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…As Muslims, Christians worship together at ECWA Friends Day
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has called on Nigerians, particularly residents of Kaduna State, to embrace unity, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence .
The governor made the call at the 2026 Friends Day Worship Service organised by the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Gospel Church, Lemu Road, Tudun Nupawa, Kaduna South Local Government Area, which brought together Muslims, Christians, traditional rulers and community leaders.
Represented by the Acting Director, Christian Matters, Bureau of Interfaith, Kaduna State, Mr Gabriel Joseph Shemang, the governor urged religious leaders to continue preaching peace and fostering harmony among adherents of different faiths.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting programmes that promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen interfaith relationships across the state.
According to him, the Friends Day celebration reflects the values of mutual respect, understanding and unity in diversity.
“This event is marked by an atmosphere of reflection and mutual respect, underscoring the need to build bridges of trust and understanding amid our diversity, which remains our strength,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Senior Pastor of ECWA Gospel Church, Rev. Joshua Nda Anyam, said the annual Friends Day programme was designed to promote friendship, unity and mutual understanding among people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
He stressed that the event was not a political platform despite heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 elections, maintaining that the Church remains non-partisan.
“Our Friends Day is not organised as a political campaign platform, and we do not expect anyone to use it as such. The Church is non-partisan,” he said.
Rev. Anyam said the church organises the programme annually to demonstrate its belief in the common humanity of all people and the need to foster peaceful coexistence for national development.
Quoting Saudat Salisu Muhammad, described as the first Muslim student to graduate from Our Lady of Hope College, Yarkasuwa, Class of 2026, the cleric said: “Unity in diversity does not mean everyone becomes the same. It means choosing to stand together while respecting our differences.”
He urged Christians to remain faithful to the biblical mandate of being peacemakers, citing Matthew 5:9 and Hebrews 12:14, while warning against individuals and leaders who exploit religious, ethnic and political differences for personal gain.
“There are people whose stock-in-trade is creating division, confusion and conflict. Some religious, traditional and political leaders use our diversity, which should be our strength, as an instrument of division for selfish interests. We must be wary of them,” he said.
The cleric also expressed concern over the nation’s worsening insecurity, economic hardship and political uncertainty, describing the situation as a source of fear, trauma and hopelessness for many Nigerians.
While commending the Federal Government and security agencies for their efforts in tackling insecurity, he said more needed to be done to restore public confidence and guarantee lasting peace.
He lamented that many Nigerians remained in captivity in the hands of terrorists, kidnappers and bandits, stressing that insecurity affects citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
Rev. Anyam called on religious, traditional and political leaders, as well as all Nigerians, to unite against violence and criminality, insisting that perpetrators of insecurity, including their sponsors and collaborators, must be brought to justice.
Delivering the sermon, the guest preacher, Most Rev. Josiah Idowu Fearon, who preached from John 3:16, said God’s love transcends religious and ethnic differences, urging Nigerians to emulate that love in their relationships with one another.
He called on worshippers to deepen their understanding of God’s purpose for humanity, worship the one true God and relate with one another in love, mutual respect and understanding.
In separate goodwill messages, Chairman Kaduna South local government,Hon. Rayyan Hussaini, House of Reps member, Hon. Amos Gwamna Madaki, and other dignitaries emphasised the need for unity and peaceful coexistence, noting that sustainable development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace.
Chairman of the organising committee, Elder Nubu M’ya, expressed appreciation to Muslim leaders, traditional rulers and other invited guests for honouring the church’s invitation, describing their presence as a demonstration of the enduring spirit of friendship and religious harmony in Kaduna State.
