March 29, 2024
Awka Diocese

Awka Diocese Flags off ComWEEK

Cross-section of students at ComWEEK Flag-off, Awka

By Mercy Hill, Alexander Johnson Adejoh, Adejumoke Aminat Alebiosu, Amarachukwu Okpunobi and Zita Ezeno

The Catholic Diocese of Awka, has flagged off activities in commemoration of this year’s World Communications Day tagged ComWEEK. It was a week-long event directed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to promote media literacy at the grassroots. The week-long activities started from last Sunday, May 22, and is billed to end this Sunday, May 29, with a Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka.

Fides Media, the Social Communications Directorate of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, kicked off the celebration with a flag-off ceremony on 22 May at Archbishop A.K. Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno.

The ceremony started with registrations and a red carpet session for the guests. Eleven Catholic secondary schools in Awka Diocese: namely, St. John of God Secondary School, Awka; St. Patrick’s College, Awka; Tansi International College, Awka; St. Mary’s College, Awka; Bubendorff Memorial Grammar School, Adazi-Nnukwu; Rosa Mystica High School, Agulu; St. Albert the Great Secondary School, Agulu; St. Anthony’s Catholic Comprehensive Institute, Agulu; Loretto Special Science School, Adazi-Nnukwu; St. Michael’s Secondary School, Nimo; and St. JohnBosco Seminary, Isuaniocha were present for the event. Also, the National Association of Catholic Corp Members were at the event, alongside other distinguished personalities like Dr. Patrick Ezeno, John Uchenna Anachusi: Lady Biddy Iwuchukwu, Rev. Fr Coach Obinna Dike (Director DOSAD and Fides Deputy Director 1), Rev. Fr Pio-Anthony Okafor (Fides Deputy Director II), Dr. Nelson Omenugha (Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra State on Youth Empowerment Programme), Dr. Chibueze Ofobuike, , amongst others.

Rev. Fr. Martin Anusi, the Director of Fides Media, gave the welcome address, while the students were engaged in a game of school rhymes.

The 1st panel discussants featured Rev. Fr. Chika Okpalike, who spoke on religion and academia; Barrister Amaka Ezeno, discussed career and family life; and Hon. Ify Aronu-Okafor, handled social media and mainstream media, with Rev. Fr. Martin Anusi and Mercy Hill moderating the session. During the discussion, Rev. Fr. Chika Okpalike, in response to students’ questions, described the relationship between the ‘X’ in academic parlance and in real-life situations, saying that the way to convert the ‘X’ into a real-life success was to give all you have to whatever you were doing. “Give it your sweat, indeed all you have”, he charged. He also stressed the need to listen to Jesus Christ as ones point of reference in everything.

Amaka Ezeno highlighted the importance of a work-life blend and how holistic listening was vital for good relationships. Hon. Ify Aronu-Okafor, speaking on social and mainstream media, emphasized the need to listen to oneself, while Rev. Fr. Okpalike took it further by noting that one should listen to God in oneself.

The session was enlightening and elicited a lot of questions from the audience which were answered by the panelists.

The 2nd panel discussion spotlighted Rev. Fr. JohnMark Okafor and Mr. Blaise Ezeokeke, with Mercy Hill and Rev. Fr. Martin Anusi moderating the session, as well. Rev. Fr. JohnMark Okafor talked on religion and entertainment, describing religion as a socio-cultural system designed with a wide range of practices that connected humans to the supernatural.

Coming from a different angle, Mr. Blaise Ezeokeke, who spoke on digital and tech economy, x-rayed the essence of possessing relevant digital skills in the modern world and how to make money from them.

At the end of the session, framed portraits were presented to the panelists and certificates were presented to the other guests

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