By Emeka Odogwu
The Church of Nigeria (CON) Communication Officers Breakfast Zoom Meeting commenced at about 7.30am on Saturday 30th August, 2025.
Delivering the first lecture on ‘Mental Health and the role of Media Officers’, Ven. Dr Felix Oyinlola spoke extensively on the need for media officers to get involved in the campaign of curbing mental health disorder.
He emphasized on the fact that there are over 21+ millions of Nigerians suffering from mental health with only about ten (10) mental facilities to cater for them.
Reducing stigma, faith strategy integration, expert collaboration and resource information are some of the ways we, as media officers can be part of fighting mental health issues he posited.
He went further to enumerate the medial tools and techniques for impactful mental health.
Podcasting, story telling power and visual communication are some of these tools.
Human dignity, integrated care, dis-stigmazation and restoration are some of the ethical theological foundation to consider in sending message of mental health.
Ven. Dr. Felix in responding to some of the questions asked during the lecture noted that about 40% of Nigerians face depression and one of the ways to know someone with mental challenge is being sensitive to the environment.
According to the Ven. Dr. Oyinlola without Mental Health, there is no health and being a media officer is sufficient platform to join in the eradication of mental health.
In concluding his lecture, Ven. Dr Felix charged all with divine and strategic mandate: bridge the gap and proclaim Christ healing power for body and mind, as advocates for mental health.
The second lecture was delivered by Rev’d Canon Abishai Gaiya, who spoke on ‘The power of Visual Story Telling with photograph’.
According to him, visual story telling is convening a narrative through the use of images.
A single photograph can tell a thousand stories he opined.
In responding to questions raised during his lecture, he encouraged media officers to find passion in what they do which will give room to professionalism that will bring about profit, instead of having a form of financial inducement at the forefront.
Concluding the breakfast meeting, Engr. Korede emphasized on the need to fight against plagiarism which has become the order of the day on social media platforms.
Engr. Korede thanked the presenters and all who were present at the virtual meeting while emphasizing on the readiness of the host of the next physical Communicator Meeting holding in 2026.
The meeting ended with a closing prayer said by Rev’d Canon Chibuzo Izuogu and had about 45 persons in attendance.
