Rev. John Joseph Hayab: Building Bridges Across Nigeria’s Religious Divide

For over two decades, Rev. John Joseph Hayab has occupied a distinctive place in northern Nigeria’s religious and peacebuilding landscape, combining Christian ministry with interfaith dialogue, conflict prevention, humanitarian intervention and advocacy for religious freedom.
He is a Baptist pastor, development practitioner, public affairs commentator and peacebuilder, who has devoted his career to encouraging Christians and Muslims to see beyond their religious differences and work together for peace and human development.
Born in Kaduna State, he grew up partly in a military barracks because his father was a soldier in the Nigerian Army. The Middlebury Institute of International Stu...