The Apostolic Administrator, Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt, Most Rev. Dr. Patrick Eluke says the Catholic Church in Nigeria will continue to partner with the state in the area of information dissemination, countering the negative effects of disinformation and fake news.
Most Rev. Eluke made the pledge at the inauguration of the 2025 world communication week, held in Port Harcourt with the theme “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your Heart.”
The Prelate while highlighting the important role the media play in communicating to the society, stated that Church has zero tolerance for fake news and disinformation, and in the face of the current hardship in the land, the Church remains committed to communicating hope through the media.
Director of Social Communication, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the Rev. Fr. Mike Umoh, said the Church was reminding Journalists to always communicate hope in their reportage even in the face of daunting challenges.
He stated that if the church is preaching righteousness and uprightness to the world, and there is another strong voice speaking in the opposite direction, it is important that the church pays attention to such phenomenon.
Fr. Umoh who underscored the power of the media over culture of the people, urged journalists to ensure that their reportage of any issues carries hope for the people.
The Director of Social Communication, Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Ikokwu Onwuchekwa in his welcome address stated that the major challenge in communication is to learn how to talk to one another, and not just how to generate and consume information.
In their good will messages the Nigerian union of journalists, Rivers State council represented by the vice chairman, Mr. Kelvin Nengia and the chairperson, Nigerian Association of women Journalists NAWOJ River State, Mrs. Susan Serekana-Nwikana commended the Catholic Church’ devotion to media and communication.
Activities marking this year’s world communication week, otherwise known as media literacy week in the Church is expected to run from the 25th of May to 1st of June at all levels of the Church across the country.
