The Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria (GIMP-Nigeria) has called for interfaith harmony as a means towards achieving peace, development and national cohesion.
In a statement to mark this year’s (2026) World Interfaith Harmony Week, Chairman and National Co-ordinator of GIMP-Nigeria, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik said: “as plural as Nigeria, harmony is not optional; it is a necessity for peace, development, and national cohesion.”
He emphasized that Interfaith harmony is strongly relevant in Nigeria, where religious narratives can either deepen divisions or become powerful instruments for peace building.
Abdúlkarim described the World Interfaith Harmony Week as a timely reminder that dialogue, empathy, and ethical communication remain indispensable tools for addressing Nigeria’s social tensions and conflicts.
“World Interfaith Harmony Week calls on us to rediscover our shared values as people of faith and conscience.”
He said that the World Interfaith Harmony Week has come to strengthen the leadership of the body to be committed to promoting mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence and responsible media engagement among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
Abdulmalik emphasised the critical role of the media in shaping public perceptions of religion and interfaith relations.
He called on the media professionals and digital content creators to uphold professionalism, avoid sensationalism and consciously counter hate speech and divisive reporting.
“The media must rise above narratives that inflame passions”, he stated, while noting that: “As interfaith media practitioners, our duty is to tell stories that humanize the ‘other,’ amplify voices of moderation, and highlight examples of cooperation between faith communities”.
He also called on religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations, and government institutions to use the week as an opportunity to renew commitments to dialogue, tolerance, and joint social action, particularly in addressing insecurity, misinformation, and moral decline.
According to him, the group is determined to continue with initiatives that promote interfaith dialogue, media literacy and peace-oriented journalism, including trainings, public engagements, and collaborative platforms involving Muslim, Christian, and traditional faith practitioners.
“As we mark the 2026 World Interfaith Harmony Week”, Abdulmalik further said, “let us move beyond symbolic gestures and commit to practical steps that translate harmony into everyday attitudes, policies, and media practices. Only then can faith become a force for unity rather than division.”
The World Interfaith Harmon Week is observed annually from 1–7 February in tandem with a United Nations General Assembly resolution. It seeks to encourage harmony between all people regardless of faith traditions.
