Nigerian Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon has spent his career striving to improve Muslim-Christian relations on a local, but also on a global level. In 2003, his archdiocese purchased the Jacaranda Farm, with the hope that it would become a source of income for the local population and a place to promote Christian-Muslim reconciliation.

Jacaranda Farm is 78 hectares in size, and contains amongst other facilities a self-contained water table, two dams to reserve stream water, irrigation infrastructure, land for orchards and plantations, poultry pens and a piggery. It is located in north-central Nigeria, a country of 131 million that has long been torn by tensions between its largely Muslim north and Christian south.

Earlier this month, Idowu-Fearon taught a course on Muslim-Christian dialogue at Wycliffe College. He also spent time promoting the Jacarunda Farm project at a concert hosted by St. Paul’s Anglican Church on May 6.

In the midst of his busy schedule, the Idowu-Fearon took some time to talk to The Varsity about his work.

The Varsity: What do you hope to achieve with the Jacaranda Farm by the end of this year?

Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon: We should have the various sections of the farm in order: poultry, hostel accommodations for at least 30 people, etc.

V: What about after five years?

A: The ultimate aim is to bring young Christians and Muslims together. After five years, we’d like to see 500 Christians and Muslims who have a better understanding of their own and each other’s faith. We want to encourage peaceful co-existence and support the effort of the government to create jobs.

There are politicians who use religion to create crisis situations and employ jobless people to perpetuate them. We want to counter joblessness [with the Farm]. Eventually, we hope to have 100 people there per year.

V: What is the current religious climate like in Jacaranda and Kaduna? What changes do you hope to make?

A: The present government puts on a religious façade for everything, when it’s actually always politics. We hope the Farm will be a plateau, cultivating a culture of positive tolerance and respect. People must see that they have a stake in the state, they must maintain a peaceful environment for people. Religion is a gift from God for humanity and should be used for brotherhood.

V: How have the citizens of Kaduna reacted to the idea of the farm?

A: Some think it’s good, others don’t care. No negative reactions. There is a level of expectation, so we want to get things going.

V: Have any other individuals or organizations lent their support to the project?

A: The United African Company, a food outfit like KFC, has agreed to buy our chickens but we won’t sell to them because they don’t offer enough money. At least we know the farm is ready for the market.

Students interested in becoming involved in the Jacaranda Farm project can obtain information at St. Paul’s Anglican Church at 227 Bloor St. E.