76 Stakeholders Chart Path to Religious Harmony, Adopt 31 Resolutions at Bauchi FoRB Town Hall

By Emmanuel Kwada

Religious leaders, traditional rulers, youth representatives, civil society actors, academics, and media practitioners have called for stronger interfaith dialogue, peace education, responsible social media use, and deeper community engagement as critical tools for promoting religious freedom and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.

The call emerged from a one-day Town Hall Meeting on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) organized by the organization Faith and Freedom Africa at Amak Hotel and Suites in Bauchi.

Held under the theme, “Promoting Freedom, Peaceful Co-existence and Inclusive Communities in Nigeria,” the gathering brought together 76 participants drawn from Christian, Muslim, and African Traditional Religion communities, alongside traditional rulers, women and youth groups, community leaders, civil society organizations, and members of the media.

Speaking at the opening session, Country Representative of Faith and Freedom Africa, Felix Joseph Samari, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advancing freedom of religion or belief through sustained grassroots engagement and public awareness initiatives.

According to Samari, the organization has remained consistent in organizing FoRB Town Hall meetings across Northern Nigeria to educate citizens on their constitutional rights while fostering dialogue and understanding among diverse religious communities.

“We are committed to this work of promoting freedom of religion or belief in Northern Nigeria and across the country. We can confidently say that we have found ourselves at the forefront of FoRB advocacy, not because we are doing more than others, but because we have remained consistent in working directly with communities. The Town Hall model has proven to be a very effective platform for building understanding and peaceful coexistence,” he said.

Samari also highlighted the organization’s efforts in engaging young people through campus awareness campaigns and digital advocacy programmes designed to encourage responsible social media use and counter narratives capable of fueling religious tensions.

He further stressed the importance of traditional institutions in peacebuilding efforts, noting that advocacy visits to traditional rulers across Northern Nigeria have become a key component of the organization’s strategy for promoting religious harmony.

“We believe advocacy visits to traditional rulers are a major step in the right direction considering their historical and institutional relevance in matters relating to religion, culture, and community leadership,” he added.

The event featured a keynote presentation by legal practitioner Abubakar Saeed, who examined constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion or belief and other fundamental rights in Nigeria. He emphasized that the law protects every citizen regardless of religious affiliation and urged participants to remain informed about their rights and responsibilities.

Participants engaged in interactive discussions, group sessions, and open dialogue focused on the realities of religious freedom in Bauchi State and across Nigeria. The sessions provided a platform for sharing experiences, identifying challenges, and proposing practical solutions for strengthening social cohesion.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants unanimously adopted a communiqué containing 31 recommendations aimed at deepening religious tolerance, preventing conflict, and fostering inclusive communities.

Key resolutions included strengthening interfaith dialogue at the grassroots level, promoting mutual respect among different faith groups, encouraging regular engagement between religious and traditional leaders, and integrating peace education into school curricula.

The communiqué also advocated for the responsible use of social media, the establishment of early warning systems to detect religious tensions, youth empowerment through sports and peace clubs, joint community development projects, and improved mechanisms for conflict resolution.

Participants further called on government authorities to intensify efforts toward sustaining peace and security, establish complaint hotlines for reporting violations of religious freedom, strengthen enforcement against hate speech and drug abuse, and expand civic education on laws governing social media usage.

Enhanced collaboration between communities and security agencies was also identified as a crucial step in preventing conflicts and responding effectively to emerging threats.

In a collective pledge, attendees committed themselves to serving as peace ambassadors within their communities, vowing to champion tolerance, defend religious freedom, and promote inclusive development as part of broader efforts to strengthen national unity.

The resolutions adopted at the Bauchi Town Hall reflect growing recognition among stakeholders that lasting peace and religious harmony can only be achieved through dialogue, mutual respect, and active participation by all segments of society.