President Bola Tinubu has urged Christian and Muslim faithful to embrace love and trust, saying these values are essential for building a cohesive and united society.

Tinubu made the appeal at the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) meeting held on Wednesday in Owerri, Imo.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr George Akume, Tinubu stressed that without trust, noble intentions risk being misunderstood and distorted.

He added that trust can help Nigeria overcome deep divisions, resolve complex conflicts, and pave the way for national consensus and lasting greatness.

Tinubu acknowledged NIREC’s vital role in bringing together leaders of the two major religions to promote peace and moral guidance among their followers.

He praised the council’s efforts, calling them a beacon of hope and a moral compass guiding national unity and harmony.

The President also thanked Gov. Hope Uzodimma for hosting the meeting and commended the peaceful and welcoming atmosphere in the state.

He described the meeting’s theme, ‘Building Mutual Trust and National Unity,’ as timely, relevant and particularly fitting for the country’s current challenges.

Meanwhile, Uzodimma thanked NIREC for selecting Imo to host the conference and lauded their mission of fostering inter-religious understanding and unity.

He urged religious leaders to remain steadfast in promoting a Nigeria built on peace, love, and mutual trust as foundations of national pride.

The governor also praised the dedication of NIREC’s co-chairmen, Sultan Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar and Archbishop Daniel Okoh, for their patriotic leadership.

Uzodimma noted that NIREC’s initiatives had helped reduce religious conflicts and improve understanding between diverse faith communities across Nigeria.

He cautioned that religion must never be misused as a tool for division, but rather as a unifier in society.

He urged Nigerians to look beyond stereotypes and embrace each other’s humanity, highlighting unity as key to national development.

Religious leaders were encouraged to use their influence to promote love, tolerance, respect, and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of all faiths.

Uzodimma also advised clerics to speak out against violence, crime, terrorism, and other forms of insecurity affecting the country.

Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua, NIREC Secretary, said the council believes the negative narratives around religion and ethnicity can be positively transformed.

He lamented that diversity, which should enrich Nigeria, has often been manipulated to pit people against each other as adversaries.

Omonokhua called for educational reforms that preserve truthful teachings of religion and history, fostering unity and Godly fear among students.

In separate remarks, co-chairmen Abubakar and Okoh urged Nigerians to show sincere commitment to peacebuilding and national progress.

They warned against ethnic and religious profiling, calling for love, unity, and prayers for wise and effective leadership.

Mr Fidelis Chukwu, former Ohanaeze Ndigbo chairman, and Alh. Alatare Musa presented insightful papers at the conference.

The event’s highlight was the inauguration of NIREC members from the five states in the South-East geo-political zone.

By Abiodun Lawal

Lufuwape (Ogun), April 27, 2025 The Nigerian Baptist Convention says individual’s closeness to God remained the greatest factor in addressing various challenges.

President of the convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, stated this at a Sunday Service held at the Baptist International Convention Centre in Lufuwape, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Baptist’s 112th Annual Convention kicked off on Saturday to end on May 1.

NAN reports that the theme of the convention is: “Entering into Newness through Fasting and Prayer”.

Akanji who took his sermon from the book of Luke 8 vs 1 to 8 , noted that prayers remained an act of faith and called on Nigerians to focus on God who solves problems rather than the problems.

He said it was important to believe in possibilities and have the conviction that only God answers prayers.

The Baptist President cited example of a widow who was not afraid, annoyed or ashamed of her challenges but kept moving until she overcame the challenges with her closeness to God.

“We should run away from factors that will make us sin against God, we should love one another. We should not allow our adversaries to make us a failure.

“We should focus on God who solves problems. Keep making attempt on your goal, don’t give up , then believe in possibilities,” he said.

Akanji emphasised that the Baptist as a movement, was entering into newness through fasting and prayer as a vehicle to be able to experience newness in their lives and the country.

From Dan Amasingha,  Minna 

The Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board has officially flagged -off distribution of Uniforms and 8kg hand luggage’s to the intending pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage as part of the arrangements lineup for 2025/1446 Hajj exercise to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Performing  a symbolic Flagg-off on  at the Board headquarters in Minna,  officials gathered to witness the beginning of the pilgrimage preparations.

In his remarks during the Symbolic distribution, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Sheikh Muhammad Awwal Aliyu noted that the distribution is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth and hitch free  pilgrimage experience for the intending pilgrims from the State.

The Executive Secretary represented by the Director Administration of the Board, Babani Aliyu Yahaya while making the symbolic presentation to the Area Pilgrims Welfare Officer( APWO) of Chanchaga Local Government, who is the Chairman of the APWO’s in the State, maintained that the uniforms and the 8kg Hand luggage belongs to the intending pilgrims who have completed their payments only, ensuring that they are well prepared for the spiritual journey.

He said the 8kg hand luggage provided to the Area Pilgrim Welfare Officers (APWOs) is designed to help manage the personal belongings of the pilgrims, ensuring that they travel light and efficiently. 

The Director Administration of the Board, use the medium to call on those who are yet to complete their payments to quickly do so, while urging those that have the intention to do so as quickly as possible.

In his remarks, after receiving the Uniforms and 8kg luggage for the pilgrims of Chanchaga Local Government and  the Chairman of the APWO’s, Alhaji Abu Sufyanu Siri Siri promised to judiciously distribute the items to the intending pilgrims while  assuring that he will   uphold the highest standards of service as they prepare to assist the pilgrims in their spiritual journey.

This initiative which is an annual exercise is to provide broader strategy to enhance the overall pilgrimage experience, addressing logistics challenges that pilgrims often face.

The event was attended by the management of the Board and some APWO’s.

Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board remains committed to ensuring that all intending pilgrims to have a fulfilling and memorable experience, underscoring the significance of the sacred journey.