www unilorin edu ng By Prof Ishaq O
www. unilorin. edu. ng By Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede Ex. Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin vc@unilorin. edu. ng National Coordinator Nigeria Inter-Religious Council(NIREC) and Secretary General NSCIA Being a presentation@Rf. P consultation on Reflection on Best Practices scaling-up multi-religious Action 24 -26 July 2015, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina(BIH)
OUTLINE • Causes of religious conflicts in Nigeria • NIREC, its structure and mechanism • Standing committees • Mechanism and methods • Platforms • Peace building efforts of NIREC • Conclusion
THE DEFINITION OF CONFLICT Conflict on the other hand can be described as a situation of true or perceived disagreement through which the parties involved identify a threat to their interests, values/ethics or concerns.
MAP OF NIGERIA
CAUSES OF RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA Religious conflicts in Nigeria have been traced to the under listed causes. These are: § § Poverty Religious fanaticism Land issues Vengeance
CAUSES OF RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS CONTINUED • Unemployment/under employment especially of youths • Wrong interpretation and/or understanding of the tenets of the holy books • Misinformation/ignorance • Perceived feelings of marginalisation
CAUSES OF RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS CONTINUED • • Relative insecurity Increased politicisation of religion Ethno-religious reasons Other conflicts clothed in religious “garments”
NIREC AND ITS STRUCTURE Why NIREC ? The devastation and other negative consequences of religious conflicts over the years informed the formation of NIREC in 1999 by Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) with the active support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo
NIREC FATHERS
WHAT IS NIREC ? • It is the acronym for: Nigeria Inter Religious Council • It is a product of series of discussions between the leadership of the two main religious bodies in Nigeria i. e. § The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and § The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) § It is not a government parastatal but it is supported by government
NIREC FORMATION
COMPOSITION OF NIREC • NIREC, is an inter-religious body of fifty (50) Equal number of Christians and Muslims. (25 each) • Membership consists of : § Traditional rulers § Religious leaders from both Islam and Christianity § Opinion leaders
OBJECTIVES/FUNCTIONS OF NIREC honestly sincerely and To 1. endeavour, by themselves, to understand the true teachings of the two religions – Christianity and Islam including their peculiarities and personal mannerisms through dialogue, discussions, workshops, seminars, conferences, pamphleteering and 10 others.
STRUCTURE OF NIREC The following structure has been put in place: 1. The Board of Trustees (BOT). members are: § § His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR mni the Sultan of Sokoto His Grace, Arcbishop John Onaiyekan, CON(Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor CON) Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, National Coordinator/Executive Secretary Prof. Yusuf Obaje
STRUCTURE OF NIREC CONTINUED 2. The Co-chairmen are the heads of NSCIA and CAN § His Eminence , the Sultan of Sokoto and President General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and § National President of Christian Association of Nigeria – Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
STRUCTURE OF NIREC CONTINUED 3. The National Co-ordinator/ Executive Secretary • HE/SHE HEADS THE SECRETARIAT AND LIASES WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT PARTNERS 4. The 50 members are made up of: • 25 MUSLIMS AND • 25 CHRISTIANS
STRUCTURE OF NIREC CONTINUED 5. THE SECRETARIAT: § CO-ORDINATES ALL CORRESPONDENCE § PREPARES FOR QUARTERLY MEETINGS & § DOCUMENTATION OF THE COUNCIL 6. ARMS OF THE COUNCIL INCLUDE: § THE YOUTH WING § THE NATIONAL INTER FAITH ACTION AGAINST MALARIA (NIFAA)
STANDING COMMITTEES OF NIREC • TO FACILITATE THE OPERATIONS OF NIREC, A TOTAL OF NINE (9) STANDING COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE. THESE ARE: i) iii) iv) GENERAL PURPOSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES EDUCATION COMMITTEE
STANDING COMMITTEES OF NIREC v) INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT vi) PEACE BUILDING/CONFLICT RESOLUTION vii) FINANCE COMMITTEE viii) PLANNING, RESEARCH AND DEVLOPMENT ix) PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT
MECHANISM AND METHODS 1. OPENESS AND FRANKNESS 2. INCLUSIVENESS 3. FIDELITY TO RESPECTIVE FAITH-TRADİTİONS 4. FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE 5. EQUITY AND EQUALITY 6. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY 7. VOLUNTEERISM AND SELFLESSNESS 8. MASS-MOBILISATION 9. INTEGRITY
STRATEGIES 1. ADOPTION OF FAITH-BASED CHANNELS AND INSTITUTIONS 2. GRASS-ROOTING 3. DIALOGUE OF ACTION (DEVELOPMENT) 4. RESISTANCE TO GOVERMENT INTRUSION 5. MUTUAL COLLABORATION WITH GOVERMENT /AGENCIES 6. FRANK ADVICE TO GOVERMENT AND INSTITUTIONS 7. REPRESENTALIVE VOICE OF FAITH-COMMUNITIES 8. APOLITICAL 9. AUTHORITATIVE
PLATFORMS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. OPEN PUBLIC FORUM MINBAR/PULPIT RELIGIOUS EVENTS AND CEREMONIES QUARTERLY PRESS BRIEFING/COMMUNIQUE CONFERENCES/SYMPOSIA YOUTH AND WOMEN FORA FAITH-BASED NETWORKS INDEPENDENT AFFILIATES AND NGOs (NIFAA)
PEACE BUILDING EFFORTS OF NIREC • SINCEPTION, NIREC HAS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF STEMMING RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS THROUGH ITS OPERATIONS. THESE INCLUDE: 1. ROTATING NIREC QUARTERLY MEETINGS AMONGST THE SIX GEO-POLITICAL ZONES IN NIGERIA. SO FAR MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD IN ENUGU, MAIDUGURI, LAGOS, KANO, JOS, PORTHARCOURT, ABUJA AND RECENTLY IN BAUCHI
PEACE BUILDING EFFORTS OF NIREC CONTINUED 2. MENT 3. COMMENCEMENT OF QUARTERLY MEETINGS BETWEEN DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE ZONE. LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVELS. SOME STATES HAVE ESTABLISHED WHILE OTHERS ARE YET, NIREC KEEPS ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO SO.
PEACE BUILDING EFFORTS OF NIREC CONTINUED 4. ORGANISATION OF A YOUTH SUMMIT INVOLVING YOUTHS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE. HMENT 5. NIREC
PEACE BUILDING EFFORTS OF NIREC CONTINUED PROMPT 6. INTERVENTION CRISIS IN AREAS TO PREVENT SPREAD AND ESCALATION. SPOND 7. ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT CAN THREATEN THE CORPORATE EXISTENCE OF NIGERIA. FOSTERING 8. RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF DIALOGUE AMONG RELIGIOUS GROUPS.
PEACE BUILDING EFFORTS OF NIREC CONTINUED 9. SEMINARS LEADERSHIP MEMBERS IN AND CONFERENCES ORGANISED BY EACH OTHER TO FURTHER PROMOTE RELIGIOUS HARMONY IN NIGERIA.
PEACE BUILDING EFFORTS OF NIREC CONTINUED 10. PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ON RELIGIOUS MATTERS E. G. • • NIGERIA WOMEN OF FAITH NETWORK AFRICAN COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS (ACRL) INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF WEST AFRICA INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL COOORDINATING COMMITTEE (IRCL)
PEACE BUILDING EFFORTS OF NIREC CONTINUED 11. COLLABORATING AND INTERACTING WITH OTHER SIMILAR GROUPS IN AFRICA, EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. FOR EXAMPLE, • AFRICAN UNION • UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM (USCIRF) • TONY BLAIR FAITH FOUNDATION, UK • ECOWAS INTER
AN INTER-FAITH WORLD GLOBAL WORLD CONFERENCE FOR RELIGIONS FOR PEACE (Rf. P) CONTINENTAL AFRICAN COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS (ACRL) REGIONAL INTER RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF WEST AFRICA NATION`AL NIGERIA INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL (NIREC)
DIALOGUE OF ACTION NIREC CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES FOR A BETTER SOCIETY. THESE INCLUDE: § § § NIFAA (MALARIA) INTER-FAITH COMMITTEE ON HIV/AIDS INTER-FAITH ANTI-CORRUPTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (IAAC) (A BODY UNDER MY HUMBLE SELF TO COMBAT FINANCIAL CORRUPTION CRIME)
THE NIGERIA INTER-FAITH ACTION ASSOCIATION AGAINST MALARIA (NIFAA) § NIFAAM(Now NIFAA) WAS ESTABLISHED BY NIREC TO MAXIMISE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST MALARIA IN NIGERIA § IT HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH IN THE FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES SUCH AS POLIO AND COMMJNICABLE DISEASES § NIFAA HAS ALSO WORKED WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED WITH THE ERADICATION OF MALARIA
WOMEN OF FAITH NETWORK THE NIGERIA WOMEN OF FAITH NETWORK COLLABORATED WITH NIREC AND THE VARIOUS ARMS OF GOVERNMENT ON THEME “ERADICATION OF HIV/AIDS AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE” - INTER-FAITH ACTION
NACA – HIV/AIDS COMMITTEE § § MANUALS PROJECTS
EFCC INTER-FAITH BOARD ESTABLISHMENT OF INTER-FAITH ANTICORRUPTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (IAAC) THE EFCC AS PART OF ITS MANDATE TO PREVENT AND REGULATE ACTIONS AGAINST CORRUPTION, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES ESTABLISHED THE IAAC THE COMMITTEE WAS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONBILITY OF COORDINATING THE INTERFACE WITH THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES BY ADOPTING A FAITH- BASED COMMUNITY TO DISSEMINATE THE ANTI-CORRUPTION MESSAGES TO NIGERIANS
MEMBERSHIP OF IAAC PROF. IS-HAQ OLOYEDE CHAIRMAN BISHOP JOHN PRAISE SECRETARY MEMBER / EXEC. IMAM AHMED ABDULRAHMAN MEMBER PASTOR CLETUS ALU MEMBER UZTAZ AMIN IGBWEBE MEMBER BISHOP CHRISTIAN IDE MEMBER SHEIK YUSUF HUSSEIN MAIBERA MEMBER
ACTIVITIES OF IAAC THE INTER-FAITH ANTI CORRUPTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS SET TO: § START A THIRTEEN (13) WEEK TV MEDIA OUT REACH PROGRAMME ON ANTI CORRUPTION IN WHICH RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND EMINENT PERSONS WITHIN THE FAITH COMMUNITY WILL COME ON AIR TO DISCUSS ALL FORMS OF CORRUPTION, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES THAT REVOLVE AROUND THE MANDATE OF EFCC FROM RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES. § DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING AND PREACHING MANUALS FOR USE BY THE MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS WITH THEIR CONGREGATIONS. THE MANUALS ARE BELIEVED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION TOOL
CONCLUSION • NIREC SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, NO DOUBT HAS CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE RESOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA AS IT STEADILY ACHIEVES THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS • NIREC HAS ALSO COLLABORATED WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO COMBAT MALARIA, HIV/AIDS ETC. • IT IS HOPED THAT WHEN NIREC AT BOTH THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNEMNT LEVELS BECOME FUNCTIONAL, RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY REDUCED IN OUR POLITY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
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