Religious
Strengthening the Bonds of Faith and Freedom: How Nigeria’s Religious Leaders Are Advancing the Right to Believe
By Abdulrahman Aliagan,
In a nation as diverse as Nigeria, where faith influences daily life, community identity, and national politics, ensuring that every person can freely believe — or choose not to — is more than a constitutional promise. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js">
This effort reached another milestone in Gombe recently, where Faith and Freedom Africa hosted a Town Hall Meeting bringing together 46 carefully selected voices from across the society.
Government representatives sat alongside legal practitioners; imams and pastors shared reflections with traditional rulers, women advocates, and youth activists — all united by a shared commitment to build a more peaceful Nigeria.
Welcoming participants, the Country Representative of Faith and Freedom Africa, Felix Samari, delivered a resonant message: FoRB is not a privilege that may be extended to a few, but an inherent, non-negotiable right accorded to every citizen. Rooted in international treaties, reinforced by regional frameworks, and enshrined in Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution, the right protects individuals in matters of conscience, worship, and belief — shielding them against discrimination, intimidation, or coercion.
Samari reminded the audience that when this right flourishes, communities prosper, trust expands, and societies advance. But when it is suppressed, the outcomes are clear and dangerous — divisions deepen, anxieties rise, and people become vulnerable to manipulation by those who exploit faith for political gain. The gathering, he said, was not merely another seminar, but a civic responsibility: to learn, to question, and to act in defense of every citizen’s humanity.
The Gombe Town Hall Meeting unfolded as part of a broader national project undertaken by Faith and Freedom Africa — a movement sweeping across different geopolitical zones. Before arriving in Gombe, the organisation convened influential engagements in Jalingo, Kaduna, and Makurdi, where community leaders and grassroots actors grappled with real challenges threatening religious harmony. Earlier this year in Abuja, Christian and Muslim leaders held joint forums at the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre — two symbolic structures that reflect the soul of Nigeria. Those gatherings cemented the notion that the endurance of the nation’s unity rests heavily on how its faith communities relate with one another.
Discussions in Gombe exposed ongoing tensions that still linger at the grassroots level. Participants spoke of the subtle rise of mistrust between religious neighbours, misinformation amplified through social spaces, and the careless use of inflammatory rhetoric by individuals claiming leadership roles. The consensus across denominations was clear: peace cannot survive where voices of intolerance are left unchecked.
Throughout the session, one key theme persisted — the moral authority of religious and traditional leaders. Faith shapes behaviour. Sermons influence attitudes. Leaders who preach peace serve as anchors of stability in times of uncertainty, while those who weaponize belief can trigger unrest with a single message. The meeting therefore challenged clerics and community figures to guide their followers toward moderation, respect, and a humanity-first mindset. Homes, schools, and pulpits must become spaces where diversity is embraced — not feared.
Participants also emphasized that knowledge gained at the Town Hall must not remain confined to conference halls. They pledged to take the message into classrooms, marketplaces, neighbourhood associations, and rural communities that rarely feature in elite policy debates but carry the weight of Nigeria’s peace on their shoulders. Real change, they agreed, must begin where tensions are born — at the grassroots.
Amid these commitments, a strong call was issued to government. Peace requires institutional protection. When FoRB violations occur — whether through unequal access to rights, harassment, or discrimination — the state must act swiftly and fairly. Leaders insisted that government at all tiers must do more to uphold the constitution, guarantee safety for all religious groups, and actively prevent the escalation of disputes that could threaten stability.
For Faith and Freedom Africa, the work is far from done. The organisation reaffirmed its mission to nurture a culture where people of every creed or conviction enjoy dignity, justice, and respect. Its programming continues to expand, building bridges where suspicion once stood and deepening dialogue among communities that too often speak past each other.
In a country where belief is deeply personal yet inherently communal, Freedom of Religion or Belief is more than a human rights principle — it is a peace strategy. And as this movement gains momentum from the streets of Gombe to the halls of national power in Abuja, one truth becomes increasingly evident: Nigeria’s future depends on how well its people learn to live together, believe freely, and protect the rights that bind them as one nation under God — and under law.
Faith and Freedom Africa’s journey continues. And with each conversation, each community meeting, and each commitment to harmony, Nigeria takes one step closer to becoming not only a land of many faiths — but a home where every belief can thrive
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Religious
Faith Must Shape Nigeria’s Renewal, Says CSN Secretary General in New Year Message
By Abah Anthony John
The Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, has called on Nigerians to allow their faith shape personal conduct, civic responsibility, and national renewal, stressing that genuine transformation of the country must begin with renewed consciences rooted in God. js">
In his New Year message titled “Faith at the Service of the Nation”, released on January 1, 2026, Fr. Banjo reflected on the Christian understanding of time, describing it not merely as a sequence of days but as “the sacred space in which God acts for our salvation.”
He reminded Nigerians that through the Incarnation, when Christ entered human history, time itself was redeemed and given meaning.“Whatever resolutions we may make at the beginning of this year, the most fundamental must be the resolve never to live our time without God at its centre,” he said, noting that time “only finds its meaning when it is lived with God within it.”
The Catholic priest explained that Christmas fundamentally changed humanity’s identity, moving believers “from slavery to sonship.”
According to him, through Christ’s life, death and resurrection, Christians became sons and daughters of God, a new identity that carries concrete responsibilities in daily life.
“Faith that does not shape life has not yet been fully received,” he said.
Fr. Banjo emphasized that living as children of God requires courage and responsibility, especially in challenging times.
He said this identity demands a life free from fear and panic, grounded in the assurance of God’s abiding presence.
“The child of God lives without panic, because God is never absent,” he noted, urging Nigerians to recognize one another as brothers and sisters and to reject divisions based on tribe, religion or social status.
He also underscored the importance of family life, describing marriage as “a covenant of love and fidelity” marked by patience, forgiveness and mutual respect.
According to him, giving God a place in daily life through prayer, charity, honest work and care for family is essential, because divine sonship “is not an idea to admire, but a life to be lived.”
Turning to national life, the CSN Secretary General said the identity of Nigerians as children of God places a moral obligation on them as citizens.
He stressed that loving Nigeria goes beyond criticizing its failures and requires personal commitment to what is right.
“Nations are renewed when consciences are renewed,” he said, adding that renewal does not begin only in government offices but in the daily choices of ordinary citizens.
Fr. Banjo called for honesty, fairness and respect in the use of public resources, warning that the abuse of roads, schools, hospitals and public utilities reflects a deeper neglect of conscience.
“What we destroy in public space reveals what we neglect in conscience,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians to prepare responsibly for the 2027 general elections, advising citizens to make choices guided by truth, conscience and the common good rather than by money, ethnic loyalty or divisive rhetoric.
He challenged public servants to reject bribery and abuse of office, while calling on traders, artisans and workers to act with integrity, reminding them that their labour is ultimately offered to God.
Highlighting the role of families and education, Fr. Banjo described the family as the “basic building block of society,” noting that the strength of a nation is shaped in the quality of its homes.
He urged parents and teachers to see their role as a “sacred trust,” forming consciences through faith, discipline, honesty and hard work. Quoting Proverbs 22:6, he said proper formation of children quietly but decisively shapes the future of society.
He paid special attention to young people, warning that youth is not merely preparation for the future but a decisive moment of responsibility.
He urged them to choose discipline over recklessness and to reject drugs, crime and other destructive paths that promise quick freedom but end in loss. “A disciplined youth is a nation’s quiet revolution,” he said.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s difficulties in the past year, including economic hardship, insecurity and social tension, Fr. Banjo said the New Year itself is a sign of hope.
However, he cautioned that such hope must be active and responsible. “Hope becomes credible when it is translated into responsibility,” he said.
He concluded by praying for God’s strength and guidance, expressing confidence that if Nigerians live authentically as sons and daughters of God, the New Year can become “a turning point in the renewal of our nation,” marked by justice, peace and hope.
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Gov Ododo Reaffirms Commitment To Religious Harmony, Peace, Unity
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to fostering peace, unity, and mutual coexistence across the three senatorial districts of the state. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); js">
The Governor gave the assurance while addressing participants at a One-Day Peace Conference organized by the Ebira Muslims Peace Initiative in Okene.
The conference, themed “Essence of Peace and Unity Among the Muslim Ummah,” was held at Ohinoyi’s Palace in Okene Local Government Area.
The meeting brought together Islamic scholars, community leaders, youth groups, and stakeholders from across Kogi State to deliberate on peaceful coexistence and collective responsibility in strengthening societal harmony.
Governor Ododo commended the organizers for championing a platform that reinforces unity within the Muslim Ummah while also fostering tolerance across ethnic and religious divides.
He emphasized that sustainable development is impossible without peace, stating that Kogi State has earned recognition as a model of peaceful coexistence through the mutual efforts of citizens and the government’s proactive peace-building strategies.
He noted that No society grows in an environment of hatred and division. Peace is the foundation on which we can build prosperity, and unity is the bond that keeps us together as one people.
He further highlighted the role of government and religious leadership in securing long-term peace, noting that security is not achieved by force alone but through deliberate relationship-building and inclusive engagement.
“Our major responsibility is to provide security for our people, and in providing that security you must ensure unity of the land. One of the ways of guaranteeing peace and unity is by deploying non-kinetic methods of resolving issues,” he said.
“Today we have come to meet with our people and the Islamic leaders to engage them constructively on the need for us to give peace a chance, and hence the unity of our state, our land, and our people, so that we can all sleep with our two eyes closed.”
“I have just finished a meeting with all Islamic Scholars in Ebiraland and the Kogi Central Senatorial District, of course, we are working on that of the West and the East, then the Christian and Traditional aspect as well. To ensure peace, you must engage all critical stakeholders, and the Chief Imams, Sheikhs, and Ustaz are leaders the people believe in Islam, so we must work with them.”
“We are happy that we are all ready to give peace a chance in Kogi State.”
Earlier in his goodwill message, Chairman of the Ebira Muslims Peace Initiative Committee, Ustaz Ismail Obosi Suleiman, stressed the importance of unity among various Islamic sects across Ebiraland. He emphasized that while disagreements are natural, hostility is a choice, citing Qur’an 3:103: “Hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided.”
Suleiman called for inter-sect dialogue, focus on shared values, and rejection of political manipulation that seeks to worsen divisions. He urged religious leaders to model respectful engagement and promote authentic Islamic teachings to help dispel misconceptions among followers.
He reaffirmed that peace remains the foundation for a prosperous Ebiraland and called on all groups to work collectively toward sustaining unity.
The One-Day Peace Conference concluded with a renewed commitment by Islamic scholars, government representatives, and community stakeholders to strengthen peaceful coexistence and ensure that Kogi State continues to thrive as a united society.
Other dignitaries who shared their views on peaceful coexistence are the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, His Royal Majesty Alh Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje and the provost of National Defence College Professor Adam Okene Ahmed
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- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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Yuletide: Oruma Calls on Christian Faithfulls to Dedicate the Season to Prayers for Nigeria
By AbdulRahman Obaje
The National President Igala Centre for Development Advocate, Prince Musa Oruma calls on Igala Sons and daughters to inclulcate love and unity as a recipe for progress of Igala Nations while dedicate this festivity period to prayer for meaningful progress in Igala Nation, and Nigeria as a whole. adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Oruma made the call in a Christmas greetings message he personally signed and circulated.
He admonished especially the Christian faithful to dedicate the season to prayers for Nigeria and Nigerians, asking God Almighty to intervene positively in the affairs of the nation and to grant the country lasting peace and stability in the face of insecurity.
He further told Christians to also remember our leaders at all levels in their prayers, seeking divine guidance, wisdom, and courage to enable them to govern with fairness, compassion, and a sincere commitment to national unity and development.
Oruma wished Christians in Kogi State, Nigeiria and across the world a joyous Christmas celebration while praying that the season would bring renewed hope, strong faith, peace and abundant blessings to families nationwide.
Author Profile
- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media, Information and Computer Technology Consultant. A quintessential Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist is based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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