APPRAISAL OF THE CHALLENGES OF COVID – 19 ON CHURCH ACTIVITIES IN MINNA METROPOLIS OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of the Church in Minna metropolis of Niger State, Nigeria. The Church as a religious institution was not spared of the problems and devastating effects of COVID-19 especially in the year 2020 with the measures adopted by the government to curtail the spread of the disease especially lockdown that restricted the movement of people thereby paralyzing the activities of the Church and the commitments of members to religious activities. The objective of the paper, is to appraise the challenges of COVID-19 on the Church. The methodology adopted for the paper was historical. Both primary and secondary sources were also utilized to gather necessary data for the paper. The findings of the paper has shown that the sustainance of Church activities depends on the congregation, also church activities binds people together and the maintainance of the Clergy also are highly dependent on the congregation. The paper concludes that church activities should include measures that can promote self-reliance among both the clergy and the congregations, also programmes and activities that can sustain members of the church should be emphasized. The Church needs to re-evaluate some of her activities to meet up with the realities of our times. This paper hereby recommends that, there should be re-orientation for members of the Church concerning her commitments to church activities; the Church should also include activities that are sustainable like skill acquisition, empowerment and management skills.