Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Ministry Engages Sant'Egidio

On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Dunoma Umar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with a delegation from the Community of Sant'Egidio, led by Professors Jan De Volder and Stefano Orlando, at the Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja. This meeting aimed to explore deeper cooperation in peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue, and humanitarian action.

The delegation, which followed previous engagements with the Ministry, emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in these areas, particularly in supporting youth development and vulnerable communities. Professor De Volder briefed the Permanent Secretary on Sant'Egidio's activities in Nigeria, including grassroots initiatives for peacebuilding, education, and poverty reduction.

The delegation invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs to participate in the 40th International Meeting for Peace scheduled for October 2026 in Assisi, Italy. They proposed developing a formal framework for cooperation to sustain engagement in areas of mutual interest.

Ambassador Umar commended Sant'Egidio's commitment to peace and humanitarian service, reaffirming Nigeria's openness to partnerships with faith-based civil society organizations.