• Catholics hail Bishop Badejo’s papal appointment
By Neta Nwosu
Nigeria made history on December 2, 2021, when Pope Francis through the News Release of the Vatican Bulletin dated same day announced the appointment of new members into the Vatican Dicastery for Communications, one of whom is Most Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo.
At a time, the country is being overwhelmed by a myriad of challenges, with incessant kidnappings and killings, the news of his appointment brings positive relief. It has generated so much optimism and excitement across the Catholic Dioceses of Nigeria and beyond as it serves as a reassurance that the Vatican recognises and engages the topnotch human resources in Nigeria.
The clergy and lay faithful are enormously proud of Bishop Badejo’s attainments and the great honour he has brought to Africa, and Nigeria in particular, by this appointment. The prelate is an integrated social communications guru and deserves all the praises he is now receiving.
The Dicastery of Communications is the administrative department of the Holy See through which the Pope directs affairs that pertain to Social Communications in the Roman Catholic Church. The other new members, who are all appointed by the pope for a five-year term, are Italian Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica; Argentine Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Lozano of San Juan de Cuyo; Archbishop Borys Gudziak, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia; and Xavière Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart.
The appointment of Bishop Badejo gladdens our hearts
“The appointment of Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo by Pope Francis as a member of Dicastery for Communication gladdens our hearts. It is an appointment of great joy to many who know Bishop Badejo as a gifted communicator, even in music and drama.”
• Most Rev Gabriel ‘Ojeleke Abegunrin, Archbishop of Ibadan
It’s not surprising for his passion and zeal
“I congratulate His Lordship on this appointment. It’s not surprising for his passion and zeal in the area of communication. It’s also a recognition of his contributions to the mission of the Church in the Nigerian Church and in Africa. All I wish and pray is that God will continue to guide and inspire him to do more for the Church.”
• Most Rev. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo, Bishop of Abeokuta
A logical follow-up to Bishop Badejo’s life-long engagement with the communication enterprise
“I congratulate my friend and brother, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, on his appointment to the Vatican Dicastery for Social Communication. This appointment for me is only a logical follow-up to Bishop Badejo’s life-long engagement with the communication enterprise. A naturally gifted communicator, Bishop Badejo studied Communication in Rome and upon his return from studies, he so distinguished himself among diocesan communication directors that Bishop Kukah and I quickly facilitated his engagement as Director of Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. This was as far back as 1996. While at the Catholic Secretariat, he distinguished himself among media practitioners in Nigeria and among National Catholic Communication Directors across the world who were active in then UNDA and UCIP networks (now jointly known as SIGNIS). He strengthened the Association of Catholic Media Practitioners and facilitated the emergence of a network of Catholic artistes and film makers.
Since becoming Bishop in 2007, Badejo has chaired the Communication Departments and Commissions of the Nigerian Bishops Conference, the West African Bishops Conference and the Symposium of Bishops of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). Engagement with communication for Bishop Badejo is much more than an assignment. It is a personal passion. He has over the years developed himself in various elements of the communication enterprise.
And so today, apart from being proficient in Yoruba, English and Italian languages, he also has a working knowledge of German and French. He is a gifted writer, such that even as a busy diocesan bishop, he is still able to maintain regular columns in Newspapers and Magazines. He is a great singer and multi-instrumentalist that people of all ages love to hang around with. In this way, he carries on the task of evangelisation with ease, using all these natural and acquired skills.
I say therefore that news of this appointment did not come to me as a surprise. I am convinced that he will do us proud, as he contributes to the advancement of social communication in the universal Church, to the glory of God.”
• Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, Executive Director, Lux Terra Leadership Foundation
The Pope’s appointment of Bishop Badejo is very commendable and welcoming
“The Pope’s appointment of Bishop Emmanuel Badejo is very commendable and welcoming news for about three reasons to me. Firstly, he is a seasoned communicator who read this discipline and practices it. Secondly, he was once the Communications Director in the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria for years. Thirdly, he is also involved in the West African Conference of Bishops where he also plays an important role in communication. His is quite natural, practical and people driven. He writes and comments on issues of serious national and international concerns. We really appreciate and thank the Pope for choosing one of our best for this noble and respectful position. I have no doubt that Bishop Badejo will make a meaningful contribution to this dicastery.”
• Most Rev. Hilary Nanman Dachelem, CMF, Bishop of Bauch
Bishop Emmanuel Badejo is one of our experts in the field of social communication
“Bishop Emmanuel Badejo is one of our experts in the field of social communication. He is a skilful communicator. He has proven his talent in writing, speaking, composing and singing. He has served as a National Director of Communications of CSN and currently representing Nigeria in the Symposium of Africa and Madagascar as communications expert and bishop.
I am elated that Pope Francis recognised his contributions and has invited him to serve in the highest Vatican dicastery for social communications in the Catholic Church. Bishop Badejo deserves this honour and service. I am sure he will make excellent contributions in the office and represent the CBCN and the Catholic Church in Nigeria well. Let us pray for him in this new assignment. I congratulate him personally, the clergy, religious and Laity of Oyo Diocese, and the entire province of Ibadan.”
• Most Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina, Bishop of Ijebu-Ode Diocese.
It is an honour to have one of our own in such a significant assignment
“This is indeed good news, not only for him, but for all of us in the Nigerian Church and in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. It is an honour to have one of our own in such an important and significant assignment, as I would call it. I wouldn’t call it a promotion, but important assignment in the Church that has to do with communications and the whole gospel is about communication.
So we feel very happy and delighted to hear this good news of his appointment. We wish him well; we are confident he will do a good job. He is someone who has done well in the f ield of communication. And since he finished his studies in Rome, he has in many respect, in many ways, been involved in the field of communication.
He worked in the Catholic Secretariat as the Communications Director, and he also got a Bishops’ chair at the Communications Directorate of the Catholic Secretariat. And currently he is our representative in the SECAM Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar as a member of the communications department. So this is a universal call to serve the Church in that respect. He deserves it, he is worth it, he is capable and we wish him the best.”
• Most Rev. Charles Michael Hammawa, Bishop of Jalingo Diocese
Bishop Badejo’s appointment is a thing of great joy for the Church in Nigeria, Africa
“The news of Bishop Badejo’s appointment into the Dicastery for Communications in Vatican is a very welcome development and a thing of great joy for the Church in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Bishop Badejo is communication personified with very wide experience in the field, so the Vatican has only made a very right choice to have him on board. We are confident he would represent us, adequately bringing the Nigerian/ African perspective to bear. On behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, we wholeheartedly congratulate His Lordship.”
• Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, National Director of Social Communications, CSN, Abuja.
Undoubtedly, his appointment will definitely re-invigorate this important department
“My Lord Bishop, Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, fantastic development this is and cheering news in the season of advent! To a great musician in his own right, please recall another great musician that sang thus – ‘who the cap fits, let him wear it’ May his giant strides in the social communication Apostolate in Africa, and by extension across the world, to the glory of God, always stand the test of times, amen. He has been rewarded with more work and greater responsibility for his untiring efforts and dedication to the art and act of communication. Undoubtedly, his appointment by the See of Peter to the Vatican Communication Dicastery will definitely re – invigorate this ever so important department for the good of the Mother Church and the common good of all. Please rest assured of Lumen Christ Catholic TV Network’s support and prayers as a worthy ambassador of the faith from Africa to the World. Hearty congratulations my Lord Bishop of Church Communication! Wishing you God’s blessings, Amen.”
• Sir Soji Olagunju, KSG
Fitting and deserving of the personality and pedigree of his Lordship
‘The appointment of Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, into the Vatican’s discastery of communications by his Holiness Pope Francis, is fitting and deserving of the personality and pedigree of his Lordship, whose antecedence, knowledge and expertise in this field is unparallel given his dedicated services to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) as Secretary of communications and later chairman of the department. He also served as Vice Chairman social communications to the Regional Episcopal conferences of West Africa (RECOWA), Bishop president to CEPACS, which is the French acronym for the Pan African Episcopal Conferences Committee for Social Communications and (SECAM) which is the Symposium of Episcopal conferences of Africa and Madagascar. With this outstanding resume, his appointment by his Holiness, was well thoughtout and informed by his years of profound services to the Catholic faith and Church, along with the attendant expertise acquired thereof in social communications which stand him out to be so considered. On behalf of all the entire members of the Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary of the Catholic Church of Nigeria, I congratulate his Lordship for this recognition and honour to serve the Church at the highest level”
. • Bro. Agada Rawlings Emmanuel, National president, Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
A recognition of Bishop Badejo’s past and current contributions to the growth of the Social Communications Apostolate in the Catholic Church in Nigeria and Africa
“The appointment is indeed a further recognition of Bishop Badejo’s past and current contributions to the development and growth of the Social Communications Apostolate in the Catholic Church in Nigeria and Africa. We recall with nostalgia his trail blazing initiatives during his tenure as the Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria between 1996 and 2003 respectively that still remain evergreen till date. Also of importance is his contributions to the growth of the Social Communications Apostolate on the African Continent as the current president of CEPACS. All these have placed the activities of the Catholic Church in Nigeria and Africa on the world map. We at CAMPAN assure His Lordship of our constant support in positively promoting the teachings, doctrines and activities of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church to Nigerians and the world at large through our vocation”.
• Mr. Patrick Osu, National President, Catholic Media Practitioners’ Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN).
It’s a deserving position, he has been a great media personality
“The appointment of Bishop Emanuel Badejo as member of Vatican Dicastery is a deserving position because he has been a great media personality even before he became a Bishop during his tenure as Director of Communications in CSN and recently in 2019 during the Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar, where he was in charge of communication He is a genius in journalism, as evidence in many of the papers he has delivered.”
• Sir Folu Adekoya, National President, Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria.
Holy Father finds rich value in the talents of Bishop Badejo who in song and talk communicates graciously across cultures
“As the Church labours in love to pass the torch of the light of Christ from one generation to another it has relied on communication skills of its servants from diverse cultures to keep the flames fresh like in the tongues of fire at Pentecost. It is not surprising that the Holy Father finds rich value in the talents of Bishop Emmanuel Badejo who in song and talk communicates graciously across cultures.”
• Prof. Pat Utomi
We are optimistic that by this appointment he will keep on the good works worldwide
“The Ladies of Saint Mulumba (LSM) Nigeria congratulate Bishop Emmanuel Badejo over his appointment as a member of Vatican’s dicastery of Communication by the Pope. This is a well-deserved appointment, considering his wealth of experience and contributions in the area of communications and service to God and humanity. Your Lordship, you have indeed reached out to people through evangelization of the Gospel and selfless charity, overtime. We are optimistic that by this appointment you will keep on the good works worldwide to the greater Glory of God. In Jesus Triumphant! We live!”
• Lady Meg Anoxia, Noble President, LSM Nigeria
His appointment is like placing a square peg in a square hole
“Bishop Emmanuel Badejo is a high calibre communication professional, thus his recent appointment by the Pope as a member of Vatican’s dicastery of Communication is like placing a square peg in a square hole. We are grateful to God for the recognition.”
• Sir (Dr.) Charles Mbelede, Supreme Knight, Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria (KSM).
His appointment is another loud and cheering global confirmation of the ability, capability, capacity and implicit confidence in Nigerians
“Bishop Emmanuel Badejo’s appointment is a product of dedicated priestly vocation cum passion -oriented life over the years. Bishop Badejo’s stint as the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat and Bishop Chairman, Communications is a story of hard work, perseverance and forthrightness that buttresses the fact that people are capable of reaching any height following their passion. His appointment into the Vatican’s dicastery of Communication is another loud and cheering global confirmation of the ability, capability, capacity and implicit confidence in Nigerians. Bishop Badejo is a brilliant priest and communications expert whose works over the years had distinguished him globally. With Most Rev. Badejo’s rich knowledge and experience in social communications, he would do well on the task.”
• Dame Mary Asibi Gonsum, National President, Catholic Women Organisation, Nigeria.
