Fides Media Living the Faith
The Zambian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Solomon Samuel Jere has reiterated the importance of the role of the Church in the development of any nation, the human person and the society in general. The Ambassador made this assrtion in his speech when he led a delegation of Radio Incegelo from Ndola, Zambia, on a courtesy visit to the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).
The visitors were received by the Director of Social Communications and Deputy Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Chris Anayanwu, who welcomed them on behalf of the CSN Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi and discussed various issues concerning the activities of the Secretariat and other relevant issues on the evangelization apostolate of the Church in the country.
Noting that the Church is the link between God and the State and the people, Mr Solomon Samuel Jere stated that the role of the Church in bringing God’s blessings, peace, justice and equity to any nation cannot be controverted. He therefore stressed the need for all the faithful of the Catholic Church to cooperate and collaborate by using their various callings and vocations for the growth of the Church to enable her discharge her responsibilities towards the devlopment of people and the nation for the common good of all.
The ambassador expressed satisfaction at the rate the Church in Nigeria is growing expecially in the area of the use of modern technology to facilitate her evangelization apostolate and services to humanity and not allowing the use of these modern technology to be an exclusive of the government.
In his own address, the leader of the visiting Radio station team, Rev. Fr. Benedict Ngandue outlined the mission of the team to Nigeria and stressed the need for collaboration and cooperation between all the agencies of the Church in the different countries of the continent to enhance the evangelization apostolate of the Church in Africa.
He briefed the the CSN Director of Communications and Deputy Secretary General, on how the Radio Station has been promoting the apostolate of the Church in Zambia and their desire to learn and coperate with the Church in Nigeria. He commended the communication apostolate of the Church in Nigeria noting that what they have seen in places visited shows that the communication apostolate of the Church in Nigeria is operating at an invaluable level for the benefit of the Church and her evangelization mission.
In his welcome address, Rev. Fr. Chris Anayanwu welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Secretary General, Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi and the entire staff of the Secretariat and expressed the hope that the visiting team will help the purpose of their mission to the country realized. Fr. Anyanwu briefed them on the activities of the CSN Social Communications Directorate, pointing out that it propagates all the activities of the Bishops’ Conference, the Church in Nigeria as well as the activities of the various sodalities and different societies of the lay faithful in the country.
Fr. Anyanwu who briefed the visitors on the organogram structure and working operations of the Secretariat further informed them that the directorate also coordinates all the activities of the various professional groups that promote the communication apostolate of the Church in the country, under the aegis of Signis Nigeria, the umbrella body. The CSN Director of Social Communications further informed the visitors that the office also coordinates the relationship between the Church and the secular media as well as defend the cause and faith of the Church when the occasion arises.
While wishing the visitors an impressive success on their mission, he enjoined them to find time to enjoin the hospitality of the Nigerian people wherever they go. The CSN Deputy Secretary General assured them of the willingness of the CSN Directorate of Social Communications to cooperate and collaborate with Radio Icengelo in any area they might deem fit to enhance the relationship between the churches of the two countries.
Other members of the delegation, representing the various operatioanl units of the Radio station are: Mr Moses Daka, Marvis Lundwe and Justina Matandiko. Other places visited by the visitors included: the Catholic Television, Good Shepherd newspaper, the Abuja Archdiocese directorate of Communications, all in Abuja; and the Archdiocese of Jos.