THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA, 1981-2020
Abstract
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), founded in 1952 by Rev. Josiah Akindayomi in Lagos, Nigeria, has evolved from a small indigenous congregation into a global Pentecostal movement, with thousands of parishes across Nigeria and a presence in over 190 countries. Its remarkable growth, particularly under the leadership of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has positioned the RCCG as a major religious institution and an influential socio-economic actor within the Nigerian public sphere. Beyond its spiritual mandate, the church has increasingly engaged in development-oriented initiatives, including scholarship schemes, vocational training programmes, healthcare provision, and disaster relief. However, despite these interventions, systematic scholarly evaluations of the RCCG’s concrete contributions to national development remain limited. This study adopts a qualitative analytical methodology, drawing on both primary and secondary sources, and is guided by the Theology of Development as its theoretical framework. It examines the multifaceted contributions of the RCCG to national development, focusing on its political, economic, and socio-cultural engagements. Politically, the RCCG has promoted civic awareness and encouraged ethical leadership among its members. Economically, the church has established skill-acquisition centres, microfinance initiatives, and educational institutions aimed at poverty reduction and entrepreneurship development. Socio-culturally, the RCCG has contributed to moral reorientation, community cohesion, and youth empowerment through its outreach and welfare programmes. Despite these contributions, the RCCG faces challenges such as balancing its spiritual mission with socio-political activism, managing doctrinal diversity across its global branches, and responding to critiques concerning transparency and inclusivity. Nevertheless, the church’s extensive human capital, organizational capacity, and commitment to holistic transformation suggest strong prospects for sustained developmental impact. The study concludes that the RCCG exemplifies the potential of faith-based institutions to serve as catalysts for national development in emerging economies.