The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Reverend Felix Femi Ajakaye, has called on all communication practitioners especially the journalists to focus more on developmental journalism and uphold press freedom with responsibility so that they can be a force to reckon with.
He made the call at the 47th World Communication Day Celebration with the theme "Social Networks: Portals of truth and faith; New Spaces for Evangelization", held at Saint Patrick's Catholic Cathedral in Ado-Ekiti.
While appreciating the communication practitioners for their efforts in committing themselves to the struggle in the sanitization of our society, he admonished the men of pen profession to strive to make research and operate objectively; saying in this way and with their integrity intact, they would also be portals of truth and faith to the people.
According to the Cleric, he expected the practitioners to start working together and have a formidable team to save this country from those who do not mean well for Nigeria. Citing the spate of security challenges in the country, Reverend Ajakaye said that, while Nigeria is faced with these challenges, certain people overstretched the security agents with their limited number to fight their personal and selfish wars of attrition in the name of political power, thereby creating more tension in the land.
He advised the communication practitioners never to lose their heads, adding that they all need to identify visionaries who are well focused and also support them to lead the country and not thugs and pretenders.
The Catholic Bishop also delivered the message of Pope Francis. In the message, the Pope considered the emergence of "digital social networks as helping to create an open public place where the people share ideas, information and opinions in which new relationship and forms of community can come into being."
Pope Francis urged the people to make adequate use of those spaces in fostering all forms of healthy dialogue and critical debate as they share ideas among themselves.
He said that in social networks, believers show their authenticity by sharing the profound source of their joy and hope; that is, faith in the merciful and loving God, believers are to be consistent witnesses in communicating and sharing the gospel, which is the truth. Reverend Ajakaye prayed for the promotion of justice, peace and development in the country through our God-given talents.
The State's Head of Service, Mr. Bunmi Famosaya, while delivering the Ekiti State Governor's message during the occasion, charged journalists on the need to uphold the value of objectivity in their reportage.
He told them to thoroughly cross-check facts before publishing to keep their integrity intact in the discharge of their duty.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria