In a groundbreaking event that marks a significant moment for religious freedom in Nigeria, the country's non-religious community organized its first-ever world conference on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The historic gathering took place in Abuja and brought together atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, humanists, and secular Nigerians from across the nation.
Conference Objectives and Key Participants
The conference featured former pastors Genesis Eririoma and Abraham Daniel as keynote speakers, both of whom have publicly left Christianity. Their presence added significant weight to the event, demonstrating the diverse paths that lead individuals to non-religious positions within Nigeria's predominantly religious society.
According to Genesis Eririoma, who spoke exclusively with Legit.ng, the conference had multiple crucial objectives. The primary focus was demanding justice for victims of religious persecution and seeking protection for Nigerians who choose not to belong to any religion. The organizers aimed to draw the attention of both the Nigerian government and international community to the often-ignored plight of irreligious people in the country.
Constitutional Rights and Protection Demands
The conference specifically emphasized Section 38(1) of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Participants argued that this constitutional protection should extend equally to those who choose not to practice any religion.
The non-religious community highlighted cases like Mubarak Bala and Leo Igwe as examples of the persecution faced by atheists and freethinkers in Nigeria. They detailed how irreligious Nigerians often face arrests, imprisonment, and social ostracism simply for their beliefs or lack thereof.
In his Facebook announcement before the event, Genesis stated: "Together, we will speak for those silenced, demand protection under the Nigerian Constitution, and affirm that freedom of religion includes the freedom not to believe."
Public Reactions and Future Plans
The announcement of the conference generated mixed reactions on social media platforms. While some Nigerians expressed support for the initiative, others questioned the logistics and timing of the event.
Collins Irianan commented: "This is a noble idea. Why not on Zoom or space so a lot of people can attend." Another social media user, Pwavira Pwadivi Ayuba, simply expressed enthusiasm: "Wow! This is so great!"
The conference organizers indicated that this event represents just the beginning of their efforts to unite non-religious people across Nigeria and Africa. They plan to continue advocating for the inclusion of non-religious perspectives in national human rights dialogues and security discussions.
The timing of the conference is particularly significant, coming at a moment when international attention has focused on religious persecution in Nigeria, including recent statements by US President Donald Trump about Christian persecution. The non-religious community seeks to ensure that their persecution receives equal attention and resolution.
