Int’l Day Of Peace: WIC, JISRA Hold Peace Intervention, Dialogue At Hayin- Banki Community

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA.

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Women’s Interfaith Council, also known as Interfaith Forum of Muslim and Christian Women’s Associations, has ended a peace intervention/ dialogue in Hayin- Banki, Kawo Kaduna, as part of activities to mark the 2022 International Day of Peace in communities and states they are working in.

WIC in collaboration with Joint initiative for strategic Action (JISRA) on Saturday organized a stepdown of its peace intervention for religious leaders, traditional rulers, women and youths in the community,

Speaking the Executive Director, WIC, Rev Sr.Veronica onyeanisi, OLA, represented by Mr Tarsoo Ade, said ” this gathering is an interfaith dialogue, a gathering of Christians and Muslims and of diverse cultures here, the idea is to get to know one another’s better, so that we can build a better society adding that what they hope to achieve is ” better knowledge of each other’s religion, the Christians and the Muslims both knowing what they do and believe in.

” that’s why we started with the Christians knowing the 5 pillars of Islam and the Muslims also knowing the basic foundation of Christianity, so that in the society, somebody will not come and lie to them, noting that the essence is to know each other better and we want to be supportive of each other better so that, we can worship God better and build a better society”

According to him, Joint initiative for strategic religious Action,( JISRA) is an international program present in 7 counties including Nigeria and in Nigeria, presently working in Kaduna and in Plateau states with different organizations of which WIC is one of them working in this state , in an effort to build religious bridges, promote freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and counter harmful practices against women and girls so that we can work together on our common humanity to build a better world for all of us, today and tommorrow”

A Staff of Ministry of Justice, Kaduna and member WIC, Hajia Hajara jubril Abubakar, describing the success of the event, saying ” I observed Hayin Banki community is a community of peace, because the people are interacting together peaceful, they are peacefully coexisting.

“Hayiin Bankin is a mixture of many languages and religions and I can see that this project is promoting the peaceful coexistence in the community’ she added

Mallam Abdullahi Muhammad Isa, Imam of Hayan Banki mosque, said the essence of the meeting is the need for peaceful coexistence in view of obvious happpeniings and challenges bedevelling us in the country,” so they invited us religious and traditional leaders, women and youths and trained us on the Christian and Muslim religions and ways of living together in our communities, and that the training has enhanced cooperation and coexisting between adherants of the two faiths.

He noted that at this meeting, he gave a talk on the Christian faith and” my Brother the Pastor was asked to speak on Islam, pointing out this singular action will go a long way in strengthening peaceful living, adding that he spoke on the trinity.

On his part, Rev. Philip Omoniyi, a Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church Hayin Banki, Kawo, said ” at this WIC/JISRA, I presented a paper on the 5 pillars oif Islam, and the understanding shared is to encourage this interfaith relationship between Christians and Muslims, and the essence of it is that God is wiser than all of us ,

” if God had wanted one religion, He has the capacity to create one religion in the whole world, but in his wisdom has allowed the existence of Christianity and Islam, so what is left for us is how to live together in peace, so that we can have development and growth in our midst”

He further commended the effort of WIC, describing it as ‘ laudable” I really commend the effort because it is laudable, what they have done today has brought about a better understanding of the two religions by the adherants of the religions and so it’s fostering a better understanding in the community, so if this continues Nigeria has a better future”

Similarly, the Wakilin Matasa, Hanyin Banki, Yusuf Tanko, commended the program noting that it is aimed at strengthening geniune religious harmony that has existed in our community, ” that is why I a Christian can be appointed by Sarkin Hanyin Banki, to lead both Muslim and Christian youths and I must say that am enjoying their collective support and cooperation

” we have discovered that most crises in the past are brought from outside not within our community, we also together carry out joint peace efforts, such as clearing of Muslim/ Christian cemeteries among others to encourage peace and cooperation in our community”he added.

On her Part, a Women leader in the ccmmunity, Hajia Fatima Umar, while appreciating the purpose of the meeting in strengthening peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in our community and environs,, said” for us in this community, we have been living together in harmony, and attending events and activities together, in the churches and mosques too, irrespective of faith.

She then called on Christians and Muslims not to hate or despise each other because of religion, but lend helping hands when the need arise” she added by applauding WIC/JISRA for their laudable interventions.