Abuja: Nigeria is taking bold steps to confront deepening national divisions and unconscious biases as preparations intensify for the National Festival of Tolerance and Peaceful Co-Existence Summit, scheduled for February 2026. The National Coordinator of the Summit and Managing Director of Pearl Trade West Africa, Ms. Ijeoma Akwara, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the summit aims to strengthen lawful tolerance, rebuild trust, and promote peaceful coexistence across communities. The theme, ‘Team Nigeria: Inclusion of Diversities against Unconscious Biases’, responds to rising insecurity, communal tensions, and widening social fractures. The summit is described as one of Nigeria’s most strategic peace-building engagements, aimed at reversing distrust and building a more cohesive, inclusive society.
Ms. Akwara emphasized the urgent need for a lawful, rights-based culture of tolerance in Nigeria to ensure stability, equality, and peaceful conflict resolution. She mentioned that the summit is in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to build on Nigeria’s commitment to the UNESCO Declaration of the Principles of Tolerance, adopted 30 years ago, transforming its ideals into practical national action.
The February gathering will prioritize civic education, community early-warning systems for conflict prevention, bias-free media communication, interfaith engagement, and stronger collaboration between civilians and security agencies. Key programs to be unveiled include a National Tolerance Education Framework, a Media and Communication Charter on Tolerance, Community Tolerance and Peace Cells, and new youth-driven leadership and values platforms.
Other initiatives include value-driven community intervention projects, internal conflict-prevention partnerships with industry leaders, interfaith and intercultural engagement platforms, and advocacy for presidential approval to designate November 16 as Nigeria’s National Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence Day. Ms. Akwara also disclosed plans for a nationwide digital process to select Tolerance and Peace Ambassadors, with transparent online voting open to all Nigerians.
Furthermore, Nigeria will host an International Tolerance and Peace Expo on November 16, 2026, with participation from West African countries and heads of international organizations. The summit will offer every Nigerian the opportunity to participate and support individuals championing peace, respect, and diversity, promoting lawful and legal tolerance that protects rights, upholds justice, and strengthens national unity.