Stakeholders at an Interfaith Leadership Conference organised by the Mohawal Charity Foundation, with support from the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), have urged the Federal Government to create a Ministry of Interfaith or Religious Affairs to address Nigeria’s recurring religious tensions in a more structured and sustainable way.
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The call was led by Professor Isiaka Zubair Aliagan, Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, during his keynote address at the conference held on Thursday at the KWASU International Conference Centre.
Professor Aliagan warned that Nigeria’s approach to managing religious conflicts has remained largely reactive, noting that unchecked preaching and the politicisation of religion continue to fuel extremism and social unrest.
“Religion, alongside poor governance, has become one of Nigeria’s major challenges,” he said. “There is a clear need for a Ministry of Interfaith or Religious Affairs, manned by trained professionals, to regulate religious activities, license preachers, and promote peaceful coexistence among different faiths.”
He pointed to countries such as Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, where structured oversight of religious affairs has helped curb extremist teachings and ensure responsible religious practice. His proposal was unanimously adopted and included in the conference communiqué, making it one of the key outcomes of the event.
The conference, themed “Beyond Belief Boundaries: Advancing Interfaith Understanding and Religious Tolerance in Nigerian Campuses,” brought together students from various tertiary institutions, academics, facilitators, and civil society organisations to explore practical ways of fostering peace and tolerance within Nigerian universities.
In his welcome remarks, the founder of Mohawal Charity Foundation, Lawal Muhammed Oluwasina, said the initiative was prompted by the rising spread of religious misinformation and intolerance among young people.
“University campuses reflect what is happening in the wider society,” Oluwasina noted. “If we can promote dialogue, respect, and tolerance among students, we are investing in a more peaceful future for Nigeria.”
Providing an overview of the project, the foundation’s Project Director, Habeeb Opeyemi Daranijo, highlighted the role of NYFF in expanding the organisation’s peacebuilding efforts.
“Support from NYFF has helped us move from ideas to real impact,” Daranijo said. “So far, we have engaged seven tertiary institutions in Kwara State and extended our interventions to the University of Abuja and Nasarawa State University.”
He explained that the project focuses on countering religious misinformation, training students as peace ambassadors, and encouraging intergenerational dialogue to help young people navigate religious diversity constructively.
“We are not just preaching tolerance,” he added. “We are building leadership capacity among students so they can sustain peace within their schools and communities.”
One of the facilitators, Dr. Mary Taiye Daniel of the University of Ilorin’s Department of Religion, underscored the importance of religious harmony to national development.
“No country can thrive where religion is used as a tool for division,” she said. “Mutual respect and peaceful coexistence across faiths are essential for Nigeria’s stability and long-term growth.”
Participants agreed that universities, as microcosms of the larger society, have a vital role to play in shaping tolerant attitudes and countering extremist narratives among young people. Many also stressed the need for institutional structures that would sustain interfaith engagement beyond occasional dialogues.
The conference ended with a shared commitment to step up advocacy for policy reforms, strengthen interfaith platforms on campuses, and expand youth-led peacebuilding initiatives across the country. Organisers expressed optimism that with continued support from partners such as NYFF — and the adoption of proposals like an interfaith ministry — religion can be repositioned as a force for unity, stability, and national cohesion in Nigeria.
