Enikanolaiye advocates religious tolerance, support for pilgrims welfare

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye has reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with countries hosting Nigerian pilgrims and to ensuring equitable treatment of all religions in the discharge of its duties.

Ambassador Enikanolaiye gave the assurance on Thursday, 3rd September, 2026, when the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

The Minister decried occasional religious tensions in the country, attributing them to a poor understanding of the true essence of religion. He stressed that the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to promote religious harmony and prioritize the safety and welfare of all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, irrespective of religious affiliation.

While suing for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, the Minister cited his personal family experience as an example of interfaith harmony:

“Although I am a Muslim, my wife is a Christian, in fact a pastor. In those days when we had only one car and there were no mobile phones, I would drive her to church and wait or return to take her home after the service. Religion has never been a barrier in my family and it should not be a cause for division in our national life.

“It is an individual responsibility. Whatever we do here on earth, we will give account in the hereafter. If your wife is pious and you are not, her piety will not take you to heaven, and vice versa. It is a matter of individual and personal responsibility. Everyone will be judged by his own works.”

Ambassador Enikanolaiye assured the NCPC of the Ministry’s full support, noting that the Ministry’s role in pilgrimage goes beyond consular services.

“Be assured of our support at all times. We want to see you succeed. Our work has gone beyond mere consular duties; it is a diplomatic exercise,” he said.

Earlier, Bishop Adegbite thanked the Minister for the warm reception and shared his own interfaith background, noting that his maternal grandmother was a Muslim and that he still bears the Muslim name.

“Like you mentioned, religion should not be an issue in Nigeria. Many people, especially from the South-West, understand this. My Muslim name is Abdulmaroof, and whenever I visit home in Oyo in my cassock, that is what they call me. Every Ileya, I must provide rams for them,” he said.

The NCPC boss emphasized that beyond ensuring successful pilgrimages, the Commission’s mandate includes fostering national unity, adding that President Tinubu has consistently demonstrated commitment to peace and religious harmony.

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