The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, has emphasised the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering national unity.
Speaking at a seminar in Abuja on Tuesday titled ‘2020 TETfund Project On Using Interfaith Dialogue As A Tool To Promote National Integration’, and which was held at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (former Women Development Centre), the NUC boss described it (interfaith dialogue) as a “powerful instrument for strengthening the fabric of our society.”
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Represented by the Acting Director of Students, Rita Okonjo, Ribadu highlighted the role of research in addressing Nigeria’s diversity challenges.
“As a country blessed with cultural and religious diversity, we must continuously engage in meaningful conversations that build bridges of understanding among different religious groups,” he said.
The Executive Secretary noted that academic research plays a crucial role in informing policies and providing solutions to national challenges. He said the findings from the project would offer valuable insights for policymakers, religious leaders and stakeholders in fostering national integration.
“The university system plays a pivotal role in advancing knowledge and providing solutions to national and global issues. The NUC strongly supports research endeavours that contribute to national development, social cohesion, and economic prosperity.”
Ribadu also commended TETFund for its commitment to funding research that tackles Nigeria’s developmental challenges. He praised institutions such as the University of Ibadan for their contributions to the project.
The project leader, Professor Afis Oladosu, on his part, addressed the common perception of religious conflict in Nigeria.
He argued that religion itself is not the root cause of violence but rather the actions of individuals who use it as a pretext.
“We realize that in each faith we profess, whether Christianity or Islam, hardly do these religions fight each other. So when people speak of religious conflict, we ask, where is that Christianity that is fighting? Where is that Islam that is in violence?”
He pointed out that many conflicts in Nigeria are driven by social and economic factors, such as disputes over land and identity. These issues, he said, are often labelled as religious conflicts despite having deeper underlying causes.
The event, organised to disseminate findings from the 2020 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) research project on interfaith dialogue, brought together academics, policymakers and religious leaders.
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