Law and Religion Education As Tools For Religious Harmony In West Africa

Following the success of the First National Law and Religion Conference held at the University of Lagos in 2015 and subsequent conferences in West Africa on law and religion, the West African  Regional Center for Law and Religion Studies(WARCLARS), with the support of J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University USA, held the Fourth Annual  Conference  2018 with the theme ‘Law, Religion and the Education System in West Africa‘ at Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.

W. Cole Durham Jr., Susan Gates University Professor of Law and Director at the International Centre for Law and Religious Studies, J Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, stated, "If we do not find ways to help people understand others and to respect the dignity of others, the alternative appears to be struggling in violence. We must find ways to live together with dignity and respect and that depends on what happens in the schools of study.”

Mr, Durham concluded,“In education, and more generally in life, we need to find ways to respect other human beings, respect their worldview positions. Out of that mutual respect, we can find security, stability, peace, order and justice.” 

The conference notes the critical role that education can play in the interpretation of religious texts and the increase in awareness of the benefit of religion, the divinity of religion, knowledge generation, exploration and growth.

The comminique issued at the end of the conference, resolved that participating students, and academia commit to ensuring they support religious tolerance and harmony for sustainable peace and justice in Nigeria, West Africa and the World.