Prominent Nigerian leaders have reiterated the need for national unity anchored on peaceful coexistence as a solution to the country’s quest for sustainable growth and development.
The call was made on Sunday in Kaduna during the wedding ceremony of Josephine Tirnok, first daughter of the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joseph Hayab, and her husband, Shadrach Ojima-Ojo.
Among the leaders present were the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu; the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi; the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia; and the Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Inuwa Yahaya.
Ribadu, who was the Father of the Day, was represented by the DSS Director-General, who also served as the Special Guest of Honour, alongside Governor Yahaya. Governor Alia chaired the occasion.
The leaders urged Nigerians to embrace mutual respect, tolerance and collaboration, stressing that peace and national development require collective commitment from all citizens.
Speaking at the event, Governor Alia, represented by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Ngbea, a Federal Commissioner with the Federal Civil Service Commission representing Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau states, congratulated the couple and advised them to ground their marriage in faith, moral values and family support. He described marriage as a divine institution and encouraged the couple to build their home on a foundation rooted in God.
In his remarks, Governor Yahaya, represented by his deputy, Manasseh Jatau, described marriage as the most important institution in society. He urged the couple to make their home a model of peace, noting that the breakdown of family values had contributed to many of the nation’s challenges. He advised them to distinguish between the excitement of the wedding day and the lifelong responsibilities of marriage, including commitment, forgiveness and personal growth.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Rev. Hayab called on Nigerian parents to embrace intercultural marriages as a means of healing the country’s deep-seated divisions. He described the union as symbolic of the harmony Nigeria needs, noting that intercultural and interreligious marriages are practical tools for breaking barriers and building trust among diverse communities.
He urged parents to allow their children to choose partners based on love and compatibility rather than tribe or religion, stressing that peace must begin at home. According to him, families that embrace diversity contribute directly to national stability.
Encouraging his daughter and her husband, Hayab advised them to build their home on patience and understanding, noting that strong marriages evolve through growth and sacrifice. He expressed confidence that the couple would build a strong and enduring union, as he prepares to mark his own 30th wedding anniversary.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, represented by his Chief of Staff, Malam Sani Liman; the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe; commissioners of the Kaduna State Government; the Mayor of Leeds, Mrs Abigail Katung, who is also the wife of Senator Marshall Katung; the Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Board, Mr Jerry Adams; as well as local government chairmen, religious leaders and other notable guests.
