YABATECH rector advocates interfaith harmony as panacea to national unity

Ibraheem Abdul, the rector at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), has emphasised that interfaith harmony and mutual respect among religious groups are critical to achieving sustainable peace, institutional progress and national unity in Nigeria.

Abdul made this policy declaration while addressing staff, students and religious leaders at an interfaith fast-breaking dinner organised by the institution, where Christians observing Lent and Muslims observing Ramadan gathered to share a meal and reflect on the shared values of their faiths.

The rector described the initiative as part of the college’s deliberate commitment to strengthening peaceful coexistence within its multicultural community and promoting values capable of fostering national development.

According to him, the institution considers religious diversity not as a challenge but as a strategic strength that can be harnessed to promote understanding and cooperation.

“Our diversity is not a challenge but a strength. The difference in our faiths is not a wall meant to separate us but a bridge for understanding and mutual coexistence,” Abdul said.

He explained that the coinciding seasons of Ramadan and Lent present a unique opportunity for both Christians and Muslims to reflect on the core values of sacrifice, compassion, discipline and devotion to God—principles that should guide personal conduct and institutional relationships.

Abdul emphasised that the interfaith gathering was designed to deepen dialogue among religious groups within the college and to demonstrate that institutions of learning can serve as models of peaceful coexistence in a plural society.

He stressed that the values embedded in fasting – discipline, charity, patience and self-restraint – should translate into improved commitment to duty, stronger community relations and collective responsibility for the wellbeing of others.

The rector further called on members of the college community to sustain the spirit of unity beyond the religious season and allow it to shape their everyday interactions on campus.

“If we want peace in the larger society, it must begin within our immediate communities. Our campus must continue to exemplify the values of unity, tolerance and cooperation,” he said.

Speaking on the theme “Interfaith Harmony and National Unity,” the Chaplain of the college underscored the importance of dialogue and mutual respect among adherents of different religions.

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He explained that interfaith harmony promotes peaceful coexistence, strengthens community bonds and encourages collaboration across religious divides for the common good.

He noted that national unity depends on the ability of citizens to transcend ethnic, cultural and religious differences in pursuit of collective development.

“Interfaith harmony is essential for social stability. It promotes trust, reduces conflict and strengthens the foundations of national development,” he said.

Also speaking, the representative of the Muslim community in the college, described educational institutions as spaces where diversity of belief, culture and ideas should foster understanding rather than division.

He noted that peace, tolerance and coexistence remain universal values shared by all faith traditions.
Similarly, the Chief Imam of the institution highlighted the spiritual significance of fasting, describing it as a demonstration of obedience to God and a practice that instils discipline, devotion and compassion for others.

Adesola Kuyebi, a very reverend priest, speaking on fasting as a Pathway to Spiritual Renewal, Discipline and Peaceful Coexistence, averred that fasting is a profound spiritual discipline shared across major world religions, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

He claimed that it serves as a universal pathway for spiritual renewal, self-discipline, and fostering peaceful coexistence.

Rituals, he said, differ in that the core intention remains consistent to turn away from material indulgence to focus on God, cultivate empathy, and strengthen the soul over the flesh.

Kuyebi added that fasting is not merely abstinence from food, but a ‘detox’ for the spirit and soul, aiming to elevate spiritual consciousness.

According to him, fasting engenders the purification of the soul and promotes God-consciousness in man (Taqwal). In Islam, Ramadan is a time to cultivate Taqwa-a deep awareness of God and to purify the soul.

Fasting deepens devotion and promotes consecration of human life in relation to God. In Christianity, Lent serves as a time of reflection, sacrifice, and renewed commitment to God, following the example of Jesus’ 40-day fast, he stated.

Furthermore, fasting stimulates the heart of man for repentance and renewal. In Judaism, Yom Kippur is a 25-hour fast dedicated to atonement, introspection, and returning to divine principles, Kuyebi submitted.