Effective communication has been de-
scribed as a vital tool for the evangeliza-
tion apostolate of the laity in the Church.
This was the position of Rev. Fr. Isaac
Dugu, the Director of Pastoral Agents Department
of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), while
addressing lay leaders of the Church from all over
the country at a training programme, held at the
CSN Resource Centre, Durumi, Abuja.
In his paper titled: Effective Apostolate of the
Laity for the Promotion of Christian Values and
Evangelization, Fr. Dugu emphasized effective
communication skills as an essential tool for en-
hancing leadership qualities and effectiveness as
leaders of the lay faithful.
Outlining the various ways and methods this
can be achieved, the speaker noted that the
training programme is to enable the partici-
pants to understand the meaning of communi-
cation, appreciate its importance and identify
common barriers in order to be able to commu-
nicate more effectively in their roles as leaders
of the lay faithful in the Church.
The CSN director identified reasons why and
how communications fail to include assump-
tion and improper delivery and networking.
Speaking on the importance of both written
and verbal communication, the speaker advised
that messages must be short and meaningful in
content and frequency, while feedback ensures
complete and correct delivery, using the right
channel.
Various means of communications identi-
fied by Fr. Dugu include: signs, writing, music,
gong and the present day means of information
technology like the social media and internet,
among others. He noted the gradual develop-
ment in the means of communications from
the olden days to the present-day era, stressing
the need for Church leaders to be vast in these
means of communication to be able to commu-
nicate effectively with their followers and dis-
charge their evangelization apostolate effective-
ly in the community.
The CSN director advised leaders of the vari-
ous laity groups of the Church in the country to
communicate effectively with their members as
this will go a long way in enhancing the evange-
lization apostolate of the Church and the collab-
orative efforts of all the faithful, irrespective of
their personal passion and charism.
