A church in Nigeria's Kaduna State has recognized a Muslim journalist for his work in peace journalism, interfaith dialogue, and balanced conflict reporting, calling the gesture a powerful statement on religious tolerance and national unity.
The Church of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, located in Gwagwaji Villa, Kaduna, presented the honor to Ibrahima Yakubu, a correspondent for DW's Hausa Service, at a ceremony that drew religious leaders, journalists, civil society figures, and church members.
The ministry's General Overseer, Pastor Dr. Yohanna Buru, noted that this was the first time the church had given such recognition to a Muslim journalist. He pointed to Yakubu's sustained record of promoting peaceful coexistence through fair, responsible reporting, saying his stories have consistently encouraged dialogue, tolerance, and understanding across Nigeria's ethnic and religious lines. Buru added that the award reflects Yakubu's professionalism and his use of journalism as a tool for peacebuilding, noting that his reporting has helped build mutual respect and strengthen interfaith relations at a critical time.
The church's Overseer, Reverend Dr. Maxual Sanda, described Yakubu's influence as reaching well beyond conventional news coverage. He noted that Yakubu has trained and mentored fellow journalists in peace journalism and conflict-sensitive reporting techniques, while producing extensive coverage promoting unity and collaboration among faith-based groups nationwide. Sanda credited Yakubu's ethical approach to journalism with helping raise public awareness about the role of dialogue in conflict prevention and social cohesion. He also thanked DW for creating space for this kind of peace- and tolerance-focused reporting, noting Yakubu's long track record in the field.
In his acceptance remarks, Yakubu thanked the church, calling the honor a meaningful example of respect between people of different faiths. He said the recognition would motivate him to continue producing stories centered on peace, religious harmony, and national unity, and he urged fellow journalists to maintain accuracy, fairness, and responsibility in their work.
The award comes as religious and civil society groups across Nigeria continue pushing to deepen interfaith cooperation and ease tensions in communities affected by ethnic and religious conflict.