Alozie Chukwunyere Iroanya
Hugh Goldie Lay/Theological Training Institution, Arochukwu, Abia State
Corresponding Author’s email: revaciroanya@gmail.com
Abstract
The prevalence of poverty in the Nigerian economy is nestling an overarching effect on local economies. Despite the government programs and policies aimed at poverty reduction, the country has failed to achieve a sustainable microeconomic environment which would reduce her hyperinflation, unemployment, consecutive budget deficits, low revenue base, huge infrastructure deficits, foreign exchange shortages, and loss of seigniorage revenue. This sluggish economic growth experienced in the country raises the questions: are there alternatives? Is there any link between the Nigerian Church and wealth creation? Against this backdrop, this study spotlights how the Church has increasingly played an important role in holistic transformation of individuals, communities, and societies anchored on the stakeholder theory. Using a descriptive phenomenological method, this study undertakes the educational task of establishing that the Bible supports the idea of wealth creation for holistic transformation, not wealth creation for its own sake, but for human well-being. Wealth creation for economic betterment of humanity is one of those neglected social concerns and it is that this study addresses. It reveals that creation of new and more productive jobs is the main driving force for wealth creation not “invidious comparison” and “pecuniary emulation” for self-gratification. In view of the government’s failure to achieve sustainable macro-economic performance, this study recommends that the government, businesses, and the academia should embrace biblical principles of wealth creation as central to the mission of holistic transformation of individuals and communities.
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