Don’t Be Bearers of Bad News- Pastor Akanmu Charges Christian Journalists
The Regional Superintendent, Odubanjo Region of Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Benjamin Akanmu has charged Christian journalists to project the good virtues of the country rather than exposing it’s woes to the entire world.
Pastor Akanmu, who is the immediate past Chairman of Christian Association Nigeria, CAN in Oyo State, noted that washing the dirty look linen of the country in the public would deter its growth and development hence the need to highlights the good side for countries of the world to support in its advancement.
Deliverying a paper entitled: The Role of Christian Journalists in Ensuring National Peaceful Coexistence at the First Retreat of Nigeria Association of Christian Journalists, NACJ held at the Government House Chapel, Agodi, Ibadan, the cleric highlighted the challenges confronting the Nigeria to include: weak economy, insecurity, social issues such as Drugs and human trafficking, cultism, drug abuse, communal/ethnic clashes, religious intolerance and various social vices, saying only developmental journalism could rid the country off the problems.
As Christian Journalists you have to embrace developmental journalism which has the objective of participating in the social, economic and cultural uplift of the society by reporting and analyzing policies, events and trends that have a bearing on the societal development. Pastor Akanmu added
In his address, Oyo State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Apostle Colonel Joshua Akinyemiju, Rtd. Advised Christian journalists to work as Soldiers of Christ and be fearlessly in their bid to give voice to the voiceless.
He enjoined them to explore the uniqueness of various churches in the body of Christ and connect members to them for spiritual growth and developments
He commended the executives and members of the NACJ under the leadership of Comrade Lekan Shobowale for the recent Projection of church activities and programmes which had long suffered lack of publicity.
In a remark, Chaplain of the Government House Chapel, Pastor Layi Adisa who expressed joy at the activities of the NACJ in Oyo stated that Christians and their activities would be better projected in good light.
Pastor Adisa however cautioned the Christian journalists against sensational reporting and financial inducements , saying only truthfulness would make their works stand out.
Earlier in an address of welcome, Chairman, NACJ, Oyo State, Comrade Lekan Shobowale said the association had continued to thrive inspite of the myriad challenges confronting it.
Comrade Shobowale noted that the NACJ Oyo State would continue to uphold the ethics of journalism to engender fairness and objective reportage while projecting Christian activities, programmes and events in the state and beyond.
Dignatories present at the event included Pastor Muyiwa Bangbose of the Vine Branch Church, Deputy Chaplain, Government House Chapel, Pastor Emmanuel Akanmu and Deputy Director Programmes, Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal zonal Station, Reverend Niyi Dahunsi.
