The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Wednesday, appealed that faith should not be weaponized rather it should be used as a force to foster peace and harmony in Nigeria.
President of CAN Archbishop Daniel
Okoh, stated this at the meeting of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja.
The theme for the meeting was “Religious Literacy for National Cohesion.”
Okoh who is also the Co-Chair, of NIREC, said religious literacy is a tool for building bridges of understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
He therefore tasked government and stakeholders to mainstream religious literacy into Nigeria’s educational systems, public discourse, and community engagements.
And also encourage schools to teach not only the tenets of one’s faith but also foster respect for others.
According to CAN President, “Nigeria is a nation of immense diversity-ethnic, cultural, and religious. This diversity, when properly understood and harnessed, is a source of strength and richness.
However, when misunderstood or manipulated, it can become a fault line for division, conflict, and mistrust. It is within this context that the theme of today’s meeting becomes not only relevant but indispensable.
“Religious literacy is not merely the academic understanding of doctrines or rituals. It is the cultivation of awareness,sensitivity, and respect for the beliefs and practices of others.
It equips individuals and communities with the ability to engage constructively across differences, to challenge stereotypes, and to resist narratives that seek to divide us. In essence, religious literacy is a tool for building bridges of understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
“This resonates strongly with the objectives of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, which has over the years served as a vital platform for dialogue, conflict resolution, and mutual understanding between faith communities.
Through NIREC, we have demonstrated that despite our religious differences, we share common values of peace, justice, dignity of human life, and the well-being of our nation”.
Okoh lamented, “Across various parts of our nation, we continue to witness tensions that are sometimes framed along religious lines, even when their root causes may be social, economic, or political.
This underscores the importance of promoting accurate knowledge and understanding of religions,so that faith is not weaponized but rather harnessed as a force for peace”.
“Religious literacy must therefore be mainstreamed into our educational systems, public discourse, and community engagements. Our schools must teach not only the tenets of one’s faith but also foster respect for others. Our places of worship must become centres of enlightenment, where messages of peace, unity, and responsible citizenship are consistently emphasized.
Furthermore,we must leverage media, civil society, and grassroots institutions to promote narratives that unite rather than divide. In an age of rapid information dissemination,misinformation and hate speech can spread quickly, fueling suspicion and conflict.
Religious literacy provides a counterbalance, empowering citizens to discern truth from falsehood and to reject divisive rhetoric”, he said.
CAN President therefore reiterated of the association to continue working together with our Muslim brothers and sisters, and all people of goodwill.
“Together, we must rise above prejudices and build a nation where diversity is celebrated,and where every citizen feels safe,valued, and respected regardless of their faith”, he noted.
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