Social distance, ignorance, injustice and exceptionalism often breed misunderstanding, mistrust, fear of others, conflict and insecurity. This is especially true when one’s faith with its values and practices is insulted, threatened, misused or abused. The manipulation of religious identities for political and other aims is a factor that has raised lots of sentiments in Nigeria and Africa. Our times demands paradigm shift and a new order of religious leaders who are knowledgeable enough of both their faith and those of others and are prepared to address today’s most urgent challenges. Fostering peaceful and healthy human development requires changing the narrative for peace which means empowering the people with a mind-set that enhances peaceful co-existence.
We believe that this can be achieved by harnessing the power of faith communities and civil groups in preventing incidences of violent extremism. But this may be difficult without first helping those faith and community actors to understand the fundamentals of other religious beliefs. We are certain that building lasting positive peace should not just be left for government alone, rather, it should be everybody’s task and much more, a duty for every religious leader. Hence, equipping religious actors and stakeholders with conflict transformation and peacebuilding skills has become a necessity for effectively countering violent extremism for harmonious society.
Stories Of Change From Communities
COFP Fellowship Program In Its 6th Year
After a rigorous selection process, another set of phenomenal Fellows, 50 in all, were chosen from the many individuals who applied for the 2023/2024 COFP Fellowship program. The first module of the 6th annual and 3rd International
COFP Fellowship Program In Its 5th Year
In July 2022, the famous COFP Fellowship Program with remarkable positive impacts, launched its International COFP Fellows from ten African countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya,
COFP Fellowship Program in its 4th Year
The COFP Fellowship program has continued to leave a trail of tremendous positive impact since its inception four years ago. In April 2021, the third set of COFP Fellows being Class of 2021 (40 Fellows in total). The new cohort of COFP Fellows which is the 4th
COFP Fellows Localizing Peace: STORIES of Success
We are glad that the efforts of the COFP to build, inspire and equip multi-faith leaders and actors to enhance sustainable peace and human development in their communities is continually yielding positive results. The COFP Fellowship
COFP Fellowship Program in its 3rd Year
Delayed by COVID-19 pandemic, year 2020 marked the beginning of COFP’s third year of successfully conducting COFP Fellowship program on dialogue negotiation, conflict prevention/management and mediation.
2019/2020 COFP Fellowship Program Commences
John Cardinal Onaiyekan has called on the FG to defuse the tension that had arisen in the country in recent times, and to restore peace and security. The Cardinal made this call in Abuja while declaring open the Welcome Dinner of the Second