Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German pro-democracy agency, has underscored the need to continuously uphold human dignity and freedom and promote dialogue to sustain Nigeria’s democracy.

The resident representative, Moritz Sprenker, stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

The conference had the theme “Freedom of Religion in Nigeria: Shaping a Future at Peace, Promoting Freedom of Belief, Development and Security”.

Mr Sprenker said the issue of religion was urgent and universal, as it touched every institution, sector, and identity.

The representative explained that freedom of religion or belief was not just a fundamental human right but also the bedrock of dignity.

According to him, it means each one has the right to follow their conscience, practise any faith, change beliefs, or have none at all.

“It is the freedom to be true to ourselves, without fear or coercion, and without discrimination; this is especially relevant in Nigeria, where the issue takes on particular significance.

“Nigeria’s religious diversity is not just a fact; it is one of the nation’s greatest strengths. Every day, people of different faiths live, work, and dream together. They build communities rooted in shared values, solidarity, and hope for a better tomorrow. At the same time, we know that religion does not exist in isolation. It often intersects with identity, politics, security, and economic realities.

“This complexity requires careful thinking. We must avoid simple explanations, but we must also not ignore the role religion plays in shaping tensions and opportunities. At the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, we believe democracy thrives only where dignity is respected, freedoms are protected, and dialogue bridges our differences,” he said.

Mr Sprenker said sustainable peace is not a distant ideal; it is built instantly through trust, respect, and the courage to truly listen.

He said the goal of the conference was to identify challenges and practical solutions.

This, he said, includes how to build trust and prevent conflict through dialogue and how freedom of religion can contribute to peace and prosperity.

“The destiny of a diverse society is not written by its differences, but by the choices we make together about how we live with them.

“If we choose dialogue over division, respect over suspicion, and dignity over exclusion, then diversity becomes not a risk, but a strength.

“Freedom of religion is not only about belief; it is about the very fabric of our coexistence, and it calls us to build a society where everyone truly belongs,” he said.

Also speaking, the director-general of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Joseph Ochogwu, affirmed that religion often intersected with ethnicity, politics and competition for resources to shape conflicts in Nigeria.

Mr Ochogwu said that, though religious and traditional leaders were often the first responders to conflicts in local communities, there was no legal framework to integrate them into the security architecture.

The director-general reiterated the call to integrate religious and traditional leaders in the legal framework for preventing and resolving conflicts. 

(NAN)