ISLAMIC RELIGION AND PEACEBUILDING IN NIGERIA

Nigeria, a country with significant Muslim population especially in the northwest, has faced unimaginable challenges in their match to sustainable development and much needed peace in the country. This study explores the role of Islamic religion in peacebuilding in Nigeria, examining the ways in which Islamic teachings and practices especially their lifestyles, can contribute to promoting peace and stability. The study analyzes the Islamic principles of justice, compassion, and forgiveness, and how these principles can be applied to peacebuilding in Nigeria. The research also examines the challenges facing Islamic peacebuilding efforts in Nigeria, including extremism, sectarianism and cultural and traditional practices. The negative stereotyping of adherents especially by non-Muslims have made uninformed people to view Muslims with uncharitable lenses. The study concluded that Islamic religion has played an indispensable role in peacebuilding in Nigeria, and that Islamic teachings and practices can contribute to promoting peace, enthroning good governance, redirect the at-risk youth population to engage in lawful ventures, and above all, reduce the incidences of security challenges which have threatened sustainable development especially in the northern part of the country. In the light of the above, it is recommended that Islamic leaders, scholars and institutions should be overtly involved in peacebuilding processes, while some practices that have portrayed Islam as a religion of blood especially among non-adherents should be properly explained to non-adherents, so that they can be on the same page with the worshippers of the Almighty Allah. Finally, Islamic education and awareness programmes should be promoted to address the obvious challenges and misconceptions facing Islamic religion’s efforts aimed at peacebuilding in Nigeria especially in the northern part of the country.