What we have today as the Methodist
Church Nigeria Communications Department, started in the 1950s, as a
Communications Movement known as “Salvation for All,” (“Kajola” in Yoruba),
which was a book distribution outreach. The Movement was led by the Late Right
Rev. Dr. Adeolu Adegbola (then Rev. Adeolu Adegbola), who inspired and
challenged the Church to start the outreach.
The Very Rev. Busuyi E. Agunbiade, Head of Communications (2017-Date)
Thus we have two outlets of “Kajola
Bookshop,” one was situated in Umuahia and the other was in Methodist Lay Men’s
Training Institute, Sagamu. These served as outlets for distribution and sale
of the Church’s publications. Rev. Adegbola, who was then the Principal of the
Institute, was in charge of the Sagamu branch. His efforts was so much
appreciated by Methodist Church Nigeria, that the Late Right Rev. Adeboyejo,
(then Rev. Adeboyejo) was appointed to continue with the distribution of the
Church’s publications.
When the Rev. Dr. Bolaji Idowu
became the President of Methodist Church Nigeria in 1972, he introduced the production
of a magazine which could be regarded in today’s parlance as a newsletter. The
name of the magazine was “The Remembrance.” Among the Church’s editors during this period
were Very Rev Osinulu who was in charge from 1980 to 1985. He was succeeded byu
the Very Rev Titus Onajobi, who served as the editor till 1988.
The Very Rev. Taiwo Ogunfile (now Rt. Rev.), Head of Communications (2010-2017)
The Church continued with the
production of “The Remembrancer” till the it was resolved during the 1988
Conference in Aba, that a proper Communications Department should be
established. The then Very Rev. S.L. Ayo. Ladigbolu, was appointed as the
Chairman and Editor-in- Chief of the Department. The Conference also resolved
that the name “The Remebrancer” should be changed to “Methodist Voice,” it
should be a Magazine to be circulated all over the Conference Area and must be
produced quarterly. The department started full operation in 1989, with the
production of the first edition of the Methodist News.
During the 2002 MCN Conference
held in Ibadan, the Church resolved that the Communications Department should
start the production of Methodist Church Nigeria daily devotional as part of
ways of enriching the spiritual lives of members, who were using mostly the
Daily Guide of the Scripture Union as at that time.
The Very Rev. Dapo Daramola, Head of Communications (2004-2010)
Thus, the Department started the
production of the Methodist Church Nigeria Daily Reflections in 2003 and the
Most Rev. S.L. Ayo. Ladigbolu Chairman of the Board took it upon himself to
supply the materials used for the 2003 and 2004 editions of the publications.
During these periods, writers were appointed and trained for quality,
theologically balanced and spirit-filled production.
The Conference in her subsequent sittings
assigned the Communications Department with the responsibility of Promoting,
Providing and Projecting the Church through the sales of the Church Brand to
express the dignity of Christ to the un-church people and the outside world.
This is accomplished through various Media platforms, such as Social Media of
any kind, Electronic and Print Media. The Department organizes Press
interviews, do Press release, publish issue of the Church, and Publish the
Church events through Print Media and Electronic Media.
The Very Rev. Dr. Deji Okegbile, Head of Communications (1993-2000)
Through this responsibility, the department
is expected to achieve the following;
i.
To keep PROMOTING
– The vision, mission, cherished values and core competencies of Methodist
Church Nigeria through both internal and external media platforms.
ii.
To keep PROJECTING
– The brand name and give it a significant space in the public domain and
media landscape.
iii.
To keep PROVIDING
– exciting platforms to connect with people so as to facilitate continuous
giving and exchange of information on regular basis via print, electronic and
social media.
In order to be able to discharged the above
the Communications is required to be structured along the following units.
i.
MEDIA
RELATIONS UNIT – Handling of press releases, press
conferences, courtesy visits, talk shows, broadcast programmes, public relations
matters.
ii.
ICT
UNIT
- Handling of systems administration, data gathering and processing news feed
for new/social media platforms to gain relevance in the public domain.
iii.
LITERATURE/PERIODICAL
UNIT
– Handling all publication issues such as magazines, newsletters, tabloids,
Christian literature, devotionals, tracts, manuals and other periodicals such
as journals, diaries and calendars.
iv.
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT UNIT – Handling marketing plans advert formats,
creative research, agency presentations and other income generation drives.
Most Rev. Ayo Ladigbolu, Head of Communications (1988-1993)
Basically the department is involved in the
production of Methodist Church Nigeria Periodicals and publishing of news, such
as ‘Methodist News’ and ‘Methodist Voice’, Daily Reflections (the yearly
devotionals), Calendar and Diary. Also the Department prints Methodist stickers
of various kinds. As occasion demands, the department does media coverage via
National Media Houses and internal effort for the purpose of publishing the
event.
Some of the past and
present Heads of the Department are, His Grace, Most Rev. S. Lawrence Ayo.
Ladigbolu (1988-1993), Very Rev. Deji Okegbile (1993-2000), Mrs Margaret Orji
(2000-2004), Very Rev. Dapo Daramola (2004-2010), Very Rev. Taiwo Ogunfile (2010-2017)
and presently Very Rev. Busuyi E. Agunbiade (2017 till date).
