ABSTRACT

Nigeria's north-south divide has been plagued by recurrent religious conflicts, resulting in devastating consequences, including loss of lives, injuries, property destruction, insecurity, and humanitarian crises. These conflicts, fueled by religious cosmological exclusivism and unhealthy competition, have pitted Christians and Muslims against each other in a struggle for power, dominance, and spheres of influence. As a form of religious engagement, interfaith dialogue has been widely recommended as a vital tool for managing these conflicts, but the ethical principles underpinning its effectiveness in Nigeria's pluralistic context remain understudied. Hence, this library-based research aims to address this knowledge gap by exploring the ethical principles relevant to interfaith dialogue in Nigeria, using the Contact theory and the Dialogical Model of Intergroup Relations (DMIR) as theoretical frameworks. These frameworks suggest that intergroup contact and dialogue can reduce prejudice and improve relationships between groups, but only if certain conditions are met, such as equal status, common goals, and institutional support. Through a critical and thematic analysis of secondary data from journals, books, newspapers, and reports, this study's findings will contribute to the development of a comprehensive framework for interfaith dialogue in Nigeria, enhancing conflict resolution mechanisms and promoting peaceful coexistence among diverse religious groups. The proposed recommendations will be valuable for policymakers, religious leaders, practitioners, and faith-based organizations seeking to harness the potential of interfaith dialogue for sustainable peace in Nigeria