Catholic Media Practitioners Begins Convention in Jos

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, CAMPAN, has begun its 3rd National Convention in Jos, the Plateau State capital today.

The four-day programme which is holding at the Sacred Heart Pastoral Centre in Jos with the theme, “The New Media and Media Evangelization” brought Catholic media practitioners from all the Catholic Dioceses in Nigeria converging on Jos for the 2019 Convention.

At the opening session, the National Director of Social Communications of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria who also represented the Bishop Chairman of Social Communications, Most Rev Denis Isizoh, congratulated the association charging members to be witnesses ‘as well as be consistent in our Catholic faith even in the face of professional challenges’.

Very Rev Fr Chris Anyanwu charged the members saying that “teaching, and making the voice of the Church heard is one of the highest responsibilities of the Catholic Media practitioners because it is one of the best sources of witnessing to Christ”.

He encouraged the body to ensure that every Diocese in Nigeria has a chapter of CAMPAN existing at the next Convention.

In his address, the National President of CAMPAN, Mr Patrick Osu welcomed guests and delegates to the 2019 Annual Convention.

He said that the theme for the year was keenly selected, “to align with our current state of global media exigencies’ and seek for practical ways to rejuvenate our role and obligation towards the propagation of truth, peace, and justice”.

He stated that the leadership of the group has been able to strengthen and establish a strong media base for the Catholic Church through various media affiliated callings in the industry.

He urged the delegates to “imbibe discipline, the sincerity of purpose, hard work, and promotion of peace and harmony among the people”.

He appealed to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, through the CBCN Bishop Chairman for Communications to consider posting priests that have a special passion for communications to head the department at the Diocesan level advising that they should be trained so as to be abreast of developments within the communication world.

The keynote speaker at the Convention, Prof Rev Gotan, the Provost of the College of Education, Gindiri Plateau state urged the delegates to make judicious use of the new media to preach the gospel.

One of the major highlights of the first day of the program was the presentation of awards to winners in different categories. Mr Jude Dangwan of the Daily Asset from Jos Diocese emerged the Best Journalist of the Year 2019 while Mr Moses Gbande of the Nassarawa Reporters/EagleOnline from the same Diocese emerged Best Online Reporter of the Year 2019.

Other winners were Ms Jessica John from Yola Diocese who emerged the Best Radio Presenter of the Year 2019 while Vivien Iwu emerged Best Print Reporter of the Year 2019.

There was a goodwill message from the Long Gomai, His Royal Highness Martins Shaldas.