Bishop Badejo harpes on human-centered communication in Digital Age
Bishop Badejo harpes on human-centered communication in Digital Age
The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, has urged Nigerians to respect human faces and voices in communication against the “artificialisation of communication” driven by digital media and artificial intelligence.
Badejo made the call while speaking at the 2026 World Communications Day, in Ibadan on Sunday.
Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the Bidhop’s message anchored on the speech delivered by Pope Leo XIV with the theme “Preserving Human Voices and Faces.”
Pope Leo XIV is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City.
Badejo said that the theme stemed from the concern of the Pope on the dwindling role of human faces and voices in modern day social relationships.
He expressed concern that artificial intelligence and the digital media tend to veil, supplant and even substitute the faces and voices of human beings.
“Authentic communication must promote communion with God and our fellow men and women.
“Bad communion does the exact opposite causing division, stress and conflict,” he said.
According to the bishop, people must aim to communicate and not excommunicate- meaning communication must not alienate others.
“Faces and Voices are sacred. Sacredness implies holiness, consecration and connection to a divine power.
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“Our faces and voices constitute the personality given to us by God so that we may interact with humans through love.
“Each individual possesses an irreplaceable and inimitable vocation, that originates from a lived experience and manifested through interaction with others.
“That uniqueness that has defined and cemented human relationship over the ages is now under threat,” he said .
Badego urged that humanity be safeguarded from the shortage of critical reflection and thinking ushered by artificial intelligence and digital technology.
“We should guide against the corrosiveness of quick emotional rewards, the consideration of technology as an omniscient friend and the eventual weakening and polarisation of the society,” he said.
He commended the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria’s communications office for organising a week-long programme to help balance faith, humanity, and digital presence in daily relationships.
“What we do on or with the social media must reflect and represent the humanity and the faith we profess well.
“We must contend with the ascendancy of the elements of digital media and especially artificial intelligence.
“We must also contend with those who prefer spending long hours with digital devices and gadgets rather than with fellow human beings,” he said.
The Catholic Bishop also harped on the importance of prayer which he said should not be outsourced to machines.
Taking his reference from the book of John 16:23 and John 17:1-11, he identified personal prayer as the only way to be in touch with God.
He urged that people should see the face of God in every human being and hear the voice of God in the voice of every one they meet.
Badejo called for more enlightenment on digital media and media literacy so people could critically engage with technology without demonising it.
“The way out is certainly not to demonise the digital media but to educate ourselves more to critically engage with it and profit from the resources they offer through media and information literacy.
“We should cherish the gift of communication as the deepest truth of humanity, and orientate technological innovation around it.
“This will help preserve human voices and faces in our society,” the bishop said.
