CLICK HERE FOR THE "JACARANDA FARM PROGRESS UPDATE"
Welcome to the Jacaranda Farm Project Website

Purpose: To create a self-sustaining facility to provide the following in the rural areas surrounding Kaduna, where there were none previously:

  • Education
  • Potable water
  • Employment, regardless of belief or tribe,
    particularly targeting women and youth
  • Meeting, worship, education, conference and fellowship space
  • Healthcare
  • Training in small scale development projects
  • Stable access to food
  • Safe haven from natural and man-made crises
  • Muslim - Christian Reconciliation

Jacaranda was abandoned when its owner fled the country during the riots in 2000, the Kaduna Diocese purchased the farm in late 2003. For a description and Pictures of Jacaranda Farm, please CLICK HERE.

To read the Bishop of Toronto's Letter of Support to the Jacaranda Project please CLICK HERE.

To discover how you can help by contributing your Time, Talent or Treasure please CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE to listen to Tribal music recorded on
Friday, February 6th, 2004: Kaduna, Nigeria
Christian-Muslim Relations in Northern Nigeria: A Microcosm

THE CITY OF KADUNA’s unique geographical location intersects two spiritual worlds: Islam and Christianity. One might think the line falls in the Kaduna river, dividing the city into Muslim and Christian halves. During the bloody riots in 2000, in Kaduna alone a hundred churches were burned and thousands were killed or injured.

Following the riots, the Archbishop of Kaduna, the Most Rev’d Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, undertook establishing the Centre for the Study of Islam and Christianity. Echoing the Kaduna Peace Declaration (2002), the Centre works based on the principal that: “ according to our faiths, killing innocent lives in the name of God is a desecration of His Holy Name, and defames religions of the world. The violence in Kaduna is an evil that must be opposed by all people of good faith. We seek to live together as neighbours,

The main Mosque in Abuja, Nigeria
respecting the integrity of each other’s historical and religious heritage. We call upon all to oppose incitement, hatred and the misrepresentation of one another.”

In an environment filled with religious tension, the Centre graduated its first class in 2003 all sharing the Archbishop’s vision of a peaceful co-existence. The curriculum covered the history of Islam, Sharia law, and the faith and belief of the Muslim people. At the ceremony, the Chief Imam of the Waff Road Mosque, Alhaji Sani Isa stated, “you cannot promote peace when there is ignorance. Muslims and Christians should be interested in each other’s religion.”

More recently, the Archbishop has demonstrated his commitment to this vision by re-opening the Jacaranda Farm. The 200-acre working commercial enterprise was abandoned by its owner as he and his family fled the religious violence in 2000. It was purchased by the Archdiocese in 2003. The vision is to create a self-sustaining development farm where economic, employment and community education and health benefits accrue to the local inhabitants – regardless of tribe, or religion.

How much of a microcosm is this example for the broader issue of Christian-Muslim relations? Consider the current violence throughout the world and even the misunderstandings here in Canada, between seemingly intelligent adherents of two of the world’s largest religions. It stands to reason that mutual respect and education can only be a positive factor in the peaceful resolution of these developing conflicts.

– by Tim Davies, Rector’s Warden


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