Interfaith Dialogue Between Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State: Assessment of Church Initiatives

Kaduna State has been one of the most contested sites of Christian-Muslim relations in Nigeria, with both tragic violence and hopeful dialogue characterising the inter-religious landscape. This study assesses church-led interfaith dialogue initiatives in Kaduna State, examining their design, reach, and effectiveness in building sustainable relationships with Muslim communities. A descriptive case study design was adopted, evaluating five church-initiated interfaith programmes in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Zaria. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with programme coordinators, Muslim dialogue partners, and fifteen community participants. Documentary analysis of programme reports and outcome evaluations was also conducted. Findings indicate that the most successful interfaith dialogue initiatives are those that address practical community challenges such as water access, health, and education alongside theological engagement, creating functional social capital before tackling divisive doctrinal differences. Programmes that involve women participants demonstrate broader community impact. However, most church interfaith initiatives are short-term project-based rather than sustained relationship-building efforts. Senior church leadership support is identified as a critical success factor. The study concludes that church-led interfaith dialogue in Kaduna State requires a long-term relational investment model, and recommends the Kaduna State Christian Association of Nigeria develop a multi-year interfaith engagement strategy with concrete partnership projects and annual impact reporting.

Keywords: interfaith dialogue, Christians and Muslims, Kaduna State, peacebuilding, North West Nigeria