Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Right Rev. Fr. Michael Bango, has warned that Nigeria faces a deeper crisis than misinformation but a formation deficit in which many citizens know what is happening but lack the moral grounding to act responsibly.
Delivering a keynote at the CSN’s three-day General Assembly and Media Training for Directors of Social Communications held from July 14–16, Fr. Bango said Catholic media must move beyond simple reporting and audience chasing to become a force for conscience formation and national renewal. Speaking on “Structure for Synergy: The Future of Catholic Media and Communications in Nigeria,” he urged the Church’s communications ministry to prioritise truth, ethical leadership and social transformation.
“Our nation suffers not merely from an information deficit but, more fundamentally, from a formation deficit,” Fr. Bango said. “Many people know what is happening around them, but fewer know how to judge rightly or act morally.”
He called on Catholic communicators to produce high-quality, value-driven content documentaries, children’s programmes, digital courses, civic education and family-life resources that nurture Christian values and help rebuild Nigeria’s moral foundation. Parents, he said, need media tools to raise children with sound values, while young people require guidance to navigate the digital age with integrity.
Fr. Bango also urged media professionals to reject misinformation and hate speech, promote truthful reporting and foster constructive, issue-based public discourse as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections. He encouraged every parish, school and Catholic media platform to mobilise eligible Nigerians to collect Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate responsibly in the democratic process.
While stressing that the Church remains nonpartisan, Fr. Bango said it has a moral duty to help citizens judge leaders on integrity, competence, accountability, justice and respect for human dignity.
The assembly convened directors of social communications and media executives from across Nigeria to strengthen collaboration and craft a unified strategy for using Catholic media to support evangelisation and national development.