Felix Joseph Samari

Felix Joseph Samari is a historian, human rights defender, writer and peacebuilding practitioner from Jada Local Government area, Adamawa State, northeastern Nigeria.

He serves as the Country Representative of Faith and Freedom Africa, Director of Interfaith Diplomacy at CCDAA, and Founding Director of the Abuja Centre for Nigerian Studies. Through these roles, he promotes freedom of religion or belief, interfaith cooperation, human rights, peaceful coexistence and informed public dialogue in Nigeria.

His human rights work focuses particularly on freedom of religion or belief and the United Nations Universal Periodic Review process. In November 2018, he participated in Nigeria’s third Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations in Geneva.

Through his engagements with the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, the Lutheran World Federation and other organisations, Felix has worked with indigenous communities, religious leaders, young people and civil-society actors to address human rights concerns. He is deeply committed to building bridges across religious and ethnic divides and promoting peace, mutual respect and interreligious harmony throughout Nigeria.

Felix is the author of two books examining identity, religion and belonging in Nigeria: When My Name Was Not Called: Identity, Belonging, and the Unseen Realities of Minorities in Nigeria and The Implicated. Through these works, he explores how religion and identity influence citizenship, inclusion, social relationships and national development.

Beyond writing and advocacy, he has experience in communications, blogging, grassroots youth mobilisation, civic engagement, politics and entrepreneurship. His other interests include travel, volunteering and community development.