The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) and the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) have signed a peace accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The historic signing took place at the National Christian Centre on Friday in Abuja during the 2026 National Christian Youth Security Summit and Thanksgiving Service, held under the theme: “Empowered for Leadership, Service and Nation Building.”

The peace accord aims to foster religious tolerance, reject political violence and promote peaceful coexistence ahead of the 2027 elections.

The three-day summit brought together security officials, government representatives, church leaders and youth delegates from across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the five CAN blocs and the six geopolitical zones.

Delivering his welcome address, the national chairman of YOWICAN, Ademola Arowolo, described the peace accord as a “covenant of hope and a declaration of unity” designed to curb electoral violence and interfaith friction from the national level down to the grassroots.

“Today marks a defining moment in the history of youth engagement, faith-based leadership, national security advocacy, and interfaith collaboration in Nigeria.

“This Peace Accord represents more than a document. It is a covenant of hope, a declaration of unity, and a collective commitment by Christian and Muslim youths to work together in promoting peace, justice, dialogue, tolerance, and national development.”

Addressing journalists during an interview, Mr Arowolo emphasised the sanctity of human life and urged young people to resist political thuggery and vote-buying as the country prepares for the next electoral cycle.

“The key objective of today’s gathering is for the Christian youth of this country to sit down and see that security is very important because every life, whether of a Muslim, a Christian, or any other faith, is sacred.

“God Himself does not divide us; it is human beings who divide us through their own mindsets.

“An idle man is the devil’s workshop, but as elections approach, if somebody approaches you to engage in violence, tell them your children should not come. We cannot destroy our own land,” he said.

Corroborating the commitment, the national president of NACOMYO, Sani Sulaiman-Maigoro, stressed that interfaith solidarity remained the most viable tool to defeat security threats and political manipulation.

“First and foremost is for us to accept the reality that we are Nigerians first, and Nigeria is our country. Together we live and prosper and when we are divided, we all suffer.

“When we work together, we are able to defeat the negative narrative and those few people who choose to be evil and divide us along religious, ethnic, or sectional lines.

“Nigerian Muslim youths are here in solidarity with Christian youths to say we are together towards securing and making Nigeria a better place for all,” he said.

Representing President Bola Tinubu and First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Stephen Adegbite, cautioned young people against allowing politicians to use them as instruments of destruction.

“We are meeting at a very crucial time in the history of our great nation, a period when we are moving towards another election.

“It should be a period when none of you will be used as a sacrificial lamb. We don’t want any politician to use you and waste your life.

“The Muslim and the Christian in Nigeria must work together; we are brothers and sisters, and it is only when you have peace that you can talk of progress.”

The president of CAN, Daniel Okoh, urged Christian youths to rise as nation-builders and moral exemplars.

Mr Okoh, represented by Simon Dolly-KIF, the secretary-general of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA), urged youths to rise beyond the limitations of yesterday.

“The time has come for Nigerian Christian youths to rise beyond the limitations of yesterday and embrace the responsibility of building the Nigeria we desire to see tomorrow.

“Let no Christian youth become an instrument of violence, hatred, manipulation, or destruction.

“We must refuse to be recruited into anything that destroys the lives and future of our fellow Nigerians. Nigeria is bigger than our ethnicity, denomination, and political differences.”

Highlighting the security perspective, the minister of defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), noted that peace was essential for youth productivity.

Mr Musa, represented by Musa Likita, special adviser on security and intelligence to the minister of defence, recognised the important role of youths in national development under a whole-of-society approach.

“The youth are full of energy, creativity, and innovation, so they will thrive better when the environment is peaceful.

“Youths are implored to uphold values and not allow themselves to be exploited by extremist forces or criminal elements.”

(NAN)