Professor Isiaka Zubair Aliagan, Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology at Kwara State University, Malete, has advocated greater interfaith understanding and religious tolerance on Nigerian university campuses.

Delivering a paper at the Interfaith Leadership Conference for tertiary institution students in Kwara State, organised by Mohawal Charity Foundation in Ilorin, he proposed the establishment of a Ministry of Religious Affairs or Ministry of Inter-faith Relations staffed by trained professionals to regulate religious matters and the conduct of religious leaders.

Professor Aliagan emphasised that promoting religious tolerance on campuses requires proactive leadership from university administrations, active engagement from students and faculty, support from religious leaders and communities, and sustained funding from government and other stakeholders.

"Universities should begin by conducting comprehensive assessments of the current state of interfaith relations on their campuses, identifying both challenges and opportunities.

"Based on these assessments, they should develop strategic plans for interfaith work that include clear goals, timelines and accountability mechanisms.

"Universities should establish research programmes that examine religious diversity and interfaith relations in Nigerian contexts, generating evidence-based insights that can inform policy and practice.

"This research should be shared widely through conferences, seminars and public engagement," he said.

He observed that religious plurality in Nigeria, rather than serving as a source of strength, has often triggered tension and, in recent times, has been exploited in international politics, threatening national sovereignty, with such tensions sometimes spilling onto university campuses.

Nevertheless, Professor Aliagan maintained that Nigerian universities possess the potential to lead the country towards a more tolerant, peaceful, and prosperous future, adding that advancing interfaith understanding is not merely about preventing religious violence but about building campus communities where every student can thrive irrespective of their faith.