Presented at the Interfaith Preconference of the 6th Nigeria Family Planning Conference by Engr. Dr. Mgbeahuru Okechukwu Emmanuel.

1. The Abia State Interfaith
Group: The Journey So Far
Engr. Dr. Mgbeahuru Okechukwu Emmanuel
Secretary Interfaith Forum, Abia State. Nigeria
8th December 2020

2. Outline
Background
Achievements
Challenges
Key Learnings
Recommendations
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3. Background
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• Abia State is predominantly a religious State. Majority are Christians while
Muslims and Traditionalist make up the remaining population.
• Some of the Christians have strong religious barrier to the use of modern
FP methods.
• Denominational indoctrination that FP reduces the population of a
community and not in line with scriptural tenets.
• Flexi Track Survey conducted by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Nigeria Hub
in 2018 reveals that 80.6% male and 60.0% female in Abia State have not
heard or seen their Religious Leaders speak in favor of FP.
• Abia State interfaith forum was established in April 2019 and supported by
TCI

4. Achievements
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• Capacity of 42 Religious Leaders built and now have skills and competence on FP messaging, use of religious leaders'
perspectives and sermon notes for effective FP interfaith engagement
• 10 Leaders of faith in the State have been decorated as FP Champions/Ambassadors and in the last 12 months they have
made significant public statements in supports of FP across the state.
• Over 120 Churches and 40 Mosque Leaders integrate FP messages into christian and Islamic sermon using different
platforms to reach men, women and young people.
• Religious Leaders leverage on events (such as women/men meetings, conventions, naming ceremonies, thanks giving
services, house warming ceremonies, weddings, etc) to feature FP messages at the community , LGA and State levels.
• Increased level of acceptability of modern family planning within the Interfaith community in the State.
• Leaders of the interfaith advocates for sustainable Government funding of FP program in the State and LGAs.
• Religious bodies/institutions conducting voluntary FB sensitization and mobilization of member/communities in partnership
with Government and service providers.
• About 23 media programs featuring religious leaders speak publicly on the benefits of FP

5. Challenges
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• Inadequate funding
supporting for the
interfaith

6. Key Learning
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In religious settings and communities
such as is obtainable in Abia State,
emphasizing on CBS rather than FP carries
more weight.
Religious Leaders speaking publicly in
favor of CBS is more likely to increase
contraceptive uptake.
Deliberately targeting Men groups within
the Christian and Muslim communities
has increased CBS acceptance in Abia
State.

7. Recommendations
• Government should prioritize effective funding of FP/CBS across the
state.
• Increase FP acceptance through personal and voluntary mobilizations
using Interfaith Leaders.
• The National Interfaith Group should be institutionalized and linked
with the state level group for effective voicing.
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