Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, says Nigeria’s future must be determined by Nigerians themselves, warning against any actions that undermine the country’s sovereignty.
Welby spoke at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, during a public lecture titled “Building Inter-Ethnic and Religious Harmony in Nigeria: Pathways to National Unity,” held as part of activities for ABU’s 45th convocation. He stressed that defending Nigeria’s sovereignty is a shared responsibility that goes beyond government to include political, economic, spiritual, social, legal and traditional leaders.
According to him, genuine inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony requires honestly confronting Nigeria’s weaknesses, seeking help where necessary and engaging the international community with clear purpose. He cautioned that dreams of national unity would remain “vain” unless they are grounded in the nation’s history and reflect its political, economic and social realities, as well as global influences.
Welby outlined four key focus areas in his lecture, including the foundations of inter-faith and ethnic harmony, national unity and the global environment, and insisted that effective leadership and shared values are central to building a cohesive and truly sovereign Nigeria.
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