*calls for Ethical Media, United Action for Peace
The Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria (GIMP-Nigeria), has joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), reaffirming its commitment to promoting mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence, and responsible media engagement among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
In a statement to mark the occasion, the Chairman and National Co-ordinator of GIMP-Nigeria, Mr. Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, described WIHW as a timely reminder that dialogue, empathy, and ethical communication remain indispensable tools for addressing Nigeria’s social tensions and conflicts.
“World Interfaith Harmony Week calls on us to rediscover our shared values as people of faith and conscience”, Abdulmalik said, adding: “In a nation as plural as Nigeria, harmony is not optional; it is a necessity for peace, development, and national cohesion”.
Observed annually from 1–7 February following a United Nations General Assembly resolution, WIHW, seeks to encourage harmony between all people regardless of faith traditions.
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GIMP-Nigeria noted that the theme of harmony resonates strongly in Nigeria, where religious narratives can either deepen divisions or become powerful instruments for peacebuilding.
Abdulmalik emphasised the critical role of the media in shaping public perceptions of religion and interfaith relations.
He urged media professionals and digital content creators to uphold professionalism, avoid sensationalism, and consciously counter hate speech and divisive reporting.
“The media must rise above narratives that inflame passions”, he stated, while noting that: “As interfaith media practitioners, our duty is to tell stories that humanize the ‘other,’ amplify voices of moderation, and highlight examples of cooperation between faith communities”.
He also called on religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations, and government institutions to use the week as an opportunity to renew commitments to dialogue, tolerance, and joint social action, particularly in addressing insecurity, misinformation, and moral decline.
GIMP-Nigeria reaffirmed its resolve to continue initiatives that promote interfaith dialogue, media literacy, and peace-oriented journalism, including trainings, public engagements, and collaborative platforms involving Muslim, Christian, and traditional faith practitioners.
“As we mark the 2026 World Interfaith Harmony Week”, Abdulmalik further said, “let us move beyond symbolic gestures and commit to practical steps that translate harmony into everyday attitudes, policies, and media practices. Only then can faith become a force for unity rather than division”.
