ABUJA — Religious leaders and stakeholders have renewed their commitment to dialogue, cooperation and peaceful coexistence as part of efforts to strengthen social cohesion and stability in Nigeria.
The commitment was contained in resolutions adopted at the end of a two-day international conference on “Diversity and Social Peace: A Partnership for a Promising Future,” held in Abuja.
The conference was organised by the Muslim World League (MWL) in collaboration with Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS).
Participants called for the creation of a coordinating platform that would bring together Muslim and Christian leaders and institutions across Nigeria in partnership with the MWL.
According to the conference resolutions, the proposed body would facilitate joint programmes, consultation and cooperation among religious institutions on matters of shared interest.
The participants also endorsed the “Nigerian Youth for Peace” initiative of MWL Secretary-General, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa.
They said the initiative would work alongside the proposed coordinating body and implement peace-building activities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with outcomes to be shared with international organisations.
The conference further recommended nationwide awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging national belonging, respect for diversity and peaceful coexistence while discouraging hate speech and intolerance.
Media and cultural organisations were encouraged to promote responsible communication, tackle rumours and inflammatory narratives, and showcase positive examples of peaceful coexistence.
On education, the participants advocated curricula and training programmes that would promote citizenship, mutual respect, dialogue and tolerance among young Nigerians.
They also called for stronger intellectual resilience among youths to help them resist messages capable of creating division and conflict.
The conference recommended a joint action plan involving government agencies, religious leaders and civil society organisations to address threats to peaceful coexistence and strengthen social stability.
Participants stressed that partnerships in conflict prevention, national cohesion and trust-building were necessary to create a more peaceful society.
They described religious, ethnic and cultural diversity as an enduring feature of society, noting that effective management of diversity was important for national unity and stability.
The conference also urged religious leaders to uphold the peaceful and compassionate values of their faiths and reject the misuse of religion to promote violence, conflict or extremism.
Participants identified social peace as an important component of national security, saying its achievement required cooperation among government institutions, religious bodies, schools, the media and civil society.
They further advocated inclusive national dialogue as a means of addressing tensions, rebuilding trust among communities and promoting cooperation in the national interest.
The conference called for greater involvement of women and young people in peace-building, social responsibility and citizenship initiatives.
It also recognised the role of religious and educational institutions in raising young people who respect diversity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Participants commended the MWL for its efforts to promote dialogue among different religious and cultural communities and called for more scholarly, training and media programmes focused on moderation, tolerance and human cooperation.
They maintained that the outcome of the conference reflected a shared determination among participants to deepen trust and understanding among Nigeria’s diverse communities.
The participants concluded that maintaining social peace was a collective responsibility and that stronger cooperation among religious leaders, government institutions and civil society would be essential to building a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
