Mission
To make digital education accessible and affordable to women, youths, vulnerable adults, and displaced persons across Africa through strategic events.
About Us
From digital poverty to digital dignity — a Catholic mission forming people for the digital age.
Who we are
A Catholic mission for the digital age
Yes Catholic Hangout is a faith-driven digital education and innovation hub founded by Rev. Fr. Oliver Ikenna Nwagbara of the Congregation of Christ the Emmanuel. Established on January 28, 2019, it was born to bridge the digital divide for marginalized communities across Africa — especially women, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable adults.
Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, we train people in web development, product design, video editing, and data analytics, and we support Churches with digital pastoral strategy. Our programs are built to empower livelihoods, not only to teach skills.
2019
Founded in Nigeria
10,000+
People trained
15+
African nations reached
Why we exist
Mission and vision
Vision
To become a global hub where faith, skills, and impact meet — enabling people to rise from digital poverty to digital economic dignity through networks with global digital economy stakeholders.
From Digital Poverty to Digital Dignity
Our motto captures an enduring belief: no one should be left behind in Africa’s digital revolution. We say yes to learning, to service, and to transformation.
Our story
How the mission began
A small hub in Nigeria grew into a continental effort to put faith, skills, and digital dignity within reach.
Empowerment through education
Free or low-cost tech training for groups often excluded from digital opportunity, especially women in rural communities and IDPs.
Faith-based community
Catholic values of service and solidarity are built into how we teach, accompany, and form people.
Advocacy through events
Conferences, workshops, and seminars that promote digital inclusion and sustainable development.
2019
Founded in Nigeria
Yes Catholic Hangout began on January 28, 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global systems. Fr. Nwagbara set out to democratize digital literacy in underserved regions of Africa through free or low-cost training, Catholic community-building, and advocacy events.
Name
Why “Yes Catholic”
The name reflects both a spiritual commitment — echoing the “yes” to God’s call, akin to Mary’s fiat — and a practical yes to innovation and growth. The first hub offered computer skills, coding workshops, and digital marketing training.
2020–22
Digital mercy in the pandemic
Lockdowns accelerated the need for digital solutions. The mission pivoted to virtual learning, device and data relief for IDPs and low-income students, and partnerships with NGOs, dioceses, and tech firms. Fr. Nwagbara called this “digital mercy” — technology used to alleviate suffering, inspired by Pope Francis’ culture of encounter.
Impact
Programs that form and serve
Women in Tech
Training in web development, design, and e-commerce, with graduates launching businesses and remote careers.
IDP Digital Literacy
Mobile units reached displacement camps in Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya with storytelling and online safety skills.
Strategic Events
The African Digital Inclusion Summit and faith-tech conferences on ethical AI and evangelization.
COVID-19 Response
Multilingual health content and telehealth training for community leaders.
Challenges we adapted to
Resource limitations
Funding and infrastructure gaps mirrored broader African challenges in tech equity.
Misinformation
Vaccine hesitancy and tech skepticism were met through church-led campaigns.
Sustainability
After the pandemic, the work shifted to hybrid online and offline models to keep reach.
Where we are going
By 2025 the mission had trained over 10,000 people across 15 African nations. Faith and innovation continue to meet in the work ahead.
- Establishing digital hubs in every African diocese
- Launching a Tech for Peace program for conflict zones
- Expanding partnerships with global Catholic networks such as Caritas and GAVI
Leadership
Meet Our Founder
Rev. Fr. Ikenna Oliver Nwagbara is a devoted Catholic priest of the Congregation of Christ the Emmanuel (CCE), ordained on August 20, 2016, by Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary to the Dicastery for Evangelization. He currently serves in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth in Nova Scotia, Canada. Deeply committed to evangelization in the digital age, he is an active member of SIGNIS Africa and SIGNIS Worldwide, and serves as Chaplain of the Apostolate Via De Media in the Catholic Diocese of Aba.
Beyond his priestly vocation, Fr. Ikenna Nwagbara is a seasoned Digital Strategy Consultant and a strong advocate for communications and telecommunications development in Nigeria. He is an Associate Member of the Nigeria Social Media Analysts network and serves on the Advisory Board of the Ministry of Digital Economy, Communications and Innovation in Nigeria. With expertise in JavaScript, artificial intelligence, and digital strategy, he uniquely integrates faith with technology.
People
Meet The Team
Get to know the people behind the mission — dedicated to exceptional results and faith-driven innovation.
Lois Festus
Director
Enechukwu Chibuike
Fullstack Developer
Mr. Emeka
Network Manager
Dr. Oracle Nwala mni
Legal Advisor
Ugonma Vivian Nwagbara
Online Community & Content Steward
Gloria Joseph
Human Centered AI Design Lead
Onyejefu Cornelius
Ethical Cybersecurity & Digital Trust Lead