Interfaith Community Development: How Feasible? What are the Obstacles? and How Do We Surmount Them for Peace and Development?

The last presentation/lecture at the workshop was offered by Rev. J.J Hayyab, who is the current Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) secretary Kaduna state chapter. In his lecture on the theme, “Telling ourselves the whole truth,” the Reverend mentioned some of the causes of crisis such as the one in Jos Plateau State to be poverty, selfishness, fatherism, quest for wealth, inciters and use of careless words like Kaferi (unbeliever) : Arni (infidel) from both contending religions. He exclaimed that we always fight and kill ourselves because of “nothing” such as power and resources! And that the truth was that only few selfish individuals benefit from such unreasonable competition. CAN secretary also mentioned in his remark some of the reasons for crisis in our dear nation to be rumor mongering, wrong news in papers, TV and Radio, circulation of baseless text messages through mobile phones, extremism of defending religious beliefs, community or stereotype, political party/religion misconception, lack of integration amidst diversity and suspicion of one by the other as being an enemy.

Other highlights at the workshop included reading of a paper on the position of the British High Commission on the subject of discussion, identifying the real causes and proffering strategic solutions – by the commission’s representative, Mr. Richard. This was preceded by interactive sessions that featured questions and answers, opinions of participants on way-forward, fears and expectations: giving of recommendations, drafting of action plan, photo snap-shots, introductions, vote of thanks among others.