Women of Faith Working Together as Mothers of a Culture of Peace: The Women’s Interfaith Council in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This chapter discusses the work of women of faith as mothers of a culture of peace. It analyses the Women’s Interfaith Council in Northern Nigeria and its contribution to peacebuilding and sustainable development. The chapter begins by giving brief description of the geography on Northern Nigeria before exploring the work of women interfaith organisations in bringing development in Northern Nigeria. The chapter’s point of departure is that for many centuries, Muslims and Christians co-existed peacefully, however, things have changed in recent decades. The region has witnessed troubled Muslim-Christian relations, which are escalated by the unstable socio-political situation in the country. In these strained relations, women and children are the more vulnerable members of the community. This situation of strained relations gave birth to formation of the Women’s Interfaith Council in May 2010. The platform has given women and children space to air their voices. This chapter presents a summary of the work of the Women’s Interfaith Council and raises some important questions on the practice of interreligious dialogue and in the studies of religious pluralism. The chapter, therefore concludes that there still more to be done to improve the status and role of women in interfaith dialogue.