…Points Way Forward
A new life has been breathed into the comatose Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Awka Diocese, with the convening of a meeting aimed at reviving the association in the diocese. The meeting, held at the instance of the Director of Directorate of Social Communications Awka Diocese, and the Director of Fides Media Limited, Reverend Father Mark Obiora Ikeh, held on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, at Archbishop A.K. Obiefuna Auditorium in Fides Media Complex, reports Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu with additional report by Jude Atupulazi
The meeting was attended by such media personalities as the former Director of News and Current Affairs (DNCA), ABS, Mr. Gab Ndu Okpalaeze – Chairman, CAMPAN Awka Diocese; Publisher Factreporters, Mr Osita Okechukwu-Eze, Secretary; former Treasurer of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, Sir Mmaduabuchi, Onwumelu, Publicity Secretary; Sir Paul Nwosu, immediate past Commissioner for information Anambra State; Mr. Chris Obileri, Manager, News, Radio Nigeria, Purity FM, Awka; Mr. Jude Atupulazi, Editor-in-Chief of Fides Newspaper; Sir Chuka Nnabuife, former MD/Editor-in-Chief, Anambra State Newspaper and Printing Corporation (ANPC); Ms. Ifeoma Ezenyilimba of Goodness Media; Mrs. Ngozi Obileri, Reporter/Editor, Anambra Broadcasting Service, Awka; UNIZIK Lecturer, Dr Gabriel Chy Alonta.
Addressing the gathering, the Fides Director, Rev. Fr. Ikeh, welcomed the members and apologised for what he described as the decline in the activities of CAMPAN in recent years. He explained that he had only recently appreciated the significance and role of CAMPAN after studying its constitution.
The Director observed that CAMPAN appeared to be more active in the northern part of the country than in the South-East and stressed the need to revive the association in the Diocese of Awka and subsequently across the ecclesiastical province.
He highlighted the benefits of an active CAMPAN, including evangelisation, promotion of social ethics, responsible communication, regulation of content released through social and conventional media, and the protection of the corporate image of the Catholic Church.
He pledged that, under his leadership as Fides Director, efforts would be made to reactivate the association, noting that the Bishop of Awka Diocese was fully supportive of the initiative.
He also apologised for the failure to mark the recently concluded World Communications Day, promising that henceforth it would be celebrated with aplomb, beginning with the next one.
The Chairman of the association, Ndu Okpalaeze, thanked the Director for initiating the meeting and described the revival of CAMPAN as an answer to the prayers and concerns of members who had become worried about the inactivity of the association following the transfer of Rev. Fr. Martin Anusi from Fides.
He expressed enthusiasm about the renewed effort and noted that several members, including the former Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, Sir Paul Nwosu, had previously shown interest in reviving the association.
Members present took turns to introduce themselves and briefly shared their backgrounds and involvement in Catholic media activities.
On the achievements of CAMPAN, Awka Diocese, Sir Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu recalled that CAMPAN was particularly active during the tenure of Rev. Fr. Martin Anusi as Fides Director, when World Communications Day was regularly celebrated.
He also recalled the collaborations and support members received through the association, including its role in supporting members during the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) state elections. He noted that such support contributed to his emergence as Treasurer of the NUJ in the state and also provided valuable support during his subsequent chairmanship contest which he narrowly lost with 7 votes.
Sir Chuka Nnabuife stressed the importance of holding regular meetings and organising activities capable of attracting public attention. He said this would help sustain the association and prevent another period of inactivity.
Sir Paul Nwosu thanked the Fides Director for convening the meeting. He described CAMPAN members as opinion moulders who should help shape the direction of communication and public discourse in society.
He also stressed the significant contributions of the Catholic Church to the development of society, noting that several important social and economic institutions and initiatives had their roots in the Church, including the Lagos Business School.
Mr Chris Obileri recalled that some members had previously served as coordinators of Catholic Media Practitioners in their respective workplaces and expressed delight at the decision to reactivate CAMPAN and pledged his support for the initiative.
The Director asked Hon. Okpalaeze and Sir Onwumelu to continue as Chairman and Publicity Secretary of the association respectively, even as he appointed Osita Okechukwu Eze as Secretary.
He also pledged to provide logistics support for the association’s meetings in the interim.
On the issue of meetings, following a suggestion by Mr Atupulazi, members agreed that the association would hold its monthly meetings on the second Monday of every month by 4pm at Fides Media Complex, Awka.
Fr Ikeh also suggested that future meetings could be livestreamed to increase the association’s visibility and reach.
He further directed the Public Relations Officer to reactivate the CAMPAN WhatsApp group and establish clear ground rules to ensure that discussions within the group remained focused, respectful, and purposeful.
It was agreed that CAMPAN should pay a courtesy visit to the Bishop of Awka Diocese after its next meeting. The visit will formally present the reactivated association and seek the continued support and guidance of the Bishop.
