GPF Nigeria commemorates International Day of Peaceful Coexistence 2026.

The Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria marked the International Day of Coexistence at the Women Multipurpose Centre in Minna, Niger State, on January 28, 2026. More than 160 participants, including religious leaders, government officials, security personnel, civil society representatives, and men, women, and children from various communities, attended the event, which featured the theme “Promoting Tolerance, Inclusion, Understanding and Solidarity.” The participants engaged in meaningful dialogue, group discussions, and collective reflection to discuss factors impacting social cohesion and strategies to address them.

Several recent incidents in Niger State have threatened the region’s peaceful coexistence, including the November 21, 2025, abduction of more than 300 students and about a dozen teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Pompari community. This traumatic event, along with others like it, underscores the need for the area to unite to promote peace, tolerance, and understanding in the region, a driving premise of the event.

Barrister Maurice Magaji, the Honorable Commissioner of the Ministry of Homeland Security (Chairman of the Occasion), represented the governor and opened the event by expressing gratitude to GPF Nigeria for marking the International Day of Coexistence in Niger State. He stressed the importance of embracing differences in faith, ethnicity, and race as a foundation for peaceful coexistence, and noted that the principles of equity, justice, and fairness, which the government is committed to, are also central to peaceful living. He concluded by urging participants to put the lessons learned into practice in their communities.

GPF Nigeria commemorates International Day of Peaceful Coexistence 2026.

Reverend John Joseph Hayab, Country Director of GPF Nigeria, welcomed the participants, emphasizing that genuine peace must be founded on the vision of “One Family Under God,” based on our shared humanity. He reminded participants that “peaceful coexistence does not mean the absence of difference, but the ability to manage them constructively without discrimination or hate.” Rev. Hayab called on the participants to take an active role in promoting peace and social cohesion within their families, schools, workplaces, and communities. He added that the gathering offered a valuable opportunity to collectively address the underlying mistrust, fear, and exclusion that weaken trust and social cohesion.

Hajiya Rakiya Musa Ismail delivered the keynote address on behalf of Hajiya Hadiza Idris Kuta, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Women Affairs. She highlighted peace as a fundamental part of human life—one that brings undeniable joy and happiness. She also underscored the importance of inclusivity, especially for women, in building peaceful communities, noting that families, with women at their center, play a vital role in shaping values that foster harmony and peaceful coexistence. In closing, Hajiya Rakiya challenged women to break out of their roles and actively participate in initiatives that strengthen peaceful coexistence in their communities.

Selected stakeholders then shared personal stories and reflections on peaceful coexistence. This set the stage for group discussions in which participants examined key factors challenging peace, including tribalism, religious intolerance, misinformation, political and social disputes, weak family values, and insecurity. Practical strategies explored to promote tolerance, inclusivity, and unity in their families, schools, workplaces, and communities included providing accurate information, offering moral guidance, fostering community mentorship, and encouraging active civic engagement. The event concluded with participants collectively committing to apply these lessons in their communities to promote lasting peace.

GPF Nigeria commemorates International Day of Peaceful Coexistence 2026.

Several distinguished attendees expressed their appreciation to GPF Nigeria for organizing the event. Among them was Alhaji Yakubu Bosso, Chairman of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Niger State chapter, who thanked the conveners for bringing people together for such an important gathering. Reflecting on the day’s activities, he remarked, “The stories, group discussions, and reflections have helped us see that peaceful coexistence is possible if we work together, respect one another, and reject divisive narratives.”

As stated by Rev. Hayab in his welcoming remarks, “Peaceful coexistence is not a foreign concept but one deeply rooted in Nigeria’s cultural values, faith, traditions, and collective history and something that requires courage to listen, understand, and work together for the common good, irrespective of differences.”

GPF Nigeria continues to promote peaceful coexistence by empowering key leaders, women, and youth to serve as peace ambassadors. To reinforce peaceful coexistence, the organization will continue to organize activities such as community dialogues and mentorship sessions.