The West Central Africa Division of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in February 2017 trained a select group of Communication Secretaries from the Northern Nigeria Union of the Church in Bukuru, Jos, Plateau State, headquarters of the North East Nigeria Conference.
Communications Director of WAD, Pastor Irineo Koch who was the key resource person at the one day training session on 9th February, 2017commended the 14 laymen for volunteering to serve the church using their time and resources.
Participants were given a run-down of Adventist print and broadcast media organs and encouraged to be sending stories so that other members of the church in different parts of the world can know of what is happening in Northern Nigeria.
With the inauguration of a dedicated Television Channel, HOPE TV AFRICA, Pastor Koch urged the participants to produce good and quality programmes that can be transmitted in the Channel.
The Communication practitioners were challenged to be producing religious content beyond usage in HOPE TV AFRICA.
The one day advisory equally touched on the blessings of Radio using the Adventist World Radio as an example emphasising on its low cost, mobility, fastness and easier interaction with listeners.
Participants, which included the Northern Nigeria Union Communications Director and the three Communications Directors for the North East, North West and North Central Nigeria Conferences, were taken through practical of news writing taking into cognisance the goals of Adventist Communication and the need to support evangelism and soul winning.
The 14 participants were taught how to handle information, write press statements on church activities and even work as protocol staff to achieve desired goals.
The art of photography was also a topic in the one day advisory with emphasis on action shots with legends accompanying each picture.
Websites to get materials to enhance worship services were shared to members together with instructions of how not to infringe on copyright.
One of the participants at the advisory, Tahav Kershio, from SDA Church, Makurdi, Benue State, commended WAD for the programme which he said will go a long way in enhancing worship services while helping with evangelism and equally enhancing the good image of the church before the public.
President of the North East Nigeria Conference, Pastor Emmanuel Jugbo who declared the advisory open admonished participants to be like prophet Jeremiah who worked for God with a lot of benefits for the people.
He said the Church relies on the participants to contribute in taking the three angels message to all parts of the world urging them to take up the challenge despite hurdles on their ways.
Latter at a meeting with the Communications Director of the West Central Africa Division Pastor Irineo Koch, the North East Nigeria Conference agreed to commence production of programmes in 2017 in Hausa language for
transmission on HOPE TV AFRICA as part of evangelism.
PICTURE LEGEND
Group photograph of participants
LEFT TO RIGHT: NCNC and NWNC Communications Directors, Friday Kalu, and Matthew Rikichi, Pastor Irineo Koch, Amanzi Tambaya Marcus, Northern Nigeria Union Communications Director, and David Kawusu, NENC Communications Director.
North East Nigeria President, Pastor Emmanuel Jugbo declaring the advisory open.
Group photograph of participants
Report by
Amanzi Tambaya Marcus
Communications Director, Northern Nigeria Union, Abuja, Nigeria