Unfortunately, and it’s just a reality, as human beings, we try to impose our own limits on God. We try to believe that the people we love are the people God loves and the people we don’t love are the people God doesn’t love.
We set ourselves as God’s own people, as though He is tribalistic or nepotic. Some like to believe God is a Muslim, some a Christian, or a Jew, as if He belongs to one religious identity, forgetting that God is the Creator of all.”
— Sheik Nurudeen Lemu
- True religion is justice; God stands with the victim, not political sentiments. — Dr. Nurudeen Lemu
- Faith must never be forced; freedom of belief is a divine principle. — Dr. Gloria Puldu
By Abdulrahman Aliagan, Abuja, Nigeria
In a powerful gathering of thought leaders, academics, faith-based organizations, media professionals, civil society actors, and community representatives, Faith and Freedom Africa held a landmark stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Candlelux Hotel, Durumi, Abuja, to address the growing challenges surrounding religious intolerance, extremism, and the protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Nigeria.
The event brought together resource persons across various sectors, including scholars, religious leaders, media practitioners, policymakers, and interfaith advocates, who engaged in in-depth conversations on promoting peaceful coexistence, justice, and mutual respect among Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliations. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for collective action to address Nigeria’s long-standing crises stemming from intolerance and political manipulation of religion, while also equipping participants with practical strategies to advance FoRB across communities.
Delivering his paper virtually, Sheikh Dr. Nurudeen Lemu, Director of Research and Training at the Islamic Education Trust, Niger State, spoke extensively from a Muslim perspective on the Nigerian context of FoRB. Dr. Lemu emphasized that true religion is justice and warned against using faith as a tool for division and dominance. He attributed many of Nigeria’s religious tensions to political interests, dominant local religious biases, and widespread intolerance. According to him, politicians are often driven by sentiments that guarantee votes in upcoming elections, rather than by a genuine commitment to fairness and equity.
“If the narrative does not favor their political interests, they will abandon it irrespective of the facts on the ground. True religion is justice, and God always stands with the victim, regardless of the sentiments we express based on convenience.”
Dr. Lemu also challenged religious leaders to address extremism within their own folds, stressing that many Nigerians, regardless of faith, tend to impose their personal biases on God.
Unfortunately, and it’s just a reality, as human beings, we try to impose our own limits on God. We try to believe that the people we love are the people God loves and the people we don’t love are the people God doesn’t love. We set ourselves as God’s own people, as though He is tribalistic or nepotic. Some like to believe God is a Muslim, some a Christian, or a Jew, as if He belongs to one religious identity, forgetting that God is the Creator of all.”
“Unfortunately, and it’s just a reality,” he said, “as human beings, we try to impose our own limits on God. We try to believe that the people we love are the people God loves and the people we don’t love are the people God doesn’t love. We set ourselves as God’s own people, as though He is tribalistic or nepotic. Some like to believe God is a Muslim, some a Christian, or a Jew, as if He belongs to one religious identity, forgetting that God is the Creator of all.”
He concluded by urging Nigerians to embrace diversity, reminding participants that limiting God’s mercy and compassion to a narrow group contradicts the very essence of faith.
From the Christian perspective, Prof. Gloria Puldu of the University of Jos delivered an equally passionate submission, sharing both personal experiences and biblical reflections on religious freedom.
Prof. Puldu recalled how, during her time in Aba, Abia State, she was forced to relocate due to rising tensions that escalated into a tribal-religious crisis.
She recounted how her application for admission into a school was once rejected simply because of her Christian name, Gloria.
Reflecting on biblical principles, she explained that Christianity does not support coercion of faith.
“Jesus himself never forced anyone to follow Him, in the Book of Revelation. He simply stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, waiting to see if we will open. Even the great commission, which mandates disciples to evangelize, never commands that anyone should be forced to believe in Christ.”
Prof. Gloria Puldu
Jesus himself never forced anyone to follow Him,”she said, quoting the Book of Revelation. He simply stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, waiting to see if we will open. Even the great commission, which mandates disciples to evangelize, never commands that anyone should be forced to believe in Christ.” Prof. Puldu stressed that FoRB matters in every way, urging Nigerians to tolerate one another and allow all religions to freely practice their beliefs without unnecessary restrictions.
She further called on government authorities to punish infringements on religious rights, warning that leaving violators unchecked emboldens them to commit further attacks on other faiths.
Discussions at the meeting also underscored the critical role of media, education, and leadership in promoting FoRB and reducing religious tensions across the country.
The Nigeria Contractor, for Faith and Freedom Africa, FFA, Mr Felix Samari narrated how he carefully selected the participants at the event, noting that the media remains one of the strongest tools for shaping public opinion and fostering religious tolerance. He urged Journalists to prioritize balanced, responsible reporting that highlights positive interfaith stories and peaceful coexistence while countering divisive narratives, misinformation, and hate speech.
Participants stressed the importance of giving equal representation to minority religious groups, women, youth, and vulnerable communities in mainstream discourse to foster inclusivity.
On the role of education, stakeholders pointedout the need to integrate FoRB concepts into school curricula, particularly in civic education, history, and social studies, in order to instill values of empathy, dialogue, and critical thinking from an early age. School leaders, teachers, and administrators were encouraged to model inclusive practices, while interfaith clubs, debates, and safe spaces for student-led dialogue were recommended as platforms to promote understanding among diverse religious groups.
It was also agreed that media and education should work together to create nationwide campaigns, student podcasts, community-based dialogues, and digital storytelling projects aimed at reshaping narratives around faith and tolerance in Nigeria.
Adding his voice to the discussions, Assoc. Prof. Daud Abubakar of the department of Religion and Philosophy, University of Jos who doubles as Director of the Daud Research Institute stressed that many Nigerians still fail to understand that the country is constitutionally a secular state, not a religious one.
According to him, “Nigeria is a secular state, not a religious state.
“Everyone has the right to practice their religion or not practice any at all. Promoting one religion over another fuels conflict and undermines our democracy.
Ass. Prof Daud Abubakar
“Everyone has the right to practice their religion or not practice any at all. Promoting one religion over another fuels conflict and undermines our democracy.” He explained that both Islam and Christianity acknowledge freedom of belief, citing verses from the Quran and the Bible that reject compulsion in matters of faith.
Prof. Abubakar called for religious leaders to focus on the spiritual well-being of their members rather than inciting followers against other faiths or the government.
Drawing from Sudan’s example, he suggested introducing strict regulations for religious leaders, where sermons are carefully monitored to prevent hate speech, extremism, and political manipulation.
Speaking on behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) , Rev. Ozumbe Emmanuel Nicodamus, the National Director for Education, Youth, and Women, lamented the lack of sincerity and accountability among religious leaders in the country.
According to him, the absence of clear regulations has given room for anyone to self-declare as a pastor, imam, or religious leader without proper guidance, resulting in inflammatory statements and incitements against other faiths. He stressed that ignorance among clergy members in both Christianity and Islam contributes significantly to religious intolerance, urging leaders to embrace mutual respect and prioritize peaceful coexistence.
Similarly, Bishop Benjamin Jonathan Fuluta, the Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, emphasized that forcing religious beliefs on others is counterproductive and contrary to Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees.
“As a Christian, the Bible does not allow me to discriminate against others, I must see every individual as a creation of God, free to worship Him in the way they understand. There is no point forcing my religion on anyone because we cannot all share the same faith. Tolerance, respect, and understanding are the pathways to peaceful coexistence in this country.
Bishop Benjamin Jonathan Fuluta
“As a Christian, the Bible does not allow me to discriminate against others, I must see every individual as a creation of God, free to worship Him in the way they understand. There is no point forcing my religion on anyone because we cannot all share the same faith. Tolerance, respect, and understanding are the pathways to peaceful coexistence in this country.”
Also lending her voice, Mrs. Agozie Ebere, Head of the Fact-Checking Desk at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noted that Nigeria’s worsening intolerance stems from deeper societal values, starting from the home.
She emphasized that poor parenting and declining moral standards play a critical role in shaping attitudes towards religious coexistence.
“Before now, when we were growing up, there was no crisis based on religion,” she said.
Every product of society comes from the home. It starts with parenting, the values we teach our children, and the conversations we have within our families. Change must begin at the individual and community level before it can reflect in society.
— Mrs Ebere Agozie
“Every product of society comes from the home. It starts with parenting, the values we teach our children, and the conversations we have within our families. Change must begin at the individual and community level before it can reflect in society.
In a major highlight of the meeting, the Nigeria Contractor FFA, Mr. Felix Samari, used the occasion to launch the FoRB Micro-Online Course, an online training program designed to equip participants with a deeper understanding of religious freedom, interfaith tolerance, and advocacy.
He encouraged participants to enroll and obtain certification, explaining that the course is a critical step toward building a network of informed FoRB ambassadors across Nigeria who will lead conversations within their communities and institutions.
The meeting concluded on a note of optimism and collective resolve, with participants agreeing that the pathway to lasting peace and harmony in Nigeria lies in embracing justice, respecting diversity, and putting humanity before religion.
A group photograph was taken to mark the successful end of the event, symbolizing unity and the shared commitment of stakeholders to foster an inclusive, tolerant society where all Nigerians can freely practice their beliefs without fear or prejudice.
Abdulrahman Aliagan is the Managing Editor, Time Nigeria Magazine and National President of The Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ).
