Vice-President Kashim Shettima has called on Islamic and Christian leaders to deepen cooperation across religious boundaries and help build public confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms in a bid to placing faith-based organisations at the centre of efforts to promote national unity and development.
Shettima made the appeal at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Community and Youth Development National Network, a coalition of Islamic organisations with an interfaith platform involving Christian leaders and other stakeholders.
He said religious leaders possessed the moral authority, public influence and community networks needed to promote tolerance, responsible citizenship and constructive engagement amid Nigeria’s social and economic challenges.
“A look around the composition of the membership of this group shows men and women of values, people who have the intellectual capacity and candour to shape narratives, acceptability and positive spiritual and moral conduct of Nigerians,” the Vice-President said.
The meeting placed two important questions before religious organisations: how they can prevent religious differences from deepening social divisions, and how they can contribute to public understanding of government policies at a time when economic pressures continue to affect households and businesses.
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Shettima seeks support for Tinubu’s reforms
The Vice-President called on the delegation to support President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, describing the reforms as necessary to address longstanding structural weaknesses and reposition the country for sustainable growth.
He acknowledged the difficulties associated with the changes but expressed confidence that they could lay the groundwork for improved economic performance and greater prosperity.
“I urge you to be partners in our national progress. Remain undeterred and focused, and let us ensure that whatever binds us supersedes that which divides us,” Shettima said.
He added that Nigeria’s progress depends on citizens treating the country as a shared inheritance that demanded loyalty, service and collective responsibility.
However, the appeal for public support also highlights a distinction between explaining government policies and securing unconditional endorsement for them.
Religious leaders can help communities understand the objectives and consequences of economic measures, while retaining the independence to raise concerns about hardship, implementation gaps and the needs of vulnerable Nigerians.
That balance could strengthen public engagement by giving citizens access to credible explanations while ensuring their experiences reach policymakers.
Interfaith cooperation and youth development
Shettima also encouraged the organisation to sustain dialogue with Christian leaders and other stakeholders, arguing that regular engagement could build trust and reduce tensions between communities.
The network’s National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who also serves as its Vice-Chairman II, led the delegation. The group outlined its commitment to religious tolerance, youth empowerment, leadership development and peaceful coexistence.
Its interfaith platform offers a potential channel for joint community initiatives, particularly those that bring young people from different religious backgrounds together around education, leadership and social development.
For Nigeria, where religious identity can influence community relations and public debate, such cooperation could help counter suspicion and strengthen local peacebuilding efforts.
The Presidency, however, did not announce a new funding package, formal interfaith programme or measurable targets arising from the meeting.
The practical value of Shettima’s appeal will therefore depend on whether the engagement produces sustained cooperation, meaningful youth initiatives and constructive dialogue that translates national unity into tangible benefits for communities.
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