COVID-19: UFUK Dialogue Organises Prayer Session For Nigeria, Gathers Religious Leaders

By ABIODUN JIMOH
Heaven’s comes down and the glory of the Lord filled the land as religious leaders in respective of denominations gathered together for a unify voices in prayer session for Nigeria and the whole world to contain the Coronavirus pandemic.
The first session of the online prayer programme held on Tuesday was organised by UFUK Dialogue Foundation, known for engaging in community-level activities aimed at enhancing societal cohesion during this trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prominent religious leaders across various religious belief participated at the one day event. They are: His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, Secretary General of Jamatul Nasril Islam; and moderator, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
Others are: Sheikh Abdul Rahman Ahmad, Chief Missioner, Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria; Most Rev. (Dr.) Joseph Oche Job, Methodist Archbishop of Abuja; Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad, Islamic Scholar and Columnist; and Archbishop John Praise Daniel, Dominion Chapel International Churches.
In his opening speech, representative of UFUK Dialogue Foundation, Mr. Emrah IIgen welcomed everyone to the series tagged ‘Nigeria Prays’, while acknowledging the presence of religious leaders for being there online with them for the unified prayers and thoughts of faith and non-faith community leaders and representatives in attendance.
Unal said: “As many of our places of worship were forced to close their doors, to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, we believe in facilitating an inclusive unifying moment for humanity. 
“The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic across the globe has reinforced the need for humanity to stay united in our shared values towards halting the further spread of this pandemic.
“UFUK Dialogue engaged in this series of community-level activities aimed at enhancing societal cohesion during this trying time of the COVID-19. 
“In this first session of ‘Nigeria Prays’, we aim to unify the voices of our religious leaders in prayer for Nigeria and the whole world to be able to contain this pandemic outbreak.
“Moreover, in organizing this online “Nigeria Prays” sessions, we hope for a better world of togetherness and unity and illustrate the power of prayer and reflection in this trying period. We also want to recognise sacrifices made by essential health workers as the number of cases is escalating every passing moment. 
“During this session we tried bringing renowned clerics in Nigeria together in making prayers and supplications to God for divine intervention for humanity.
“To recognize sacrifices made by essential workers, underlying hope for a better world of togetherness and unity, and illustrate the power of prayer/reflection within interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue.”
Meanwhile, the prayer session can be accessed live on YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel.