UK Envoy David Smith Advocates for Religious Tolerance in Nigeria

David Smith, the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, concluded a three-day visit to Nigeria on [date not specified], aimed at strengthening dialogue and promoting peace among religious communities. This visit marked Nigeria as the first focus country under the UK's Freedom of Religion or Belief strategy.

During his trip, Smith met with senior government officials, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to deepen UK-Nigeria cooperation on religious freedom and peacebuilding. He engaged with notable figures including Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Information, and Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State.

Smith also interacted with co-chairs of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, including Daniel Okoh and Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III. He emphasized the importance of religious tolerance and social cohesion, reaffirming the UK's support for peacebuilding initiatives across Nigeria.

The visit included discussions on conflict resilience programs funded by the UK, totaling £38 million, primarily in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, and Plateau states.