The outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Ishiaq Oloyede, has canvassed a conscious and timely eradication of hatred among Nigerians irrespective of creed, tribe or sex if the nation must thrive on the path of peace and development.

Oloyede, whose tenure of office will expire by the middle of this month, said the origin of all human beings could be traceable to one parent, Adam and Eve, noting that no follower of any religion would escape the judgment of God, who is "the just judge."

Delivering the 116th inaugural lecture of the university yesterday Oloyede, a professor of Islamic studies, said "the world is fragile and the nation is distressed because of the domineering discourse of the hate mongers. We need to build bridges of mutual understanding and harmonious co-existence and shatter the walls of hatred.

"We must all realize that we share a common humanity and we all originate from Adam and we shall all return to God, the just Judge. There is need for us to contextualise ideas, skills and products thrust upon us by the dominant forces of globalisation. We should jettison the empty slogan, 'if you can't beat them join them and uphold its appropriate variant, if you can't beat them leave them.'"