DR Henry Nzekwu, the founder of Bridge Radio in Delta, has called for “peace journalism” that balances hope with honest, ethical reporting, warning against the dangers of disinformation and the temptation to create false narratives.
Nzekwu gave the advice in Abuja during the fourth edition of the ComWEEK Public Lecture organised by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) for media practitionals, clergies and other dignitaries.
The National Communications Week Public Lecture wss combined with a posthumous award ceremony for the late Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a trailblazer in the Nigerian media theme “Media with Gentleness: A Path to Being Narrators of Hope in a Distressed Nation,”
Nzekwu , who was a Strategy and Public Communication Advisor in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation described Nigerians as courageous, determined people filled with pride and a conduit spirit.
Inspite of the bleak realities, Nzekwu said, the resilience and optimism of Nigerians, noting their capacity to thrive abroad and their enduring hope for better governance and positive change.
He urged the Church to lead in communicating hope, starting from within, while also addressing internal challenges and doctrinal inconsistencies.
Nzekwu added that communicating hope must not come at the expense of truth, and the nation’s journey from distress to hope depends on courage, accountability, and a renewed commitment to justice and peace.
“Nigerians thrive and excel outside our borders. Nigerians remain optimistic that better governance, accountability, positive change, and development are possible,” he said.
While assessing Nigeria’s current state, he said, “Nigeria remains a nation in distress”.
“Prayer for Nigeria in Distress” to highlight the country’s enduring crises worsening insecurity, deepening poverty, unemployment, and a persistent infrastructure deficit.”
He questioned the role of the media in such an environment, challenging whether “gentleness” in reporting means ignoring uncomfortable truths or avoiding criticism of those in power.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigerians (CBCN) Episcopal Chairman for Social Communications, Most Rev. David Ajang emphasised the Church’s commitment to empowering recipients of media through education and pastoral outreach.
Ajang who is also the Bishop of Lafia Diocese highlighted the urgent need to address media polarisation, digital disinformation, and cyberbullying challenges that threaten Nigeria’s social fabric.
While reflecting on the growth of ComWEEK, he said this began four years ago as an extension of the global World Communication Day initiated by Pope Paul VI in 1967.
He sais this has blossomed into a week-long national media literacy campaign, now recognised by the Vatican and other African bishops’ conferences.
The Bishop paid tribute to the visionaries behind ComWEEK, notably National Communications Director Fr. Michael Umoh and his team, for their dedication to fostering media literacy and ethical communication across Nigeria’s dioceses and parishes.
“Inspired by Pope Francis’ message for this year’s World Communications Day, we gather to explore how media can become a gentle force for hope.
“Let us be narrators of hope in a distressed nation, choosing words and stories that heal, unite, and uplift.
“The lecture, serving as a platform for dialogue among media experts, church leaders, and the public, aims to inspire a more constructive and compassionate approach to communication in Nigeria,” he said.
Bishop Ajang prayed that the programme would renew the nation’s media landscape and glorify God through truth and gentleness.
“In a world often divided by harsh rhetoric and misinformation, we call on all communicators to be gentle narrators of hope lighting a path toward healing and unity for Nigeria and beyond.
Also speaking, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Katsina,.Most Rev. Gerald Musa, has called for a return to virtue ethics, agenda-setting with integrity, and the principles of peace journalism.
“Virtue ethics simply say, be a good person first, the rest will follow. Our communication style should stem from our goodness,” he urged.
He encouraged media practitioners to tell the truth with integrity, expose injustice without destroying trust, and hold power accountable without resorting to hatred.
“Gentleness, communication does not mean avoiding the truth; rather, it means telling the truth with responsibility and a commitment to peace.
“May we as media practitioners truly embody the cause of justice and share with gentleness the hope that is in our hearts, leaving the audience inspired to become ambassadors of gentleness in their words and work.
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