In a gesture of religious unity, key Muslim leaders joined Christian worshippers at a special service organized by the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) on Lemu Road in Kaduna South.
The gathering, which brought together diverse faith communities, sought to deepen interfaith dialogue and promote peaceful coexistence.
The event, which the church called “Friends Day,” emphasized the importance of mutual respect and unity amid growing concerns over religious tensions in parts of Nigeria.
Reverend Joshua Nda Anyam, who leads ECWA Gospel Church, opened the service by addressing the congregation on the realities of religious and cultural differences. He reminded attendees that diversity should not be a source of division.
“Whether we like it or not, there will continue to be differences between us,” he told the gathering. “However, we must endeavor to maintain open doors of interaction to douse relational tensions and build bridges of trust, understanding, and respect.”
He pointed to the biblical verse from Matthew 7:12—”In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”—as a guiding principle that cuts across religious lines. He warned against those who exploit religious sentiments for selfish purposes and criticized the desecration of holy books, including both the Bible and the Qur’an.
“Desecrating sacred texts is unacceptable. It must be universally condemned,” he declared. “Religious leaders must remind governments of their responsibility to protect lives, property, and uphold justice.”
Representing the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, Senior Special Assistant on Resident Communities, Mr. Ayokunle Adebayo, praised the initiative, calling it a symbol of unity and a glimpse of what the state could achieve through inclusivity.
“Today’s Friends Day celebration is more than a religious event. It is a statement of what Kaduna and Nigeria can become when we rise above our differences and come together as one people under God,” he said.
He commended the ECWA leadership for creating an atmosphere of openness and harmony and acknowledged the long-standing peaceful relationship between the church and Muslim residents of the Panteka community.
The Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honorable Henry Magaji Danjuma, also addressed the congregation, describing the event as a step toward reconciliation and urging that such efforts be continued and expanded.
Rev. Dr. Yunusa Nmadu, who first introduced the Friends Day tradition during his time as senior pastor over ten years ago, echoed the spiritual dimension of peace-building efforts. “Only God gives genuine rest,” he said, calling on society to return to values that promote divine guidance and societal well-being.
