By Kadiri Abdulrahman
Abuja – Director-General of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, has called on Nigerians to embrace religious harmony to engender peaceful coexistence in the country.
Ibrahim made the call in a statement by Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, Director, Press and Public Relations of the NYSC.
He was receiving the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Prof. Cornelius Omonokhua, who was on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
Ibrahim counselled that religion should be used as a tool to promote national unity.
He assured that the NYSC scheme was apolitical and would continue to promote the corporate existence of the country.
He added that the scheme, since inception in 1973, had been contributing its quota to national development.
He urged Nigerians to show love, patriotism, religious tolerance, shun ethnic sentiment and be committed to national unity and development at all times.
Earlier, the NIREC boss appealed for attitudinal change that would encourage peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, irrespective of religious persuasion.
Omonokhua advised that such peaceful coexistence would serve as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of the country.
He disclosed that the council, which was conceived in 1998 and inaugurated in 1999, had been fostering mutual trust among Muslims and Christians in the country.
The Executive Secretary, who commended the Federal Government on its efforts at peace-building, dialogue and conflict resolution, pointed out that the council had been visiting higher institutions across the country to encourage religious tolerance.
While appreciating the bond of unity existing among the Muslims and Christians in the country, Omonokhua said that Nigeria had been known for its tremendous roles in peace-keeping operations in many countries in Africa.
