PUBLIC LECTURE

RATIONALE

Nigeria is known to be the most religious nation on earth with Christianity as a major religion with Christians comprising 50.8% of the population (Pew Research Centre), the church has witnessed a lot of challenges, such as:

1. Proliferation of churches: Nigeria has the highest number of churches in Africa. There are many churches and prayer houses which exist in family houses, uncompleted buildings, warehouses, hotels, school buildings, canopies and any available space. Meanwhile the general conduct of citizens does not tally with the number of people who go to church;

2. The quest for materialism has permeated the church and the church has become more worldly with fraudsters ordained as ministers of God using prayer houses to make money;

3. There is high corruption in almost all levels of the society (government, private sector and even the church). This has given rise to increased poverty where resources meant for the general public are diverted to private pockets.

The situation with the Nigerian church gives reasons for appropriate interventions to be organized to re-conscientize the church as primary agent of development and awaken her to her responsibility of being salt and light of the world (Matthew.5:13-16).