Report on the Nigeria Conference

A two-day International Conference on “Establishing a Culture of Coexistence and Mutual Understanding: Exploring the Fethullah Gülen’s Thought and Action”, was held November 18-19, 2011 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Nigeria. This Conference is a joint partnership between UFUK Dialogue Foundation, The Fountain Magazine, and Nigerian partners including the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission and 6 federal universities in Nigeria, namely: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bayero University, Kano; Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola; and, the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Over 1250 participants registered for the conference. There were participants from other African countries including Benin Republic, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and South Africa. Many distinguished Nigerians attended the Conference that include Honorable Ministers, Members of the National Assembly, Presidential Advisers, Vice Chancellors of Federal and State Universities, Emirs and Chiefs, Judges, Islamic Scholars, Christian Clerics, Members of the Academia and Students. Similarly, participants were also drawn from the Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the organized private sector. Foreign dignitaries that included Ambassadors, officials from ECOWAS and other members of the Diplomatic Corp also graced the Conference.

The Conference had 6 Panels and consisting of 22 presentations. Speakers were drawn from eleven countries, including Nigeria, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Russia, Jordan, Turkey, Albania, South Africa, Republic of Ireland and the United States of America.

The main purpose of the Conference is:

• To generate a forum for discussions concerning the modern human condition in which we face many questions and challenges as to how we can coexist in peace with neighbors.
• To transform our encounters with one another into enriching experiences, rather than as hateful gatherings
• To inculcate the spirit of understanding of the “other”
• To make “dialogue” bring satisfaction rather than a formality to bear
• To explore methods that can be implemented to achieve tangible results out of theoretical discussions and good wishes uttered all over
• To teach our generations to respond to the rise of global dynamics vis-à-vis local identities and cultural riches
• To explore how the media, education and cultural activities could play a role in building the culture of coexistence, mutual respect and hope as demonstrated elsewhere in response to the transforming ideas of Fethullah Gülen.

After presentations and through discussions, the Conference recommends, that:

• Noting that the role of the media in mutual understanding is very critical for it shapes the public opinion, the media should therefore endeavor to report with a sense of social responsibility, decency, and mutual respect.
• Dialogue should be an integral part of community processes, especially in multicultural and multireligious societies.
• Education, widely conceived, is a determining factor in establishing understanding and cooperation for peaceful coexistence. On the contrary, ignorance is the breeding place for mutual suspicion, stereotyping, and conflict. And therefore, greater access to opportunities for all segments of the society should be encouraged.
• Religious precepts are not sources of conflict within communities, rather incontextual interpretations of religious precepts, misunderstanding of religious doctrines, and/or manipulations of religious principles are sources of conflict and violence. Thus, religious and opinion leaders should endeavor to live above board
• Religious thinking and positive sciences are two aspects of the same truth. It is essential to reach a harmonious understanding of the two. An education based on this principle of harmony of religion and science does not adopt proselytization as a paradigm of teaching. Hence, popularization of science is important factor in doing away with ignorance, superstition, and obscurantism.
• These kinds of conferences stimulating dialogue between cultures should be organized in all levels of the society.

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