Remi Tinubu Urges Nigerian Church To Promote Unity, Peace Ahead Of 2027 Elections

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has urged Christian leaders across Nigeria to promote unity, strengthen families and foster peaceful coexistence, stressing that the Gospel must be reflected in their daily lives and service to society.

She made the call while addressing the Lausanne Nigeria Congress 2026, a three-day gathering of more than 5,000 church leaders, missionaries and Christian organisations from across the country.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady said the Church had a crucial role to play in nurturing hope, mentoring young people and building communities where everyone is treated with dignity.

Speaking on the congress theme, “Let the Church Declare and Display Christ Together,” Tinubu said the message of Christ must go beyond preaching to influencing the conduct of believers and their contributions to society.

“To declare Christ is to share the message of His love, His sacrifice and the free gift of Salvation He offers. The Gospel we proclaim must shape the life we live and influence the lives of others,” she said.

She cited Matthew 5:16, urging Christians to demonstrate their faith through good works and conduct that reflects Christ’s character.

The First Lady also challenged participants to translate their discussions at the congress into practical commitments that would benefit churches and communities nationwide.

“As you deliberate during this Congress, I urge you to translate your discussions into commitments that will bear fruit across our congregations and communities,” she said.

Tinubu added that the gathering provided an opportunity for the Nigerian Church to renew its commitment to unity, compassion and peaceful coexistence.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of Lausanne Nigeria Christian Missions, Reverend Yunusa Nmadu, urged Christian leaders to combine prayers for the country with practical demonstrations of Christian values, particularly love and unity.

Nmadu called on the Church to pray for Nigeria and its leaders while addressing divisions arising from denominational, ethnic and tribal differences.

He said the congress should inspire Christians to work together in proclaiming the Gospel and demonstrating their faith through social action.

He also challenged the Church to address the decline in its influence despite numerical growth over the past two decades.

The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lausanne Nigeria Christian Missions, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, also called for unity among Christian denominations.

Ndukuba said greater unity within the Body of Christ would contribute to peace in Nigeria and beyond, stressing that denominational differences should not undermine the shared Christian faith.

Prayers were offered for Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, public office holders and the peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections.

The Lausanne Nigeria Congress 2026 brings together more than 5,000 participants for discussions on evangelism, Christian unity and the Church’s responsibility to society.

The Lausanne Movement, founded through the international congress on world evangelisation convened by evangelist Billy Graham in Switzerland in 1974, promotes cooperation among Christians in advancing the Gospel globally.