By Abah Anthony John
The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Fr Michael Banjo, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace digital media as a tool for evangelization, unity, and peacebuilding.
Speaking at the CSN’s national Youth Digital Animation Boot Camp, he described the initiative as a “school of discipleship for the twenty-first century,” aimed at transforming young people into faith-driven digital creators.
Fr Banjo told journalists that youths trained in animation, short videos, and podcasts can defend human dignity, foster interfaith understanding, and promote peace.
He praised young Nigerians already using digital tools to calm tensions in conflict-prone communities, calling them “living witnesses of evangelization in the digital age.”
He encouraged participants to share stories that inspire national unity, citing the 2018 case of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, who sheltered 262 Christians during an attack in Plateau State.
“Every human life is sacred and must be respected,” he said.
Fr Banjo urged youths to counter hate with hope and become “digital peacemakers” in a nation grappling with violence and distrust.
He reminded them that their digital tools are “loaves and fishes” to be used for evangelization and nation-building.
The priest also appealed to government leaders to prioritise citizens’ safety, warning that insecurity anywhere threatens everyone. He added that truth-driven digital storytelling can help rebuild social trust.
Calling the digital space a modern mission field, he encouraged young creators to let their work reflect honesty, discipline, and compassion.
“Use your digital voice to heal and unite, not to divide,” he said.
