By Gloria Ikibah
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, has called for greater religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, saying religion should never become a source of division in the country.
Enikanolaiye stated this on Thursday, 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 reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with countries hosting Nigerian pilgrims while ensuring that people of all faiths receive equal treatment in the discharge of the Ministry’s responsibilities.
He expressed concern over occasional religious tensions in the country, attributing them largely to a lack of proper understanding of the essence of religion.
Enikanolaiye said the administration of President Bola Tinubu will continue to promote religious harmony while prioritising the safety and welfare of Nigerians, both within the country and abroad, regardless of their religious affiliations.
Calling on Nigerians to embrace tolerance, the minister drew from his own family experience to demonstrate that religious differences should not prevent people from living together peacefully.
He said: “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.”
The minister also assured the NCPC of the Ministry’s continued support, stressing that the government’s involvement in pilgrimage activities extends beyond conventional consular responsibilities.
“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 spoke about his own family’s interfaith background.
The NCPC Executive Secretary disclosed that his maternal grandmother was a Muslim and that he still bears a Muslim name, describing the experience as another example of how religious harmony has long existed among Nigerians.
“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.
Adegbite said the mandate of the NCPC goes beyond organising and facilitating successful Christian pilgrimages, noting that the Commission also has a responsibility to contribute to national unity.
He added that President Tinubu had consistently demonstrated commitment to peace, unity and religious harmony in the country.
