ABUJA — The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has called for greater religious tolerance in Nigeria, saying differences in faith should never become a source of division in the country.
Enikanolaiye made the call on Thursday in Abuja when the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, paid him a courtesy visit, according to a statement issued by Elesho Richard, Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
The minister said the Federal Government would continue to promote religious harmony and protect the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad, irrespective of their religious affiliations.
He said religious tensions were sometimes fuelled by a misunderstanding of the essence of religion, stressing that peaceful coexistence required personal responsibility and mutual respect.
“Although I am a Muslim, my wife is a Christian, in fact a pastor. In those days when we had only one car and there were no mobile phones, I would drive her to church and wait or return to take her home after the service. Religion has never been a barrier in my family and it should not be a cause for division in our national life,” Enikanolaiye said.
He added that religious faith should not be used as a basis for determining an individual’s personal worth or destiny.
“It is an individual responsibility. Whatever we do here on earth, we will give account in the hereafter. If your wife is pious and you are not, her piety will not take you to heaven, and vice versa. It is a matter of individual and personal responsibility. Everyone will be judged by his own works,” he said.
Ministry pledges stronger support for pilgrims
The Minister also assured the NCPC of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ continued support in facilitating pilgrimage activities and strengthening Nigeria’s relations with countries that host Nigerian pilgrims.
Enikanolaiye said the ministry’s role in pilgrimage had expanded beyond traditional consular responsibilities to include broader diplomatic engagement.
“Be assured of our support at all times. We want to see you succeed. Our work has gone beyond mere consular duties; it is a diplomatic exercise,” he said.
He said Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with countries hosting pilgrims would continue to focus on ensuring the safety, welfare and equitable treatment of Nigerian citizens.
The minister’s position comes amid continued efforts by government institutions to promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen cooperation among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
NCPC backs religious harmony
Earlier, Adegbite thanked the minister for receiving him and stressed the importance of religious tolerance to Nigeria’s national unity.
The NCPC executive secretary also drew from his own family background to illustrate the longstanding coexistence between Muslims and Christians in parts of Nigeria.
“Like you mentioned, religion should not be an issue in Nigeria. Many people, especially from the South-West, understand this. My Muslim name is Abdulmaroof, and whenever I visit home in Oyo in my cassock, that is what they call me. Every Ileya, I must provide rams for them,” Adegbite said.
He said the NCPC’s mandate extended beyond organising pilgrimages to contributing to national unity and peaceful coexistence.
Adegbite added that the commission would continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening understanding among Nigerians of different faiths.
The meeting underscored the intersection between religious pilgrimage, consular protection and Nigeria’s broader diplomatic engagement, particularly in ensuring that citizens travelling abroad for religious purposes receive appropriate support and protection.
Both officials reaffirmed the importance of religious harmony and cooperation in strengthening national unity.
