Worship
Ighele urges Christian journalists to build influence, plan for future
The Presiding Bishop of Holy Spirit Mission (Happy Family), Bishop Charles Ighele, has urged Christian journalists to leverage digital platforms, build personal influence and begin early preparation for life after active service.
He spoke at the 2026 Annual Training and Retreat of the Christian Faith Reporters Association (CFRA) in Lagos, themed, ‘The Future of Faith Reporting in Nigeria: Threats, Opportunities and Relevance.’
Ighele, who also chairs CFRA’s Board of Trustees, described social media as both a threat and an opportunity in modern journalism.
“Social media has become a major force. If you don’t position yourself well, you can become irrelevant,” he said, urging journalists to understand the boundaries set by their employers regarding podcasts and personal platforms. “If there is a threat, you must learn to operate within it.”
He stressed that influence now extends beyond newsroom titles. “You must make a name for yourself beyond what you are doing officially,” he said, encouraging creativity within ethical and professional limits.
On career sustainability, Ighele advised journalists to plan for retirement from the first day of employment. “Diversify and build something you can rely on after your career ends,” he said, noting that earning capacity often declines with age.
Delivering the keynote address, Contributing Editor at Conversation Africa, Mr Wale Fatade, emphasised punctuality, integrity and proactive retirement planning.
He urged journalists to cultivate discipline and good habits early in their careers.
“The day you start a job is the day you start your retirement plan. You should be able to live well more than twenty years after retirement,” Fatade said.
He encouraged reporters to read widely, expand their skills and build strong professional networks.
He also advised aspiring journalists to study indigenous languages such as Yoruba and Igbo, alongside courses like History, Statistics and Mathematics, citing the growing need for local-language proficiency in the media.
Drawing from 1 Samuel 12:2, Fatade highlighted the importance of integrity, challenging journalists to reflect on whether they could defend their careers without accusations of bias or corruption.
He warned against sensationalism and stressed that ethical journalism leaves a lasting legacy.
Fatade shared his personal retirement strategy, including plans to establish a Yoruba community radio station in Osun State to sustain him and his family after active service.
In his presentation, media consultant and Programme Officer at the International Press Centre, Sanmi Falobi, urged participants to adopt deliberate goal-setting strategies. He guided attendees through practical sessions on identifying career challenges and mapping out measurable steps toward professional growth.
“You must celebrate your strengths and address your weaknesses frontally,” Falobi advised, encouraging journalists to diversify their income streams in response to the changing media landscape.
Earlier, CFRA President Adeola Ogunlade described the retreat as a critical moment for reflection and recommitment.
He said the way Christian faith is reported has implications for national unity and public trust.
“We must never sacrifice facts for sentiment or trade credibility for applause,” Ogunlade said, urging members to see journalism as a calling rooted in truth, balance and courage.
The retreat featured lectures, discussions and strategy sessions aimed at equipping Christian reporters to remain credible, ethical and relevant in Nigeria’s evolving media environment.