By Ikenna Nwagbara

In a major paradigm shift for pastoral communication, the Catholic Church in Nigeria has continuously advanced the shift from the traditional, single-day celebration of World Communication Day (WCD) to a week-long nationwide media literacy movement known as Communications Week (ComWEEK). Initiated five years ago by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), ComWEEK has transformed how local communities engage modern digital culture, fostering grassroots media literacy and digital discipline across thousands of parishes, chaplaincies, and institutions. The initiative has earned high praise and official endorsement from the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communication, which hailed the project as “a creative and proactive response to contemporary technological challenges.”

At the helm of steering this structural and pastoral evolution is the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, whose six-year tenure has been defined by a comprehensive overhaul of the Church’s national communication architecture. The restructuring project driven by the National Directorate stems from several key initiatives aimed at moving away from isolated media efforts toward a unified, mission-driven approach.

A Unified Communications Structure

At the foundation of this structural renewal is the CBCN’s approved vision to establish an Integrated, Effective, and Efficient Communications Structure (IEES), supported by a unified organogram that serves as the central coordinating hub for all entities bearing the name “Catholic,” thereby placing social communication at the very heart of the Church’s life and evangelising mission.

This framework integrates previously parallel media associations into a single network. Bodies such as SIGNIS Nigeria, the umbrella association for Catholic communicators, alongside the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN) and the Catholic Artistes and Entertainers Association of Nigeria (CAEAN), are now structured to align directly with ecclesiastical governance across parish, diocesan, provincial, and national levels.

Forming the Next Generation of Media Ministers

To equip future priests for pastoral care in the digital age, a National Media Syllabus was introduced into Catholic major seminaries across Nigeria, forming young clergy into versatile media ministers from the earliest stages of their formation.

A major milestone in this process occurred at the 2026 General Assembly and Media Training held at the CSN in Abuja from July 14 to 16, where delegates endorsed harmonised draft constitutions for the Catholic Directors of Social Communications in Nigeria (CDSCN) and SIGNIS Nigeria. These documents formally link key leadership roles, such as the SIGNIS Nigeria presidency, directly to the National Directorate to preserve canonical and pastoral alignment.

Furthermore, the renewal oversaw the deployment of national digital networks, including the Nigerian Catholic Network (NCN) App, while charging Catholic communicators with utilising media platforms for civic education, voter awareness, and ethical conscience formation ahead of major national milestones like the 2027 general elections.

A Tenure Concludes, a Momentum Continues

In line with CBCN policy for directors serving at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Fr. Umoh’s six-year tenure as National Director is coming to its canonical conclusion in about a month.

Reflecting on the journey during the recent General Assembly in Abuja, Fr. Umoh expressed deep gratitude to the Bishops’ Conference, diocesan directors, and lay collaborators for their dedicated support. He encouraged the assembly and incoming leadership to sustain the momentum of structural synergy, ensuring that Catholic media bodies remain dedicated, mission-oriented instruments for truth, peace, and the Gospel.

Fr. Oliver Ikenna Nwagbara is a member of the Congregation of Christ the Emmanuel (CCE) and Assistant Pastor at Good Shepherd Parish in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, Canada.