TheCable

The UFUK Dialogue, a foundation dedicated to promoting dialogue, culture of coexistence, and mutual understanding in Nigeria, has held an online prayer session “to unify the voices of religious leaders in prayer for Nigeria and the whole world to be able to contain the coronavirus pandemic”.

In a statement, Emrah Ilgen, an official of the organisation, said the online prayer session tagged “NigeriaPrays” is the first of the series where religious leaders from various faith came together to pray for Nigeria.

“As many of our places of worship are forced to close their doors – to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus, we believe in facilitating an inclusive, unifying moment for humanity. The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic across the globe has reinforced the need for humanity to stay united in our shared values towards halting the further spread of this pandemic,” he said.

“We hope for a better world of togetherness and unity to illustrate the power of prayer/reflection in this trying period. We also want to recognize sacrifices made by essential health workers as they give their best towards the containment of the further spread of the Coronavirus.”

Religious leaders who took part in the prayer session

Those who led the prayer sessions were John Onaiyekan,  a Catholic priest. Khalid Aliyu, secretary-general Jamatul Nasril Islam; Abdul Ahmad, chief missioner, Ansaruddeen Society of Nigeria; Joseph Job, Methodist archbishop of Abuja; Abubakar Muhammad, Islamic scholar and columnist, and John Praise Daniel (Dominion Chapel Intl Churches).

The various clerics took turns to pray for God’s intervention in the cause of humanity to bring the miseries surrounding COVID-19 to an end.

Onaiyekan commended UFUK Dialogue for putting together the “NigeriaPrays” session as it would avail Nigerians the opportunity to stay united in prayers in this critical period.

Aliyu as well as other clerics appreciated the UFUK Dialogue for the initiative and expressed their willingness to be part of subsequent series.

UFUK Dialogue has been active in Nigeria over the years, promoting dialogue, a culture of coexistence, and mutual understanding by establishing a common platform aiming information and opinion exchange.

The Foundation focuses on dialogue and peace activities in academic and intellectual levels through conferences, seminars, panels, common projects, publications, meetings, intercultural trips, and several other events.