Religious differences should not become walls against peaceful coexistence – Shittu

Professor Abdulazeez Balogun Shittu has called on Nigerians to reject religious intolerance and embrace peaceful coexistence, warning that religious differences should not become barriers to national unity.

Shittu, a professor of Islamic Thought and Comparative Religions, made the appeal while delivering the 54th inaugural lecture of the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, on September 24, 2026.

The conference, titled “Religious Insularity: A Threat to Peaceful Coexistence in Nigeria,” examined the dangers posed by intolerance and abuse of religious identity in a religiously diverse society.

Shittu defined religious insularity as “an exaggerated attachment to one’s religious identity accompanied by suspicion, rejection or condemnation of others.”

According to him, the problem is not religious commitment itself, but the danger arises when individuals or groups use their faith to establish superiority over others.

He identified two dimensions of religious insularity – “intrareligious and interreligious” – underlining that intolerance could occur not only between Muslims and Christians but also between members of the same religious community.

Shittu said factors such as inadequate knowledge of one’s faith, ignorance of other religions, stereotypes, misinformation, intolerance and politicization of religion contribute to religious divisions in Nigeria.

He expressed particular concern about the role of social media and the media environment in general, warning that unverified information could spread rapidly and worsen religious tensions.

“In an age where an unverified religious claim can spread across social media in minutes, an irresponsible reporting can increase suspicion and damage relationships,” he said.

The professor drew on Islamic teachings to highlight the importance of peaceful relationships with people of other faiths.

He cited Quran 5:48, which recognizes religious differences while urging people to “run towards all that is good,” as well as Quran 60:8, which calls for justice and righteousness toward those who do not fight Muslims or drive them out of their homes.

Shittu also referenced the Prophet Muhammad’s interactions with Jewish and Christian communities, as well as historical examples associated with Umar ibn al-Khattab, to demonstrate that religious conviction could coexist with respect for people of other faiths.

He also distinguished between religiosity and spirituality, noting that a society might display strong outward religious practices while failing to demonstrate the ethical values ​​expected from the religion.

According to him, such a situation could lead to discrimination, loss of trust, social division and manipulation of religion to justify violence.

To address the problem, Shittu called for better religious literacy, accurate information, verification of claims, fairness, tolerance and responsible leadership.

He urged religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence, journalists to avoid inflammatory reporting and politicians to refrain from exploiting religious differences for political purposes.

The professor stressed that Nigerians do not need to abandon their religious identity to live peacefully with each other.

“A Muslim should not become less Muslim to respect a Christian. A Christian should not become less Christian to respect a Muslim,” he said.

Shittu argued that Nigeria’s religious diversity should be managed through justice, humility and mutual respect, describing peaceful coexistence between citizens of different faiths as a national necessity.