The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called for closer collaborations between religious leaders and government institutions to ensure peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
The acting Director, NOA, Enugu State, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ugwu made the call on Wednesday in Enugu during a town hall meeting with Christian and Muslim leaders in the state.
Ugwu said that the meeting became necessary following the need to foster peace and prosperity in the country.
She said that the agency had made painstaking efforts to ensure that the country was united in spite of the diverse cultural heterogeneity of its people.
The acting director appealed to religious leaders to ensure that their sermons emphasised on peace, progress and unity in the country which she described as the bedrock of development.
Ugwu expressed optimism that Nigeria would emerge stronger from its current challenges.
Responding, the Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu State Chapter, Mr Onuora Okeke, commended the agency for organising such meeting.
Okeke said that religion was one of the issues fanning the embers of disunity in the country.
The CAN secretary noted that religious leaders and preachers had much to contribute to the unity and socio-political development of the country.
He said that such meeting was necessary considering the security challenges in parts of the country.
He attributed some of the problems facing the country to the inability of most Christians to practice the teachings of Jesus Christ as regards peace and unity.
Okeke said that peace building was a gradual process but must start from the families.
Also, the representative of the Muslim Community and Imam, Enugu Central Mosque, Mallam Saeed Arzakunun, said that peace was the bedrock of Islam.
Arzakunun said that contrary to the belief in some quarters, Muslims were expected to love and protect their neighbours irrespective of their religious backgrounds.
Ikengaonline reports that the theme of the programme was: ‘Building a People of Peace: Towards Enhancing National Security in Enugu State’.
The highlight of the program which was organised with support from Access Bank Nig. PLC., was the presentation of the Nigerian flag, which symbolised unity and peaceful coexistence to the representatives of the two religious groups in attendance.
