Politics
REV. Sister Agatha Chikelue, Director, Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP), has stressed the need to promote peace in the country through inter-faith activities.
Chikelue said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2018 Inter-Faith Inter-Schools Sports Festival in Abuja on Wednesday. The festival was organised by COFP in collaboration with Global Network of Religions for Children in Nigeria.
She said that peace could not be achieved overnight but that continuous advocacy was needed to achieve positive results. Chikelue said it was important for children to understand the need to live in peace, irrespective of religious and cultural differences.
She said that the reason for the event was to catch children young and instil in their minds the positive attitude of living in peace and tolerance.
”The foundation is about promoting peace in Nigeria through different activities. We organised this activity that will bring children from both Christian and Muslim backgrounds to participate in sporting activities and teach them the basics of different religious backgrounds.
“This is the first of the its kind and as you can see, it has brought children from Christian and Muslims schools with the essence of promoting inter-faith relationship and cultural backgrounds in the country. The seed of peace we are planting in them may mature in 10 or 20 years and by that time, they may grasp the essence of what we are doing. But we must start now to plant the seed of peace.”
In his remarks, Mr Muhammad Abubakar, the Co-President, Nigeria Inter faith Youth Network, representing the Muslim leaders, advised the children to live in peace with one another in spite of their religious background.
Abubakar told them that Islam was a religion of peace and that any Muslim who killed others would answer to God.
”Anyone who kills in the name of whatever will answer to God because they have disobeyed the principles of Islam. As Muslims, it is part of our norm to believe in Jesus as a prophet. So, I use this medium to say we are peace-loving people.”
NAN reports that there was a question and answer session led by Chikelue on what the children’s perspectives of Christianity and Islam.
The children were thereafter admonished not to condemn any religion but to love, respect and tolerate one another. NAN reports that nine schools participated in the event.
The schools are Nurudeen Primary School, Karu, St. Luke’s, Kubuwa; Al Ansaar Homes, Kuje, and Sheikh Abubakar Gummi Academy, Asokoro.
Others are St. Aloysius Primary School, Garki; St Michelle Academy, Kubuwa; Holy Family Nursery and Primary School, Kuje; Sister Sarah Eke Memorial School, Nyanya and Mater Misericodia, Nyanya.
Medals and cash prices were awarded to the first, second and third placed winners in the 100 and 200 metres, as well as Sack and Egg and Spoon races. (NAN)
– Feb. 21, 2018 @ 18:15 GMT |
Tags: Foundation harps on need to promote peace
