A significant summit held in Kaduna, Nigeria drew notable religious and government leaders from around the nation to further develop strategies to cooperatively engage religious leaders and communities in countering extremism and violence with a culture of peace and mutual prosperity on October 23.

Hajia Amina Namadi Sambo, wife to the vice-president of Nigeria and patron of the Global Peace Foundation-Nigeria told summit attendees that peace must precede development. She called on religious leaders to take up the charge to create a culture of peace.

The summit gained significant attention from national news outlets. The story in the Nigerian Eye focusing on H.E. Hajiya Sambo, wife to the vice-president call to every member to play a part in securing peace. The story was shared on the Nation and 36Daily. All Africa, Leadership and the Daily Trust also covered the summit.

The resounding message: without peace, there is no development, without faith leaders working together, peace cannot be secured.

Below is the story released by the Nigerian Eye.

Nigeria can’t develop under insecurity – Mrs. Sambo

Sunday, October 26, 2014 |  Wife of Nigeria’s Vice President, Hajia Amina Namadi Sambo, has said that there cannot be economic prosperity and development in a Nigeria where there is widespread violence and breakdown of law and order.

This was said, as the  Kaduna State governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, described ethno-religious and sectarian crises that have rocked Kaduna in the recent past as the cause of slow development of the state.

The Governor said people of the state must resolve to go back to the good old days when their tribes and religions were the instruments of unity and peaceful co-existence, not source of discord and strife, if the development must be achieved.

They both made the declaration yesterday while speaking to a peace summit organised by the Global Peace Foundation in Kaduna.

According to the Vice President’s wife, it is unfortunate that, Kaduna and the entire Northern Nigeria were experiencing violence and insecurity, which she said has resulted in loss of lives and property.

While noting that the crimes against humanity were committed by fellow human beings, Hajia Sambo said it is within the power of man to work towards building and sustaining peace in the society.

Addressing the participants, she said, “As traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youths, government officials or private sector players, we all have important roles to play in ensuring that peace returns to all the trouble spots in our country. It should be our collective responsibility.

“Although, our country is a secular state, we do know that most of us are either Muslims or Christians. The same God creates us though we worship him in different ways. We are one family under God”. she stressed.

Earlier in his address, Governor Yero who was represented by his deputy, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga, said, “In the past few years, the social strands which bind the diverse people together had been put under severe stress by series of ethno-religious and sectarian crises, which had undermined and disrupted economic and developmental activities of Kaduna State.”

He therefore expressed optimism that the Peace Summit and similar initiatives being implemented by government and other stakeholders will mark a turning point in the efforts to ensure restoration of peace and harmonious co-existence among the people.