{By TOBIAS EKIRIKA, Onitsha}
A variety of Catholic clergy, religious leaders, laypeople, and students gathered at Bishop Shanahan Hall, Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity in Onitsha to mark the 2026 Communication Week.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Johnbosco Igwe from the Awka Catholic Diocese served as a guest speaker and encouraged Christians to ensure the reliability of news from social media prior to sharing it.
Fr. Igwe highlighted that, in today’s digital era, truth has become a valuable asset and reminded participants to check sources and authenticate any claims they encounter on social media before spreading them.
This year’s theme, “Preserving Human Voices and Faces,” was a focal point of discussion at the Bishop Shanahan Hall in Onitsha, Anambra State.
In his presentation titled “Truth and Wisdom in the Digital Age,” Fr. Igwe discussed the dangers posed by artificial intelligence, including:
– Undermining children’s natural wisdom
– Leading to unverified assumptions
– Reducing youth’s attention spans
He acknowledged the benefits of the digital age, such as improved learning, better family connections, wider dissemination of the Gospel, and enhanced medical diagnostics.
Fr. Igwe classified online users into three categories: Digital Vagabonds, Digital Tourists, and Digital Pilgrims.
Other speakers included Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Anwusi, who spoke on human dignity and the significance of our faces and voices as divine gifts, along with discussions on addressing misinformation and the future of human expressions in the age of AI.
In his opening remarks, Rev. Fr. Vincent Chukwuka, representing Archdiocesan Director of Communication, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. George Adimike, highlighted that this year’s Communication Week aimed to equip the faithful with insights for responsible engagement with digital media.
At the event’s conclusion, Fr. Chukwuka, also serving as the editor of Trinitas Newspaper, expressed appreciation to the speakers and participants, especially parishioners from the Archdiocese. He noted the Archdiocese’s commitment to educating the public about the digital world and AI, while expressing hope for even greater achievements in next year’s event.
Event chairman Hon. Pius Onyegbuna commended Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke and the organizers for a successful gathering, advocating for the distribution of printed lecture materials and encouraging parents to limit their children’s screen time at home.
A notable part of the event was a question-and-answer session, followed by a comedy performance by Igwe White Entertainment.
