Imo-born Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Walter Ihejirika, has been elected as the new President of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication.
SIGNIS is a global non-profit network for Catholic media professionals working in the press, radio, television, cinema, internet and new technology.
Mr Ihejirika, a Professor of Development Communication and Media Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, was elected at the ongoing SIGNIS World Congress held in Kigali, Rwanda, on August 7.
A statement by the Catholic Diocese Social Communication Directorate of Oyo, shared on the St. Peter Claver Seminary School Okpala Old Boys platform on Saturday, listed other profiles of the clergy before his recent elevation.
Until his elevation, the communication scholar was the president of SIGNIS Africa, where he provided dynamic leadership in the promotion of Catholic communication, strengthened media apostolate and encouraged communication professionals across Africa.
His election to lead SIGNIS globally has been described as a recognition of his years of dedicated service, expertise and commitment to the mission of the Church in the communication field.
He also holds a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Social Communication from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
Mr Ihejirika was ordained a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, Imo State, and had distinguished himself as a priest, scholar, researcher and communication expert.
“His academic research focuses on the intersection of media, religion, culture, development communication, digital technology and social transformation,” it said.
He was the Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, at the University of Port Harcourt and an Associate Fellow of the Centre for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University, Chicago, USA.
Other elected SIGNIS World Board of Directors members were Pamela Aleman (SIGNIS USA–Canada) and Magimai Pragasam (India) as Vice Presidents, while Adriana Racasan (SIGNIS Europe) was elected Treasurer.
“The new leadership team is expected to advance SIGNIS’ global mission of empowering Catholic communicators to become witnesses of truth, hope and love in an increasingly digital world,” it said.