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By Rita Iliya

The Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) has advocated for interfaith dialogue as a means to build peaceful communities across the country.

The Country Director of the foundation, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said this on Tuesday in Minna during the International Youth Day Interfaith Dialogue.

It was coordinated with the Youth Local Action for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Through Inter-Religion Harmony.

Hayab said the foundation believed interfaith dialogue could foster mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among different faith communities, leading to peaceful coexistence.

“Today’s gathering is a declaration that despite our diverse faiths, ethnicities, and cultures, we choose dialogue over division, unity over conflict, and peace over violence,” he said.

The country director emphasised the importance of promoting interfaith dialogue among Nigerian youths for peace and sustainable development.

According to him, interfaith dialogue among Nigerian youths can connect communities, build trust, tackle insecurity, mitigate violence, and thereby promote peaceful coexistence for sustainable livelihoods.

He urged young people to rise above divisive narratives and become bridge-builders, innovators, and ambassadors of peace.

Hayab called on government, community elders, and civil society organisations to invest in youth empowerment, provide them with skills, resources, and platforms to shape policies and decisions.

Also, Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, emphasised the need for both religions to promote peace in their communities and urged women to speak out against Gender-Based Violence, forced marriage, and sexual harassment.

Bago, represented by Ms Aisha Wakaso, Special Adviser on Print Media, urged women and girls to speak out against other social and cultural voices in their communities.

“Women should protect their children, monitor the kind of peer groups they associate with, while parents should always know the whereabouts of their children,” he said.

In his presentation, the Commissioner of Police in Niger, Adamu Elleman, commended the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasiru Islam (JNI) for promoting peaceful coexistence in Niger.

Elleman, represented by SP Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, highlighted the efforts of the police in tackling youth restiveness in Minna metropolis.

He advocated for government to engage youths in skills acquisition programmes and urged parents to take responsibility, and pay attention to their children to reduce crime in the communities.

Similarly, the Vice-Chairman of CAN in Niger, Rev. Joshua Rikoto, and the representative of JNI, Mamman Ketso, emphasised the need to empower youths and women to build a better society. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Victor Adeoti/Ayodeji Alabi

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