Research on Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2222-1719 (Paper ISSN 2222-2!"# ($nline %ol.#& No.1!

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Religion in Nigeria from 1900-2013

1. 2. Rimamsi*we Ha+ila ,itause1- Hilar. /hu*wu*a 0chuni*e2 1epartment o2 Religion and /ultural Studies& 3acult. o2 the Social Sciences& 4ni5ersit. o2 Nigeria& Nsu**a& 6nugu State& Nigeria 1epartment o2 Religion and /ultural Studies& 3acult. o2 the Social Sciences& 4ni5ersit. o2 Nigeria& Nsu**a& 6nugu State& Nigeria -*itt.rh19""7gmail.com

Abstract 8he phenomenon o2 religion is assuming an alarming proportion in the 21st centur. with the three Nigerian cardinal religions competing 2or pre-eminence and supremac. as seen in the religious +eha5iours o2 the 5arious religious adherents in Nigeria. 8he article is cra2ted using phenomenological and historical anal.tical method. It unra5els the 2act that there is at the moment a 5er. +right prospect 2or the sur5i5al o2 02rican 8raditional Religion& Islam and /hristianit. in Nigeria in spite o2 the rising tide o2 2undamentalism in the Nigerian recogni9a+le religions. 8his is anchored on the 2act that there are still some compromises among the ma:or religions in Nigeria. 8he paper su+mits that it is need2ul that all the spirited sta*e holders o2 the 5arious religions in Nigeria create an a5enue 2or meaning2ul dialogue in order to chec*mate the monster o2 religious intolerance& insensiti5it.& sel2 will& and 2anaticism to pa5ing wa. 2or peace2ul coe;istence and sustaina+le national de5elopment in Nigeria. Keywords< Religion& /hristianit.& Islam& Nigeria& 02rican 8raditional Religion 1. Introduction Religion is an important phenomenon in contemporar. Nigeria. It is e5er popular and has captured the attention o2 man. Nigerians. Its acti5ities ha5e predominated man=s li2e. Religion has +een and is increasingl. coming to the 2ore 2ront in modern scholarship. It is e>uall. a su+:ect 2or discussion in the dail. newspapers& maga9ines& radio and tele5ision. ?ost Nigerians appear to +e interested in religion 2or its immense +ene2its. 3rom all indications& Nigeria is a pluralistic societ.. @. this& it is meant that Nigeria is a countr. where di22erent religious adherents coe;ist and mi; 2reel. to carr. out their da.-to-da. acti5it. (Hac*ett A $lupona (n.d. . 8here are +asicall. three ma:or religions in Nigeria. 8hese include< /hristianit.& Islam and 02rican 8raditional Religion (08R . @eside these& other religions e;ist in Nigeria li*e Hinduism& @ahai& Budaism& 8he Crail ?essage& and 8he Re2ormed $g+oni 3raternit. +ut are practiced +. either 2oreigners or negligi+le 2ew Nigerians (?ac>uarrie 1971D en.wi*ipedia.orgEwi*iEreligionFinFNigeria . 8he >uestions now arise< How ha5e religions 2ared in Nigeria since their inceptionG How are the. co-e;isting& in2luencing and impinging on each other as well as the entire Nigerian societ.G Hhat e;actl. is religion showcasing in Nigeria e5er since its emergenceG 8his paper is a hum+le attempt to e;amine these issues. 8he paper emplo.s phenomenological and historical anal.tical method so as to +e a+le to e;amine religion as a phenomenon +ecause religion itsel2 has e;isted in and impacted on the Nigerian societ. 2or so long now. 0ccording to Parratt in In.ama (2''7 & phenomenological method has three ad5antages< 3irst& the stud. +egins at the right place (the phenomenon . Secondl.& the approach is conducti5e to clari2. in the sense that one *nows what one is tal*ing a+out. 8hird& the phenomenological mo5es on a more secure ground +ecause it proceeds +. description rather than +. deduction (p.9 . 8he phenomenological method generall. deals with the true nature o2 the theme& which in this case is religion& starting 2rom the inside. It is e>uall. held that I8he test o2 a phenomenological description is that the picture gi5en +. it is con5incing& illuminates other related ideas& ma*es realit. understanda+le& as the. gi5e themsel5es& without the inter2erence o2 negati5e or positi5e pre:udices and interpretationsJ (In.ama 2''7& p.1' . 8he historical method on the other hand helps to trace the origin o2 the three ma:or religions in Nigeria chronologicall.. 0ccording to %an 1erleeuw (19"# & there is an a22init. +etween the historical and the phenomenological methods. He reiterates that histor. goes with phenomenolog. :ust as the phenomenologist wor*s with historical materials. @e that as it ma.& it is concluded that I8he historian and the phenomenologist& there2ore& wor* in the closest possi+le associationD the. are indeed in the ma:orit. o2 cases com+ined in the person o2 a single in5estigatorJ (%an 1erleeuw 19"#& p. "!" . 8his research 2irst and 2oremost tries to answer the >uestion< Hhat is religionG 2. eaning of Religion Religion is said to +e a realit. in human e;perience which per5ades through li2e. It descri+es the wa. man relates with the Supernatural world or the 1i5ine @eing. 8his relationship 2inds e;pression in +elie2s& worships& creeds and s.m+ols (4*a 199' . ()

Research on Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2222-1719 (Paper ISSN 2222-2!"# ($nline %ol.#& No.1!& 2'1#

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Religion certainl. is a di22icult word to de2ine. 8o attempt to de2ine it is to em+ar* on an almost impossi+le tas*. 8his is +ecause there are no two persons or authors with e;actl. the same concept o2 Cod and religion. In other words& as Nwahaghi (199! puts it I0 simple comprehensi5e de2inition o2 religion cannot +e attained +ecause o2 the comple; nature o2 religionJ (p.9 . He reiterates that the o+:ects that religion deals with are not su+:ected to empirical o+ser5ation. 8hese Religious o+:ects are +elie5ed to +e concei5ed in di22erent wa.s +. di22erent people. 8his di22icult. apart& ?etuh (19!7 sustains that I8he stud. o2 religion attracts people with 5arious interests as theologians& anthropologists& sociologists& ps.chologists& economists& historians etc& each o2 them sees it 2rom di22erent perspecti5eJ (p.1# . 0dded to this is the 2act that& the e;pression o2 religion alwa.s 5aries 2rom religion to religion as a result o2 di22erent +elie2s and practices. 0ll these put together compounds the pro+lem to achie5ing a single uni5ersall. accepta+le de2inition o2 religion. Howe5er& di22erent opinions hold that religion is an organi9ed s.stem o2 +elie2s& ceremonies& practices and worship that centre on one Supreme @eing called Cod& or the 1eit. (Hat*ins A Hat*ins 1992 . Interestingl.& it is e>uall. disco5ered that almost all people who 2ollow some 2orm o2 religion +elie5e that a di5ine power created the world and in2luences their li5es. In summar.& religion seems to +e understood +rie2l. as an e;pression o2 2aith and +elie2. It is said to +e the conscious and su+-conscious response to the ultimate source o2 e;istence re2erred to as Cod in whiche5er name or language (,itause 2'12 . 8o cap it up& ?etuh (1992 asserts that IReligion is an institutionalised s.stem o2 s.m+ols& +elie2s& 5alues& and practices 2ocussed on the relationship +etween Cod and man& and +etween men li5ing in societ.J (p.11 . 8a*en in that sense& it is remar*ed that the notion o2 KReligion= is di22erent 2rom that o2 K0 Religion=. 4*a (199' in e;patiating on this e;presses that< KReligion= deals with >uestions o2 human e;istence that is deep and serious such as< wh. do men su22erG Hh. does an.thing e;ist at allG Hhat lies +e.ond deathG... K0 Religion= has to do with what a particular religious group does or +elie5es. 3or e;ample wh. do ?uslims go on pilgrimage to ?eccaG Hh. do /hristians cele+rate the Hol. /ommunionG... Hhat we call religion toda. re2ers to religions such as Islam& /hristianit.& 02rican 8raditional Religion& Budaism& Hinduism& /on2ucianism& Shintoism and the li*e. 8hese religions are a people=s +elie2 s.stem through which the. interpret and relate to the 5isi+le and in5isi+le world around them (p.1(9-1)' . 3. Religion in !re "#ristian and !re Islamic Nigeria ?odern Scholarship now recognises that a concept o2 Cod as a Supreme @eing and creator is 5irtuall. uni5ersal in traditional 02rica ($lowola 199#& p.11 . 02ricans& particularl. Nigerians *new a+out Cod long +e2ore the ad5ent o2 /hristianit. and Islam to Nigeria. In 2act& there was in e;istence an indigenous religion o2 the nati5e. 8he 2acts remain undisputa+le that these 2oreign religions did not come to meet a 5acuum in Nigeria. 8here were e5idences o2 alread. e;isting culture and philosophies o2 the a+origines& whose roots are tracea+le to their religion. How did this happenG 0ccording to $lusegun A 0*in (1992 prehistoric religions arose as a result o2 m.steries and incomprehension that per5aded certain e5ents and aspect o2 human li2e. It is +elie5ed that pre historic people pro+a+l. interpreted supernatural occurrences and credited supernatural powers greater than themsel5es. 8his made them to ha5e either consciousl. or unconsciousl. de5eloped or directed their indigenous religious acti5ities on the most important elements o2 their e;istence such as com+ating their 2ears and ensuring their corporate e;istence and prosperit.. 8his e>uall. pro+a+l. e;plains the reasons ancient people o+ser5ed li+ation +. pouring wine and placing 2oods& ornaments and tools in gra5es in order to maintain close pro;imit. with the deceased and the unseen world (,itause 2'11D 6ri5wo 19!) . It is said that I8he traditional religion o2 Nigeria is the richest heritage which the 2ore+ears o2 Nigeria ha5e handed down to their childrenJ (Nwahaghi 199!& p.1' . Histor. has it that in the past& in Nigeria& the dominant religion was the traditional religion popularl. *nown as 02rican 8raditional Religion. 0ccording to 6*eopara (199" & the term 02rican 8raditional Religion re2ers to the religious +elie2s and practices o2 the 02ricans. It is traditional and indigenous to 02rica. It could also +e called the nati5e religion o2 02rica +ecause it originated 2rom 02rica and is primaril. practiced mostl. +. 02ricans. It is a popular opinion that the indigenous religion o2 the 02rican is not locali9ed. It is also +elie5ed not to onl. restrict itsel2 to 02rica and 02ricans alone& +ut is said to +e opened to all races o2 the world. 8he word 02rica& it is stressed& merel. descri+es the geographical location where 08R is dominant. 8his indigenous religion is what Nigerians ha5e +een practising long +e2ore the ad5ent o2 /hristianit. and Islam. It is a religion that has permeated all aspects o2 their li2e as 02ricans. Spea*ing a+out the religiosit. o2 Nigerians especiall. that o2 the Ig+o& $nwurah (199' con2irms that I8he Ig+o person is 5er. religious and does not *now how to li5e without religion - he or she eats religiousl.& drin*s religiousl.& Snee9es religiousl.. Religion is part o2 the whole li2eJ (p. 2!7 . 8his is li*el. to +e what ?+iti (19"9 meant when he sa.s that IHhere the 02rican is& there is his religionJ (p. # . 8o Idowu (19"" & 02ricans including

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Nigerians are I0 people who in all things are religiousJ (p. ) . 0s o+ser5ed +. Nwahagi (199! & it is this traditional religion that has helped to shape pro+a+l. the social& political and economic acti5ities o2 the people o2 Nigeria. $. Arri%al of Islam in Nigeria Islam penetrated Nigeria through the Northern Part o2 her +orders. It came to Northern Nigeria a+out 2i5e or si; hundred .ears +e2ore /hristianit. (?etuh 19!) . Histor. has shown that Islam arri5e Nigeria sometime +etween 1'''0.1 and 11'' 0.1 (6nwerem 199) . 8he 2irst town o2 contact was @ornu in the North-eastern Nigeria +e2ore it o5ertoo* the entire Hausa States +etween 1(th and 1)th /enturies (8rimingham 19"2 . Initiall.& Islam was propagated onl. among /it. dwellers and was chie2l. patroni9ed +. the upper class 2or economic& social and political reasons (6*eopara& 199" . It was not until the time o2 4thman 1an 3odio=s Bihad that Islam spread to e5er. noo* and crann. o2 Northern Nigeria and was 2orced upon the people. In his studies& 6*eopara (199" o+ser5es that< 3rom 17)' 01& Islam in Northern Nigeria entered into a new phase. It +ecame militant and intolerant o2 the 8raditional religious s.stem. @. this time& ?uslims were no more satis2ied with recei5ing tri+utes. 8he. were now +ent on wiping out all associations o2 pagan custom with Islam. 8he in2idels or un+elie5ers were 2orce2ull. con5erted +. the militar. might o2 the Bihadists and not through preaching (p. 12 . Historical e5idence shows that upon capturing a place& the Bihadists immediatel. introduced Islamic s.stem o2 Law and go5ernment in order to cement their stronghold in the region. &. 'mergence of "#ristianity in Nigeria /hristianit. is one o2 the ma:or religions in Nigeria. It is said to ha5e entered Nigeria in three phases. In the 2irst phase& /hristianit. is reported to ha5e made its appearance in Nigeria in the 1)th /entur.. Historical 2acts a+ound that @enin and Harri in the Niger 1elta region were the 2irst cities to witness missionar. presence in Nigeria. 8he earliest *nown /hristian ?ission that 2irst showed up in Nigeria was the Portuguese Roman /atholic ?ission which came to @enin in 1(!) at the in5itation o2 $+a 49olua and later in 1)1( +. $+a 6sigie& ,ings o2 @enin (0gha 1999D 8asie 197! . Histor. shows that the initial attempt in planting /hristianit. in @enin 2ailed +ecause I8he ,ings o2 @enin /it. remained strongl. attached to their indigenous religionJ (@aur 2''9& p.7) . It is said that there were enough e5idences 2or such 2ailures in @enin in the 1)th /entur. o2 which the a+o5e was +ut one o2 them. 8he second attempt in the 1"th /entur. under $+a 6sigie succeeded to a certain e;tent as the $+a himsel2 and most o2 his chie2s did su+mit themsel5es 2or +aptisms and actuall. pro2essed and practised /hristian religion somewhat in their own terms. 65entuall. /hristian churches were +uilt +ut un2ortunatel. the @enin ?ission appears to ha5e remained con2ined to the ro.al court. ?uch later& it is reported that Some Spanish /apuchins& some 0ugustinian mon*s and some missionaries 2rom the Sacred /ongregation de propaganda 3idei had their turn in the @enin and Harri ?ission 2ield with +oth positi5e and negati5e responses each time. How 2ar this @enin mission e;panded is not *nown. @ut it is most li*el. that the cruci2i;es& mutilated statues o2 saints and se5eral /atholic em+lems that were disco5ered within the @enin ro.al court se5eral .ears later go to pro5e that some measure o2 success was recorded in the @enin missionar. wor*. In the second phase& /hristianit. is reported to ha5e penetrated Nigeria through Hestern Nigeria. Lagos as at 1!(1 had de5eloped into a notorious sla5e mar*et with its ,ing ,oso*o as the Principal promoter o2 the trade (1i*e 19)7 . 65idence indicates that it was a2ter his deportation +. @ritish administration that real missionar. enterprise +egan in Moru+a land. 0mong the earliest missions that e5angeli9ed Moru+a land are the Hesle.an ?ethodist ?ission and the /hurch ?issionar. Societ. (/.?.S a+l. represented +. the Re5erend 8homas @irch 3reeman and /atechist Henr. 8ownsend respecti5el. in 1!(2. Samuel 0:a.i /rowther +ecame the 2irst Moru+a man to get con5erted at Sierra Leone as a 2reed sla5e. He +ecame instrumental in reaching his own people with the gospel ($du.o.e 19"9 . 8his was 2ollowed +. the /ala+ar ?ission in 1!(" with the Scottish Pres+.terian ?ission ta*ing the lead in e5angeli9ing the 62i* people. 6ssien 4*pa+io& a nati5e o2 Cree* town emerged the 2irst con5ert and was +aptised +. the Re5erend Hope Haddle& the 2irst pioneer missionar. to /ala+ar a2ter +eing to 6thiopia. $ther missionaries li*e ?ar. Slessor :oined later in the missionar. wor* in /ala+ar. ,ing o2 Cree* town& ,ing 6.o Honest. was one o2 the main actors that helped missionaries to plant /hristianit. in /ala+ar. 3rom /ala+ar& the Pres+.terian /hurch spread to the other parts o2 the 2ormer 6astern region (0:a.i 19")D ,alu 197! . 0ccording to 0:ah (199( I/hristian ?issions came to 6astern Nigerian mainl. through two angles. 8he 2irst angle was through Lagos area or 2rom Hestern Nigeria... 8he second angle was directl. to the eastern end o2 the countr. through a sea portJ (p.(' . 0:ah 2ails to mention 2or clarit. purposes the Sea Port in >uestion. He con2irms that

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Research on Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2222-1719 (Paper ISSN 2222-2!"# ($nline %ol.#& No.1!& 2'1#

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the Pres+.terian and Nua I+oe /hurches penetrated the east through /ala+ar. Hith the passage o2 time&& /hristian ?issions o5er spread the whole o2 6astern Nigeria. 3urthermore& Nigeria witnessed the third phase o2 missionaries= entrance into Northern Nigeria as 2rom 1!7'. 8his was said to +e in three phases too. 8he 2irst phase 1!7'-1!!! was met with relati5e success e5en though there was no single con5ert won& +ut the missionaries succeeded in ma*ing contact with the north and opening it up 2or 2urther missionar. wor*. 8he ma:or pla.ers during this enterprise were Samuel 0:a.i /rowther& a Nigerian 2reed sla5e& 1r. @ai*e& 0rchdeacon Henr. Bohn and /harles Paul. 8he second phase was +etween 1!!! and 19''. 1uring this era& the missionar. enterprise was associated with @ritish imperialism which made the people to discredit the missionaries. In 1!9'& the /?S sponsored what is called the Sudan part. and later the Hausa 0ssociation with the mandate to e5angeli9e Northern Nigeria and to stud. and translate the Cospel into Hausa Language as well as esta+lishing a /ollege. ?em+ership o2 this group comprised o2 graduates 2rom /am+ridge and $;2ord 4ni5ersities& Presidents o2 the /?S and the Hesle.an ?issionar. Societ. among others (/rampton& 1979 . 0t this time& all e22orts to con5ert the ?uslim pro5ed a+orti5e& +ut the missionaries were a+le to con5ert some adherents o2 traditional religion in the north. Craduall.& ?ission stations were esta+lished here and there in the region which +ecame +ases 2or the spread and penetration o2 the Cospel in Northern Nigeria. Later on& other missionar. +odies e>uall. started showing interest in reaching northern Nigeria. In the third phase 19''-191!& the @ritish administration under Sir 3rederic* Lugard appeared to +e anti missionar. +. restricting missionar. acti5ities in the territor.. @ut generall. the initial eagerness shown +. some emirs to esta+lish trading lin*s with the 6uropeans helped to some e;tent in pa5ing wa. 2or the esta+lishment and solidi2.ing o2 /hristianit. in the Northern region. (. 'ncounter between A.).R.* Islam* and "#ristianity in Nigeria It is a;iomatic that Islam and /hristianit. introduced into Nigeria 5alues& institutions and world 5iews that were at 5ariance with those o2 the indigenous religion. 8his& in point o2 2act appears to create some serious con2licts with the alread. e;isting 5alues in Nigeria. 0ccording to 1an2ulani (2''1 & IIslam and /hristianit. constituted a threat and a disrupti5e 2orce to 02rican tradition and customJ (p. 2! . It is o+ser5ed that at the +eginning& the propagators o2 +oth /hristianit. and Islam saw e5er. aspect o2 02rican /ulture with sore e.es. 8he. despised out rightl. the traditional religious practices which Nigerians ha5e guarded 9ealousl. 2rom +irth. 8he /hristian ?issionaries& particularl. condemned pol.gam. and other cultural custom o2 the 02ricans as a*in to idolatr.. 8he. 2rowned at human sacri2ice& the *illing o2 twins& +lood +ath and other cruel aspects o2 02rican /ulture (Iwe& 1979 . 8his posture o2 the missionaries has some implications on the li2e o2 the 02rican /hristians who e5entuall. +ecame dissatis2ied with the 6uropeanised /hristian traditions& culminating in the 2ounding o2 the historic 02rican Independent /hurches (0I/ . 0s it happened at the initial stage& Islam and /hristianit. reall. suppressed 08R& almost to the point o2 strangulation. @ut as time went on& there were some *ind o2 gi5e and ta*e 2rom each o2 the religions in Nigeria. 3or instance& in the predominantl. ?uslim area in Northern Nigeria& the ?uslims= wa.s o2 dressing ha5e in2luenced the general mode o2 dressing in a wa. which seems to +e the general culture o2 the Northerners. Islam has e>uall. +een in2ected with the traditional +elie2 and practice o2 magic and medicine. /hristianit. too has +orrowed hea5il. 2rom some o2 the traditions o2 the 02ricans. +. Religion in t#e !resent Nigeria Religion is a rele5ant phenomenon that has +een 2irml. consolidated in Nigeria in the 2'th /entur. which entered into the 21st /entur. on a rising tide o2 2undamentalism. 8wentieth /entur. as a matter o2 2act is 5er. signi2icant in se5eral wa.s. 0ccording to Schrec* (2'11 glo+all.< IIn 19''& automo+iles were no5elties& owned onl. +. a 2ew& airplanes and tele5ision did not e;istD and there were 2ew o2 the modern con5eniences& li*e telephone ser5ice& that man. people en:o. toda.J (p. 1'7 . It was not until the mid 2'th /entur. that great ad5ancement in technolog. and science occurred. 8he era presents /hristianit.& Islam and 08R with the greatest challenges and the greatest opportunities (8owns& 1971 . 4sing modern technolog. and methods o2 e5angelism& most religions especiall. /hristianit. ad5anced 2orci+l. and o5er spread the whole glo+e. In Nigeria 2or instance& 2'th /entur. was an epoch o2 2ruit2ulness 2or the /atholics and the Protestant ?issions. 8he. +ecame interdenominational in character and aimed at setting up indigenous churches e5er.where in Nigeria. 0ccording to Han*s (199! & in the 2'th /entur.& di22erent mission +odies seriousl. e5angelised and I3ounded schools and colleges& opened clinics and hospitals& introduced more ad5anced methods o2 2arming& reduced the nati5e language to writing and +egan translating the @i+leJ (p. 2!' . Nigeria certainl. is a large nation& populated perhaps& with o5er ('' di22erent multi-ethnic nationalities (Salawu& 2'1' . 0ccording to $nai.e*an (2'12 & Nigerians ta*e their religion seriousl.. 8his is +ecause 02rican indigenous religion had +een part o2 them 2rom +irth. 8his is sel2 e5ident in the wa. Nigerian ?uslims&

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/hristians and de5otees o2 08R go a+out their religiosit. in the present Nigeria. Religious acti5ities are on the rise +. the da. in NigeriaD it is not a+ating. 8he >uestions now arise< Hhat are the points o2 attraction or interest in these religions in Nigeria that worth e;amination in the period under re5iewG Hhat generall. is the state o2 religion in Nigeria toda.G Religion at the present da. Nigeria is +oth a ma:or source o2 :o. and concern. It is no dou+t pla.ing a trans2ormati5e and integrati5e 2unction in Nigeria at the moment. It is also generating lots o2 tensions& 2ears and uphea5als among the people. Historical records a+ound to demonstrate that at the +eginning o2 the 2'th /entur.& most Nigerians were 2ollowers o2 traditional religion. @ut at the time o2 Independence in 19"'& the great ma:orit. o2 the people in Nigeria were classi2ied and lumped as ?uslims and /hristians as a matter o2 polic. +. the /olonial administration (3alola& 2'11 . 8hat apart& the indirect rule adopted +. the /olonial administration did 2a5our the e;pansion o2 Islam in the north against /hristianit. (/rampton& 1979 . 8o his mind& $deh (2'12 o+ser5es that I6thno-religious issues ha5e plunged Nigeria into a +edlam o2 pro+lems and challenges which ha5e had dire conse>uences 2or the countr.J (p. )2 . It is o+ser5ed too that since the amalgamation o2 191( trou+les started +rewing seriousl. in Nigeria especiall. +etween the dominant /hristian South and the dominant ?uslim north. In actual 2acts& since 19!' to date& ethno religious con2licts ha5e +ecome a permanent 2eature o2 Nigeria as a nation. Salawu (2'1' remar*s that I8he phenomena o2 ethnicit. and religious intolerance ha5e led to incessant recurrence o2 ethno-religious con2licts which ha5e gi5en +irth to so man. ethnic militiasJ in the countr. (p. #() . 0s noted& the 5iolent nature o2 ethno-religious con2lict ta*es the 2orm o2 riots& sa+otage& assassination& struggles& guerrilla war2are and secession. 0t the present& @o*o Haram is emplo.ing suicide terrorist tactics in their attac*s& which are seriousl. stirring 2ears within Nigerian /hristian /ommunit.. It must +e noted >uic*l. that opinions seem to +e di5ided as to the main causes 2or the emergence o2 ethnic militias and ethno-religious con2licts in Nigeria. 3rom the point o2 5iew o2 religious con2licts& some anal.sts in Nigeria& thin* that most o2 the con2licts e;perienced in the countr. stem more 2rom anger and 2rustration than 2rom religious +elie2s (ploughshare./aEplamed con2lictENigeria O 199' . It is 2urther held that the rise o2 especiall. radical Islamic mo5ements li*e the maitatsine& and @o*o Haram among se5eral others has +een attri+uted partl. to the poor socio economic in2rastructures and poor go5ernance in Nigeria (en.wi*ipedia.orgEwi*iEReligionFinFNigeria . Howe5er the real root causes o2 religious crisis in Nigeria& according to 8asie (2''1 are that< Hhene5er we ha5e so-called religious clashes in Nigeria& I would dare to posit that it is either +ecause o2 +ad /hristianit. and +ad Islam& +ad /hristians and +ad ?uslims or all o2 the a+o5eD or +ecause religion has +ecome an ass o5er the .ear& and more so now& particularl. 2or Nigerians with inordinate am+itions - and especiall. the political /lass. 8he. are the main ridersD the. ride the religious ass& and manipulate it to suit their own purposes and agenda (o2ten times hidden D and e5en when the. cite the hol. +oo*s and doctrines (whether it is in crusade& :ihad or other as the. o2ten do& it is more o2ten than not& manipulati5e (p. 9 . 8asie reiterates that religion per se does not create pro+lems& particularl. the three main religions o2 Nigeria O 8raditional 02rican Religion& /hristianit. and Islam. 8o his thin*ing& each o2 these religions e5identl. teaches lo5e in its own wa. and ma. not discourage peace2ul co-e;istence& mutual respect and tolerance. In more recent times& there has +een an increased in gun +attles +etween the mem+ers o2 these sects and securit. 2orces in Nigeria with loss o2 li5es on +oth sides. 8he recent massacre o2 o5er "' policemen in Nassarawa State& +etra. this 5er. 2acts. 0s o+ser5ed +. So.in*a (2'12 & the Islamic militant group @o*o Haram has carried out a string o2 deadl. attac*s mainl. against /hristians in the north east. 8his has pro5o*ed more tension +etween the /hristians and the ?uslims& ma*ing each militant group more radicali9ed. 0s i2 to su+stantiate this 2act&& ?c/ain (1999 remar*s that the recent militant attitude o2 /hristians towards ?uslims during the recent religious crisis in Northern Nigeria re2lects more o2 a tri+al war2are mentalit. than the non-5iolent teachings o2 Besus. It is pro+a+l. on the +asis o2 this that So.in*a (2'12 warns that Nigeria could descend into ci5il war as a K2aceless arm.= o2 people i2 nothing is done >uic*l. to chec*mate the present happenings in the countr.. 0nother important issue in the present Nigeria is the s.ncretistic +eha5iours o2 Nigerian ?uslims and /hristians. Islam and /hristianit. seem to ha5e incorporated some traditional religious practices into their +elie2 s.stem. /hristianit. has o22iciall. disallowed pol.gam. while Islam has allowed men to marr. up to 2our wi5es. In the 19!'s there were attempts +. Independent 02rican /hurches to indigeni9e /hristianit. in 02rica. 8he /heru+im and Seraphim in Nigeria 2or instance initiated this mo5e +. importing into the church se5eral cultural elements such as pol.gam.& healing& drumming& dancing somewhat acro+atics& singing& clapping& seeing 5isions and prophetic utterances among others. 8oda.& a growing num+er o2 +rea*awa. /hristian churches em+race di22erent indigenous cultural traditions and are gaining popularit. in Nigeria (@e.er 1997D $+iora 1999D 6nang 2'12 . 8his de5elopment seems to +e a serious threat to the older esta+lished churches li*e the Roman /atholic churches and the 0nglican churches. 0ccording to Halls (199" the indigeni9ation dri5e as thought out +. the 02rican Independent /hurches was to ena+le them I8o li5e as a /hristian and .et as a mem+er o2 one=s own societ. to ma*e the church a place to 2eel at homeJ (p. 7 . It is said that apart 2rom the 0ladura churches& the

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li*es o2 Pres+.terian& 65angelical churches o2 Hest 02rica (6/H0 & and ?ethodist churches e>uall. changed their rigid and stereot.ped liturg. 2or a li5el.& 2ree and noisier st.les o2 worshipD much more li*e the indigenous religions. Incidentall. too& Nigeria at this era also witnessed the seculari9ation o2 02rican societies and cultural re5i5alism. So +. com+ination o2 these 2actors& man. o2 those pro2essing to +e ?uslims and /hristians were seen openl. per2orming certain rites o2 traditional religion& something 5er. uncommon and unheard o2 during the colonial period. @oth ?uslims and /hristians now seem to mi; 02rican traditional ideas and practices with those o2 Islam and /hristianit. (?+iti& 197! . ?uslims adopted traditional practice o2 rituals& magic and medicine. In order to suit their social en5ironment too& +oth ?uslims and /hristians 2reel. accommodate traditional practices with their new 2ound religious practices. /hristian churches ha5e +orrowed the traditional second +urial and coined it a memorial than*sgi5ing ser5ice 2or their departed lo5ed ones. 0ccording to 6*e (2''! the wa. 02ricans 5enerate their ancestors is similar to the wa. /hristian o2 toda. 5enerate their saints whom the. ta*e to +e intermediaries +etween man and their o+:ect o2 worship. 0s it happened& man. /hristians during the 2'th /entur. too* traditional titles and o+ser5ed all the intricacies o2 the rituals in5ol5ed without >ualm. 3urthermore& the de5elopment o2 media industr. at the wa*e o2 Pentecostalism and Islamic 2undamentalism is another land mar* o2 the ma:or religions in Nigeria. 0ccording to 6nwerem (199) IPost-war Nigeria saw the emergence o2 man. religious mo5ements& most o2 which were oriented towards 2undamentalismJ (p. !9 . In the same 5ein& ,alu in 0chuni*e (199) clari2ies that< 8he end o2 the war was 2ollowed +. an a5alanche o2 spiritual 2orms - /hristian and non/hristian. 3or instance& there is e5idence that the Crail message& 0?$R/& 6c*an*ar& 3ree ?asonr. and such-li*e grew rapidl. 2rom 197'... 0mong /hristians& it is *nown that radical charismatic mo5ements ha5e proli2eratedJ (p. i; . Nigerian /hristians ha5e e;perienced a rapid progress in the media industr. with the emergence o2 Pentecostalism. 0ccording to $+ilom (2''# < 8he end o2 the /i5il war saw a measure o2 proli2eration o2 indigenous cassettes& 5ideo 2ilms and other electronic materials in the Nigerian mar*ets. In 2act& the. were so man. and centred in $nitsha that one would not +e wrong to la+el them $nitsha mar*et electronic media (p. 2 . 8hese& it is said were 2ollowed with the a5aila+ilit. o2 radio& tele5ision& laptops& 1%1& palm-tops& cell phones& microphone& loud spea*ers and the li*es in the 21st centur.. 8he Pentecostals& histor. attests ma;imi9ed the ad5antage o2 the electronic media to the 2ull and propagated Pentecostalism in Nigeria. 8he impacts o2 this are o5erwhelming. 8he Nigerian societ. was so easil. reached that Pentecostal churches ha5e proli2erated so considera+l. in Nigeria in the 21st /entur. (0chuni*e 2''9 . 8here is now more religious language in use in Nigeria than e5er +e2ore. Religion has so permeated the Nigerian societ. that it is now +eing carried into 5arious aspects o2 the people=s national li2e. Islam e>uall. utili9ed the media +. promoting Islamic preaching and call 2or pra.er e5er.where in Nigeria. Nigerian traditional healers are *e.ing into it +. using the same medium to ad5ertise and pu+licise their acti5ities and medicines 2reel. almost on a dail. +asis at the moment. Religious 2esti5als and pilgrimages are rele5ant 2eatures o2 religion in the contemporar. Nigeria. @e2ore 19""& onl. the /hristian 2esti5als o2 6aster and /hristmas were cele+rated with pu+lic holida.s in Nigeria. It was not until the militar. regime o2 19"" that the declaration o2 ?uslims 2esti5als o2 id el-0dha& and id el-2itri among others as pu+lic holida.s happened. 0dded to this is the 2act that pilgrimage to the hol. lands o2 Israel and ?ecca +. +oth /hristians and ?uslims was until the 19'' remained indi5idual pilgrim=s sel2 sponsored +ut now en:o. go5ernment sponsorship with each group ha5ing their separate Pilgrim Hel2are @oard (?ala 199" . 8here seems to +e no such +oard 2or 08R adherents. 8his& o2 course is a clear e5idence o2 go5ernment discrimination against 08R. It e>uall. seems con5incing that religion is pro+a+l. widening its scope and hori9on more in Nigeria nowada.s. 8here e>uall. seems to +e increasing num+ers o2 Bunior and Higher Islamic Schools and /olleges in Nigeria. 8here are o5er ('' SeminariesE@i+le /olleges& and /hristian 4ni5ersities esta+lished +. the /atholic& Protestant and the Pentecostals in the present Nigeria (?c/ain 1999 . 8here are also numerous shrines& co5ens and perhaps pra.er houses where apprentices are +eing taught the traditions o2 the 02ricans. 8hese institutions ha5e produced more clerics& Priests& @ishops& priest-healers& Imams and the li*es in the 2'th /entur.. Nigerians are now less dependent upon Hestern Institutions& missionaries& +oo*s and academic research. ?ore Nigerians are +ecoming lecturers in /olleges and 4ni5ersities= Religious departments across the nation with speciali9ation in Islamic Studies& /hristian Religious Studies& 08R& 8heolog. and Interaction o2 Religions or /omparati5e Religion. Nigeria as at the period 19''s and 2'''s witnessed the ordinations o2 women clerics in the Pres+.terian and ?ethodist /hurches. In the Pentecostal circles& >uite a 2ew women ha5e +een ordained @ishops +eginning 2rom the late 2'th /entur.. 8he ordination o2 ?rs. ?argaret Idahosa o2 the /hurch o2 Cod ?ission& @enin& is a case in

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point. It is in2ormati5e too to *now that up to now& the Roman /atholic /hurch resist ordination o2 women as Priests. 6>uall.& in the 21st /entur.& more and more Pentecostals are +eing elected into the leadership positions o2 the /hristian 0ssociation o2 Nigeria (/0N at the Local& State and National le5els which had not +een the case +e2ore now. 3rom all indications& it is >uite re5ealing that Nigeria is a 5er. 2ertile soil 2or religion. 8here is so much religiosit. in Nigeria in the 21st /entur.. 8here seems to +e so much church acti5ities& con2erences& con5entions& retreats& crusades& pilgrimages& night 5igils& picnics& e5angelistic campaigns& without much corresponding spiritualities and moral growth (?c/ain 1999 . In Nigeria toda.& cases o2 immoralit.& homose;ualit.& les+ianism& incest& rape& armed ro++er.& terrorism& assassination& *idnapping& di5orce& a+ortion& e;amination malpractices& god-fatherism& intolerant& tri+alism& corruption& religious crisis and the li*e a+ound with /hristians and ?uslims topping the lists as culprits. In his o+ser5ation& Imosem (2'12 declares that< It appears that man. Nigerians are religious without +eing righteous. He o+ser5ed all the pra.ers& 2asting and attendance o2 ser5ices& +ut do not re2lect the true teachings o2 our religions in our da. to da. interaction with our 2ellow citi9en. He compartmentali9e our li5es such that what is taught in our /hurches or ?os>ues sta. there (p. 2 . 3rom the 2oregoing assertion& it can easil. +e deduced that there seems to +e no direct correlation +etween increase in Nigerians= religiosit. and crime rate in Nigeria. In another de5elopment& the wa. miracle campaigns are +eing pu+licised +. means o2 earl. morning street preaching& posters& radios& tele5isions& newspapers& and maga9ines in the 21st /entur.& pro+a+l. portra. miracle as something that could +e dished out at will at an. gi5en moment o2 the da. +. those Pentecostal pastors and Pra.ers House operators. 8his& in the scrutin. o2 man. ma. e5entuall. lead to sheer h.pocris. or manipulated miracles. It is o+ser5ed too that most o2 these so called pastors and practitioners o2 pra.er houses are under (' .ears o2 age who 2ind the e;ercise o2 +inding and casting o2 demons a worth. one there+. demonstrating their .outh2ul e;u+erance and 2anaticism. ,. )#e -uture of Religion in Nigeria Ci5en the a+o5e& it ma. not +e an o5er statement to 2orecast that& the three dominant religions in Nigeria will outli5e the 21st /entur.. 8he 2uture o2 08R& Islam and /hristianit. appears to +e 5er. +right in Nigeria. 8he Pentecostal churches are reall. proli2erating in Nigeria. 3or instance the Redeemed /hristian /hurch o2 Cod (R//C has 5ouchsa2ed to plant churches within 2i5e minutes wal*ing distance in e5er. cit. and town o2 de5eloping countries& and within 2i5e minutes dri5ing distance in e5er. cit. and town o2 de5eloped countries (http.EEmainrccg.Echurch ministr.Emission Statement mainEhtm . 8he Roman /atholic /hurch and the @aptist /hurch are e;periencing e;ponential growth in Northern Nigerian which has not +een the case in the 19"'s (?c/ain 1999 . 8here is the li*elihood too that Islam will +lossom in Nigeria. 8he greatest concentration o2 ?uslims is in the Northern States& 2orming a+out three 2ourths o2 the entire northern population& +ut toda. Islam is the dominant 2aith in a 2ew o2 the Southern States& which e>uall. is graduall. penetrating the eastern States (3alola 2'11 . 8he reason 2or this spread o2 Islam ma. not +e 2ar2etched. Islam adopts a 5er. simple wa. o2 li2e and most o2 its propagators are traders who usuall. spread their tentacles e5er.where. 0gain& Islam has success2ull. mi;ed su+stantial portion o2 its +elie2 with indigenous +elie2s especiall. +elie2 in magic and medicine 2or protection which seems appealing to most people in this crisis prone Nigeria (1an2ulani 2''2 . 8he >uestion o2 whether 08R will sur5i5e in Nigeria or not is in the a22irmati5e. 0ccording to ?+iti (197! IIn matters o2 deeper things o2 li2e such as +irth& marriage and death& the. (+oth /hristians and ?uslims ha5e remained largel. 2ollowers o2 02rican ReligionJ (p. 1!9 . 8here is also an upsurge o2 interest in traditional medicines in Nigeria. People in Nigeria are 9ealousl. patroni9ing traditional medicine healers 2or o+5ious reasons. Sic*nesses are all around us toda. in Nigeria. Some o2 them ha5e de2ied medical sciences or orthodo; medication and conse>uentl. people 2ind relie2 in the application o2 nati5e her+s. 8oda.& there is a registered +od. o2 8raditional ?edicine Practitioners in Nigeria who 2rom time to time& organi9e trade 2air 2or traditional medicine with so much clientele (0*ueshi 1999 . /i5il& ethnic and religious crisis in Nigeria ha5e alwa.s pushed most people to see*ing protection 2rom nati5e doctors which in a wa. help in e;panding the trade. It ma. pro+a+l. +e right also to sa. that& most o2 the practitioners o2 pra.er houses in Nigeria are essentiall. nati5e doctors that ha5e recentl. learnt the Pentecostal st.les o2 administering healing and& who pro+a+l. ha5e incorporated and in:ected Pentecostals= pra.er methods into their practice. 0dded to this is the 2act that some so-called Pentecostal pastors are +eginning to patroni9e nati5e doctors in order to o+tain power to grow large 2ollowership in their churches. 8his helps in no small wa. to +rightening the 2uture o2 08R in Nigeria (0*iode in Iheanochacho 2''9 . 9. )#e Role Religion s#ould .lay in Nigeria 3ollowing the trend o2 this discussion& it is easil. discerni+le that religion is a+surdl. occup.ing the /entral

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stage in the pri5ate and national li2e o2 Nigerians. It has +ecome the ma:or preoccupation o2 e5er. li2e in Nigeria. 8here2ore& 2or religion to +e properl. managed and harnessed in Nigeria it must o2 necessit. stri5e towards achie5ing the under listed< i .@rings crime rates and corruption to the +arest minimum in Nigeria. ii. Promotes the tenets o2 integrit.& hard wor*& 2airness& :ustice and respect 2or constituted spiritual and temporal authorit.. iii. See*s to tac*le unemplo.ment pro+lems& impro5es the lot o2 people and their general li5ing conditions. i5. It should +e used as a tool 2or greater progress in the wel2are o2 people as well as the general de5elopment o2 the societ. (Imosem 2'12 . 5. 6nsures and promotes peace2ul co-e;istence o2 the Nigerian /iti9ens irrespecti5e o2 their tri+al and religious leanings (Nwahaghi 199! . 5i. It should +e used as a tool 2or the promotion o2 the moral and social well +eing o2 the Nigerian citi9ens. 5ii. 6ndea5ours to eradicate social e5ils which ha5e plagued the Nigerian nation. 5iii. It should +e used as an e22ecti5e instrument 2or nation +uilding and national de5elopment (0de.emi 2'1' i;. Promotes and Sustains proper religious cum moral up+ringing o2 children in Nigerian Schools& /olleges and 4ni5ersities. ;. Helps to inculcate the 2ear o2 Cod in the /iti9enr. so that people will *eep up the 5irtue o2 human 5alues and shun acts o2 2anaticism. 8his will su+due the tide o2 religious con2licts in Nigeria. 10. Ac#ie%ements of Religion in Nigeria Religion is pro+a+l. the most popular phenomenon in contemporar. Nigeria. Religion has achie5ed this preeminence due to its o5erwhelming impacts and contri+utions in the Nigerian societ.. 0s a nota+le agent o2 change& religion has undenia+l. e;erted a great deal o2 in2luence positi5el. and negati5el. on the Nigerian people in man. wa.s. 65en though& it is on record that religion in Nigeria has 2uelled and generated a lot o2 tensions and con2licts (0gi 199! & it is no dou+t a great 2orce o2 peace and unit. in Nigeria (8ura*i 2'1' . Religious a22iliation has +een a +inding 2orce in Nigeria. It is a *nown 2act that religion whether it is /hristianit.& Islam or 08R has +een a+le to success2ull. unite the di22erent ethnic groups together and ma*e them to coe;ist peace2ull. along religious lines in Nigeria. 0ccording to $moreg+e (199" < It can hardl. +e denied that religion has +een the source o2 a lot o2 intolerance& 2eud& discrimination and de5astating wars in di22erent parts o2 the world& +oth in the past and at present...It has also done a lot o2 good to man*ind. It has produced saints in e5er. part o2 the worldD it has helped to inculcate in man. people worldwide the spirit o2 sel2-discipline and dedicated ser5ice to one=s 2ellow men. It has ena+led man. people to see some meaning and purpose in their li5es. @. pro5iding man with a world5iew and descri+ing man=s place within the scheme o2 things& religion ena+les man. people (who +elie5e in it to see human li2e as meaning2ul and purpose2ul& thus pro5iding them with a sense o2 direction in li2e (p. 29!& #'1 . 0s a matter o2 2act& histor. has shown that religion does 2oster national growth and de5elopment. In Nigeria& religion has greatl. assisted in wiping out mass illiterac. (4gwu 2''2D 0.andele 19"" . Indeed& the outstanding contri+utions o2 /hristianit. and Islam in the enlightenment and education o2 Nigerians cannot :ust +e o5erloo*ed. @oth religions ha5e pla.ed signi2icant roles in the e5ol5ement o2 a literate culture in Nigeria. 8his was through the esta+lishments o2 the 5arious missionar. and >uoranic schools in Nigeria (Lemu 2''2D ?*pa 2'1' . In his o+ser5ation& Schumacher (197) maintains that de5elopment does not start with goodsD it starts with people and their education& organi9ation and discipline. 8his is a 2act. It is people who are *nowledgea+le& competent& honest and s*il2ul that +uilds a nation. Schumacher (197) e;patiates that< 8he wor* o2 nation +uilding solidl. hinges on the wa. the state en:o.s true goodness. 8he +uilding o2 the nation is 2irst and 2oremost the +uilding o2 the people that ma*e up the nation& which in e22ect +oils down to the +uilding up o2 the indi5iduals themsel5es O :ustice& lo5e and peace& which are essential ingredients 2or nation +uilding& and are products o2 the human heartD these cannot +e imposed +. the 2orce o2 arms (p. 1(' . /hristianit. 2or instance& in the opinion o2 ?+achirin (2'11 has made great achie5ements in the areas o2 education& healthcare& and rural de5elopment since its inception in Nigeria. 8he education that religion gi5es in2luence people=s moral li2eD there+. ma*ing them perhaps to +e responsi+le in all areas o2 li2e in the societ.. 8his implies that religion encourages people to li5e moral li5es +. pro5iding them with the incenti5es to do so. 0ccording to $moreg+e (199" & one o2 the 5irtues taught +. religion is the 5irtues o2 humilit.. 8his& in a wa. pro5ides man with a new dimension to the concepts o2 leadership and greatness. @. in2erence& there2ore& it is reasoned that religion nurtures good go5ernance& as is sel2 e5idenced in Nigeria. 8his is premised on the 5er.

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2act o2 the 5arious religious teaching o2 the 2ounders o2 religions. 8he teaching and practical e;ample o2 Besus /hrist& the 2ounder o2 /hristianit. on humilit.& 2or instance gi5es the Nigerian /hristians the impetus to im+i+e and inculcate that st.le o2 leadership in Nigeria. 8his is +uttressed +etter in the 2ollowing words< Leadership should mani2est itsel2 in sel2less ser5ice rather than in the e;ercise o2 authorit.. Creatness re5eals itsel2 in humilit.& 2or it is the hum+le that is great. 0 leader should there2ore distinguish himsel2 +. sel2less ser5iceD an.one who aspires to greatness must +e hum+le& 2or it is humilit. that leads to greatness ($moreg+e 199"& p. #'( . Religion has o5er the .ears produced great leaders in Nigeria. 8he three ma:or religions in Nigeria ha5e contri+uted immensel. in the political de5elopment o2 the countr.. 8he. all produced competent indi5iduals who championed the cause o2 leadership in Nigeria (1i*e 19)7 . 8rue to its teachings& religion nourished indi5iduals who understood the concept o2 leadership as sel2less ser5ice to the nation. @eginning 2rom the 1!th centur.& Nigeria started witnessing the emergence o2 nationalities with seasoned leadership >ualities li*e /hie2 $+a2emi 0wolowo& 1r Nnamdi 09i*we& Sir 0hmadu @ello& Ceneral Ma*u+u Cowon& /hie2 $lusegun $+asan:o& Ceneral ?uhammadu @uhari& Pro2 Berr. Cana& Pro2 1ora 0*un.ili& 0lha:i Shehu Shagari& Ceneral I+rahim @adamasi @a+angida& 1r Ngo9i $*on:o-Iweala& 0lha:i 4maru ?usa Mar=adua and 1r Coodluc* 6+ele Bonathan among se5eral others (?usa 2''9 . 8hough& some o2 them percei5ed leadership as e;ercise o2 authorit. and as an a5enue to amass wealth 2or themsel5es& +ut ma:orit. o2 them did credita+l. well and impro5ed the lot o2 the people tremendousl. in Nigeria. 3urthermore& religion in the 2'th and 21st centur. has achie5ed some measures o2 incarnation in Nigeria. In tr.ing to respond to the .earnings o2 the people& +oth /hristianit. and Islam in their indi5idual wa.s attempt to incarnate religion in Nigeria. 1uring this epoch& religion especiall. /hristianit. assumed its true 02rican nature +. putting o22 all 2oreign regalia and clothed itsel2 with 02rican cultural gar+s. Islam and especiall. /hristianit. +orrowed hea5il. some cultural elements +. adopting local drums& 5estments& singing in local languages& hand clapping and dancing with 02rican rh.thm and the li*es. 8here were o+5iousl. ostensi+le signs 2or the reco5er. o2 Nigerian cultural 5alues& which 2urther aided more de5elopment o2 Nigerian indigenous languages. 8here was e>uall. great e;pansion in the traditional& Islamic and /hristian education in Nigeria. 0ll o2 these culminated in the 2ight against all 2orms o2 corruption& in:ustice& molestation o2 the girl child and the ad5ocac. 2or women empowerment to enhance the dignit. o2 the human person in Nigeria. 11. "onclusion Nigeria is a 5er. 2ertile soil 2or religion. It is disco5ered that at the present time the three dominant religions in Nigeria are 2ull o2 li2e and will li*el. sur5i5e an. threat o2 e;tinction in the 2uture. 8he 2'th /entur. has +een noted as the most decisi5e .ears o2 religiosit. in Nigeria. It saw the e;pansion and consolidation o2 religion in the areas o2 education& agriculture& healthcare& politics and econom. o2 the nation. 0s it happened& the collecti5e e22orts and initiati5es o2 the 5arious religious adherents in Nigeria turned same into a strong +ase 2or religious and socio-economic de5elopment. In this 21st /entur.& religion is seen to +e showcasing its true 02rican nature with so man. signs o2 gains and losses 2or the practitioner. In spite o2 tensions here and there in the countr.& arising 2rom the interaction o2 the 5arious religions in Nigeria& religion still remains the most desired in Nigeria. It is most pro+a+le in 5iew o2 this that Nigerian ma:or religions will outli5e the 21st centur. in a competiti5e manner in terms o2 structural and numerical e;plosion. Ha5ing said this& it is recommended that all the sta*e holders in the Nigerian cardinal religions should come together and 2orm a common 2orum to urgentl. address the monster o2 religious intolerance& insensiti5it.& sel2 interest and 2anaticism in the interest o2 peace2ul co-e;istence& nation +uilding and Nigerian +rotherhood. References 0chuni*e& H./. (2''2 . Dreams of Heaven: A Modern Response to Christianity in North Western Igbo land, 1 !"#1 "& $nitsha< 02ricana-3ep Pu+lishers Ltd. ......................... (2''( . $he Infl%en&e of 'ente&ostalism on &atholi& 'riests and (eminarians in Nigeria. $nitsha< 02ricana 3irst Pu+lishers Limited ---------------------- (2''9 . Catholi& Charismati& Movement in Igbo land 1 !"#1 )& 6nugu< 3ourth 1imension Pu+lishers 0de.emi& S. (2'1' * Nigeria of my Dream& Lagos< Pneuma Pu+lishing Ltd. 0gha& 0. (1999 . +arly +%ropean Missionary to West Afri&a: An Introd%&tion to West Afri&an Ch%r&h History& 6nugu< S0Ps NIC. Ltd. 0gi& S.P.I. (199! . 'oliti&al History of Religio%s ,iolen&e in Nigeria, /ala+ar< Pigasiann A Crace International Pu+lishers 0:ah&P.$. (199( * Christianity in West Afri&a& 4+uru< 8ruth and Li2e Pu+lications Ltd 0:a.i& B.3.0. (19") * Christian Missions in Nigeria& London< Longmans

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0*ueshi& /.$. (1999 . I8raditional ?edicine and ?edicinal Plants in NigeriaJ& in 4godulunwa& 3.P.$. A I*e& 6.6. (ed. History and 'hilosophy of (&ien&e& Bos< 4niBos /onsultanc. Ltd. 0.andele& 6.0. (19"" . $he Missionary Impa&t on Modern Nigeria: 1-./#1 1.* London< Longman Croup @aur& B. (2''9 */""" 0ears of Christianity in Afri&a,2nd 6dition Nairo+i< Paulines Pu+lications 02rica. @e.er& 6. (1997 . Ne1 Christian Movements in West Afri&a: A Co%rse in Ch%r&h History. I+adan< Se2er /rampton& 6.P.8. (1979 * Christianity in Northern Nigeria& London< Ceo22re. /hapman. 1an2ulani& 4.H.1. (2''1 & IReligious /on2lict on the Bos Plateau < 8he Interpla. +etween /hristianit. and 8raditional Religion during the 6arl. ?issionar. PeriodJ in (1edish Missiologi&al $hemes& %ol.!9& No.1& p.7-#9. --------------------- (2''2 & Healing in (ome Afri&an Independen&e Ch%r&hes in Nigeria: (t%dies in Disease +tiology* 0n 4npu+lished Handout& 4ni5ersit. o2 Bos& Bos 1i*e& ,.$. (19)7 . 2rigin of the Niger Mission 1-.1#1- 1& 5iewed ! Bune 2'1# anglicanhistor..orgE02ricaEngEdi*eForigin 6*e& N.R. (2''! & 'roliferation of Ch%r&hes in a Contemporary Christian 3aith in Ns%44a 56*A. 0n 4npu+lished @ 0 (Hons 1egree. 4ni5ersit. o2 Nigeria& Nsu**a 6*eopara& /.0. (199" & $he Development of Islam after the Death of Mohammed. 0n 4npu+lished Handout& 4ni5ersit. o2 /ala+ar. ------------------- (199" & Introd%&tion to Afri&an $raditional Religion . 0n 4npu+lished Handout & 4ni5ersit. o2 Nigeria & /ala+ar. 6nang& ,. (2'12 . $he Nigerian Catholi&s and the Independent Ch%r&hes: A Call to A%thenti& 3aith. Nairo+i< Paulines Pu+lications 02rica. en*1i4ipedia*org71i4i7Religion8in8Nigeria on Religion in Nigeria 2'1'. %iewed 2( Bune& 2'1#. 6nwerem& I.?. (199) * A Dangero%s A1a4ening: $he 'oliti&i9ation of Religion in Nigeria& I+adan< I3R0 6ri5wo& S.4. (19!) & I8raditional Religion and /hristianit. among 4rho+oJ ?6.I. (ed. $he 6ods in Retreat: Contin%ity and Change in Afri&an Religion, 6nugu< 3ourth 1imension Pu+lishing /o Ltd &Pp.21-(". 3alola& 8.$. (2'11 . Religion in Nigeria 1 th Cent%ry. %iewed 12 Bune 2'1#& www.+ritannica.com. Hac*ett& R.I.B. A $lupona& B.,.(n.d. . /i5il Religion Han*s& C. (199! .Rep* !" 6reat Christians& ,aduna< 65angel Pu+lications Idowu& 6.@. (197#:* Afri&an $raditional Religon: A Definition, London< S/? Press Ltd. Imosem& I. (2'12 . Religion and the Nigerian (o&iety& 5iewed " Bune 2'1#& 111*p%n&hng*&om7opinion. Iwe& N.S.S. (1979 * Christianity, C%lt%re and Colonialism, PortHarcourt< n.p. ,alu& $.4. (197! & IProstestant /hristianit. in Ig+olandJ in ,alu& $.4. (ed.: A History of Christianity in West Afri&a< 8he Nigeria Stor.& I+adan< 1a.star Press ,itause& R.H. (2'12 & I?oral 1ecadence< 0 /hallenge to Sustaina+le 1e5elopment in /ontemporar. NigeriaJ in ;o%rnal of (%stainable Development &%ol. 2& No.1& p. (7-)2. ------------------ (2'11 & I8he Interpla. o2 Religion and /ulture among the ,ute+J in Afri&an ;o%rnal of Arts and C%lt%ral (t%dies& %ol.(& No.1& p. 9-1). Lemu& 0. (2''2 & IReligious 6ducation in Nigeria< 0 /ase Stud.J. 0 Report 2rom the Preparator. Seminar in $SL$ 1ecem+er 7-9& pu+lished +. the $SL$ /oalition on 3reedom o2 Religion or @elie2. %iewed 27 Septem+er 2'1#& http:77fol4*%io*no7leirvi472(52&oalition7aishalem%* ?ac>uarrie& B. (1971 . 'rin&iples of Christian $heology, London< S/? Press Ltd. ?ala& S.@. (199" & Common A&tions by Christians and M%slims: $he Nigerian +<perien&e* 0n 4npu+lished Research Paper& 4ni5ersit. o2 /ala+ar& /ala+ar. ?+achirin& 0.8. (2'11 & I8he Responses o2 the /hurch in Nigeria to Socio-economic& Political and Religious Pro+lems in Nigeria< 0 /ase Stud. o2 the /hristian 0ssociation o2 Nigeria (/0N .J %iewed 2" $cto+er 2'1#& 2rom< https:77beardo&s*baylor*ed%7<ml%i7handle7/1".7.-!. . ?+iti& B.S. (197! . Introd%&tion to Afri&an Religion. Rep.& London< Heinemann 6ducational @oo*s @oo*s Ltd. ------------- (19"9 . Afri&an Religions and 'hilosophy& Lagos< Heinemann 6ducational @oo*s Ltd. ?etuh& I. 6. (1992 & IReligion as Instrument o2 Peace in NigeriaJ in $lupuna& B.,. (ed. .Religion and 'ea&e in M%lti#faith Nigeria& Ile- I2e< $+a2emi 0wolowo 4ni5ersit. Press& p.9-19. -------------- (1 -! . Comparative (t%dies of Afri&an $raditional Religion& $nitsha< Imico pu+lishers --------------- (19!) & I?uslim Resistance to /hristian ?Iissionar. Penetration o2 Northern Nigeria 1!)7-19"'< 0 ?issiological InterpretationJ in ?etuh& I.6. (ed. . $he 6ods in Retreat: Contin%ity and Change in Afri&an Religions& 6nugu< 3ourth 1imensions Pu+lishers& p.!)-1'". ?*pa& ?.0. (2'1' & I$5er5iew o2 6ducational 1e5elopment< Pre-colonial to Present 1a.J. %iewed 22 0ugust& 2'1#& www.onlinenigeria.comEeducationE+lur+Q)#(. ?usa& 1. (2''9 . Christians in 'oliti&s: Ho1 &an they be +ffe&tive= @u*uru< 02rican /hristian 8e;t+oo*s Nwahaghi& 3.N. (199! & Religion in the 'ast and 'resent Nigeria* 0n 4npu+lished paper&

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Research on Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2222-1719 (Paper ISSN 2222-2!"# ($nline %ol.#& No.1!& 2'1#

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$+ilom& B.6./. (2''# & CR> (t%dents in an +le&troni& Age& 0 Lead Paper presented to the /on2erence o2 National 0ssociation o2 @i+le ,nowledge 8eachers o2 Nigeria held at Com+e +etween 2nd A "th 0pril& 2''# $+iora& 3.,. (1999 . $he Divine De&eit: ?%siness in Religion. Rep.& 6nugu< $ptimal Pu+lishers. $deh& L.6. (2'12 & IHistorical 0nal.sis o2 6thno-Religious %iolence in NigeriaJ in Ra:i& R.0. (ed. . $he Relevan&e of Religion in Contemporary (o&iety. p.(7-"2. %iewed Bune 12 2'1#. %nilorin*ed%*ng7p%bli&ation7lem%el7odeh. $du.o.e& ?. (19"9 . $he 'lanting of Christianity in 0or%ba land 1-./#1--"& I+adan< 1a.star Press $lowola& /. (199# . Afri&an $raditional Religion and the Christian 3aith& 0chimota< 02rica /hristian Press. $lusegun& $. A 0*in& ?. (1992 *+lement of Demo&ra&y& I+adan< 0L3 Pu+lishers. $moreg+e& B.I. (199" . A 'hilosophi&al 5oo4 at Religion. Rep.& Lagos< Bo:a 6ducational Research and Pu+lishers Ltd. $nah& N.C. (2'1' & IHuman 8ra22ic*ing in Nigeria< 0 /hristian ResponseJ& in Ns%44a ;o%rnal of Religion and C%lt%ral (t%dies, %ol. #& No. 1& Pp. 1(1-1"'. $nai.e*an& B. (2'12 & Religion in Nigeria: A $est Case for the World. 0 Speech 1eli5ered at the $pening Plenar. Session o2 the 1'th 0nni5ersar.& Rhodes 3orum on $cto+er (& 2'12. %iewed 12 Bune& 2'1#& 1pfd*org7so&iety71 -8religion8in8Nigeria. $nwurah& 6& (199' & I?ission /hristian /on5erts in 8raditional Ig+o Societ. in NigeriaJ in ,idya@yoti ;o%rnal of $heologi&al Refle&tion& %ol. )(& No."& p.2!1-2!!. 'lo%ghshare*&a7plamed&onfli&t7Nigeria#1 ". $n Religion in Nigeria 199'& Nigeria (199'-3irst /om+at deaths . 5iewed 1! Bune& 2'1#. Salawu& @. (2'1' & I6thno-Religious /on2lict in Nigeria< /ausal 0nal.sis and Proposals 2or new ?anagement StrategiesJ in +%ropean ;o%rnal of (o&ial (&ien&es& %ol. 1#& No. #& p.#()-#)2. %iewed 1! Bune 2'1#& www.eis2.euEresourcesEli+rar.Ee:ssFNigeria. Schrec*& 0. (2'11 . $he Compa&t History of the Catholi& Ch%r&h& @andra& ?um+ai< St. Paul Press Schumacher& 6.3. (197) . (mall and ?ea%tif%l: A (t%dy of +&onomi&s as if 'eople Mattered* London< Scri+ner. So.in*a& H. (2'12 & ReligionAs Role in Nigeria $%rmoil& @@/ News 02rica 1' Banuar.& 2'12. %iewed 1!Bune& 2'1#& 111*bb&*&o*%47ne1s71orld8Afri&a81B.-//1B. 8asie& C.$.?. (2''1 & I02rican /ulture& ?odern Science and Religious thoughtJ& 0 ,e.-note address presented on 19th $cto+er. 2oo1 during 02rican /on2erence on Science and Religion held +etween 19 and 2( $cto+er& 2''1 at the 4ni5ersit. o2 Ilorin. ----------------- (197! . Christian Missionary +nterprise in the Niger Delta, 1-B.#1 1-& Leiden< 6.B. +rill 8owns& 6.L. (1971 . $he Christian Hall of 3ame& Crand RapidsD ?ichigan< @a*er @oo* House. 8rimingham& B.S. (19"' . A History of Islam in West Afri&a& London< $;2ord 4ni5ersit. Press. ---------------------- (19!' . Infl%en&e of Islam %pon West Afri&a& London< $;2ord 4ni5ersit. Press Ltd. 8ura*i& M. (2'1' & I/hristian Religious 6ducation< 8he @asis 2or Peace2ul Relations in NigeriaJ& +eing a ,e.note 0ddress presented at the #2nd 0nnual National /on2erence o2 National 0ssociation o2 /hristian Religious 6ducators o2 Nigeria& at the 0nglican Cirls Secondar. School 0+u:a& on 0pril 2(27& 2'1'. 4gwu& /.$.8. (2''2 . Man and His Religion in a Contemporary (o&iety. Nsu**a< /hu*a 6ducational Pu+lishers 4*a& 6.?. (199' & IIs Religious 6ducation Necessar. in /ontemporar. SchoolsGJ in Nwachu*u& 1.N. (ed. Contemporary Iss%es in Nigerian +d%&ation and Development& 6nugu< Sam A Star Croup /ompan. p.1(9-1)9 %an 1erleeuw& C. (19"# & IReligion in 6ssence and ?ani2estation< 0 Stud. in Phenomenolog.J in $RAN(, 8urner& B.6.& 2 %olumes& New Mor*< Harper A Row Halls& 0.3. (199" . $he Missionary Movement in Christian History: (t%dies in the $ransmission of 3aith& New Mor*< $r+is @oo*s Hat*ins& ?. C. A Hat*ins. L.I (1992 . All Nations +nglish Di&tionary& ,atuna.a*e& Sri Lan*a< New Li2e Literature (P5t Ltd.

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Research on Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2222-1719 (Paper ISSN 2222-2!"# ($nline %ol.#& No.1!& 2'1#

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/iodata of t#e Aut#ors -irst A. Rimamsi0we 1abila Kitause 2A'3493-1A'349(-5A'3499-!A'3402-A"'340,-"'34116 !#. 7 5tudent8. Place o2 @irth< @i*a @a++a& 8a*umD 1ate o2 @irth< $cto+er 2#& 19"" 1egreeE/erti2icate 3ield o2 Stud. Institution /it. State /ountr. Mear N./. 6 crsEpes 0hmadu @ello 4ni5ersit. Raria ,aduna Nigeria 1992 @.0. 6d. religion 4ni5ersit. o2 /ala+ar /ala+ar /RS Nigeria 199! ?.0 church histor. 4ni5ersit. o2 Bos Bos Plataeu Nigeria 2''# Ph. 1 church histor. 4ni5ersit. o2 Nigeria Nsu**a 6nugu Nigeria In 5iew Pu+lished se5en articles. 5econd A. 1ilary "#u0wu0a Ac#uni0e 2A949,-5940$-!R3-.4108 Place o2 @irth< 0+aD 1ate o2 @irth< No5em+er )& 19)) 1egree 3ield o2 Stud. Institution /it. State /ountr. Mear @. Phil philosoph. 4r+an 4ni5ersit. Rome Rome Ital. 19!# @.1 theolog. @igard ?emorial Seminar. 6nugu 6nugu Nigeria 19!7 ?.0 church histor. 4ni5ersit. o2 Nigeria Nsu**a 6nugu Nigeria 199) Ph. 1 church histor. A 4ni5ersit. o2 Nigeria Nsu**a 6nugu Nigeria 2''1 religion A societ. Pu+lished 2our +oo*s 6dited two +oo*s Pu+lished thirt. 2i5e articles

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