S University of Nigeria Research Publications NJOKU, Donatus Igwe Author PG/Ph.D/98/26006 The Socio-Economic and Cultural Impact of the Presbyterian Mission in North Eastern Igboland Title (1880-2006) Social Sciences Faculty Religion Department August, 2007 Date Signature Title Page THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL a IMPACT OF THE PRESBYTERIAN MISSION INS NORTH EASTERN IGBOLAND (1880 - 2006) NJOKU DONATUS IGWE PG/Ph. D/'98/26006 Department of' Religion University of Nigeria, Nsuka C , Requirement PageP THE SOCIO-CONOMIC AND CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE PRESBYTERIAN MISSION IN NORTH EASTERN IGBOLAND 1880 - 2006 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE, DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN RELIGION. C Njoku Donatus Igwe PG/Ph.D/98/26006 I. I.... .*****a Rev Dr Agha,-U. Su pervjllor Dr. C. 0.T. Ugpw Head of DeA rt rtment Prof. 0key Titam hanaf Faru ty External Examiner 1 DEDICATION ?, \. Dedicated to Missionaries and Christians especially: C The very Rev. Dr. Richard William Fee Dr. Stephen Alo Igboke Mr. Cyprian Nworie Okiri (ESQ) CNA Agha Uka Marvellous Njoku. vi CERTIFICATION Njoku Donatus Igwe (Rev) a doctoral Candidate in the Department of a Religion with Registration Number PG/Ph.D/98/26006 has satisfactorily completed the requirements for Doctoral Programme in Religion. The work embodied in this Thesis is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any other DisserJation of this or any university. Candidate \ supervisor v11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Ihave come along way with Rev. Dr. A'gha Uka Agha to be here. He I I is a man of integrity, mentor of special class, and enabler with undaunted encouragement, whose constructive criticisms have reshaped the Research report to appreciable state. I shall tell the world that my supervisor and Head Department of Religion mean so much to me. The researcher delightfully appreciates enviable contributions of the members of staff, Department of Religion University of Nigeria, Nsukka among who are the Rev. Prof. Nlemanya Onwu, Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Anthony N.O. Ekwunife, (Professor); Dr. S.O. Onyeidu, Dr. Malachy I.Okwueze, Dr. C.O.T. Ugwu, Rev. Fr. Dr. H. Achunike, Rev. Eziechi Ituma (Ph.D) and Rev. Onyekachuku K. Ngele. The Vice - Chancellor of Ebonyi State University Professor Fidelis Ogah (OON), Dr. S.O. Elom Dean Student Affairs and Dr. E.O. Okporie Assistant Dean Student Affairs College of Agricultural sciences are highly applauded for their persuasions and understanbing.' The researcher is indebted to Rev Dr. Richard W. Fee, Mr & Mrs Cyprian N. Okiri Esq. CNA, Dr. S.A. Igboke Sole Administrator Ebonyi State Hatchery Farm Nkaleke and Sam N. Egwu Deputy Registrar of Ebonyi State University. Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement I.Osunwokeh, Rev Fr. Dr Anthony Echiegu Secretary to the Board of Governors Abakaliki literacy and Translation Trust, and very Rev. P.O. Elom for invaluable pieces of , advise and for granting access to their libraries. Ideeply appreciate the support of Elder Chief (Hon.) Fredrick Ekoyo Udeogu Commissioner for Donor Agency Ebonyi State and Hon. Franics Elem as well, Elder Aaron Chukwu Anaga. ~$ron-~goziOgah, Jacinta, Christian, Maria, Nnanna and Casmir Anyanwu, David and James for their unreserved cares that they expended to my family. Stephen Njoku, an ebullient lieutenant whose contributions could hardly be underlined as well as Bishop B.C.B Onyebor, Bishop Agupusi, Ven. Chike Iwekpeazu (Administrator), Ven. Onu kwufo, S.O. N Synod Secretary, Rev. Sam Ewa and Rev. Nnachi (Presbytery Clerks), Rev. Edwin Nwanchor and Rev. Dr. viii 0.0. Eke (moderators of Presbytery and Synod respectively). In addition, Rev. Joseph N. Nwibo Chairman NRC Consistory has been of great help. The authors of various materials consulte'd at different stages of the doctoral programme along with those interviewed were indeed appreciated. The contributions of my family were not the least rather one of continuous persuasion, assistance, cares that worked through days of sorrows. Mrs Clementina Nkechi Njoku (Ph.D Candidate) is a woman of a class that knew what were helpful and went for them. Iappreciate you and our lively children (Favour, Kingsley, Richard and Agha). This doctoral defense marked final victory over the attempts of forces of darkness to frustrate the successful completion with two consecutive ghastly motor accidents on May 22, 2007 and June 10, 2007 that wrecked the Vehicle. Thank you Lord for saving me thereby provided an extended life to continue in the service of humanity and the expansion of your kingdom here on earth. Mrs. Egbe Dorathy has been great enabler along with Chinasa Okeagu and Blessing Aguzu who took the pains of typing this work is highly respected now and in future. I Abstract 6 1 The topic, the Socio-Economic and Cultural Impact of the Presbyterian Mission in North Eastern Igboland 1880-2006 has not been fully investigated and documented. Some missionaries that pioneered mission activities have gone to rest with the Lord while those alive went home with the written records of their work, some of which are found in their diaries, while others are published in their mission magazines and most of the documents have been lost. The problem has been made worse by the ravages of Nigerian civil war that destroyed whatever records and documents the missionaries left which the Church in thr zone might have kept before the war. The post war Church records we have are narrations presented during inauguration of Church Congregations or the creation of parishes. Most of earliest indigenes that served missions as clergy in the North Eastern Igboland have either died or are no longer capable of remembering vital facts about missionary activities in the zone. During this period as well, the history of education in the zone had not yet been written. The historical method adopted for this work was based on data collection from preliminary sources, primary and secondary sources. Oral interviews were also conducted with Church committees, clergymen and elders of the Churches in the area. The information from primary sources came mainly from oral interviews. The data from secondary sources were derived from the existing texts found in the libraries, archives and periodicals. The information gathered were sifted, collated and presented both analytically and descriptively. The research revealed that the Presbyterian mission established agricultural projects in the North Eastern Igboland and introduced new food crops and vegetables. They not only established both primary and secondary schools, but they also established health care scheme and leper settlements in various parts of the area. Water scheme project that had three phases of bounded water reservoir, sand filter and hand pump device were established and it helped to solve the problem of lack of water supply and guinea worm diseases. The research showed that the establishment of animal husbandry, cattle ranches and group farm scheme that offered the ~eoplerevolving loan helped to solve the socio-economic needs of the people. The research proved that one of the health centers has been upgraded to a hospital. According to the results of our research, the Presbyterian mission in conjunction with other missions embarked on the translation of the Bible into the dialects of the people of North Eastern Igboland and that they have completed the translation of the final text of the Bible into Izzi, Ikwo and Ezza languages. The information available to the researcher revealed that there are 77 ordained indigenes in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church from the North Eastern Igboland, 59 indigenous priests ordained by Roman Catholic Mission, 13 ordained indigenes by both the Anglican Communion and the Methodist Church, while' Assemblies of God (Nigeria) has ordained 12 indigenes in the area. The results of our investigation proved that the entire education project established by the Presbyterian mission benefited both Presbyterian member and member of other Churches from primary to university level. Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has made the greatest contribution towards the progress of the North Eastern people of Igboland. Table of Contents a PRELIMINARIES Title i Requirements iii Approval iv I Certification v Dedication vi Acknowledgement vii Abstract ix Table of Contents: X Abbreviations xiii Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION: 1 1. Background of the Study 1 1.1, Statement of Problem 6 1.2. Aim of the Study . 7 1.3. Method of Research 7 1.4 Significance of the Study 8 1.5. Scope of the Study 8 16 Limitation of the Study 9 1.7. Definition of Related Terms 9 Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW: 17 2 1 Theory of Inculturation 17 2.2. Divergent Interest in Mission 25 2.3. Review on Marriage 28 2.4. Conflict in Missionary Incursion in ~ort'hEastern Igboland 35 2.5. Review on Culture 42 2.6. Missionary Impact in Nigeria Society 51 Chapter 3: NORTH EASTERN IGBOLAND BEFORE MISSIONARY IMPACT: 59 Myths of Origin and Migration 59 Oral Traditions of Ezaa, Ikwo and Izii on Myth of Origin and Migration 65 Intellectual Interpretation of the Myth of Origin 72 The Belief System and the World-view of the People 75 , Festivals 89 Marriage System and Informal Education 92 The People Occupation 99 The System of Governance 108 - Chapter 4: THE ADVENT OF THE PRESBYTERIAN MISSION INNORTH EASTERN IGBOLAN: 117 4.1. The Missiological Mandate and Ecclesiastical Model 117 4.2. The Years of Struggle in North Eastern Igboland - 1888-1936 119 4.3. Years of Planting the Church of Scottland Mission 1936-1960 123 4.4. Development of Modern Presbyterian Mission b 1960 - 1980 I ' 124 4.4.1. Scholarship Plan for the Community 4.4.2. Norcad Group Farm Scheme 4.4.3. Bible Translation Scheme 4.5 Growth, Innovation and Contributions of Presbyterian Mission in the Area 1980 ,- 2006 Chapter 5: THE COMING OF OTHER MISSIONARIES IN NORTH EASTERN IGBOLAND: 5.1 The Advent of the Roman Catholic Mission 5.2 The Assemblies of God Nigeria 5.3 The Nigerian Reformed Church 5.4 The Anglican Church in North Eastern Igboland 5.5 The Secession of Anglican Members from the Presbyterian Mission 1959.