By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
As the world marks the United Nations International Day for Tolerance 2025, the 2022 International Interfaith Week and Harmony Award winner, Pastor Dr. Yohanna Buru, has called for stronger respect for religious freedom and peaceful coexistence among Christians and Muslims in northern Nigeria.
Pastor Buru, who is also the African Peace Ambassador, made the call during a courtesy visit to his Muslim scholar friends in Kaduna, aimed at deepening interfaith understanding and friendship between both religious communities.
He stressed that the celebration of Tolerance Day 2025 serves as a reminder that all citizens, regardless of their faith, must be treated with dignity and fairness to foster peace and unity across Nigeria.
“Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the world,” Buru said.
The cleric emphasized that tolerance goes beyond mere acceptance, describing it as an active effort that requires education, empathy, and action from individuals and governments alike.
“Tolerance must be taught, nurtured, and defended. It requires investment in people—through education, inclusion, and opportunity—to build societies founded on respect, participation, and mutual understanding,” he stated.
Pastor Buru urged Nigerians to rise above ethnic and religious divides, stressing that the country’s stability depends on collective efforts to embrace dialogue, forgiveness, and unity.
“On this International Day of Tolerance, let us recognize the growing threats posed by those who seek to divide us. Let us pledge to forge a path defined by dialogue, cohesion, love, and mutual understanding,” he added.
In response, Mallam Gambo Abdullah Barnawa, a respected Muslim scholar, commended Pastor Buru’s continued efforts toward peacebuilding and interfaith harmony in Nigeria.
“There are many things to learn from Pastor Yohanna Buru when it comes to peacebuilding. It is no surprise that King Abdullah of Jordan honored him as African Peace Ambassador in 2022 for his commitment to promoting reconciliation and tolerance,” Barnawa said.
He called on Muslims, Christians, and traditional leaders to prioritize messages of peace, love, and unity in their sermons and community engagements.
“We must learn to love, tolerate, and accommodate one another to make Nigeria great. Let’s join hands to make Kaduna and our nation better,” he urged.
Barnawa also highlighted the ongoing efforts of organizations such as the Foundation for Religious Freedom (FRF), Search for Common Ground, Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF International), and Faith and Freedom Africa. These groups, he said, continue to promote freedom of religion through advocacy, public education, and interfaith dialogue, helping prevent conflict and strengthen peaceful coexistence.
As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate International Tolerance Day 2025, faith leaders and civil society advocates have reiterated that embracing diversity remains key to lasting peace and national progress.
