Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged religious leaders to support President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing them as necessary to address Nigeria’s longstanding structural challenges.
Shettima made the appeal on Thursday while receiving a delegation of the Community and Youth Development National Network at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The organisation is a coalition of Islamic religious bodies committed to youth empowerment, peaceful coexistence and leadership development. It also operates an interfaith platform involving Christian leaders and other stakeholders to promote shared interests across religious and social boundaries.
Shettima said religious leaders had crucial roles in fostering understanding, promoting responsible citizenship and mobilising support for initiatives addressing Nigeria’s social and economic challenges.
He called for stronger collaboration among religious leaders and faith-based organisations to promote national unity, peaceful coexistence and economic development.
The vice-president said national development required shared responsibility and sustained cooperation across religious and social divides.
He commended the organisation’s membership and outreach, describing its members as individuals with considerable intellectual capacity, influence and moral standing.
“Your composition could contribute meaningfully to shaping public attitudes and promoting national cohesion. “A look around the composition of the membership of this group shows men and women of values.
“Most of you are people who have the intellectual capacity and candour to shape narratives, acceptability and positive spiritual and moral conduct of Nigerians,” he said. Shettima urged the delegation to sustain engagement with Christian leaders and other religious stakeholders, stressing that dialogue was essential to building trust.
“I urge you to be partners in our national progress. Remain undeterred and focused, and let us ensure that whatever binds us supersedes that which divides us.
“This nation must be seen as a collective responsibility, a collective patrimony which deserves all our loyalty and service,” the vice-president added.
Shettima expressed confidence in Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing them as necessary measures to address longstanding structural challenges and reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth.
Although he acknowledged the difficulties associated with the reforms, he maintained that they were laying the foundation for improved economic performance and greater prosperity.
Earlier, delegation leader Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the organisation’s Vice-Chairman II, reaffirmed its commitment to religious tolerance, youth development and peaceful coexistence.
Shekarau emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation among religious groups and other stakeholders in promoting national stability, responsible leadership and inclusive development
