In a bid to enhance youth engagement, promote religious tolerance, and deepen understanding of faith, youths in Channel 7 Angolo Jos, Plateau State recently participated in a two-day “Religious Knowledge Sharing Session”. The event, which took place on Tuesday, February 26th and Wednesday, February 27th, 2024, aimed to foster interfaith dialogue and build social cohesion within the community.
Organized by the Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse (YIAVHA) and the Peace Training Center (PTC) Jos, the session brought together Christian and Islamic leaders to engage with youths and promote mutual understanding.
The first day of the activity, held at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Anglo-Jos, Jos South LGA, saw Reverend Father Kizito Fogus and Dr. Nash, a respected community leader, leading discussions on Christian beliefs. Reverend Father Fogus emphasized the core principles of Christianity, highlighting themes of love, peace, and communal living. He emphasized the importance of unity and mutual respect between Christians and Muslims, encouraging participants to bridge perceived divides and foster harmonious coexistence.
On the second day, the session moved to the Angolo Jos Mosque hall, where Imam Isa Dahihuri addressed the youths on Islamic teachings. He stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence and urged the youths to uphold the values of their respective religions. Mohamed Hadi, another Islamic religious leader, expressed concerns about the misinterpretation of religious teachings by some youths and emphasized the importance of understanding and respecting different faiths.
Judith Nendelmwa Remson, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of YIAVHA, stated that the activity is Under the auspices of the PICyouth4peace project being implemented by a consortium of two organisations, YIAVHA and PTC Jos, working in the area of peacebuilding and currently working with young people to “Promote Interfaith Collaboration through Youth Engagement in Four Communities of Jos South and Bokkos LGAs”, generously funded by JDPC Jos.
Remson highlighted the significance of the knowledge-sharing activity in promoting mutual respect and reducing religious tension. She emphasized the importance of nurturing harmony and understanding among youths from different religious backgrounds, stating that the activity aimed to encourage respect rather than mere tolerance.
Linda Fundai, Program Officer from the Peace Training Center underscored the importance of interfaith understanding and collaboration in fostering communal living. She emphasized the role of young people in promoting peace and mutual trust within their communities.
Participants, including Elizabeth Godwin, Sharifat Mohmmad, and Emmanuel Bulus, shared their reflections on the importance of understanding different religions. They expressed their commitment to sharing their newfound knowledge with other youths in the community, believing that it would contribute to greater tolerance and social cohesion.
The Religious Knowledge Sharing Session reflects a collective effort to promote peace, understanding, and unity among youths in Plateau State. Through dialogue, education, and mutual respect, participants aim to build a more harmonious and inclusive society, grounded in the principles of religious tolerance and coexistence.
