Bishop Onah Calls for Responsible Journalism and Positive Image Building in Nsukka

By Uche Eze, Nsukka

The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Prof. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, has called on journalists of Nsukka extraction to take deliberate steps toward reshaping the public perception of the area through credible, objective and development-driven journalism.

Bishop Onah gave the charge during an interactive session with journalists at the Catholic Secretariat, Nsukka, over the weekend, where he challenged media practitioners to embrace responsible storytelling capable of projecting the true identity, values and potential of the Nsukka cultural zone.

He emphasized that the media must rise above sensationalism, stereotypes and divisive narratives by promoting balanced reportage that encourages unity, attracts development and restores pride among the people.

According to him, the time had come for journalists from the area to tell the Nsukka story from a position of truth, intellect and cultural confidence.

He regretted what he described as the long-standing trend of allowing outsiders to define and sometimes demean the image of Nsukka people, insisting that journalists have a crucial role to play in defending the integrity and reputation of their ancestral land and the people through factual, constructive and people-oriented reporting.

“It has been my desire to invite you, journalists of Nsukka extraction, but other interwoven factors could not permit it as earlier planned,” the Bishop said.

“I know that there is no area of human engagement or profession in this country where you will not find highly quality Nsukka people, yet many of them are hardly celebrated. In Enugu State, though I have not taken a census, I have heard that Nsukka has the highest number of journalists.

“I have therefore chosen to invite you this day of the Lord, May 23, 2026, for us to see one another, know one another and interact as brothers and sisters with a view to working in synergy to change the Nsukka narrative.”

Reflecting on his emergence as Bishop in 2013, Bishop Onah said he deliberately set out to change negative perceptions about the Nsukka people and restore dignity to the identity of “Nwa Nsukka.”

“When I became a Bishop in 2013, that is 13 years ago, I made a deliberate choice to change the narrative about Nsukka. I made it public from day one that from then onwards, anyone called Nwa Nsukka should associate it with pride and joy because it is not an insult; it is an elevation of the person and a name to be proud of.

“When I said this, I did not know exactly how it was going to happen, but with God’s presence and direction, it happened. Today, Nsukka rings like a bell in different parts of Nigeria and the world,” he stated.

The Bishop further described Nsukka people as enterprising, resilient and committed to achieving greatness through dignity and honest means of livelihood, stressing that the area possesses enormous human capital capable of driving social and economic transformation.

“I was always confident that Nsukka has a mission in Igboland, in Nigeria and in other parts of the world. Nsukka people are enterprising and have an alternative route to greatness, and that is working toward greatness through decent and honest means of livelihood.

“I have therefore seen all of us as having the responsibility of telling our story. We can, and we should, tell our own story differently, a story that should be development-driven and focused on the people’s strides, achievements and positive contributions to society,” he added.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Director of Communication, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Asadu, said the gathering was not borne out of formal obligation, but from a sincere desire to foster mutual understanding, stronger relationships and collaboration with journalists of Nsukka extraction for the progress of the area.

According to him, the interactive session provided an opportunity for open dialogue with the Bishop on issues concerning the development and image of Nsukka land.

“Religion and journalism are two noble areas that converge at a sacred point — the pursuit and proclamation of truth. While the Church proclaims the truth that liberates and saves, journalism uncovers and communicates the truth that enlightens and empowers society,” he said.

In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Nsukka Journalists Forum (NJF), Benson Whyte Ezugwu, expressed appreciation to Bishop Onah for convening what he described as a rare and thoughtful gathering aimed at fostering unity and progress among media professionals of Nsukka origin.

Ezugwu noted that the Bishop’s invitation was devoid of political undertones, describing it instead as a genuine effort to interact with his kinsmen and women in the journalism profession and inspire collective responsibility toward rebuilding the image of Nsukka.
He assured the Bishop of the readiness of journalists from the area to partner with him in promoting truthful, objective and development-oriented reportage capable of repositioning Nsukka positively before the wider public.

The NJF chairman also disclosed that the forum was working toward establishing a formidable media platform through which activities of government institutions, communities and individuals in the area could be properly documented and made accessible to the public.
He further appealed to the Bishop to sustain the engagement by making the interaction a regular platform for dialogue and collaboration.

The event attracted journalists of Nsukka extraction from various broadcast, print and online media organizations, with participants making contributions on how the media could be effectively deployed to project the rich cultural heritage, intellectual strength and development potential of Nsukka cultural zone.