The Oslo Times reports that the Global Peace Foundation-Nigeria trained Muslim and Christian community leaders on means of mitigating ethno-religious conflicts and establishing peace and harmony in the country on Jan. 29, 2016.
At the recent training, the Country Director for Global Peace Foundation-Nigeria, John Oko, explained the power Muslim and Christian leaders have to transform the country.
“Nigeria is a country with more than 250 different tribes and has witnessed tribal and religious crisis years back which resulted to lost of lives and property worth millions of naira (Nigerian currency).” Thus, he warned the community leaders to desist from doing or saying things that may divide the local community.
He further explained that the initiative focuses on value-based peacebuilding and conflict prevention that seeks to mitigate sectarian violence by changing attitudes and behaviors that drive identity-based conflict.
Rev. Hayeb added that the campaign is piloted in six communities in the state.
“We are members of one family regardless of our tribal, religious and geographical differences. We are all from the family of Adam and Eve. So we must learn to live in peace,” said former Adviser to late Governor Patrick Yakowa on Islamic Matters, Shaikh Halliru Maraya.
Kaduna State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretary and Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) Secretary charged the participants to take the training seriously.
