The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in collaboration with faith-based organisations and other stakeholders, yesterday, engaged in a crucial dialogue to establish mechanisms aimed at curbing religious hate and promoting the rights to beliefs and worship for all citizens in the country.
NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Dr Tony Ojukwu (SAN), and Project Coordinator, Hajiya Halima Oyedele, underscored the importance of mutual tolerance among different religious groups, and emphasised that respect for each other’s beliefs and religions is essential for national harmony.
The NHRC boss appealed to the citizens to avoid fanning the embers for discrimination and hatred for any religion. The initiative, tagged ‘Freedom of Religion and Belief in Nigeria,’ was to foster peaceful coexistence and reduce religious intolerance between the two major religions in the country- Christianity and Islam.
President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by Habeeb Ibrahim, called for increased freedom of religion and belief in the country.
He stressed that religion is a matter of personal choice and highlighted the need for respect for each other’s religion, belief and cultural practices.
Also speaking, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Daniel Okoh, noted that diversity should be an asset to the country.He said if God had wanted one religion in the country, he would have done so, and therefore, there is no other choice than respecting each other’s religion.
The event also featured the public presentation of a survey report conducted by the Kukah Centre on Freedom of Religion and Belief in Nigeria by Stephen Klanzama.
The survey revealed critical insights and recommendations, including the need to promote a dialogue of life to enhance understanding and cooperation between different religious communities.
According to the pilot study of religion issues across six states in the country, there is a need to strengthen constitutional provisions and institutions to better address issues of religious extremism.
The survey also called for enhancing of NHRC’s mechanisms to make them more accessible and effective for citizens, thus improving the reporting and handling of religious intolerance.
Dr Joseph Atang of KAICIID Dialogue Centre, in his remarks, underlined the need for systematic study of religious violence to address the challenges.
Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Isa-Onilu, in his keynote address, tasked citizens on the need to shun extremism and religious violence.
The NOA boss, in a message to the programme, stressed that Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) has given the right of beliefs to every Nigerian, and therefore called on all to respect the right.
