Archbishop Akubeze Presents Media Apostle Awards to 3 CAMPAN members ...Harps on unique human capacity over AI

Bernadette Idalu receiving the Media Apostle Award from Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze during the 60th World Day of Social Communications which held at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Evbuotubu. With them is the Chairman, CAMPAN, Mr. Ruben-Mario Brodrick 


By Bernadette Idalu 
As the universal Catholic Church marked the 60th World Day of Social Communications and end of COMWEEK, 2026, His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Catholic Archbishop of Benin City, on Sunday, May 17, presented "Media Apostle Awards" to three members of the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Benin Chapter, based on their ability to proclaim Jesus Christ through the media space.

The Archbishop was the Chief celebrant at Mass during this event which held at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Evbuotubu, Benin City. It was also a platform for special recognition and bestowing of awards on a couple whom the media association opined had distinguished themselves in journalistic practice.

His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, in his homily, reminded awardees and Christians at large that this year's social communications theme, "Preserving human voices and faces" was specially chosen by the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV for Christians to "Focus on the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI) over the human life."

He stated that though AI use, "Offers efficiency, it cannot replace the unique human capacity for empathy, conscience and moral responsibility. The Holy Father calls on us to uphold the human place and voice in communication, as machines, are to serve as tools rather than erode the human voice..."

Archbishop Akubeze harped on the need for critical thinking by humans, just as he personally presenfted the "Media Apostle Award" at Mass to the three awardees - Mr. James Inegbedion for, "His storied career at the Nigerian Observer Newspaper and his vital contributions to Veritas and the Evangelist Catholic Newspapers;" and to Bernadette Idalu, a former Editor of the Evangelist Catholic Newspaper for her, "Editorial excellence and for raising the bar of religious journalism within our Archdiocese." Chris Enabulele on the other hand got awarded for, "Using his platform at Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) to bring the liturgical life of the church, especially the liturgical Rosary carnival into the homes of thousands."
Award recipients: (L- R) Mrs. Ivy Ebojele; Mr. Chris Enabulele; Mr. James Inegbedion and Bernadette Idalu.

Special recognition and presentation of the, "Distinguished Excellence Award" to Dr. Patrick Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor and his wife, Mrs Ivy Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, took place at this ocassion in recognition of their roles as Media ambassadors.

Most Rev. Akubeze later blessed "Media tools" of CAMPAN members, while the Diocesan Social Communications Director, Rev. Fr. Jude Orah called for more CAMPAN membership. He reminded Catholic faithfuls that CAMPAN members as soldiers of Jesus Christ use their media craft to promote Catholicism and the authentic teachings of Jesus Christ through the traditional and modern media space.

He informed christians especially those of Catholic faith desirous to be abreast with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the position of the church on vital issues to log into dedicated online chat platforms of the Veritas Newspaper or other Benin Archdiocesan Catholic channels for interactions and feedback.

The CAMPAN Chairman, Mr. Ruben-Mario Brodrick appreciated the Archbishop for, "Consistently obliging us with the privilege of this thanksgiving Mass and for your tradition of blessing our professional tools."

Also at hand at the concelebrated Mass was the host Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Okeke, MSP, and his Assistant who presented to the Archbishop 109 communicants in "Confirmation," helping to build a new community of Christ's faithful.

In hindsight, "Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation which completes the grace of baptism by bestowing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, empowering the recipient to actively live out and defend their faith through the laying of hands which makes them ambassadors and followers of Jesus Christ."

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