ABSTRACT

This study investigated the role of Christian Religious Leaders in Shaping Educational Development in Edo State. In order to achieve this purpose, the following research questions were put forward and tested: Does the Christian religious leaders set up scholarship program? Does Christian religious leaders provide financial aids to students in need? Does Christian religious leaders help to provide infrastructure in public secondary schools in Ovia North East, Edo State.

The study adopted the descriptive survey research design for the study. The population of this research consists of 9,679 students in twenty eight (28) public secondary schools in Ovia North East. The major instruments used for the data collection was the questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated and the reliability was determined through test - retest method. The data collected were presented using frequency count and percentage analysis; For all the three (3) research questions examined, one hundred respondents that were used for the study was selected through simple random sampling techniques.

The study found that Christian religious leaders set up scholarship programs to support students educational pursuits and that Christian religious leaders provide financial aid to students in need. Also, Christian religious leaders add value to the educational system through infrastructural advancement. The study makes a number of recommendations which included; Religious leaders should collaborate with the government to ensure teaching if religion in schools to inculcate food morals in the minds of school children. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) should periodically raise funds to assist government in terms of infrastructure, various churches under CAN should create scholarship programs for students and those in their immediate environment.