The Diocesan Communicator of the Evo Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, has been honoured with the Distinguished Service Award for serving as the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the Church of Nigeria Communicators and Media Officers’ conference for three years (2024 to 2026).
The plaque was presented to Nkwocha, a former General Editor of Newswatch magazine, last Wednesday by the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, who represented the Primate, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba.
The plaque read: “Distinguished Service Award presented to Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, fnipr, Chairman, Central Planning Committee, in deep appreciation of your exceptional leadership, professionalism, and dedicated service as Chairman of the Central Planning Committee over the past three consecutive years.
“Your strategic vision and commitment to excellence ensured the landmark success of every annual conference, culminating in the historic 2026 Communicators’ Conference.
“Thank you for your tireless service and inspiring dedication,
“Dated this 24th Day of June 2026”.
Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and the Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, read the plaque text and then presented it to Nkwocha at the opening ceremony.
This was after he had presented the Primate’s Address/Charge at the Conference, hosted by the Diocese on the Niger, at the Diocesan Retreat Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State. It was attended by over 180 delegates from across the country.
Nkwocha, a reputation management and communication specialist, dedicated the award to Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, who appointed him Diocesan Communicator, from where he was picked to chair the Central Planning Committee of the Church of Nigeria Communicators and Media Officers conference in 2024.
He also dedicated the award to the Bishop of his home Diocese of Egbu, Rt. Rev. Enyinnaya Okorafor, whose predecessor, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Iheagwam knighted him in 2004.
Nkwocha also appreciated all members of the Central Planning Committee for their cooperation, which made their work very fruitful.
He said: ‘All the three conferences we organised were adjudged very successful.
‘Special appreciation to the CON Director of Communication, Venerable Raphael Aderinwale; the General Manager of Advent Cable Network TV, Engr. Korede Akintunde, who acted as Director while I Chaired the Committee in 2024 and 2025; Mrs Mojisola Olatinwo, our able Secretary, the LOC Chairman, Venerable Ikechukwu Ihemtuge, and others.
‘I am happy that one of our members, Venerable Barnabas Bulus from the Diocese of Kaduna, has been appointed to take over from me.
‘I sincerely appreciate my fellow delegates from the Diocese of Evo, Venerable Olufemi Igbamerun and James Ebebeinwe as well as all our delegates from the Niger Delta Province, especially Sir Sampson Fibresima of Niger Delta Diocese and Venerable Chinemerem Eleeh of the Diocese of Ikwerre’.
The theme of the conference was: “The Watchman’s Trumpet, the Future of the Great Commission’, taken from Ezekiel 33: 7.
All the speakers, including Enyindah, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, the Bishop of the Diocese of Amichi, the Rt Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor, and Venerable Ifeanyi Aniagboso of the Niger Delta Diocese stated that the media has a great role to play in propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ in a world that is rapidly degenerating into sinfulness, injustice, and depravity.
The conference urged all diocesan communicators and media officers to see themselves as ambassadors of Christ and use whatever equipment they have as a trumpet to disseminate the gospel.
The conference convener, Venerable Raphael Aderinwale, who is also the Church of Nigeria’s Director of Communication, expressed gratitude to God for a very successful conference, and to the Diocese of the Niger for their wonderful hospitality.
The Diocesan Communicator in Lagos, Mr Lanre Idowu, who is a senior journalist and convener of the Diamond Award for Media Excellence, adjudged the conference as very successful.
