Tinubu reaffirms commitment to interfaith harmony, receives Sant’Egidio founder
…says Nigeria’s diversity remains a strength in building unity, peace President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to interfaith harmony, national unity and global partnerships for peace as he
…says Nigeria’s diversity remains a strength in building unity, peace
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to interfaith harmony, national unity and global partnerships for peace as he received the founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Professor Andrea Riccardi, at the Villa.
Tinubu, while welcoming Riccardi alongside the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Roberto Mengoni, and other dignitaries, described Nigeria as a pluralistic nation with over 220 million citizens and more than 250 ethnic nationalities coexisting within a democratic framework.
He noted that Islam and Christianity, alongside indigenous traditional belief systems, collectively shape the country’s cultural and spiritual heritage, stressing that diversity remains a source of strength for national cohesion.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who received the delegation on behalf of the President, said the Federal Government had taken concrete steps to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism architecture.
In a statement issued by Head of Information and Public Relations Department of the Office of the SGF (OSGF), Dewan Nengak Goshit, Akume listed measures including the Terrorism Prevention Act and its amendments, improved intelligence coordination, enhanced prosecutorial capacity and stronger inter-agency collaboration.
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He added that the kinetic security response was being complemented by non-kinetic strategies such as deradicalisation programmes, community engagement and socio-economic stabilisation initiatives.
Speaking earlier, Riccardi described Nigeria as a living example of how ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious diversity can coexist within one national framework.
He said the coexistence of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria was a “miracle of unity in diversity,” noting that the country’s strength lies beyond its natural resources and demographic advantages.
Riccardi pledged that the Community of Sant’Egidio would continue to support peacebuilding and interfaith engagement initiatives across Nigeria.
In his remarks, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel C. Okoh, commended the Federal Government for strengthening engagement with the Christian community, especially on issues of security, peacebuilding and interfaith relations.
Okoh expressed confidence that sustained collaboration between government, faith leaders and international partners would further strengthen unity, security and nation-building.
Also speaking, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Kaigama, said sustained dialogue remained the most effective pathway to addressing Nigeria’s challenges, including insecurity, criminality and social tensions.
Kaigama highlighted his longstanding collaboration with Sant’Egidio, describing the organisation as globally respected for peacebuilding, humanitarian outreach and interreligious dialogue.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd); Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim Kana; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola; Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Prof. Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokwua, among others.
