The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar III, has urged Muslims to promote national unity, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, warning against using ethnic differences to divide the Muslim community and the country.

The Sultan spoke on Sunday at the 11th General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria held at the University of Ibadan Central Mosque Auditorium in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said Muslims should see themselves as one family and allow Islamic teachings to guide their conduct and contributions to national development.

The Sultan, who is also President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said Nigerians must not allow ethnic, regional or religious differences to undermine efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous country.

He urged Muslims to reject extremism and work together to address insecurity, while stressing the need for stronger cooperation between communities and security agencies.

The meeting, themed “Insecurity in Nigeria: A Technology-Driven and Collective Approach for National Development,” also focused on education, technology and economic empowerment.

The new President of the Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria, Rafiu Adisa, pledged to expand the organisation’s programmes in education, healthcare, youth and women empowerment and economic development.

He also called for improved intelligence-sharing, greater community involvement in security efforts and consideration of decentralised policing to tackle the country’s security challenges.

The outgoing president, Rasaki Oladejo, announced plans to award scholarships to 12 female medical students and provide 120 bursaries in 2027.