Contemporary dancers perform at the Slum Party, an initiative by Innovate Dance Company, in Oworonshoki, Lagos, Nigeria, in October The Slum Party initiative, founded by Obiajulu Ozegbe in 2019, was created to curb gang violence in the Oworonshoki community and showcases the positive aspects of life in the slum, aiming to inspire hope among its residents. File Photo by Emmanuel Adegboye
Nigeria is living through one of the most defining and dangerous moments in its national journey. Violence, kidnappings and targeted attacks have shaken the foundations of communities across the country. Into this moment of profound moral crisis came a historic development.
The Global Peace Foundation convened a gathering a few days ago of Christian, Muslim, Hindu, traditional and humanist leaders in Abuja for the High-Level Interfaith Dialogue on Religious Freedom and Human Security.
What took place in that room was nothing short of extraordinary. Leaders who rarely share a table sat side by side. Senior clerics, revered emirs and influential faith voices spoke with unusual clarity and unity.
Their presence and their message represented more than collaboration. They represented a prophetic summons calling the nation to spiritual renewal and moral courage at a time of deep national distress. By every measure, it was a historic convening whose impact may echo far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
This gathering did not merely analyze insecurity. It confronted it with the authority of conscience. Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Rev. Stephen Panya Baba, Archbishop Sunday Onuoha, Sheikh Nurudeen Lemu, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, the Emir of Bungudu Hassan Attahiru, the Emir of Doma Ahmadu Allyu Oga Onawo and many others affirmed that all human life is sacred.
They declared that no faith tradition justifies the killing of innocent people. They affirmed that religious leaders must stand as guardians of the nation’s soul. Their unified stance signaled that spiritual authority, when aligned in purpose, possesses the power to reawaken a nation.
The urgency of this gathering is even clearer in light of mounting international concern.
President Donald Trump publicly designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations” of religious freedom. He warned that failure to protect vulnerable Christian communities could lead to a reexamination of U.S. support and engagement.
His remarks underscored the severity of Nigeria’s crisis. Yet, they also revealed a truth the nation must confront. No foreign government can mend what Nigeria alone must heal. International pressure may draw attention to the problem, but it cannot repair broken trust, reconcile divided communities or soothe the wounds of families who have suffered loss.
Healing requires something deeper. It requires the steady moral authority of Nigeria’s faith leaders. It requires voices able to summon the conscience of the nation and guide people toward peace, justice and human dignity.
This is precisely what the Abuja convening achieved. The gathering moved decisively from words to concrete commitments. The leaders established a Joint Interfaith Advocacy Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief. They committed to a Joint Interfaith Ubuntu Declaration rooted in solidarity, compassion and the sanctity of life.
They pledged to strengthen local peace committees, expand early warning systems and launch coordinated peace messaging across Nigeria’s diverse communities. They also agreed to document violence, expose hate speech and sustain regular interfaith collaboration. These commitments demonstrate that the gathering was not symbolic. It was a catalyst for action.
These steps mark the beginning of a new moral architecture for national renewal. They contain the seeds of spiritual transformation that can extend far beyond Nigeria. When fully realized, they can help shape a broader African Renaissance grounded in the dignity of every human life and the shared values that connect African societies.
Nigeria, as one of the continent’s most influential and deeply religious nations, has the potential to lead this awakening.
This historic convening did not emerge spontaneously. It is the culmination of more than a decade of quiet, consistent and deeply relational work by the Global Peace Foundation.
GPF began working in Nigeria in 2013, stepping into regions fractured by sectarian conflict and mistrust. Under the leadership of the Rev. John Joseph Hayab, a respected Nigerian Baptist minister, GPF advanced a values-based model rooted in the principle of “One Family under God.” This approach emphasized shared humanity, spiritual identity and the power of relationships to rebuild trust across divides.
The impact of this work is evident in Southern Kaduna, where communities once locked in cycles of violence were brought into dialogue. Ceasefires emerged. Former adversaries began sharing resources and rebuilding broken relationships. Youth Peace Clubs in schools helped cultivate new generations committed to coexistence.
In 2024, thousands of students, faith leaders and traditional rulers gathered for the Lapai Peace Festival, celebrating unity across dozens of ethnic and religious lines. These long-term investments built the trust that enabled the unity displayed in Abuja.
The lesson is unmistakable. Governments can pass laws and deploy security forces. Foreign powers can issue warnings and express concern. Yet, only moral and spiritual authority can call a nation back to itself. Only faith leaders can speak directly to the conscience of the people. Only prophetic voices can awaken a society to its higher purpose and point the way toward reconciliation.
Nigeria is watching. Africa is watching. The world is watching. The Abuja convening offered the nation something it urgently needed. It revealed that spiritual renewal is possible. It showed that unity still carries power. It proved that Nigeria’s faith leaders are ready to guide the nation through its darkest hour.
What began in Abuja is not a fragile spark, but the emergence of a steady and gathering light. The prophetic voices that rose together in that historic room have already set in motion a spiritual renewal capable of reshaping Nigeria’s destiny and inspiring hope across the continent.
This moment marks the quiet birth of a movement grounded in faith, dignity and shared humanity. From this point forward, Nigeria does not stand as a nation defined by crisis, but as a moral beacon rising to lead Africa into a new era of peace and possibility.
The flame has been lit, and its light carries the spirit of ubuntu, which affirms that “I am because we are,” and reminds us that Nigeria’s renewal is inseparably connected to the renewal of the entire African continent.
Bishop Dr. Paul Murray has more than 30 years of Christian ministry experience, spanning pastoral leadership and global evangelism. He is the award-winning author of Walking with the Good Samaritan and Broken. He serves as the International vice president for Religious Freedom Initiatives at the Global Peace Foundation, as well as an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan University.
