The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has inaugurated the 1st National Old Testament Bible Contest in Nigeria and Africa at large, to promote the knowledge on peace and reconciliation.
Mr Nadav Goren, Charge D’Affaires, Embassy of Israel in Nigeria, made this known in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The event with theme: “Living Peacefully in the Promised Land” was organised by Israeli Embassy in collaboration with Israel’s Ministry of Education and the Christians United for Israel, a faith-based organisation.
Goren described the theme of the event to be clear message to Nigerians to be resilient in their opposition to violence throughout the 2019 electoral process and thereafter.
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According to him, the event is the first of its kind in both Nigeria and Africa at large.
Goren said “peace and reconciliation are important ideas, which are reflected in the Bible and are particularly relevant today.
“We live in challenging times with conflicts at varying intensity levels in the North East, Middle Belt and South-East region and in the Niger Delta.
“As we near elections here in Nigeria, these tensions are prone to show themselves more and more.”
He explained that the event would be conducted via the internet in three stages and shall commence in October, 2018 in all states of the federation.
The winners at state levels would compete against each other at geo-political zone stage.
Also, the final contest which would be written exam that consist 12 contestants from different geo-political zones would take place in Abuja in November, 2018.
He said that the event is opened to people from 18years and above.
He, however, said that the overall winner and two runner-ups that would emerge would win a trip to Israel, while other contestants would get consolation prizes.
He, however, urged people that are eligible to register through http://retro.education.gov.il/bible-contest-nigeria.html to participate.