KASU Students, Others Applaud Zaman Tare’s Peace Initiatives

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA– The students of Kaduna state university (KASU) under the Zaman Tare’s Scholarship program have commended the laudable initiatives of the project aimed at enhancing interreligious and intercultural tolerance and harmony in the state and country at large.

The students and other speakers made the commendation at the public lecture and Dissemination of Research findings/ information by the scholarship students on Wednesday at the university.

One of the beneficiaries of the scholarship grant, a Mass communication student, Fatima Wamo, described Zaman Tare project as ” an excellent initiative, and it’s doing a lot particularly in Kaduna state being that Kaduna is an example of what conflict can be when it comes to diversity; Zaman Tare is doing a tremendous job” she added

Speaking further on her research work which centred on the ” Influence of ethnic and religious stereotypes on Facebook on tolerance among youths in Kaduna state ” said her findings showed ” there are inciteful and harmful comments that stereotypes religions and tribes on Facebook among the youths in Kaduna state and there’s the possibility that these comments can incite conflicts”

She then recommended that certain regulations be put in place that will check these comments adding that the National orientation Agency ” should do something about re-orientating the youths, so that, we can have better understanding about our diversity

According to her , generalization at any time and whatever form should be frowned at ” generalization should not be made; but just call a thief a thief, let us call they bad eggs in our midst what they are, and not to judge them by their tribe or religion” she stressed

Similarly, Aliyu Mohammed of the Mass communication Department, whose work is on the ” Role of social media in promoting religious intolerance among the residents of Kaduna metropolis; a case study of Facebook” said he found out that there are actually Facebook comments or postings that carry intolerance undertones inimical to religious tolerance.

He therefore recommended that just like the traditional media, ” the social media should also be regulated by government” though he noted that ” it is going to be difficult because it is called the citizen media, every other person have access to it, but aleast government can have a say ” he added

He also advocated the need for orientation and awareness to be created on the people ( Facebook users) ” so that they will know the gravity of what they are postings. Whatever, you are going to post make sure that it’s not going to cause any problem or hurt the feelings of any other person that will have access to it” he added

While describing Zaman Tare as a ” blessing to Kaduna state, because from what we have seen today, Pastors, Imams are sitting together and they followers of both religions, Christians and Muslims are here together, all of them are concerned about peace and the project Zaman Tare ( Iiving together) is actually doing a wonderful work in Kaduna state” he reiterated

In the same vein,, a student of the Department of Political science, Aisha Abdul-Nasir, while appreciating the project initiators noted that ” Zaman Tare is doing a very good job and this what we need in this country, you look at the hall, you’ll see different religious leaders that ordinarily, will not come together, but Zaman Tare has brought them together in harmony”

While speaking on the ” Effect of ethno- religious crisis in Kaduna state; a case study of Kajuru LGA” said ” I found out that the causes of ethno- religious crisis are ignorance, hate speech, bad preachings, unemployment and intolerance

” and my recommendations are for the government to try as much as possible to educate people on the teachings of every religion so that people will understand that just because you are not practising a particular religion doesn’t mean that, that particular religion is bad

“Also, I feel that our preachers or religious leaders should do better in educating our people in what exactly, the teachings of our religions are than what they feel they should tell the adherents; while encouraging ” inter tribal civilization, that is people should mingle with other cultures, tribes, so that they will be able to understand each other” she added

On his part, a Christian cleric, Rev Chindo Sani Turaki of first ECWA, Ungwar Rimi, while applauding the wonderful work Zaman Tare is doing by creating awareness in educating the populace on the need to live in peace to achieve progress, noted that most people go into crisis out of ignorance; with a call for all and sundry to enhance peaceful coexistence.

On his part, the Dakacin Barnawa ta kudu( south) Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Abubakar, said Zaman Tare has infact enhanced relationship, cooporation between clerics of both religions including the traditional leaders, women, youths to understand themselves ” we really appreciate the forum, it’s impactful, instructive and a blessing and we want it sustained ” he stressed

ZAMAN TARE is a project of Caritas Nigeria, Funded by European Union, (EU) in partnership with CAFOD and DREP, and it is presently operating in Kaduna and Plateau states in Nigeria and Niger Republic respectively.