The Youth wing of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Nigeria, rose from its two-day Inter-religious conference with a resolve that followers of their faith, should endevour to  be committed to the establishment and sustenance of peace; and at all times ensure the building of enduring peace among people in their respective communities.

The 351 participants at the conference also resolved to intensify prayers for peace and unity of the country. The conference was held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last week.

Among the issues discussed are Youth restiveness, insecurity in the country and how to foster religious tolerance among all faiths.

Youth Restiveness: The ever increasing rate of violence amongst Nigerian youths took the center stage as particpants blamed the issue on ignorance and poor monitoring of education system in Nigeria by all levels of governments.

The conference urged the federal government and other relevant government agencies to ensure proper monitoring of all educational institutions in Nigeria so as to ensure that Youths are given the right education, thus preventing crimes from happening and encouraging peace among all faiths.

Religious tolerance

Security: Participants at the Peace conference also praised the efforts of the Federal Government in the fight against Boko Haram terrorist organization and asked all religious leaders to further educate their followers on the need to promote religious tolerance.

Religious tolerance: It restated the need for Youths to continue to uphold the pristine teachings of their religion by promoting tolerance among all religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria.

International brotherhood: The Peace conference participants recognized the important role that international brotherhood plays in the sustenance of global peace. The participants therefore called for all Religions and also youth organizations across the world to collaborate with one another to foster peace in their respective communities and the word at large.

Participants expressed their sincere appreciation to the Ahmadi Muslim Youth Organization for this bold initiative  and expressed their strong belief that if the presentation at the Peace Conference are given serious attention by all faiths, then we can achieve our aim by building a new world and be agents of reformation.

In his welcome address, the Sadr (National President) of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Nigeria, Comrade, Abdul Rafi’ Abdul Qadir reflected on the socio-economic, environmental, peace, security and political landscape of Nigeria, noting that only the youths (the leaders of tomorrow) can sustain efforts to reform the society from the present socio-economic and political challenges by literarily‘Building of a new world’.

He emphasised the need for all religions of the world to ensure strict adherence to the pristine teachings of their religion, adding that no religion encourages terrorism and intolerance of other religious groups.

According to him, the guiding principle of the Majlis Khuddam is Nations cannot be reformed without the reformation of the youths and advised all youths from different religions to be reformed.”

Abdul Qadir  who earlier flagged off the ‘Stop the Crime’ campaign emphasized the need for all stakeholders in the society to come together and assist in the fight against crime by focusing on the causes of crime and also educating the younger generation on the need to shun all factors that can lead them to crime.

Dignitaries at the event include Natraj Das, Representative of the Hare Krishna Temple, Rivers State; Ekiye O Ekiye, Youth Leader, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rivers State;  Abdul Qadri, Representative of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State; Jai Ibrahim, Representative of the Nigerian Civil Defense, Rivers State; Oliver M. Wolugbom, National Orientation Agency, Rivers State.

Others include National Leader of the Community in Nigeria, Dr Mashu’d Fashola, the Missionary In-Charge Maulvi Abdul KhaliqueNayyar, Dr Saeed Timehin (Lecturer, Lagos State University), Naib Amir, Southern region, Dr, Abdul Gani Enahoro, government officials and other non-Ahmadi guests.

Meanwhile, in line with the centenary celebration of Ahmadiyya in Nigeria, the  Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Nigeria also embarked on sensitization of Secondary School students on the dangers of drug abuse; paid courtesy visit to the Chief of Rumuoekini Community in Rivers State which was led by the Naib Amir, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdul-GaniEnahoro; played a football match with the All Stars football team of Port Harcourt; carried out a free medical service for members of the community where 48 free eye glasses were distributed; over 100 persons were tested for hypertension and diabetes and over 300 malarial drugs distributed to both elders and children.

Participants expressed sincere appreciation to the Ahmadi Muslim Youth Organization for the bold initiative  and expressed strong belief that if the presentation at the Peace Conference were given serious attention by all faiths, Nigeria could achieve enduring peace and unity.