President Tinubu has called on the Tijjaniyya Muslim community and other religious networks to play a stronger role in countering violent extremism and building peace across the Sahel.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the Grand Maulud of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tijani in Kano, the President said religious institutions with deep cross-border reach carry moral influence that can complement government and regional security efforts. He urged spiritual leaders to move beyond preaching and actively use their networks for peace education, reconciliation, and preventing the manipulation of faith to justify violence.
The Tijjaniyya is one of the largest Sufi orders in Islam, founded in Morocco in the late 1700s by Algerian scholar Ahmad al-Tijani. It counts tens of millions of followers across Senegal, Mali, Niger, and especially Northern Nigeria.
Tinubu cited a UN refugee agency report showing 117.8 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide by the end of 2025, saying the scale of global crises makes the role of spiritual leaders more urgent than ever. He also paid tribute to the late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, whose foundation helped organise the event, describing him as “a voice of moderation and reason.”
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