The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) in cooperation with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Interfaith Mediation Centre and the Kukah Centre hosted a capacity building workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, from 19 to 20 May to train community and religious leaders in conflict resolution and dialogue facilitation. The participants are members of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) established with the support of KAICIID to promote dialogue and address violence in the name of religion in Nigeria.

The two-day training convened 25 Christian and Muslim religious leaders who are committed to promoting dialogue and coexistence in their communities. The training focused on increasing the participants’ capacity to support interreligious dialogue and coexistence, conflict resolution and reconciliation. Designed to meet the specific needs of the participants, the training increased their ability to use dialogue do advocate for peace and promoting social cohesion.

Following the training, the participants will use their skills in their own communities and interreligious work and continue to participate in and facilitate dialogue projects.

 “The training is practicable; it appeals to their culture, their tradition, and their customs,” said Father Dominic Adeiza, who attended the training. “It’s not cut and paste. It goes back to what you already know and use and how you can use it effectively, as well as how to recognise the foundations from which crises emerge.”  

“I have learned so many things that I never knew, and the things I already knew were explored in a new way,” said Rukaiyat Mika'il, Finance Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Central Coordination Council and member of the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria. “The experience will help me in the long run in developing more projects and to build a strong structure of interdependence and coexistence in my community.”

“The training has given me an insight into how we can do interfaith work with a better approach and better methodology,” said Dr. Safiya Ajayi from Women in Da'awah association. “All that I have learned here will impact positively my work. I will probably have to go back to the drawing board to use the knowledge acquired here to improve our programming.”

About the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace

The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace is composed of approximately 100 Christian and Muslim religious leaders and organizations who are committed to promoting dialogue and coexistence in their communities. The IDFP was launched at the ‘Coordinate to Achieve Interreligious Dialogue’ conference led by KAICIID in September 2016 and is tasked to coordinate the interfaith initiatives and efforts in the country and promote inter-religious dialogue in Nigeria. The Forum is led by an Executive Committee, which is its administrative arm and a Central Coordination Council, which is a consultative body that meets quarterly, while the Executive Committee meets bi-monthly.

About KAICIID

The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) is an intergovernmental organization that promotes dialogue to build peace in conflict areas. It does this by enhancing understanding and cooperation between people of different cultures and followers of different religions. The Centre was founded by Austria, Saudi Arabia and Spain. The Holy See is the Founding Observer. Its Board of Directors comprises prominent representatives from five major world religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism). The Board designs and supervises the Centre’s programmes.

KAICIID In Nigeria

The Nigeria Country Programme is designed to help religious actors set up, successfully run and effectively manage interreligious dialogue platforms. It also supports Nigerian religious community leaders and policymakers to work together on concrete pilot initiatives that are designed to contribute to peace and reconciliation.

Learn more at /nigeria.