Clerics advocate tolerance as key to peaceful Nigeria
From Abdullahi Abubakar Umar, Kano Clerics and community leaders have urged Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance and respect for boundaries, describing them as essential for building a peaceful and united country. The call was made in Kano during a town hall meeting on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), organised by Faith & Freedom […]
From Abdullahi Abubakar Umar, Kano
Clerics and community leaders have urged Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance and respect for boundaries, describing them as essential for building a peaceful and united country.
The call was made in Kano during a town hall meeting on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), organised by Faith & Freedom Africa.
The meeting, themed “Promoting Religious Freedom, Peaceful Coexistence, and Inclusive Communities in Nigeria”, brought together Muslim and Christian leaders, civil society actors, traditional institutions, and government representatives from across Northern Nigeria.
Country Representative of Faith & Freedom Africa, Felix Joseph Samari, said the initiative was designed to provide a platform for dialogue among diverse groups.
He explained that the programme particularly targets Northern Nigeria, where communities of different faiths must learn to engage constructively to foster unity.
Kano State Ameerah of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Habiba Abubakar Mijinyawa, cautioned against reckless speech on religious matters.
She stressed that while freedom of expression is a fundamental right, it must be exercised responsibly.
“Not everything can be said. There are boundaries, especially in Islam, where certain utterances are not allowed,” she said, urging leaders to guide their followers on respecting such limits.
Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kano, Reverend Nuhu, emphasised the importance of embracing diversity.
“It is God who created these differences. Therefore, we must honour Him by respecting one another,” he said, adding that tolerance is the foundation of peaceful coexistence.
Similarly, Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kano, Ibrahim Muhammad Wudilawa, called on young people to champion unity across religious lines.
“Islam and Christianity are essentially the same in humanity, as there should be no division among us,” he said.
The town hall featured presentations on constitutional rights and human rights dimensions of religious freedom, panel discussions, and group sessions.
[2:29 PM, 6/10/2026] Daily Trust Hamza Idris: Editor, good afternoon