Promotion of Peaceful Co-Existence Urged

Vice President Namadi Sambo said Nigerians should use every good means, including arts works to promote peaceful coexistence among the various religious and ethnic groups in the country.

Sambo, who delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the second international Islamic arts/calligraphy exhibition at the National Mosque in Abuja, also urged Nigerian Muslim artists to use the exhibition to boost the tourism potentials of the country.

He said the exhibition whose theme is 'Islamic Arts for peace and Unity' could not have come at a better time than now when Nigeria and the world at large need peace and unity.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Abuja Muslim Forum, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, said the exhibition was organised to bring out the hidden treasures in Islamic arts and calligraphy towards the propagation of the divine message, promotion of humanity and encouraging fraternization between different groups of people, nationally and internationally.

"This year's event has the exclusive theme of 'Islamic Arts for Peace and Unity', which is quite relevant to the situation in the country and several segments of the world which are in dire need of support for the entrenchment of peace, unity, harmony, tolerance and universal brotherhood", Alhaji Ahmed said.

Source: allafrica.com