The Iftar breaking of fast with journalists amongst the two dominating religious practice in Nigeria is one of UFUK several efforts in building peace, unity and telorance amongst different faiths in the country.
UFUK Dialogue is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the mantra ”Reserve in your heart, a seat for everyone” was founded to promote dialogue, culture of co-existence and mutual understanding.
The NGO also has the mandate to establish a common platform aimed at information and opinion exchange.It also focuses on dialogue and peace activities in academic and intellectual levels among different members of the society.
On this basis however, we have two main religions in Nigeria and thus have things in common, hence there should not be division for peaceful co-existence.
The two religions have many things in common, firstly, they believe that there is one God above all, they both fast and other similarities.
“There is no need not to live peacefully among ourselves if we believe in one supreme God. We should love ourselves because God is love, this is important for us to know.
It is in line of this that UFUK Dialogue organised an iftar dinner for Editors and journalists (both Muslims and Christians) to break out fast together thereby fostering peace, love , dialogue and friendship amongst themselves .
The Director of UFUK Dialogue in Lagos and the convener of the dinner, Mr Aman Riaz in his brief message, said that peace remained a necessity and that UFUK dialogue serves to stand by societal peace, love, tolerance, and compassion in support of human dignity and the greater good of humanity.
“Dialogue and peace has always been and still remains a need, a necessity, and a must for us to have a healthy and more productive society.
The work for peace needs a dimension that goes beyond any ideology, political system, above any religious movements or religious authority.
Mr Kola Aliu, a journalist with the Leadership newspaper encouraged UFUK dialogue to engage more in international media and information exchange programs for journalist and Editors so as to aid more in sensitisation and opinion exchange.
Mr Sunday Odibachy,the Editor of National Daily also made his contribution saying ” The work for peace needs a dimension that goes beyond any ideology, political system, above any religious movements or religious authority. He encouraged UFUK Dialogue to engage more in sensitisation especially in the northern part of the country where religious extremism is the order of the day .
Alhaji Mojeed Alabi of Premium Times postulated that “Religious and cultural leaders can start a strong effective collaboration of state authorities, religious leaders, and civil society actors to organise community-wide efforts to address all factors that aid violent extremism and need for post election DIALOGUE in order to bring together all aggrieved leaders and contestants together so as to bury their hatchets and move Nigeria forward.
Mr Paul Ogbuokiri of New Telegraph newspaper also encouraged UFUK Dialogue to engage more with various media houses and platforms in the country as most not aware of the great works and contributions of the organisation.He also expressed his gratitude to the organisation for bringing media personalities together for the dinner regardless of the religion, race, tribe and natural dispositions.
Other media personalities at the dinner includes Mrs Opeyemi of media hallmark, Suleiman Husaini of New Telegraph and Mr Ikechi Izeako representing Daily independent Editor.
To cap it all, the aim of UFUK Dialogue which has been mentioned earlier, is to promote dialogue, peace, culture of co-existence and mutual understanding between people of various religion, all hands must be on deck to give it the fullest support in all it’s ramifications.
Source: Scoper