By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has urged Nigerians to ensure they do everything within their powers to resist all false teachings that use religion to create enmity among the people in Nigeria.President of CAN, Daniel Okoh, stated this in his goodwill message at the 2025 United Nations World interfaith Harmony week conference and awards.

He said Nigeria, as a country of diversity, must continue to engage in dialogue as the only option to achieve and sustain peace and harmony. According to his Eminence, “I bring you fraternal greetings from the National Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and from the leadership of the Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC). I would like to begin this goodwill message by expressing my profound gratitude to the organizers of this event, especially my predecessor in CAN and NIREC, His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle CON, for extending an invitation to me to be part of this year’s celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week here in the ancient city of Ibadan. This conference, centered on the theme “The Love of the good and the Love of the Neighbour,”with the sub-theme: “Peace for our Time” is not only timely but also a critical reminder of our shared humanity and the sacred call to embrace love, compassion, mutual respect and mutual understanding as the foundation of a peaceful and harmonious world.”The message of love of the good and love of the neighbour is universal. It transcends all borders, religions, and cultures, resonating with every faith tradition in the world. “It is a call to action that invites us to recognize the divine spark in one another, to extend kindness even in the face of adversity, and to work collectively towards a future where justice and peace prevail.”At a time when our world faces unprecedented challenges—ranging from social inequalities to climate crises, from violent extremism to the erosion of trust between communities—our commitment to interfaith harmony is more critical than ever. The principles of love, mutual respect, and mutual understanding that underpin this gathering are the very tools we need to heal divisions and build bridges of reconciliation”. The CAN boss noted, “In Nigeria, a country of diversity, we must continue to engage in dialogue as the only option to achieve and sustain peace and harmony. “To deepen our engagement with one another, we must continue to promote religious literacy among the citizenry, highlighting the common values that we share which brings us together rather than those issues that divide us. Religious literacy would help us to see that actually what unites us is greater than what divides us. Our religiousity must be seen as an advantage rather than a disadvantage. “Therefore, we must do everything within our powers to resist all false teachings that use religion to create enmity among our people in Nigeria.”Furthermore, in the pursuit of peace, we must recognise the rights of others and defend them. It is in defending the rights of others that our own rights can be protected. We must speak for others regardless of their religion, ethnic or social background recognising the common humanity that we all share. We must remember that we were all created in the image of God. Christian Association of Nigeria recognises the imperative of dialogue for peace and sustainable development and that is why the leaders of the Association got involved with the leadership of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to form the Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC) which brings prominent leaders of the two major religions in Nigeria together in peaceful dialogue. This Council that is led by two Co-Chairmen – the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has recorded many successes in efforts to reduce religious conflict in Nigeria since its establishment in 1999. NIREC, therefore, must be celebrated as one of the greatest efforts to bring about peace and harmony in Nigeria”.He continued, “As we celebrate the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to advancing these values, we are reminded that love is not passive; it is an active force that demands courage, sacrifice, and the willingness to patiently listen to others with open hearts and minds. It is through such acts of love and solidarity that we can truly embody the spirit of this year’s theme”.He therefore commended the United Nations for its unwavering dedication to promoting interfaith dialogue and collaboration.