel Values

“They had realized that the various platforms are powerful tools for effective communication, evangelization and to reach a wider audience,” he told the journalists.

He said that most of the bishops now employ the new media to send their communiqués, pastoral messages and homilies to others outside their ecclesiastical jurisdictions.

Recounting his personal experience of social media, he said he was convinced that the new media is really a powerful tool for evangelization if positively and constructively engaged by the handlers.

“Many Nigerians and members of the international community have begun to applaud the good works of the Catholic Church in Nigeria,’’ he said in reference to the interactive nature of social media.

The journalists in Nigeria under their forum, CAMPAN, took note of the growing number of young people engaging social media platforms in their country and called on the Church leadership to tap into the skills and interests of young people in this era of digitality to facilitate the spreading of the gospel. 

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The convention also noted that just as the digital media can strengthen the Church's efforts in evangelization, formation, and growth of faith, digital platforms can have negative influences through the spread of falsehoods through fake news as well as equip radical groups with possibilities to spread propaganda and even recruit candidates.

CAMPAN encouraged Bishops in Nigeria to appoint priests with passion for communication as chaplains to the association at diocesan level.

The association also urged Bishops to ensure their directors of social communication and lay personnel receive regular training and attend refresher programmes that would always home their skills in their duties in their respective dioceses.