WIHW 2022: Muslim Woman Donates gifts To Church Workers To Promote Peace

By Ibrahima Yakubu

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA– As the world prepares to celebrate the 2022 United Nation’s World Interfaith Week and Harmony , a Nigerian Peace Ambassador and international Interfaith Specialist, based in northern Nigeria , Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, has visited the church of Christ Evangelical and life Intervention Ministry Sabon Tasha Kaduna south and donated series of gifts to church workers.

The beneficiaries include the best chorister in the band, children choir, best Pastor and intercessory Ministers and Women of the Church.

She said “Forgiveness, tolerance, peace,love, and unity among all the tribes and languages in Nigeria is what we needed”

According to her, the aims of the International harmony week is to strengthen good inter-faith relations, increase awareness of different and distinct faith communities and increase better understanding between people of religious and non-religious belief all over the world.

she also donated motivational books to the winners to strengthening interreligious tolerance and better understanding among different faith based organizations in the country

While recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, Hajiya Ramatu says, the week which starts from 1st-7th February provides a golden opportunity for people of different faiths to promote religious tolerance in order to live in peace and harmony

She said, the theme of the year 2022 is ” Faith and spiritual leadership to combat stigma and conflict during pandemic recovery’ adding that the General Assembly of United nation encourages all States to spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week, on a voluntary basis and according to their own religious traditions or convictions.

She said, her choice to donate gifts to these church workers is because of their commitment in what they do and other services.

Ramatu Prayed for Nigerian armed forces toward the success of all their peace mission all over the world while calling on government to support the security agencies with all that is needed to tackle Terrorism, Banditry, kidnapping that is affecting education, peace stability in the country

The peace ambassador further said, she is going to use the week, through taking many peace campaigns to Mosques, Markets, train and railway stations and meet with many youth clubs among others

Responding Pastor Yohanna Buru, who is the General Overseer of the church expressed appreciation to her, while emphasizing that this is not the first time ,she is coming to the church and donating many things to the orphans and widows of the church

The Christian cleric says, the church cannot forget the free donation of Holy Books and other study materials she did some times back

Buru ended by saying , the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence, was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010.

While stressing that he has mobilized over 100,000 Christian and muslims clerics with traditional believers through different media organization which include Television, Radio, and newspapers and also on social network to support the country with prayers for God to bring an end to the fight against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and ethno-religious, political killings that is causing serious problems in the northern part of the country

According to him, the church marked its 10 years anniversary using its monthly meeting, Campaign, dialogues , round table -talk , school debate ,quiz competitions, street- shows, advocacy programs , endurance trekking, consultation with various religious groups in the country, aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence and interreligious tolerance among different faith based organizations across the 19 northern states of Nigeria ,

He further said organizing the monthly interfaith activities is to strengthen Christian- Muslim relations for peace and unity from January to December every year

Adding that, the church has lined up many activities to promote the interfaith week through its monthly meeting with various stakeholders on peace building in the state and the entire northern Nigeria

Some sporting activities that formed part of the annual church activities to mark interfaith week and harmony every year include Football games, Cycling , Marathon, staking games to enhance peace stability among youth and women, while the church used the weekly 30 minutes Radio and Television programmes to educate and sensitize millions of listeners on the importance of peace and tolerance among different faith based organizations on the need to live in peace and harmony with one another