Catholic Church in Nigeria Moves to Renew Catechesis amid Rising Neo-Pagan Practices among Youths

“We commit to deepening catechesis on the Eucharist, promoting worthy liturgical celebration and rejecting all syncretic practices,” the members of NADRE said in the statement that their chairman, Fr. Albert Ebosele, and secretary, Fr. Joseph Ogunnupebi, co-signed.

Affirming the necessity of credible and authentic witness of life, they called upon the members of the Clergy, Religious, Catechists, and parents to embrace integrity and fidelity to the faith as a way of being emulated by the youth.

The directors further resolved to strengthen youth formation, “exemplifying faith integration through moral rectitude, vocation, and social responsibility” both in the virtual and physical space.

“We reaffirm that authentic inculturation must be guided by the Gospel, purifying culture and rejecting elements incompatible with Christian faith,” NADRE members said in the statement.

The Catholic Directors of Religious Education also entrusted their resolutions to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

More in Africa

Catholic Bishops in Africa Deliberating on 2025-2028 Strategic Plan at Standing Committee Meeting in Ghana

Read the article

They said, “We recommit ourselves to the faithful transmission of the faith handed on to us (cf. 1 Cor 11:23), confident that fidelity to the Commandments in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, remains the foundation of authentic Christian life and catechesis.”

Catholic leaders in Nigeria have raised growing alarm over what they describe as a resurgence of neo-pagan and traditional religious practices among the nation’s youth, warning that these trends threaten Christian values and social stability.

In a 27 January 2025 statement, Bishops from the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province noted that many young people are being drawn into money-making rituals and internet fraud schemes tied to pagan beliefs, which offer false promises of wealth and protection, and undermine the purity of the Christian faith.

The Bishops stressed the urgent need for a sound biblical and moral foundation to equip youths to navigate modern challenges.

In 2024, Fr. Vitalis Anaehobi, Secretary-General of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa, told ACI Africa in an interview that young people in the Southeastern region believe traditional religion offers more immediate protection and practical benefit amid rampant poverty, unemployment, and insecurity, and that these trends have led to a sharp decline in youth participation at Sunday Mass.

The concern is has been echoed in other parts of the country. In 2023, Catholic Bishops from Owerri Ecclesiastical Province expressed deep regret over the increasing relapse into neo-pagan practices, including ritualistic activities pursued in the misguided quest for wealth or power.

They lamented that such behaviours not only violate Christian teachings but are often associated with criminal activities and insecurity, and called on the faithful to strengthen their lives with prayer and the word of God to counter “the works of darkness and evil.”

This year, Catholic Bishops in Nigeria’s Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province (IEP) have recommended the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church (YOUCAT) as a key pastoral response to the challenges posed by contemporary life and modern ideologies.

The Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have emphasised catechesis as a strategic priority, particularly for young people navigating rapidly shifting cultural and ideological landscapes.

The Local Ordinaries of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Ekiti, Ilorin, Ondo, Osogbo, and Oyo underscored that the YOUCAT’s clarity, structure, and contemporary presentation make it well-suited to transmit the Church’s doctrinal and moral teachings faithfully, while remaining intelligible to younger generations and adults alike, in continuity with the spirit and teachings of Vatican II.

(Story continues below)

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.