Caritas Nigeria, represented by Senior Humanitarian Advisor Friday Enejoh Alhassan, recently stood alongside the continent’s brightest changemakers at the Graduation and Award Giving Ceremony of the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) Fellowship Programme. Held on May 9, 2026, this pivotal event celebrated the 8th set of Fellows, a diverse group of leaders from five African countries representing the front lines of interfaith dialogue, conflict transformation, and sustainable development.
This milestone gathering served as a vital catalyst for regional stability in an era often defined by social division. Featuring inspiring remarks from distinguished leaders such as His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Most Rev. Gerald Mamman Musa, the ceremony reinforced a profound truth: our shared humanity is far greater than our differences, and true peace can only be achieved when rooted in justice and reconciliation.
To translate these ideals into lasting continental change, participants issued an urgent call to action. They emphasized the need to launch massive awareness campaigns to strengthen the visibility of strategic institutions like the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), which has fostered harmony between Islam and Christianity since 1999, thereby countering extremism and misinformation across the region.
As the Class of 2026 embarks on its journey as ambassadors of peace, Caritas Nigeria reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting interreligious dialogue and humanitarian service, working alongside partners to build a continent anchored in social cohesion and human dignity.
