Innocent Onoh
The Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) on Wednesday advocated for religious harmony to discourage faith-induced crisis.
COFP, a faith-based organization with a focus on interreligious peace, made the advocacy at its one-day seminar for youths to respect others’ religions and build a bridge across religious divides to foster development in the country.
It was organized in collaboration with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Lagos State and the National Youth Council of Nigeria Shomolu.
It was held at the New Shomolu Council secretariat.
The event had the theme “Building Bridges: Youth for Interreligious Peace”
It featured talks on faith harmony, measures to neutralize inciting and provocative words and presentations on cultural differences and similarities to leverage and advance harmonious co-existence in society.
In his presentation at the event, the Convener, Mr. Olowonmi Abdul-Qahhar, described the program as a transformative one to help young Nigerians internalize the culture of love and respect for others.
Abdul Qahhar, a Missionary and youth coach, said that encouraging youth to build bridges across religious divides was needed as a support pillar to cement the nation’s social fabric that enhances national development.
“I am thrilled to see passionate youth come together to explore the vital role of youth in promoting interfaith understanding and peace.
“In today’s world, where religious intolerance, polarisation, and conflicts often dominate headlines, it is crucial to begin with this generation to foster a culture of mutual respect, empathy, and cooperation among people of different faiths and backgrounds in the country.
“With your zeal and openness to new ideas, you are uniquely positioned to play a transformative role in this endeavour and rewrite the narrative,” he said.
Prof.Timehin Saheed, a Resource Person at the event, said that the program was to empower people to become ambassadors of interfaith peace. Whether Christian or Muslim, your perspectives matter. Here.
Saheed, a lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU) encouraged youths to live beyond stereotypes to discover shared values: justice, compassion, and the longing for a harmonious community.
Mrs Ishaq Anifowose, a representative of COFP, said that people must acknowledge the existence of others and accord them respect.
“As a people, we should acknowledge the diversity of social formation, and work out ways of making pluralism work for the common good.
“Mutual respect and understanding will help us coexist with others without feeling uncomfortable when others live according to their culture,” she said.
The COFP executive decried the weaponization of religion by politicians, and tasked participants to put the knowledge acquired from the workshop and constitute a buffer in the society to neutralize any form of religious-induced crisis.