By Our Correspondent
The Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria (GIMP-Nigeria) has called on the Federal Government to adopt a proactive and inclusive approach to promoting religious tolerance, national unity, and peaceful coexistence across the country.
In a statement issued at the end of the Guild’s Governing Board meeting in Abuja on Friday signed by the Chairman, Alhaji . Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, the interfaith advocacy group, while commemorating the country’s June 12 Democracy Day, emphasised that, in the quest for strengthening democratic governance in Nigeria, there was the need for comprehensive policy reforms and grassroots engagement to combat religious discrimination, hate speech, and sectarian violence.
“Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity. Promoting religious tolerance is not only a moral imperative but also a national security and development priority”, the group stated.
It is against this backdrop that the Guild proposed a six-point policy framework for the Federal Government to implement:
1. *Strengthen Interfaith Dialogue Mechanisms* :
Reinvigorate the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and establish interfaith dialogue forums at the state and local levels to foster regular engagement between Muslim, Christian, and traditional religious leaders.
2. *Integrate Interfaith Education into Schools* :
Revise national education curricula to include content on empathy, religious coexistence, and mutual respect to combat ignorance and stereotypes among young Nigerians.
3. *Guarantee Equal Protection for All Faiths* :
Ensure security for all places of worship and prosecute religious hate crimes and incitement without bias or delay.
4. *Promote Responsible Religious Reporting* :
Collaborate with media organisations to train journalists on reporting religious issues responsibly and promote narratives that foster understanding and peace.
5. *Support Faith-Based Peacebuilding* :
Provide funding and logistical support to credible interfaith NGOs and youth groups engaged in community outreach, humanitarian services, and peace education.
6. *Depoliticise Religion in Governance* :
Encourage leaders to avoid exploiting religious sentiments for political gain and ensure fairness and inclusivity in appointments and public service delivery.
GIMP-Nigeria also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate national leadership by taking visible steps to unify Nigerians across religious lines, particularly as the country continues to grapple with economic hardship and social unrest.
“Now is the time for leadership that inspires trust and unity, not division. Promoting religious tolerance is essential for building a secure, inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria”, the statement said, adding that this way, the possibility of using ethnic and relugious sentiments by politicians to mislead the citizens would drastically reduced and good governance ensured.
