Religious communities across Nigeria have been urged to unite in confronting challenges affecting society rather than competing for dominance, as a pathway toward national development and peaceful coexistence.
The Founder of the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, made the call during the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2026 of the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace held in Abuja.
Cardinal Onaiyekan stressed the need for religious communities to harness their collective energies toward building a better Nigeria for all citizens.
According to him, meaningful development can only thrive in an atmosphere where faith groups work together in unity and mutual respect.
He also challenged the graduands to move beyond theoretical knowledge and become active peacebuilders within their communities.
“Engage in dialogue relentlessly. And when faced with conflict, do not stand on the sidelines. Stand in the gap, not merely as observers, but courageous agents of transformation, guided by hope, truth and a commitment to peace,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP), Sr. Agatha Chikelue, described the Fellowship Programme as an innovative initiative aimed at equipping grassroots faith leaders, especially women and youths, with essential peacebuilding, leadership and mediation skills.
She explained that the Fellowship’s community-based approach addresses the root causes of conflict while promoting sustainable development across Africa.
Sr. Chikelue urged the graduands to become agents of unity in a continent increasingly divided along ethnic, political and religious lines.
“In a continent increasingly polarised along ethnic, political and religious lines, you must become connectors, bringing people together where others sow division,” she stated.
The graduation ceremony of the 8th Cohort of the COFP International Fellowship Programme featured young leaders drawn from Nigeria, Liberia, Niger Republic, Ghana, Somalia and Ethiopia.
