Our Identity: The Voice of the Marginalised
Advocatus Africa is a media-related charity and a subsidiary of MTNI that started in September 2018. Our name is drawn from the Roman origin of Advocatus, meaning a protector of public interest who acts with integrity. We are compelled by the “Great Commission” to act as witnesses in a digital courtroom, speaking for those who have been silenced.
What We Do: Faith-Based “We-Media”
We debut a unique blend of grassroots journalism and citizen media. Our work includes:
- Interpretive Journalism: Driven by the call to advance the frontiers of Christian civilisation by amplifying the voices of the persecuted.
- Research & Documentation: We document and report atrocities against Christians and the marginalised, providing groundbreaking information on religious, political, and socio-economic issues.
- Advocacy for Development: We promote integral human development, justice, and right.
- Defenders of the Faith: We honor apologists who promote and defend the faith amid persecution through our AA’s Defender of the Faith Lifetime Award.
Our Vision & Mission
- Vision: To become a beacon of hope for the voiceless who whistle in the dark, in search of a trusted digital platform to tell their stories.
- Mission: Giving a voice to all who seek the truth, justice, peace, and integral human development.
- Motto: Truth. Justice. Right
Core Mandate
1. Adheres to upholding the highest ethical standards of objectivity, fairness, and balance in the research, documentation and reportage of atrocities committed including training interns and journalists on the rudiments of advocacy and interpretive journalism.
2. Ensures that the media serves the common good by providing information grounded in truth, freedom, justice, and solidarity, in accordance with The Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2494).
3. Leverages the Social Doctrine of the Church to promote the betterment of the human person, helping individuals become more spiritually mature, aware of their dignity, responsible, and open to the needs of others, particularly the most vulnerable (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, No. 415, par.2).
4. Upholds the media’s role as a watchdog by mobilising public support for social change toward a free, just, and equitable society whilst honouring deserving apologists who promote and defend the faith amid severe persecution through AA’s Defender of the Faith Lifetime Award.
5. Rejects the abusive treatment of religious views and instead promotes socially responsible advertisements and content that are not misleading, harmful, or offensive to the public, whilst adhering to the standards of a leading 21st-century media organisation.
6. Strives to be an independent and authoritative voice for the marginalised in Africa and beyond, enabling vulnerable groups—especially victims of violence and other forms of abuse—to share their stories in their own words.
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief
Justine John Dyikuk is a doctoral researcher in Journalism, Media and Communication from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. He bagged a Master of Arts degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Pastoral/Communication Studies from Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, affiliated to the University of Calabar, Nigeria. He recently bagged a Diploma in Freelance Travel Journalism at the British College of Journalism, Australia. He has two bachelor’s degrees in theology from St. Augustine’s Major Seminary Jos, in affiliation with the University of Jos and Philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome.
The former editor of Bauchi Caritas Newspaper and Communications Director of Bauchi Diocese has16 years of experience in the newsroom as a freelancer. The Senior Fellow for Religious Freedom Policy, Religious Freedom Institute, Washington DCis the Nigerian Correspondent of The Pillar, a US-based news agency and a reporter for Truth Nigeria. His stories have been published in Catholic News Agency, ACI Africa, Sahara Reporters, Premium Times, The News Chronicle, Vatican News, Religious Freedom Institute, Crisis Magazine, Union of Catholic Asian News, The Trentand a host of other international media.
The priest-journalist is a Lecturer of Mass Communication at the University of Jos, Nigeria and a widely published scholar. Dyikuk is passionate about reporting on church and society, religiously motivated violence, the government’s counter-messaging, and political and strategic communication. He is the Editor-in-Chief and convener of Advocatus Africa.
Email: editor@advocatusafrica.org
Data and Annotation Analyst
Ijuptil K. Joseph (Ph.D., UK) is also a member of the team, having earned his doctoral degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Glasgow.
His research centers on the mathematical modelling of active fluids within a channel. He holds a Master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Ghana.
His expertise lies at the intersection of data science, continuum modelling, fluid mechanics, and the application of mathematical modelling to address real-world human challenges.
A First-Class graduate in Mathematics from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria, he served as a Graduate Researcher and Teaching Assistant at the University of Glasgow, where he taught Mathematical Methods of Physics from October 2019 to September 2020. He is also a proud member of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana Class of 2021.
As a widely published scholar, Ijuptil possesses advanced skills in data processing, evaluation, aggregation, and consolidation. His hands-on experience and expertise in computation make him a valuable resource for research and documentation at Advocatus Africa.
Email: i.joseph@advocatusafrica.org
Reporter
Sylvester Jalo measures in Citizen journalism. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral/Communication studies from the University of Calabar, Nigeria. The priest of Bauchi Diocese, currently a fide donum priest to the Archdiocese of Glasgow, Scotland, UK, holds a Diploma in Pastoral Communication from the Centre for the Study of African Culture and Communication (CESACC), Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
With two degrees in Philosophy and Theology from St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, affiliated to the University of Jos, his research interests include social media activism, counterterrorism and Church and media. Fr. Jalo is a reporter for Advocatus Africa.
Email: S.jalo@advocatusafrica.org
Columnist
Francesco Leone Grotti is a graduate of Philosophy from the Catholic University in Milan. The Cattolica-born journalist has had extensive experience newsroom working for the AsiaNews Catholic news agency. Currently he works for the monthly magazine Tempi. The author of several books (the last one about Taiwan: “La croce e il dragone”) , Grotti serves as a columnist.
Email: l.grotti@advocatusafrica.org
Reporter
Jude Dangwam is an accomplished Nigerian investigative journalist with over a decade of experience in crafting compelling investigative reports for Daily Asset Newspaper and other prominent national dailies.
He holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Development Communication (Strategic Communication) from Plateau State University in Bokkos, North-central Nigeria, alongside a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Mass Communication from the University of Jos and a Diploma in the same field from Plateau State Polytechnic in Barkin-Ladi.
Dabee confidently navigates a broad spectrum of topics, focusing on critical investigative stories concerning human rights and the persistent conflict in his home state of Plateau.
Driven by a strong commitment to justice and accountability—cornerstones of effective journalism—he champions the vital role of the press in holding public officials accountable and sparking meaningful societal reform. He actively supports the mission of Advocatus Africa by contributing his expertise pro bono.
Email: n.dabee@advocatusafrica.org
Media Partner – Tempi
Tempi is an Italian publication that serves as both a daily online news site (tempi.it) and a monthly print magazine. It provides news and commentary on politics, culture, and society, often reflecting Catholic social teaching. It is a space for “chronicle, judgment, and the free exchange of ideas,” which covers topics such as Italian domestic policy, foreign affairs, and religious freedom.
