Imo-born Catholic priest and media scholar, Rev. Fr. Walter Ihejirika, has been elected President of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication, becoming the new global leader of the network of Catholic media professionals.
Ihejirika was elected on August 7 at the ongoing SIGNIS World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. SIGNIS is a global non-profit network bringing together Catholic communication professionals working across press, radio, television, cinema, the internet and emerging technologies.
Before his election, Ihejirika served as President of SIGNIS Africa, where he led efforts to strengthen Catholic media apostolate and promote professional communication across the continent. His new position has been described as recognition of his years of service and expertise in media and communication.
A Professor of Development Communication and Media Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, Ihejirika holds a PhD in Social Communication from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He was also Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Port Harcourt and an Associate Fellow of the Centre for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University, Chicago.
His academic and professional interests include media, religion, culture, development communication, digital technology and social transformation. He was ordained a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Ahiara, Imo State, and has served as a researcher, scholar and communication expert.
Other members elected to the SIGNIS World Board include Pamela Aleman of SIGNIS USA–Canada and Magimai Pragasam of India as Vice Presidents, while Adriana Racasan of SIGNIS Europe was elected Treasurer. The new leadership is expected to advance SIGNIS’ global mission of promoting truth, hope and responsible communication in an increasingly digital world.
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