As Nigerians Celebrate Christmas, a Christian cleric has called on citizens to embrace love, forgiveness and generosity as pathways to national healing and renewal.
Speaking during a Christmas service at the First Baptist Church, Kano in North West Nigeria, the church’s pastor, Reverend Dr. Armstrong Ajayi, delivered a sermon titled “Emmanuel, God With Us,” urging citizens not to lose hope despite pockets of challenges confronting the country.
Ajayi said the message of Christmas affirms God’s presence with humanity, even in difficult times, and challenged Christians to reflect that assurance through practical actions that foster peace and unity.
“In the midst of fear and uncertainty, we must remember that God is with us,” he said.
“This assurance calls on us to show love to humanity, forgive one another and share whatever God has blessed us with.”
Responsibilities of Believers:
He outlined three core responsibilities for believers, beginning with sharing the love of Christ beyond religious and ethnic boundaries.
He also stressed the need for forgiveness, warning that unresolved grievances among individuals, communities and generations have weakened the nation.
“We have wronged one another, Christians against Christians, Muslims against Christians, and even parents against the younger generation,” Ajayi said. “We must forgive ourselves so that the younger generation can forgive the nation and rebuild it.”
The cleric further urged Nigerians to cultivate generosity, including showing kindness to adversaries, in line with biblical teachings.
According to him, national progress depends on citizens’ willingness to support one another, no matter how little they have.
Ajayi expressed strong optimism about Nigeria’s future, declaring that the nation would rise again and predicting that 2026 would mark a turning point toward peace and prosperity.
“There is hope for Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the glory of Nigeria will return, and God will give Nigeria a new and prosperous Nigeria.
Lateefah Ibrahim