UK Envoy David Smith Promotes Religious Tolerance in Nigeria

David Smith, the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, concluded a three-day visit to Nigeria aimed at strengthening interfaith dialogue and promoting peaceful coexistence across the country. During his visit, which took place from [exact dates not provided], Smith met with senior government officials, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to deepen cooperation on religious freedom and national cohesion.

He engaged with notable figures including Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, and Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State. Smith co-chaired a meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, which included leaders such as Daniel Okoh and Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III.

He emphasized the importance of community-level dialogue and leadership in fostering peace. The visit featured a roundtable discussion funded by the UK to strengthen peace resilience in Nigeria, with a focus on conflict resilience initiatives primarily in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, and Plateau states.

Smith called for greater religious tolerance and expressed hope for enhanced community cohesion across Nigeria.