Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: national unity

  • Stakeholders Call for Culture to be Used as a Tool for National Unity

    Stakeholders Call for Culture to be Used as a Tool for National Unity

    The Nation reports that cultural stakeholders and government officials in Lagos used the return of the Fanti Carnival to advocate for culture as a tool for national integration.

    Speakers argued that Nigeria’s diverse traditions should be framed as a strength, with the carnival’s heritage displays serving as a platform for dialogue on peace-building through the creative arts.

    The Punch and Tribune also noted the event’s public resonance and calls for more state-supported cultural festivals to counterbalance security and political tensions.

    Echotitbits take: Cultural diplomacy is an underused soft-power lever in Nigeria’s national-cohesion toolbox. The carnival’s reception suggests a public appetite for shared-identity events. Expect more festival revivals and culture-led peace-building programming in 2026, especially where states want non-security pathways to reduce tensions.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/stakeholders-advocate-culture-as-tool-for-national-unity/ 2026-01-30

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Vice President Shettima Declares Peace as Precondition for Nigeria’s Greatness

    Vice President Shettima Declares Peace as Precondition for Nigeria’s Greatness

    According to the Nigerian Observer, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria can become one of the world’s leading nations if citizens embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Speaking during a state visit where he formally received Governor Caleb Mutfwang into the APC, Shettima argued that Nigerians share more in common than what divides them.

    He urged traditional rulers and community leaders to help sustain stability, describing them as a moral anchor for society. The moment also carried political significance, signaling continued consolidation of ruling-party influence across different zones.

    Leadership reported Shettima’s emphasis that development is impossible without peace, while The Nation highlighted his call for national reconciliation as part of the economic agenda.

    Echotitbits take: It’s familiar unity rhetoric, but timely amid rising ethnic and religious friction. The real test is whether this messaging is followed by concrete policy adjustments—especially around conflict resolution, justice delivery, and how regional grievances are addressed.

    Source : State House — https://statehouse.gov.ng/vp-shettima-visits-gbong-gwom-jos-preaches-tolerance-peaceful-coexistence/ 2026-01-29

    Photo Credit: State House

  • CAN and Atiku Mourn Late Hero Imam Who Saved 262 Christians

    CAN and Atiku Mourn Late Hero Imam Who Saved 262 Christians

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has paid tribute to the late Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, widely recognized for sheltering Christians during a 2018 attack in Plateau State. Political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also issued condolences and highlighted the Imam’s legacy as a bridge-builder.

    Community reactions emphasize the Imam’s role as a symbol of interfaith solidarity in a country frequently strained by ethno-religious tensions.

    Echotitbits take: National cohesion is often advanced by individual courage before institutions catch up. The challenge is translating this kind of moral leadership into scalable, sustained peace-building mechanisms.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/can-honours-late-plateau-imam-who-saved-over-200-christians/ (January 17, 2026)

    Photo Credit: The Punch