Stakeholders have identified the protection of freedom of religion and belief as a critical factor in promoting peace, national unity and sustainable development in Nigeria.
They stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at a conference themed, “Shaping a Future of Peace: Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief, Development and Security,” organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.(KAS)
In his welcome address, the Resident Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Nigeria, Moritz Sprenker, described freedom of religion or belief as a fundamental human right that underpins human dignity and democratic governance.
He said Nigeria’s religious diversity should be embraced as a national asset rather than viewed as a source of division.
“Freedom of religion or belief is not just a fundamental human right; it is the bedrock of dignity. It means each of us has the right to follow our conscience, to practise any faith, to change beliefs or to have none at all without fear, coercion or discrimination,” Sprenker said.
According to him, religion often intersects with identity, politics, security and economic realities, making it imperative for Nigerians to promote dialogue and mutual respect instead of allowing differences to fuel conflict.
He noted that the conference was aimed at examining the role of religion in peacebuilding and development while identifying practical ways faith communities, government institutions and civil society organisations could strengthen social cohesion.
“The destiny of a diverse society is not written by its differences but by the choices we make together. If we choose dialogue over division, respect over suspicion and dignity over exclusion, then diversity becomes a strength,” he added.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, represented by his Special Adviser and Head of Monitoring Department, Barrister Benedith Agwu said the protection of human rights remained the foundation for lasting peace and democratic governance.
He noted that the commission had documented cases of discrimination, attacks on places of worship, hate speech, religious intolerance and other violations affecting freedom of religion or belief.
Ojukwu, however, cautioned against attributing Nigeria’s security challenges solely to religion.
Quoting findings by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, he said violence in Nigeria affects people across different religious groups.
“Victims and perpetrators cannot simply be categorised along religious lines. Simplistic narratives neither serve justice nor promote peace,” he said.
He called for the institutionalisation of interfaith dialogue, improved access to justice for victims of religious intolerance, stronger human rights education and increased investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment and social protection to address the underlying causes of insecurity.
The NHRC boss also advocated the development of a comprehensive national framework on freedom of religion or belief in line with constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards.
Delivering the keynote address titled: The Catholic Church and the Initiatives on Interfaith Dialogue, political scientist, author and columnist, Prof. Alexander Görlach, said increasing global diversity had made interreligious dialogue more important than ever.
Reflecting on the Catholic Church’s evolution on religious pluralism, Görlach said the Second Vatican Council marked a significant shift towards recognising the value of dialogue and peaceful coexistence among different faiths.
He said the Church’s landmark declaration, Nostra Aetate, laid the foundation for greater engagement with other religions and inspired successive Popes to deepen interfaith cooperation.
According to him, humanity can only overcome emerging global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence and insecurity through collaboration across religious and cultural boundaries.
“It is important that adherents of different religions seek dialogue and learn from one another in order to develop solutions to the problems confronting humanity,” Görlach said.