20 NITEL Quarters Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, Nigeria [email protected] 13th February, 2019   To whom it may concern  

Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria (PERREFON) event for 2019 World Interfaith Harmony Week In celebrating the week, Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria (PERREFON) has embarked on having interfaith harmony based interactions with different classes of people as listed below, and as is evident in the videos, pictures and news links attached with this report.

The title of the events was “Interfaith Harmony Awareness and Appreciating Religious Diversity”. Paper Presentation to both Muslims and Christians students on interfaith harmony and shunning violence. Visit to inmates who comprised of Christians, Muslims and other faiths to sensitize them on the World Interfaith Harmony Week and to also “deradicalize” their religious extremism and to talk them into eschewing drug addiction and violence; as well as encouraging them to turn their interests towards meaningful lives through skills acquisition.

Paper presentation to both Muslims and Christians on the harmonious relationship between Christians and Muslims based on histories of the holy prophets and also as revealed in their holy scriptures. Celebrating the week with the physical challenged as well as encouraging and sensitizing them on the needs and benefits of individually contributing to peaceful coexistence among different faiths. When we came to know the World interfaith Harmony Week we were an NGO which is based on interfaith, for promotion of peaceful coexistence in Nigeria with its base in Kaduna State.

Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria has been promoting peace through interfaith dialogue among Muslims, Christians, Animists/Traditionalists and other faiths for peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. But when we discovered the World interfaith Harmony Week declared by the United Nations, we began celebrating the week every first week of February, this year 2019 being the second we are celebrating. It has helped our NGO to extend its activities in collaboration with other NGOs within and outside Nigeria through the electronic and print media, and above all the social media.

In fact from 2018’s celebration of the World interfaith Harmony Week with Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria, it has not only promoted peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony across northern Nigeria but also to other parts of Nigeria and also neighboring countries such as Niger, Cameroun, Chad and Benin Republic. Through our activities aimed at promoting peace through local and international radios and televisions we have many people within and without Nigeria calling, sending e-mails and text messages appreciating Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria for exposing them to the reality of the World Interfaith Harmony Week declared by the United Nations. Above all, many Nigerians and especially areas that are prone to violence because of religious, tribal, ethnic and communal crises or conflicts have shown great appreciation to Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria for its good work in promoting peace and harmony.

Due to such great works, PERREFON was given about nine awards by such NGOs, organizations, groups and communities within a year. The last two were given by the physically challenged people and also an Islamic organization called HISBAH. Summarily, during the 2019 World Interfaith Harmony Week, PERREFON (as it is in the sole aim of the NGO) focused on building peaceful coexistence through interfaith activities to create mutual understanding and neighborly love among citizens of different faiths from the grass root level and reach out to all both in the urban and remote areas of the country.

Our efforts to promote peace and harmony across Nigeria by celebrating the World Interfaith Harmony Week has not only exposed our organization to Nigerians and to the World, but many people have come to know that the week is being celebrated every first week of February annually and its purpose.

Therefore we are grateful and proud to identify with the World Interfaith Harmony Week and all it stands for.  

Yours Truly Pastor Yohanna Y.D. Buru Founder of Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria (PERREFON) and General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Fellowship (CELIF)

---