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Publication Title A Review of Christians Participation in Nigerian Politics from 2011-2023

Publication Type journal

Publication Authors BLESSING UENOSEN OKOH, SIMON JEJI MAJIMRE

Year Published 2024-09-09

Abstract This paper sets to examine the challenges facing Christians Participation in Nigeria’s political theatre of Fourth Republic. The study relied on empirical data and documented related materials for qualitative analysis. The study established that politics remains the avenue where societies choose leaders to govern and make policy for the popular majority of the masses in a democratic setting. Nigeria’s current Fourth Republic seems to be the longest in the history of the nation having spent over twenty years of steady democratic rule. However, what informed this study is the level of Christian Participation in the politics of Fourth Republic that has been adjudged to be below expectation by the right-thinking citizens in the nation. For example, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections results released by Independent National Electoral Commission indicates voter apathy in a Christian dominated states across the country. While Christians are often first to cry foul of any government policy that is perceived to be anti-Christian, their participation however, remains below expectation. Hence the need to look at the challenges facing Christian Participation with aim of proffering solution to the challenges. Therefore, the study is not an attempt to polarize the nation’s politics base on religious line but to encourage active Participation of genuine Christians for better representation and national development. The study concludes that for Nigerian project to succeed, Christians must be involved, not passively but actively. Christians are advised to be on the driving seat in bringing about the desired change in the country. This is because Christians are better equipped, placed and specially endowed by God through Jesus Christ to be different. Recommendations were given among which includes the need for awareness creation and mentorship by those Christians who are already in the theatre of Politics.

Publication Title A Contextual Study of Colossians 1:16-17: And the Implications for Christians on Environmental Sustainability

Publication Type journal

Publication Authors BLESSING UENOSEN OKOH, SIMON JEJI MAJIMRE

Year Published 2024-10-10

Abstract Nigeria and the world at large are witnessing great Environmental degradation which threatens the c continuous existence of life and other Environmental resources in the ecosystem. The need to address the issue of Environmental degradation which poses great threat to life and other Environmental resources serve as an impetus for this study. The Paper employed biblical historical criticism while applying exegetical rule of context in analysing Colossians1:16-17 and the implications for Christians on Environmental Sustainability. Functionalism and Biocentrism serve as the theoretical framework. The study finds out that there is a significant level of misconception among some Christians about man’s place in the creation and his obligations towards other creatures, which lead to the irresponsible usage of Environmental resources. The Paper recommends the need for construction of theological teachings on the care for Environment among Christians.

Publication Title Contextualizing Ingratitude in Luke 17:12 – 18 Among the Members of Pentecostal Churches in Ika Land

Publication Type journal

Publication Authors BLESSING UENOSEN OKOH

Year Published 2023-11-11

Abstract here is no gainsaying the fact that appreciating good deeds done is a critical attribute of a civilized person. It boosts the morale of people to do more good to others and as a result, it promotes the culture of harmony and goodwill. Expressing thanks has the power in creating a deeper and stronger relationship among people. Sadly, we live in a society that is bedeviled with Ingratitude. There is a constant display of this vice. This attitude of Ingratitude is becoming progressively evident in these last days among some members of Pentecostal Churches in Ika land of Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State. It is against this backdrop that the study aims to Contextualize the story of the nine ungrateful Lepers in Luke 17:12 – 18 among one of the Pentecostal Churches in Ika land, Ministry of Reconciliation Evangelism Explosion. Historical- critical approach was employed in the work. The study shows that Ingratitude is a state of not feeling or showing that you are grateful for something like the nine lepers that did not come to thank Jesus. The Paper further reveals the characteristics of Ingratitude which include pride, feeling of entitlement, and taking God’s blessings for granted and not being thoughtful. The findings include lack of regular emphasis on the importance of gratitude based on biblical teachings, which implies potential gap in spiritual education of gratitude among the church members. It reflects a missed opportunity to utilize gratitude as a powerful tool for sharing the Christian faith and attracting others to the church. The Study therefore recommends that biblical teaching on the unhealthy display of Ingratitude in Pentecostal Churches in Ika Land in particular and the Christian communities in general should be deemphasized.

Publication Title The Interpretation of Luke 17:15 – 16 on the Concept of Gratitude in the Light of Ika Diocesan Anglican Communion

Publication Type journal

Publication Authors BLESSING UENOSEN OKOH, J. ENUWOSA

Year Published 2023-10-10

Abstract The Concept of Gratitude is compelling and facilitates the acknowledgement of human connection to the rest of humanity. It recognizes other people’s roles in life. Gratitude results to an active recognition of interdependence of one another. It is one of the most powerful feelings God has given to mankind the capacity to experience. It is essentially about not taking things for granted. The attitude of expressing Gratitude to people for kind gestures, contributions or roles enjoyed from a benefactor is an attribute highly prized by Jesus Christ as exemplified when he met and healed ten lepers who approached him to have mercy on them. Jesus commanded them to go and show themselves for the priests to examine them. On their way, they were cleansed of their leprosy. While others went their way, only one returned and he was a Samaritan. He came back praising and thanking God showing gratitude for the gesture. In total disappointment at the act of the nine other lepers, Jesus asked about them. He expected them to express Gratitude to God. By this act, Jesus frowned at the ingratitude and emphasized the importance of expressing Gratitude as displayed by the Samaritan leper who was blessed with complete wholeness of body and soul. He was described as a man of faith. This Paper is mainly aimed to examine the Concept of Gratitude and its Interpretation as expressed in Luke 17:15 – 16 and constructing a model for expression of Gratitude in Ika Diocesan Anglican Communion. Exegetical, hermeneutical, historical and phenomenological methods were employed to achieve the objective. The study therefore concludes that Gratitude is a moral cardinal virtue in the teaching of Jesus.

Publication Title Stemming the Tide of Corrupt Practices towards Attaining Educational Values in the Nigerian Society: The Role of Religious Education

Publication Type journal

Publisher Trends in Educational Studies Journal (TRESJ) Vol. 16(2), June, 2024.ISSN: 0795-3187)

Publication Authors Okoh Blessing Uenosen,

Year Published 2024-06-06

Abstract The Nigerian nation is endowed with human capital and natural resources, but the economy keeps going down the drain. This is due to the prevalence of unemployment, ignorance, poverty, and so on. Corrupt practices and mismanagement of affairs of the country occasion all these. This has made many Nigerians beggars in their land and resulted in anti-social conduct such as kidnapping and cultism. Our educational system is not left out in this menace. The absence of a moral and ethical basis remains the main factor responsible for this malady. Against this backdrop, the paper seeks to examine the Role of Religious Education in Stemming the Tide of Corrupt Practices towards Attaining Educational Values. The study adopted a historical descriptive approach. They found out that corruption in education constitutes a major to the successful attainment of educational values. The Paper identified various corrupt practices prevalent in the school system. The study concluded that Religious Educational serves as a tool to re-awake Nigerians to truly reflect the values articulate in our educational system. Recommendations were given among which include the need to change the societal orientation and value system which seem to emphasize erroneous acts at all cost.

Publication Title THE IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY ON IKA MARRIAGE RITES

Publication Type journal

Publisher Journal of Arts & Humanities Volume 17, Number 2, 2024

Publication Authors Okoh, Blessing Uenosen

Year Published 2024-02-02

Abstract Without doubt people are known by their way of life, their acts and arts that give them value, real identity and integrity. One such thing highly revered among the Ika people of Delta State, Nigeria is the Marriage institution. The Ika people thrive significantly as-an energetic people in their rich cultural heritage. Culture which is a way of life of a group of people includes their beliefs, language, Marriage and others. Western influence brought in by Christianity reflected in the Marriage system. Christianity advocated and encouraged monogamous Marriage as opposed to the important polygamous nature of the traditional Marriage system in Ika. Marriages conducted in churches meant Marriages under the Holy Ordinances. Coverts to Christianity who had more than one wives were advised to marry only one wife under Christian Marriage without regard to other wives already married in traditional way, Christianity greatly eroded the traditional Marriage Rites in Ika. The paper therefore examined the types of Marriage in Ika, the advent of Christianity and the Impact it has made on Marriage in Ika in culture. Historical- descriptive approach was adopted in this study to achieve its objectives. The paper concluded that the influence of modernity brought about by Christianity has serious Impact on Marriage in Ika Culture. It therefore recommended that there should be a new approach to traditional marriage in Ika.

Publication Title The Significance of the Priest in the Healing of the Ten Lepers: A Contextual Interpretation of Luke 17:12-14

Publication Type journal

Publisher Research Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies E-ISSN 2579-0528 P-ISSN 2695-2467 Vol. 9 No. 1 2023 www.iiardjournals.org

Paper Link https://doi.org/10.56201/ijssmr.v8.no1.2022.pg32.40

Publication Authors Okoh, Blessing Uenosen, Ejenobo, David Tejere (Assoc. Prof.)

Year Published 2023-01-01

Abstract The significant place of Priest in the development of human society in the biblical era highlights the fact that it is an important issue in our modern church today. If the office of Priest had a place in the Bible, does it still have a in the contemporary religious institutions? How relevant is the office of Priest today? These and other relevant questions regarding the significance of the office of the Priest are what this paper tried to investigate. To achieve this objective, the study examined the role of the Priest in the story of the healing of Ten Lepers in Luke 17:12 – 14. The study adopted the historical-critical and hermeneutical methods in contextualizing the story of the healing of the Ten Lepers. The study discovered that it was the responsibility of the Priest to make the final pronouncement as to the cleansing of any Leper in Israel. In other words, the Priest played an active role in the cleansing of Leper in Luke 17 in the sense that even though they had been healed by Jesus, the pronouncement of the healing had to be made by the Priest. The study thus concludes that if attention is given to the significance of the Priest in modern day Christianity, it will enhance the ministry of the church as she seeks to fulfil her mission to the world as God intended and also serves as agents of socialization to better the society. The paper therefore recommended that biblical teachings on the significance of Priest in healing ministry of the church should be emphasized. The contemporary churches should be made to understand that the Priests function as mediator of equilibrium between holy and profane in human society.

Publication Title National Security for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Role of Religious Leaders

Publication Type journal

Publisher Research Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies E-ISSN 2579-0528 P-ISSN 2695-2467 Vol 8. No. 1 2022 www.iiardjournals.org

Paper Link https://doi.org/10.56201/ijssmr.v8.no1.2022.pg32.40

Publication Authors Okoh, Blessing Uenosen

Year Published 2022-01-01

Abstract The scourge of insecurity in Nigeria has become a recurring decimal that threatens the protection of lives and properties. This invariably poses danger to sustainable development. It has become of great concern to us in the nation. Government effort to address the scourge which include public security awareness campaigns, equipping the security agencies, amnesty programmes, job creation to mention a few have not yielded the desired results. This could be as a result lack of political will by leaders at various levels, policy inconsistencies and the craze for wealth. Security is a necessary ingredient for sustainable development in Nigeria. This paper therefore examines the possible role religious leaders could play in addressing national security for sustainable development in Nigeria. Historical-descriptive method was employed in this enterprise. It concludes with the fact that any attempt to effect societal change with regard to national security without involving Religious Leaders is tantamount to ignoring one of the crucial catalysts for that process. The paper recommends that Religious leaders by virtue of their grass-root support and coverage should co-operate with governmental agencies to stem the tide of insecurity of lives and properties in the country. Until and unless this is done, the goal of sustainable development of the country will be difficult if not impossible to achieve.

Dr.(Mrs.) OKOH BLESSING UENOSEN

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