By: Mayen Etim
KADUNA, North-West, Nigeria – In a profound demonstration of unity and shared purpose, winner of the 2022 UN-World Harmony Week, Pastor (Dr.) Yohanna Buru, is leading an extraordinary effort in collaboration with Christian and Muslim clerics in northern Nigeria to mark this year’s 2024 Week.
Together the team have successfully mobilized 100,000 preachers to conduct prayers and fasting sessions dedicated to world peace for the Week long event.
The UN-World Harmony Week is
observed annually from 1st to 7th February, and seeks to foster harmony among people of diverse backgrounds, transcending differences in faith, tribe, culture, ethnicity, race, color, height, region, or continent.
Buru, a global ambassador for harmony, appointed by King Abdullah of Jordan, has issued a call to colleagues and scholars across Nigeria, to embark on ceaseless prayers for global peace, in the backdrop of challenging wars, crises, and tensions, particularly impacting the stability of Nigeria and parts of Africa.
Reflecting on the significance of the Week, the religious leaders are not only dedicating their prayers for global peace but also emphasizing the importance of special prayers and fasting for peace and stability within their own nations.
According to Buru, the Week serves as a golden opportunity for Christians, Muslims, and other religious and traditional leaders to convene, interact, and engage in crucial discussions on religious tolerance, understanding, peace-building, and empowering communities to resist activities related to violence and extremism.
He emphasized the need to utilize various media platforms – radio, television, newspapers, and social media, to enlighten different faith-based organizations on sustaining peace, love, unity, and forgiveness.
He explained that the campaign’s target is to reach 50,000 Muslims and 50,000 Christians through the media, spreading messages of peace, love, forgiveness, and tolerance.
Acknowledging the moral imperatives shared by all religions, the leaders stressed the call for peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding, deeming it essential in the face of tackling crises, including farmer-herder clashes, ethno-religious conflicts, and political instability affecting various sectors of human endeavors.
The leaders are taking the campaign to various places, including places of worship, social gatherings, marketplaces, schools, hotels, car parks, football viewing centers, temples, football stadiums, Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) camps, among others.
Buru and his Muslim counterpart, Imam Ibrahim Musa, expressed their commitment to celebrating the Week with grassroots organizers across the country.
“With Nigeria grappling with numerous ethno-religious and political crises threatening peace and unity, this collective effort during the Week will serve as a beacon of hope for promoting peaceful coexistence.
“Lets join hands and spread the message of peace and love through out the 7 days of the harmony week,” they urged.