The 9th International Conference on Love and Tolerance, powered by UFUK Dialogue in collaboration with major peace and interfaith institutions, held on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Crispan Hotel’s Gowon Hall, Jos, gathering religious leaders, government agencies, peacebuilders, and educators under the theme: “Bridging Divides — Building Trust in a Polarized World.”
Partners for this year’s edition included the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC), National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), and the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
UFUK Dialogue President: “Nigeria shows the world what coexistence means”
In his welcome address, UFUK Dialogue President Emrah Ilgen said the organisation—established in Abuja in 2011—continues to champion peace, mutual understanding, and coexistence across Nigeria.
Calling Nigeria a “strategic point” for global peace because of its 270 ethnic groups, Ilgen said,
“If we succeed in promoting peace here, the world can emulate it. We must reserve in our hearts a seat for everyone.”
He noted that the 2025 conference series had already held in Abuja and Lagos, drawing over 850 participants, before arriving in Jos based on strong interest from religious and traditional leaders.
He added that UFUK Dialogue plans to expand to more states next year.
Gov. Caleb Mutfwang to participants: ‘Keep communities talking, interacting, and working together’
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the Director-General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Mrs. Julie Sanda, commended the organisers for sustaining conversations around love, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
She emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening community dialogue structures, saying:
“Social communication is central to building a culture of peace. We must keep our communities interacting across divides.”
She highlighted ongoing interreligious and intercultural peace programmes and reaffirmed the PPBA’s support for initiatives that promote inclusion and unity.
Interfaith Council: ‘Let us act love and tolerance—not just talk about it’
A representative of the Interfaith Council reminded participants that dialogue must translate into visible action.
“Too much talk—let’s act love, let’s act tolerance,” he said, urging Nigerians to live out the values they profess.
Catholic Secretariat: ‘Dialogue is our tradition since 1968’
Representing the Catholic Secretariat’s Department of Interreligious Dialogue, a speaker reaffirmed the Church’s long-standing commitment to religious engagement.
He noted that since 1968, the Catholic Church has upheld dialogue as a central pillar of peaceful coexistence.
“We are happy to partner with UFUK Dialogue and to learn from one another as brothers and sisters under God.”
IPCR: ‘Love and tolerance are the foundations of peaceful communities’
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), represented on behalf of DG Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, praised UFUK Dialogue for its consistent contribution to peacebuilding nationwide.
The representative said:
“This conference is timely. Love and tolerance are essential foundations for stable, inclusive societies.”
He urged participants to listen with open minds and take lessons back to their communities.
CAN: ‘Love without tolerance is passive; tolerance without love is indifferent’
Representing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Kulusi Raimudagwu, speaking for the CAN Chairman, stressed the inseparable link between love and tolerance.
He said:
“The two work together. Love teaches us why people matter; tolerance teaches us how to live with them. God did not place Christians and Muslims here by mistake.”
He urged participants to turn words into action.
JNI: ‘We must implement what we learn to our followers’
The representative of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) emphasized that participants act as ambassadors of peace.
“What we learn here must not end here. We must implement it among our followers. It will help us, and help our communities.”
Guest Speaker Dr. Fevzullah Bilgin: ‘Peace begins in the classroom’
Guest speaker Dr. Fevzullah Bilgin, Managing Director of Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC), delivered the keynote address titled “The NTIC Experience: Building Peaceful Coexistence Through Education.”
He stated that Nigeria’s future depends heavily on the values formed in schools.
“Children who share a desk fairly today will share a nation fairly tomorrow. Education is the workshop of peace.”
Dr. Bilgin highlighted NTIC’s Community Impact Leadership (CIL) course, peace clubs, moral education curriculum, and interfaith cultural exchanges as examples of practical peacebuilding models already shaping thousands of students.
He emphasized that prejudice is not innate, noting:
“Children are not born with bias; they are born curious. Schools must guide this curiosity toward empathy and responsibility.”
A shared message: Peace requires action
Across speeches from government, religious bodies, and peace institutions, one message remained consistent—Nigeria must move from dialogue to action, strengthen trust, and deliberately build bridges in an increasingly polarized world.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment from all partners to deepen collaboration, expand grassroots engagement, and promote the motto of UFUK Dialogue: “Reserve in your heart a seat for everyone.”
