19/11/2025
When Faith United Us: A Memory From the Early 1990s
There was a time in Nigeria — especially in the early 1990s — when our school assemblies were a picture of unity. Christians and Muslims stood side by side, not as rivals, but as children with one identity: Nigerians.
In those days, even during morning assembly, something remarkable always happened. When a Christian song was raised, Muslim pupils clapped, smiled, and sometimes danced along. And when it was time for Muslim songs, Christian pupils joyfully joined in the rhythm, moving their feet with no sense of threat or division. Nobody questioned anybody’s loyalty to their faith. We were simply children celebrating life, friendship, and the joy of being together.
Religion did not separate us. It strengthened our bond.
Those moments shaped us in ways we didn’t understand then. They taught us that unity is natural, that love grows where fear does not exist, and that peaceful coexistence is possible when hearts are open.
Today, as we face rising tensions and painful episodes of religious violence, these memories remind us of the Nigeria we once lived in — a Nigeria that did not see faith as a weapon, but as a gift. A Nigeria where Christians and Muslims shared songs, shared space, shared laughter, and protected one another.
We must return to that spirit.
Let us encourage peace, not hatred. Let us teach the next generation that dancing to another person’s song does not erase your faith — it strengthens our humanity. Let us fight against religious genocide by promoting understanding, dialogue, and the deep truth that our differences are not a threat but a blessing.
If we could live together in peaceful harmony as children, we can build a nation where adults do the same.
I am
Amos Ayooluwa Ogunsola
