Culture minister highlights religious, ethnic tolerance as key to prosperity

Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, has called on Nigerians to embrace religious and ethnic tolerance to ensure the nation’s peace and economic prosperity.

Ms Musawa made the call at a breaking of fast she hosted for stakeholders, ministry officials and the media on Wednesday evening in Abuja.

According to the minister, tolerance and understanding are needed for unity, peace and development of a culturally pluralistic state like Nigeria.

She noted that Nigeria’s cultural diversity is an asset that should be treasured by promoting understanding, respect, and acceptance to build a society where everyone feels valued and included, regardless of their heritage.

She, therefore, enjoined adherents of Islam and Christianity to imbibe the spirit of harmony and tolerance to strengthen the bond of unity for the nation’s common good.

“As a Nigerian and being a woman of faith, this season is very special for me as both Muslim and Christian faithful are having a time of spirituality. We are celebrating Ramadan and our Christian brothers and sisters are also fasting and celebrating Lent. So, it is a time to emphasise the importance of unity and pray for it.

“We all belong to Almighty God, so, it is really about unity of our country. I really want to use this industry to look at the different diversity that we have and use it in a way that will strengthen us as one great people and one great nation.

“We are one people, we are Nigerians, and we have a very beautiful rainbow of different cultures and languages that is used to show our differences. That culture is a national asset and we need to open up that asset and use it as an initiative that will give us the economic expansion that we are hoping to have,” she said.

Ms Musawa said that under her watch, the ministry was working toward ensuring that Nigeria leverages its rich cultural and creative space to create wealth for citizens, especially its teeming youths.

She further said that besides its economic relevance, the culture and creative sector was a veritable tool for building national cohesion and stability.

She, therefore, urged industry stakeholders to embark on initiatives that foster positive relationships and unity among Nigerians with different cultures, religions, and lifestyles.

(NAN)