BUILDING A CHRIST-CENTERED AND RESILIENT FAITH IN CHRISTIAN STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigerian tertiary institutions are challenged by many problems such as cultism, armed robbery, examination malpractices, corruption, strikes, sexual permissiveness, rivalries and inordinate competitions among staff, power struggles in departments and faculties, drug addiction among students and even staff, etc. These problems that confront tertiary institutions also confront Christian students and hinder them from practicing their Christian faith vibrantly and healthily. This paper argues that Christians in tertiary institutions in Nigeria should be taught and empowered to defend their faith in Christ- centered communities. Christian chaplaincies in tertiary institutions are responsible for building a Christ-centered and resilient faith among students to enable them to combat and overcome the peculiar challenges they face. The paper uses critical analytic and hermeneutical methods to unravel the issues in the paper. The paper finds that Christian students in tertiary institutions face a lot of challenges that threaten their faith. The paper concludes that Christian chaplaincies should educate students to live and witness to Christ without giving in to the problems that they face.