By Philomina Attah
Religious leaders say there is an urgent need for deeper intra-faith and interfaith dialogue in Nigeria in order to bridge division among the two major religions in the country.
The religious leaders spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the inter-religious dialogue workshop organised by the Mission and Dialogue Department, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).
The theme of the dialogue was “60 Years of Nostra Aetate: A Journey of Discovery, Dialogue and Friendship.”
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Nostra Aetate, also known as the “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religious,” was proclaimed by Pope Paul VI in October 1965.
The idea is to promote interfaith dialogue and peace-building in the Catholic Church.
The event was co-hosted by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Ufuk Dialogue (representing the Muslim community), and the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
Dr Majeed Dahiru, a resource person with Lux Terra Foundation and a panelist at the workshop, said that Nigeria, a secular, constitutional, and democratic state, guaranteed freedom of religion to all, regardless of creed or background.
Dahiru argued that the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom was not the problem as the issues lied with those who undermined the constitution for personal or sectarian gain.
Dahiru, a Muslim, and also a social commentator with a passion for a new Nigeria, expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church’s historic outreach to Islam.
He cited the Nostra Aetate document, which recognised Muslims as fellow believers.
According to him, such act of fellowship, coming from a faith tradition that predates Islam by centuries, is a powerful gesture of inclusion and legitimacy.
Dahiru challenged the Nigerian Muslim community to reciprocate the spirit of dialogue.
He observed that while the Catholic Church underwent significant intra-faith debate before reaching out to Muslims, similar efforts had been lacking on the Muslim side in Nigeria.
“I have not attended any forum before where Muslims have called for a gathering to actually extend a hand of fellowship to Christians as people of the same faith,” he said.
Dahiru called for a new “national architecture” in which Nigerian Muslims reaffirmed the authenticity of the Christian faith and embraced Christians as fellow believers, not infidels.
He urged both Muslims and Christians to move beyond historical grievances and theological differences to build a culture of mutual respect and love the original purpose.
Mrs Uzoaku Williams, Assistant General Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), one of the panelists, said that the document Nostra Aetate had the power to bridge divides between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.
“I had never seen this document before; I had to search for it online and read it from the first page to the last.
“What I found was a concise, self-explanatory, and unambiguous message that every Christian should read.
“If you have not seen this document, please, I recommend you get it and read it for yourself.’’
She called for practical, not just theological, dialogue.
“Let us move beyond theological debates and engage in practical actions that foster respect, understanding, and cooperation.
“Issues like security, kidnapping, and hunger affect both Christians and Muslims; they do not wear any religious garments.
“Let Nostra Aetate become an ecumenical document for all; let us use it to build a future where our shared humanity is at the forefront and where Christians and Muslims work together to tackle the challenges facing our nation,” she said.
Mr Marc Fonbaustier, Ambassador of France to Nigeria, said that secularism was often misunderstood, especially outside France.
“It is not just about state neutrality,
“It is also about creating spaces like schools and public services where religious symbols are absent, so that every citizen feels equally free,’’ he said.
Fonbaustier noted the historical contribution of French theologians to the Second Vatican Council, suggesting that France’s unique framework of secularism enabled a robust and meaningful dialogue between states and religious bodies.
He affirmed his commitment to fostering understanding and friendship between France and Nigeria.(NAN)