Assessment of the Impact of Materialism on the Economic Development of Christian Youth in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Charity Indip YUSUF; Briskila DAUDA; Longji Kingsley ANTHONY

doi:10.56201/ijssmr.vol.11no8.2025.pg376.384

📄 Download Paper

Assessment of the Impact of Materialism on the Economic Development of Christian Youth in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Charity Indip YUSUF, Briskila DAUDA, Longji Kingsley ANTHONY

Abstract

This research examined the impact of materialism on the economic development of Christian youth in Kaduna State, Nigeria, adopting a descriptive survey design. From a population of 12,800 officers, a random sample of 1,026 respondents was selected, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire, with mean scores used for analysis. The findings showed that materialism leads Christian youth in Kaduna State into reckless spending and the pursuit of quick wealth, while discouraging investment in education, skill development, and entrepreneurship, thereby undermining financial discipline and collective economic growth. The study concludes that materialism negatively affects the economic advancement of Christian youth by encouraging debt, wasteful expenditure, and disregard for education, skills, and entrepreneurial ventures. It recommends that Christian youth be guided toward financial prudence by prioritizing savings, investments, and sustainable entrepreneurship, while churches, families, and community groups should foster value-based education that promotes skills acquisition, vocational training, and cooperative economic practices to curb materialistic tendencies.

Keywords

MaterialismEconomic DevelopmentChristian YouthKaduna State

References

Adebo, A. I., & Hamsan, H. H. (2023). Identity exploration of university students in the somatic and material domains: The mediating role of conspicuous consumption. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 41(4), 1716–1735. Adewale, A. A. (2020). Youth materialism and consumer behavior in Nigeria: Implications for economic growth. Journal of African Business Research, 16(2), 45–59. Akinyemi, B. O. (2022). Materialism, social capital, and youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria. African Development Review, 34(1), 67–81. Bello, T. (2021). Materialism and financial behavior among youth in Nigeria. Journal of Economic and Social Studies, 14(2), 55-68. David, A. (2019). Corruption, materialism, and youth economic participation. Nigerian Journal of Contemporary Economics, 12(1), 67-80. Górnik-Durose, M. E. (2019). Materialism and well-being revisited: The impact of personality. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(1), 185–207. Ibrahim, L. (2022). Consumerism and its effects on youth capacity building in Northern Nigeria. African Journal of Development Research, 18(1), 101-115. Johnson, P. (2020). Education, human capital, and sustainable development. International Journal of Educational Development, 25(3), 87-99. Kasser, T., & Ahuvia, A. (2002). Materialistic values and well-being in business students. European Journal of Social Psychology, 32(1), 137–146 Kola?ska-Stronka, M., & Gorbaniuk, O. (2022). Materialism, conspicuous consumption, and brand engagement in self-concept: A study of teenagers. Current Issues in Personality Psychology, 10(1), 39–48. Marshall, R. (2009). Political spiritualities: The Pentecostal revolution in Nigeria. (For article excerpt on prosperity discourse: The Pentecostal prosperity gospel in Nigeria, Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 5(2): 76-84 Musa, R. (2023). Material values and the decline of social responsibility among Nigerian youth. Journal of Social and Cultural Dynamics, 19(4), 143-157. National Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Nigeria Labour Force Survey (Q4 2023): Unemployment & underemployment by state and NEET rates. Abuja: NBS. Nwosu, P. I. (2018). Faith, materialism, and economic ethics among Nigerian Christian youths. Nigerian Journal of Theological Studies, 24(3), 112–128. Obadare, E. K. (2021). Global consumerism and the moral economy of Nigerian youths. Contemporary African Studies, 39(4), 223–240. Okonkwo, J. N. (2021). Prosperity gospel and materialistic values in Nigerian Christianity. Journal of Religion and Society in Africa, 13(2), 89–105. Oluwatayo, I. B. (2019). Youth materialism and poverty dynamics in Nigeria. Journal of Economic Policy in Africa, 11(1), 73–91. Richins, M. L., & Dawson, S. (1992). A consumer values orientation for materialism and its measurement. Journal of Consumer Research, 19(3), 303–316. Ukah, A. (2024). Exploring the use of the mass media by youths in Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. Sociology of Religion. 1 (2); 90-101 Ukeachusim, C. P. (2022). 1 Timothy 6:6–14 and materialism amongst Nigerian Christian youths. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 78(3), 74-87 Uroko, F. C. (2023). The impact of prosperity gospel on suicide rate among Nigerian youth. Perichoresis, 21(3), 81–100. Yakubu, D. M. (2023). Reorienting Christian youths for economic sustainability: A faith-based approach. Nigerian Journal of Social and Development Studies, 18(1), 55–70.

Assessment of the Impact of Materialism on the Economic Development of Christian Youth in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH