Kati Dijane reporting from Kigali, Rwanda
The 2026 SIGNIS World Congress, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 3 to 6 August, concluded with a historic milestone for Catholic communications as two African priests were entrusted with leading SIGNIS at both the global and continental levels.
Father Walter Chikwendu Ihejirik of Nigeria was elected President of SIGNIS World, while Father Fidèle Mutabazi, Secretary of the Commission for Communication of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Rwanda, was elected President of SIGNIS Africa. Their elections marked a fitting conclusion to the first-ever SIGNIS World Congress to be hosted on African soil, highlighting the growing contribution of the African Church to Catholic communications worldwide.
Father Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika: A veteran communicator
Father Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika is a Nigerian priest of the Diocese of Ahiara and a professor of communication. Before his election as President of SIGNIS World, he served two consecutive terms as President of SIGNIS Africa and chaired the African Organising Committee that successfully brought the 2026 SIGNIS World Congress to Kigali, the first time the global gathering had been hosted on African soil. Throughout his leadership, he championed professional formation for Catholic communicators, strengthened SIGNIS’ presence across Africa, and promoted ethical communication rooted in the Gospel.
Reflecting on his years of service, Father Ihejirika recalled that one of the organisation’s greatest challenges in 2017 was that many Catholic communicators across the continent knew very little about SIGNIS.
“The first challenge was to make people understand SIGNIS as a network of professionals and practitioners in communication,” he said.
Looking back, he believes that significant progress has been made.
“Today people know about SIGNIS in every part of the continent, and many Catholic communicators are making an effort to join. The high point of it is this congress that we have just concluded and the number of Africans who attended.”
Building a stronger network across Africa
During his tenure as SIGNIS Africa president, Father Ihejirika highlighted several initiatives that strengthened Catholic communication across the continent. These included communication workshops and conferences in Ethiopia, Uganda and Mozambique, as well as the creation of the Citizen Journalists of Hope programme, which trains young communicators to use digital platforms to share positive stories from Africa.
He explained that the initiative seeks to counter narratives that portray Africa only through conflict, poverty and suffering.
“We train them to use digital means to project positive things happening in Africa because a lot of times the media focus is only on the negatives,” he said. The Citizen Journalists of Hope initiative has become one of SIGNIS Africa’s flagship youth formation programmes.
Father Fidèle Mutabazi: A new generation of leadership
Father Fidèle Mutabazi serves as Secretary of the Commission for Communication of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Rwanda and has been actively involved in strengthening Church communications in Rwanda and across Africa. He previously served on the SIGNIS Africa Board, representing the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC), before being elected president of SIGNIS Africa during the Kigali congress. He has also contributed to Vatican News through reporting on Church events in Rwanda.
Speaking after his election, Father Mutabazi described the moment as a confirmation of Africa’s growing role in the mission of evangelisation.
“This election has confirmed what we worked for during a long time,” he said. “Africa is working hard to make the Gospel reach people not only in Africa but also in other continents.”
He added that both the congress and the election demonstrated that Africa is ready to help renew and strengthen the faith throughout the universal Church.
Reaching the digital generation
As the newly elected President of SIGNIS Africa, Father Mutabazi said one of his priorities will be to engage young people and Catholic influencers who are already evangelising through digital media.
He noted that many Catholic content creators are reaching audiences through social media and said SIGNIS intends to accompany and support them.
“We need to work with them, recruit them as members, hear from them what they are wishing and help them so that we can promote this kind of media approach,” he said.
A vision for SIGNIS World
Father Ihejirika outlined his vision for SIGNIS World, describing it first and foremost as a global network of Catholic communicators united in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel.
“My priority is to rebuild SIGNIS as a network, having connections with one another so that we know we are all working for a common goal, helping the Church in the work of evangelisation,” he said.
He stressed that the organisation must first strengthen its members before focusing on technological advances.
“We need to build up the human dimension of SIGNIS before we start talking about technology,” he said, adding that the rapid development of artificial intelligence also calls for strong ethical guidance rooted in the Church’s teaching.
A spirit of continuity
The mutual respect between the two newly elected presidents was evident as Father Ihejirika expressed his confidence in Father Mutabazi’s leadership.
“I know it will be just like a continuation of an endless stream,” he said. “SIGNIS Africa will build from where we started to even greater heights.”
Father Mutabazi responded with humility, acknowledging Father Ihejirika’s leadership and pledging to continue building on the foundation already laid.
“I have worked with Father Walter, and whatever I really need from him, I know he is ready to help me,” he said. “I accepted to continue where he stopped, and I am sure that together we will be able to do greater things.”
A milestone for Africa and the Universal Church
The elections capped a landmark week for Catholic communicators gathered in Kigali, where more than 300 participants from around the world reflected on the Church’s mission in an increasingly digital age. The congress also affirmed Africa’s growing role within the universal Church and in shaping the future of Catholic communications.
The election of Father Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika as president of SIGNIS World and Father Fidèle Mutabazi as president of SIGNIS Africa marks a new chapter for the association as it continues its mission of supporting Catholic communicators in proclaiming the Gospel with professionalism, creativity and hope.
