First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday called for a more balanced and accurate global understanding of Nigeria’s security challenges, warning that misrepresentation could undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace.

She made the call during a meeting with former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt. Revd. Justin Welby, at her office in Abuja, where discussions centred on interfaith dialogue and pathways to strengthening peace and harmony in the country.

The First Lady stressed that while Nigeria continues to confront complex security issues, the international community must support ongoing efforts by avoiding what she described as inaccurate framing of the situation.

“The world must get the right perspective of the various challenges in the nation to be able to proffer appropriate solutions,” she said in a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, noting that conflict resolution requires listening to all sides before drawing conclusions.

She commended the former Archbishop for his position that Nigeria’s challenges are best addressed by Nigerians who understand the country’s peculiarities, adding that inclusive dialogue remains key to resolving tensions.

Senator Tinubu also urged that Nigeria’s security agencies be included in ongoing and future interfaith engagements to provide insight into efforts being made to safeguard the country

“Listening to one side of the story and then concluding is a wrong approach to conflict resolution,” she said, while also praising the Armed Forces for their continued sacrifices in tackling insecurity.

The First Lady further called on religious institutions globally to promote values that foster peaceful coexistence, urging the Church to “preach right so that people can live right.”

In his remarks, Welby said his visit was part of efforts to advance peace-building initiatives and reinforce Nigeria’s image as a country that upholds freedom of worship.

He disclosed that a new round of interfaith dialogue is scheduled to hold in London under the auspices of the Global Forum for Peace, Abu Dhabi, led by Sheikh Abdallah Bin Baya.

According to him, the forum will bring together 12 Christian and 12 Muslim leaders to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at addressing interfaith conflicts, not only in Nigeria but globally.

“We want to contribute to what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing to promote peace. All we are after is enduring peace,” he said, adding that his visit was to help prepare the ground for meaningful deliberations.

Welby was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery.

The meeting comes about a month after President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom, during which the First Lady participated in interfaith engagements, including a church service at Lambeth Palace.

In a separate engagement, Senator Tinubu also received the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who briefed her on progress made under the ministry’s Girls in Tech programme.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Tijani said the First Lady would host a dinner in Abuja to showcase innovations developed by participants in the initiative.

He also revealed that she had agreed to serve as the face of a new campaign aimed at deepening internet penetration and expanding connectivity in rural and riverine communities. (The Nation)

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