The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on journalists and media practitioners to uphold truth, professionalism and ethical values in the discharge of their duties as the Church marked the 2026 World Communications Day.
Chairman of the CBCN Committee on Social Communications and Catholic Bishop of Katsina Diocese, Gerald Musa, made the call during the closing ceremony of the week-long communication programme held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.
Bishop Musa urged journalists to remain committed to truth, responsible reporting and national unity, stressing that communication should promote peace rather than division.
According to him, the theme of this year’s World Communications Day, “Preserving Human Voices and Faces,” is particularly relevant to Nigeria’s current realities of insecurity, political tension, economic hardship and social mistrust.
He said communication must not become “another weapon of injury” in society, adding that media practitioners should verify information before publication to prevent the spread of falsehood and misinformation.
“Preserving human voices and faces means speaking without hatred and disagreeing without dehumanising. It means humanising victims of insecurity, poverty and displacement and using the media to build peace, defend truth and strengthen national cohesion,” he said.
The bishop noted that in an era where anyone with a mobile phone can publish information online, professional journalism has become even more indispensable.
“The answer to misinformation is responsible journalism; the answer to propaganda is truth,” he added.
Bishop Musa also called on governments at all levels to safeguard journalists and guarantee press freedom across the country.
In his remarks, Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Michael Banjo, commended journalists for their continued partnership with the Church and urged them to protect the integrity of the profession with courage and responsibility.
He said the media plays a vital role in shaping public conscience, strengthening democracy and amplifying messages of faith, justice, peace and human dignity.
Fr. Banjo also spoke on Nigeria’s security situation, noting that the true measure of security success is not merely the elimination of terrorist leaders but the restoration of safety to communities, schools, worship centres and public spaces.
“A nation is secure when citizens can live, work, worship, travel and sleep without fear,” he stated, while urging government to strengthen intelligence gathering and ensure security gains translate into real protection for ordinary Nigerians.
He further commended ongoing investments in infrastructure and prayed that World Communications Day would inspire citizens to “speak truth without hatred.”
Also speaking, Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Michael Umoh, appreciated journalists for their support to the Church and appealed for continued collaboration with the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and the CBCN.
Fr. Umoh described the 2026 celebration as historic, as it coincided with the conclusion of the 5th edition of the Communication Week (ComWEEK), a nationwide grassroots media literacy programme held in parishes and chaplaincies across Nigeria.
He formally introduced Bishop Musa as the new Chairman of the CBCN Committee on Social Communications, describing him as “a titan in the field of communication” with vast academic and pastoral experience.
Reflecting on his six-year tenure as National Director of Social Communications, Fr. Umoh said significant progress had been made in strengthening the Church’s digital presence through initiatives such as the Nigeria Catholic Network and the institutionalisation of ComWEEK.
He urged journalists to continue supporting the Church’s communication mission and described the media and the Church as partners in serving as “the conscience of the nation” amid Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
