The Secretary to the Government of the Federation welcomed a Sant'Egidio delegation led by Andrea Riccardi to discuss collaboration on peace and reconciliation across Nigeria.
On 16 February 2026, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria received a delegation from the Community of Sant'Egidio, led by Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community. The meeting focused on exploring concrete collaboration between Sant'Egidio and the Nigerian federal government on dialogue, peacebuilding, and national reconciliation.
25 Years of Peace Work in Nigeria
The meeting took place just two days after the inauguration of Sant'Egidio's new national house in Abuja — itself a milestone marking 25 years of the Community's presence in Nigeria. Over those 25 years, Sant'Egidio has developed a recognised track record in peace mediation, interfaith dialogue, and service to vulnerable populations across the country.
"Caring for the Poor is the message of Christ, and the Church must prioritize the care of vulnerable populations. Sant'Egidio is fully embedded within the life and mission of the Catholic Church." — Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria.
Christians and Muslims Together
Alongside its government engagement, Sant'Egidio has long facilitated dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities across Nigeria — including in the IDP camp in Kuchingoro, Abuja, where displaced Christians and Muslims who have fled terrorist violence live side by side, and where the Community runs a School of Peace for their children.
The meeting in Abuja was seen as an important step in formalising a partnership that has grown organically over decades — one focused not on politics, but on the shared conviction that lasting peace is built through relationships, not just agreements.