Plateau youth and influencers are taking the lead in promoting religious harmony by creating safe spaces for dialogue and understanding, both online and offline, to strengthen peaceful coexistence across communities.  

In his welcome address, Kaura Joshua, Project Officer of the Youth CARE Project, stressed the need for people to broaden their understanding of religion beyond Christianity and Islam. He pointed out that there are over 4,200 religions worldwide, a fact many are unaware of, and emphasized that such knowledge is vital in building tolerance and respect.

Joshua added that religion should not only be seen as a means of worship but also as a tool for peace and unity. He urged participants to use the dialogue for internal reflection and inter-religious thinking, embracing diversity as a path to peaceful coexistence.

Given an overview of the theme, “Bridging the Faith Divide – Online & Offline,” Blessing Dodo, Team Lead for Plateau Micro-influencers, noted that misinformation and bias online often fuel division when people share content based on sentiments tied to their faith without verifying the facts. She warned that such narratives can easily escalate into real life crises.

She explained that the program seeks to promote dialogue, respect, and tolerance among different faiths. Dodo urged participants to commit to peace both online and offline, stressing that unity and understanding are key to countering hate and violence.

Kenneth Dakop, Team Lead on Strategic Communication at the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, delivered a keynote on “Unity as Everyday Practice” under Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). He stressed that freedom of religion must go hand in hand with tolerance and responsibility.

He cautioned against preaching religious superiority, noting it divides communities. Dakop urged youths to respect all faiths, including African traditional religions, and advised that religious leaders should undergo peacebuilding and conflict-sensitivity training before being licensed.

Dakop also warned that unregulated sermons can incite violence. He called for government oversight of religious messages and encouraged young people to embrace education, empowerment, and commerce as everyday tools for unity.

Godwin Okoko, Head of Programme Implementation at Search for Common Ground, noted that while religion is often used to fuel conflicts, the real causes lie in ethnicity, land, and history. He urged young people to rise above these divides and use their voices to promote peace, tolerance, and unity.

The event featured a panel discussion on “Bridging the Faith Divide – Online & Offline” which brought together Salis Mohammad Abdulsalam, Stephen Zuma Jang, Ada Ohaba, and Hamza Yakubu, who shared insights on promoting tolerance, unity, and peaceful coexistence through both social media and community engagement.

Participants said they would take the lessons back to their communities, with Assumpta Chidera stressing the need to show love rather than mere tolerance, respect others’ beliefs, and avoid spreading false news online, while Ibrahim Aliyu Ibni-Salihu emphasized that peace is vital for unity and development and urged everyone to contribute to sustaining it.

Nentok Israel Mallah, a youth leader from Federal Low Cost, said he learned the importance of loving and understanding people of other faiths rather than just tolerating them and promised to share the message of peace with his community, while Maryam Ibrahim noted that the training taught her the value of religious integration, humanity, and peaceful coexistence, which she is committed to practicing and passing on to others.