By CSN Media
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), through the Episcopal Chairman for social Communications, Most Rev. David Ajang – the Bishop of Lafia Diocese – has thanked the SIGNIS Nigeria executive members for their service to the church, and constituted an interim executive committee to oversee the affairs of the organisation for the next six months.
The Interim Committee members are: Fr. Justin Udomah (Committee Chairman), Communications Director of Uyo Diocese and Coordinator for Calabar Province; Fr. Andrew Danjuma Dewan, President of DIORELCOMDIR representing the Directors of Social Communications; Fr. Chijioke Azuawuesiefe (SJ), Head of Centre for Study of African Culture and Communications (CESAAC); Comrade Chimdi Oluoha (Committee Secretary), CAMPAN President; Mr. Godwin-Maria Otuedoye, CAMPAN Secretary; Mrs. Edith Isidahomen, CAEAN President; and Mr. John Okey, CAEAN Secretary. The National Director and Fr. Walter Ihenjirika (President of SIGNIS Africa) will serve as special advisers to the committee.
The newly appointed SIGNIS Nigeria Interim Executive Committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of steering the organisation through a critical transitional period. Its first task is to conduct a comprehensive review and verification of membership at all levels, in strict accordance with the SIGNIS Nigeria Constitution, and to produce an accurate and complete membership register. The committee is also charged with repositioning the organisation by aligning its structure with the organogram for social communication in Nigeria as approved by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
In addition, it must devise and implement a practical plan to resolve all outstanding debts, thereby restoring SIGNIS Nigeria’s good standing with SIGNIS World. Ensuring the organisation’s financial sustainability is a key priority, which will involve securing the timely payment of membership dues and exploring alternative sources of funding to meet its obligations. The committee is further expected to entrench transparency and accountability within the governance framework, laying a solid foundation for the future. Finally, it is mandated to prepare the organisation for the conduct of elections within the next six months, ensuring a smooth and credible transition to a duly elected and purposeful leadership.
The committee’s terms of reference include reviewing SIGNIS Nigeria’s operations to enhance efficiency and goal achievement. The National Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, inaugurated the committee and tasked the members to commence work immediately.