The Search for Common Ground Nigeria (SFCGN), an NGO, has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna State Peace Commission (KSPC) and the Kaduna State Bureau for Inter-Faith Matters (KSBRM), aiming to foster religious tolerance and advance peace-building efforts in the state.
The signing ceremony took place during the Kaduna Interfaith Dialogue (KID) 2024 event with the theme “Towards Inclusive and Harmonious Communities” held in Kaduna on Thursday, May 2.
The MoU reflects a shared commitment by the parties to bolster structures for conflict prevention and peace-building, as well as to promote Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) across Kaduna State.
Dr. Saleh Momale, the Executive Vice Chairman of KSPC, emphasized the significance of the MoU in enhancing collaboration between governmental bodies and SFCGN in Kaduna.
He highlighted its role in facilitating the seamless implementation of SEARCH’s project, Inclusive Religious Engagement in Nigeria Enhanced by Women (I-RENEW).
Dr. Momale stressed the importance of active participation from various stakeholders, including local governments, faith-based organizations, and traditional institutions, to ensure the sustainability and lasting impact of the initiative.
Head of Programme Implementation for SEARCH in the Middle-Belt and parts of North-East, Godwin Okoko, underscored the symbolic importance of the MoU. “When SEARCH came into Kaduna with it’s intervention funding by the European Union (EU) for the I-RENEW project, it noted that to achieve any meaningful results, it is important to find critical actors that works inline with the project goals.”
He emphasized the collective commitment of the partners to work together towards expanding and strengthening peace-building structures in the state.
Similarly, Barrister Tahir Tahir, the Director-General of Kaduna State Bureau for Inter-Faith Matters, Barrister Tahir Tahir, highlighted the pivotal role of interreligious dialogue in fostering peace and progress.
Tahir who was represented by the Deputy DG of the Bureau, Rev. Father Anthony Shawiah, urged individuals to transcend personal sentiments and embrace understanding and cooperation for the greater good of the society.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Special Assistant on Peace-building to the Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Atiku Sankey, commended the efforts aimed at promoting peaceful resolution of conflicts and religious harmony in the state. He urged participants to engage in honest and truthful dialogue as ambassadors of peace.
The Country Director of SFCG, Fatima Madaki, emphasized the importance of promoting understanding, cooperation, and coexistence among members of different faith communities. She stressed the need for interventions that cater to the diverse needs of society, particularly vulnerable populations, to ensure sustainability.
The event marked a significant step towards fostering inclusive, tolerant communities in Kaduna, underscoring the collective commitment to peace-building efforts in the region.
Meanwhile, the network of peace Journalists (NPJ), commended the organizers of the historic event
The Team Lead of the group, Ibrahima Yakubu, said the event has enabled participate with sound knowledge on better ways to strengthen Christians-Muslims and other faith based organizations to coexist in peace and harmony.
