Jane Salihu
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has congratulated the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on its 50th anniversary, urging Muslims and Christians to strengthen cooperation in tackling insecurity, injustice, poverty and other challenges confronting the country.
The Council, in a congratulatory message signed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Wednesday, said CAN’s golden jubilee was a significant milestone for both the Christian community and Nigeria, highlighting the importance of interfaith dialogue in promoting national unity and peaceful coexistence.
The NSCIA, under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, noted that religious leaders and institutions had continued to play important roles in fostering peace, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence despite the country’s numerous challenges.
It stressed that Muslims and Christians, who constitute the overwhelming majority of Nigeria’s population, share a common responsibility to promote justice, strengthen security, encourage responsible citizenship and contribute to national development.
According to the Council, persistent challenges such as unemployment, poverty, social inequality and the need for accountable governance require collective action beyond religious boundaries.
The NSCIA also highlighted the importance of sustained interfaith dialogue, particularly through platforms such as the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), which provides opportunities for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage on issues affecting the country’s peace, unity and development.
It urged Nigerians not to allow religious differences to become sources of division, hatred or violence, but rather to draw on their respective faiths to promote compassion, justice and service to humanity.
The Council congratulated CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the association’s National Executive Committee, Christian denominations and associations under its umbrella, as well as Christians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, wishing the association greater wisdom in its national and religious responsibilities.
