By Justina Auta
Stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday urged women to unite in promoting peace and religious freedom to tackle religious persecution and violence in Nigeria.
They made the call during the FoRB Leadership Training with a theme,” Women Uniting for Religious Freedom and Peace in Nigeria, organised by Empower Women Media under the Live What you Believe (LWY) project.
Professor of Islamic studies and Programme Coordinator, Centre for Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement, University of Abuja, Rafatu Abdulhamid, emphasised women’s pivotal role in society.
“We need to understand that everyone in the universe, not only in Nigeria can profess his or her own choice of religion without bias.
“So we should have avoid hearsay. Sometimes we say so many bad things about each other’s religion, so much so that it ferment trouble. It creates intolerance amongst us,” she said.
Abdulhamid, who encouraged women to educate society, especially children and spouses, on peaceful coexistence advised that the rights of women and girls be protected, as they were usually the victims of violence in the society.
Puldu, also a Lecturer at the Political Science Department, University of Jos, said: “We are advocating that every woman, man and person be allowed to practice and given the opportunity to respect and protect the rights of others who are practicing a different religions from them.
“We are here to educate women so that they can advocate for themselves and speak to their communities, train their children on peaceful coexistence,” she said.
Country Coordinator, LWY, Mr Joseph Samari, said the training was to empower women leaders with skills on freedom of religion and how to promote it.
“Women have always been at the receiving end of violations of freedom of religion or belief.
“And so we have seen cases where the society will like to decide for a woman as to what religion she should belong to.
“But with a good knowledge of freedom of religion or belief, every woman is empowered and able to ask for her rights as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria,” he said.
NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojulwu, represented by Bem Kurugh, stressed respecting everyone’s rights to promote peace.
Other speakers, including Habiba Ghazali, Daliya Marcus, and Bassey Ita-Ikpang, highlighted the importance of dialogue, community engagement, media, and sensitising men and boys to religious freedom.
The event featured panel discussions, training sessions, and a video on promoting religious freedom in Nigeria.
