October 27, 2011
Nigerian Fellows Yohanna Pam and Ernest Ogbozor, both currently attending Brandeis University, attended the Samuel L. and Elizabeth Jodidi Lecture entitled “Islam and Peace-Building in West Africa," held at Harvard University earlier this month. The Guest speaker was His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto.
Writes Earnest, "Yohanna and I used this unique opportunity to ask the spiritual leader of the Nigerian Muslims what he is doing to ensure that dialogue between different faith groups is translated into concrete action towards ending ethno-religious violence in our country -- particularly in the city of Jos, capital of Plateau State. The Sultan, who cautioned against the use of military force on the radical group Boko Haram, maintained that the issue can be solved through dialogue and education."
Learn more about the Sultan of Sokoto in this BBC News Report.
Read about the Boko Haram movement and peace-building efforts in this article from the African Monitor.
Photo: The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III (Centre), Yohanna Pam (left) and Ernest Ogbozor (right).