Environmental factors in Nigeria significantly
impacted the missionary enterprise through diseases,
climate, and the land itself, which created both
immense challenges and unique opportunities for
missionaries. The harsh tropical climate and diseases
like malaria and yellow fever were major obstacles,
causing high mortality rates and making evangelism
difficult. Conversely, the physical environment
including its natural resources and the cultural beliefs
surrounding the land influenced settlement patterns and
missionary strategies. The study discovered how
missionaries adapted by introducing new farming
techniques and building methods, and in some areas,
the perception of land as undesirable due to culturalbeliefs led to land being allocated to missions, which
then attracted local settlement. The study, however,
recommends the adoption of the missionaries’ strategy
in navigating the present day challenges that borders on
environment. This will arouse further consciousness for
environmental protection and ecological preservation.
As a qualitative research, the researchers adopted the
primary and secondary sources of data collection and
culture area approach for data analysis. The researchers
has sought to arouse the interest of the church to
develop and implement viable policies as instruments
of addressing the challenges of environmental
degradation which has always resulted to resentment,
desolation and an atmosphere of deploration.
References
Nwokocha, B. C., & Alokwu, O. C. (2025). Environmental factors and Christianization of Africa/Nigeria: Appraising the churches impact in addressing climatic conditions in Nigeria. Igbo scholars International Journal of Igbo Scholars Forum for Socio-Cultural Advancement (INC), 18(4), 1–508.