By JKNewsMedia
DIGITAL RELEVANCE, integrity and early retirement planning rang out at the Christian Faith Reporters Association (CFRA) annual training and Retreat 2026 in Lagos, themed The Future of Faith Reporting in Nigeria Threats, Opportunities and Relevance.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the General Superintendent of Holy Spirit Missions Happy Family Centre, Bishop Charles Ighele, urged Christian journalists to embrace digital platforms, build personal influence and prepare early for life beyond active service.
“Social media has come, and it has become a major force. If you don’t position yourself well, you can become irrelevant,” he said.
“You must understand what your employer allows. Are you permitted to run a podcast? Can you operate a personal counselling page? If there is a threat, you must learn to operate within it.”
He said influence beyond formal roles is critical. “Right now, it is about influence. You must make a name for yourself beyond what you are doing officially,” he added.
Addressing career sustainability, Ighele, who serves as CFRA Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, stressed that retirement planning should begin from the first day on the job.
“The day you start working is the day you should start preparing for retirement,” he said. “The older you get, the less energy you may have to make money. Diversify and build something you can rely on after your career ends.”
In his keynote address, the Commissioning Editor of Conversation Africa, Mr Wale Fatade, urged journalists to prioritise punctuality, integrity and proactive retirement planning.
He also encouraged reporters to cultivate good habits early in their careers, particularly punctuality and tact.
“Read very widely. Stay on top of your game. Network because no one succeeds in life alone. What you sow is what you will reap,” he said.
He advised young journalists to study languages such as Yoruba, Igbo and French, alongside History, Statistics and Mathematics, noting that indigenous languages are increasingly underrepresented in the media.
Drawing from Ist Samuel 12:2, he cited the example of the prophet Samuel, who sought to lead without defrauding or oppressing anyone.
“When your journalism career is over, can you say you have not collected money to write or change a story? If you do not publish the truth, others will,” he said.
Referencing his freelance experience with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which conducts annual bias tests to identify personal prejudices, Fatade urged reporters to navigate bias carefully and avoid sensationalism.
He adds that journalism is a team effort and that ethical practice speaks louder than formal qualifications.
“You should be able to live well more than twenty years after retirement based on your plan,” he said, recounting his preparations, including establishing a Yoruba community radio station in Osun State to support him and his family after retirement.
Media consultant and Project Manager at the International Press Centre (IPC), Sanmi Falobi, also urged participants to embrace deliberate goal setting as a pathway to sustainable careers.
He led a practical session on identifying career challenges and action points towards measurable and progressive milestones.
“You must celebrate your strengths and address your weaknesses frontally,” he said, encouraging honest self evaluation and continuous improvement. He urged journalists to diversify their sources of income and explore legitimate opportunities aligned with their skills and expertise.
Earlier, CFRA President Adeola Ogunlade described the retreat as “a moment of reflection, renewal, and recommitment,” and said how Christian faith is reported affects national unity, public trust and the moral compass of society.
“The future of Christian faith reporting will be shaped by how well we respond to emerging threats: misinformation, economic pressure, digital disruption, and declining trust, while boldly embracing opportunities for impact and relevance,” he said.
“Let our reports heal rather than divide, enlighten rather than confuse, and inspire hope rather than despair,” he added, urging members to uphold ethics, lifelong learning and unity while positioning CFRA as a credible and trusted voice in Nigeria’s media space.
JKNewsMedia.com further reports that the retreat featured lectures, discussions and strategy sessions aimed at equipping Christian reporters to remain credible, ethical and relevant in Nigeria’s evolving media landscape.
