A project conceived in 2019 that got 2020 TETFUND Grant funding “Using interfaith relations to promote national integration” has reached an advanced stage of completion.
The team leader of the project, Professor A. A. Oladosu of the Department of Islamic and Arabic Studies of the University of Ibadan, made this known during a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor to provide updates on the project.
A statement by the university’s head of the Directorate of Public Communication, Adejoke Akinpelu, quoted Prof. Oladosu as saying that the research work on the project was being carried out in the six geopolitical areas of the country.
The project, according to the team leader, seeks to intervene in conflicts between Christians and Muslims in the country. It also seeks to include inter-faith dialogue in the academic curricula of universities to encourage a better understanding of the two dominant religions.
So far, the project has been able to develop an App to be known as DIAL to provide snippets about the two dominant religions in the country, as well as create a Digital Board from which information could be downloaded.
The project is being worked upon by researchers from the University of Ibadan, University of Abuja, Imo State University, University of Port Harcourt, Bayero University, Kano and Gombe State University, the statement read.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor Aderonke M. Baiyeroju, who received the team on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, noted that a person’s faith determines to a large extent how such a person would behave.
She stated that a better understanding of each other’s religion will make room for more harmonious relationships.
She said it was a welcome development that TETFund was funding the project.
She urged the researchers to ensure a speedy completion of the project to enable the nation to benefit from its outcomes.
Meanwhile, a workshop for a selected 100 participants drawn from among Christian and Muslim undergraduates of the University of Ibadan is scheduled to hold on Monday, January 16, 2023.
