Interfaith Dialogue Forum for peace – IDFP is focused on interfaith activities and inter-religious awareness, dialogue and understanding for the two dominant faiths in Nigeria – Christianity and Islam. It is a forum that is hoisted to discuss, ask questions and arrive at a mutual understanding about the beliefs and practices of these faiths. The purpose of the dialogue being to dispel stereotypes, to mitigate violence, to create understanding and to enable co-operation and peaceful co-existence whilst maintaining mutual respect for the differences of the two religions.
In spite of the different views about the concept of inter-faith and its practices in Nigeria, the IDFP carries out interfaith activity to bring about understanding of religious teachings among the followers of the two major faiths – Islam and Christianity. The IDFP believes that a proper illumination of several doctrines, concepts and practices of the Christianity and Islam will reduce tension and minimize conflicts usually promoted by ignorance of the doctrines and tenets of the different faiths and thereby promoting peaceful coexistence.
The Major core and stance of the IDFP is to achieve peace in Nigeria, Hence, sincerity is the watch word for her inter faith activities. The forum does not attempt to undermine the difference in the different faiths instead it passionately pursues them with utmost responsibility and understanding
To achieve this, the forum organizes events where religious scholars from the two dominant faiths -Christianity and Islam are invited to dialogue on doctrines and tenets of the two religions and the position of religious text concerning peaceful co-existence in multi-religious communities like Nigeria.
These events are not platform for arguments or casting aspersions each other’s faith, but facilitated to maintain a peaceful deliberation which will promote proper understanding of the peculiarities of the dominant faiths..
CORE VALUES
- Recognize the desperate need for peace
- Honesty and Truthfulness
- Integrity in all cooperate activities
- Respect for others religion
- Justice and Equity
ACTION PLAN
Interfaith Network
Religious Education Programmes
Advocacy on IRX and Social Cohesion
Sensitization on Dialogue and Peace Coexistence
Pilot intervention
PROJECTS
The peace advocacy visits to five flashpoint states were initiated by IDFP to respond to the concerns on the growing nature and scope of the conflicts in Nigeria that are gradually assuming regional, religious and ethnic dimensions
The project targeted participants from nine (9) states through a mini-conference on farmer-herdsmen conflict to develop a roadmap as well as TV/Radio programmes and jingles
The project consisted of a rigorous social media campaign and TV/Radio roundtable discussion to curb the growing incidences of hate speech especially in the North.
The activities included Radio and TV jingles on peaceful elections; printing of education/sensitization materials and workshop for youth organizations on violence-free elections
The project involved training of women and youth leaders on human rights, women and children rights as well as protection of rights from the Islamic and Christian religious perspectives
A new day (August 22) created by the United Nations General Assembly. Considering the significance of the day to the religious context and history of violence in Nigeria
Project was conceived and designed upon the recommendations from the advocacy visits conducted by the IDFP in 2018 wherein the key theme was to build capacity of religious leaders in detecting, reporting and responding to early warning signals as well as engage in dialogue and mediation to address conflicts. 30 Religious leaders participated in training of trainers and 100 religious leaders were targeted across five states and followed with the establishment of interfaith mediation units in churches and mosques
The school was established following the visits to the IDP camp during the commemoration of the International Day for Victims of Violence Based on Religion and other beliefs
Implemented in 10 states to curb the spread of Covid 19 and dispel the negative myths about the pandemic among religious leaders and communities
Religious leaders and policy makers build consensus towards strategic response to the security and health challenges in Nigeria and facilitate the development of Code of Conduct on Interfaith Action developed to promote joint collaborations among religious leaders
Anchored on similar project implemented in 2019-2020 to expand the initiative to additional five states targeting conflict-prone states