From Esther Akaa, Lafia
It was a wonderful Sunday at St James Catholic Church, Tudun Amba in Lafia, Nasarawa State as worshippers celebrated cultural day to showcase their unity in diversity.
The celebration which is an annual event of the church provided the congregation the opportunity to display traditional activities in their various ethnic groups, especially mode of dressings, food and dance.
Speaking in an interview with The Voice, Rev Fr Matthew Dyuran called on the people to see their ethnic diversities as a formidable tool for socio-economic development of the country.
According to him, there was need for Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of protecting one another, irrespective of their differences.
He said the event was a reminder to the people on the need to identify with their various ethnic backgrounds and contribute positively for the development of the society.
“What we see around is that people are not happy at home because of all these bad things happening in the country. If all these cultures come together, regardless of tribe and religion and work hard to do away with the common enemy, Nigeria would have been a peaceful place.
“We should imbibe the spirit of protecting one another, irrespective of our differences,” he said.
He, therefore, called on the congregation to see religion as an instrument of unity in diversity to enhance peace and development.
In another interview, one of the worshippers, Mr Fidelis Ebu said love and acceptance among all the diverse ethnic nationalities in Nigeria remain the major ways to achieve harmonious peaceful co-existence in the country.
He said: “Unity and cultural day is significant to Christians because it reminds us that we are from one man. God is the creator and we should love ourselves as brothers and sisters.”
Another worshipper, Mrs Cecilia Akim said: “We have diverse cultures but one thing has brought us together which means that we have to come together for us to be able to live in peace, unity and love.”
Highpoints of the event was display of cultural and traditional dances, as well as food exhibition by the various ethnic groups of the church.
