Ufuk Dialogue formed to promote dialogue, peaceful co-existence – Kamanci

By Ochiaka Ugwu

The need to promote dialogue among peoples, culture of coexistence, mutual understanding and to establish a common platform aiming information and opinion exchange for conversation led to the formation of Ufuk Dialogue, President of Ufuk Dialogue, Mr. Kamil Kamanci has said.
Mr. Kamanci who made this know while delivering his Opening remarks during the 5th International Conference of Love and Tolerance last week stated that Ufuk Dialogue focuses on dialogue and peace activities in academic and intellectual levels for the education of the different members of the society which are achieved through conferences, seminars, panels, common projects, scholarships, publications, meetings and intercultural trips.
Continuing, he said that Ufuk Dialogue is aiming at becoming one of the most active and effective foundations in Nigeria on issues relating to peace and conflict resolution strategies and by contributing to peace through dialogue, creating a platform for coexistence of cultures, mutual understanding of different societies and adherents of different faiths and ethnicities.
In his goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Saad Abubakar 111, who was represented by the Emir of Jiwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Idris Musa, tasked Nigerians on the need embrace peace.
Sultan said the country’s diversity if well managed, will tackle violence extremism, saying that Nigerians should at all times preach peaceful co-existence.
Also, the executive director, Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace, Rev’d Sister Agatha Chikelue called on Nigerians to love one another, urging them to embrace tolerance.

In his lecture titled: “Which religion will win’’, a Professor of Islamic Studies, who is also a consultant on Catholic-Muslim relations for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Scotts C. Alexander, who quoted copiously from both the Quaran and Bible, argued that God did not create the adherents of the two religions to violently outsmart each other.

Rather, he said, God created the two religions for a better and just society, adding that the adherents of the two religions should see one another as neigbours who God directed them to be kind unto.

Also in her lecture, titled: “Countering violent extremism for peaceful coexistence, the head of resource management and administration at New Horizon College, Minna, Ms Maryam Lemu, advocated the teaching of peace education from primary to the tertiary education level.

Hajia Lemu, who is an international motivational speaker, also called for the compliance with rule of law, adding that peace can’t be attained without justice.