By Joseph Joy and Chiekezie Emmanuel

As Nigeria grapples with deepening socio-economic challenges, the Vice chancellor, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has urged communicators and policymakers to go beyond lofty rhetoric and embrace solution journalism that drives real change and restores public hope.

Speaking as the chairman of the occasion during the 59th World Communication Day celebration at Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, Prof. Okolie called for a shift from mere talk to tangible action, especially in a society “trapped in a state of hopelessness.”

Reflecting on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Sharing with Gentleness the Hope That Is in Our Hearts,” Prof. Okolie admitted that sharing hope is incredibly difficult when people are barely surviving.

“It is hard to be gentle in a place where survival is a daily struggle,” he said. “Gentleness only thrives where the basic necessities of life are available. Only then can the heart find peace.”

He stressed that the burden of hope does not lie with words alone — it must be backed by systems that support human dignity. Using a practical example, he noted that student protests over school fees could be avoided if local governments stepped in with structured financial assistance.

“We can’t preach hope to hungry people,” he added. “Hope becomes real when policies are people-centered and designed to ease daily struggles.”

Prof. Okolie’s remarks resonated with the spirit of solution journalism — a growing media movement focused on highlighting responses to social problems, not just the problems themselves.

As World Communication Day called global attention to the media’s role in shaping humanity’s future, Prof. Okolie’s message was clear: communication must not just inform, it must empower, heal, and drive action.