By Philomina Attah

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) on Wednesday commemorated the 2025 Communications Week Public Lecture.

The CSN also held a posthumous award ceremony in honour of the late Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of DAAR Communications.

The lecture had the theme “Media with Gentleness: A Path to Being Narrators of Hope in a Distressed Nation”.

It was part of the ongoing National Communications Week, a Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) initiative aimed at promoting media literacy and value-driven communication across the country.

Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, Secretary-General of the CSN, said that the Communications Week was an initiative launched by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

Banjo said that it was to foster dialogue and action on the evolving role of media in society and the Church.

He said that there was an urgent need for media literacy and responsible communication in an age where social media often amplifies division, aggression and sensationalism.

Banjo called for the “disarming of communications”, a plea to rid the media of hostility and to restore its role as a force for unity and the common good.

He lamented the decline in civility and values in contemporary Nigerian media, contrasting it with the principled foundations laid in the early days of broadcasting.

“Part of the event here today is the tribute to Chief Raymond Dokpesi, whose pioneering spirit transformed the Nigerian media landscape.

“As the founder of DAAR Communications in 1998, Dokpesi launched Ray Power FM, the nation’s first private radio station and African Independent Television (AIT), the first satellite TV station in Nigeria.

“Under his leadership, DAAR Communications championed African and Christian values, setting industry standards and resisting the lure of sensationalism.

“Thank you, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, for contributing to the mission of the Church and for promoting values in Nigeria and beyond,” Banjo said.

He also reminded participants that the legacy of responsible, value-driven communication must be upheld, and the memory of pioneers like Raymond Dokpesi must guide the next generation of communicators.

Highlights of the event was a minute of silence in memory of Chief Dokpesi, a fitting tribute to a man whose vision and integrity continue to inspire hope in Nigeria’s media and beyond.

The 2025 Communications Week continues across Catholic dioceses nationwide until June 1, promising further engagements around media ethics, social responsibility, and nation-building. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman