ABSTRACT
The focus of this book is the role of Nigerian Pentecostalism in development. Specifically, it studies the relationship between Pentecostal spirituality and development in Nigeria and the Nigerian diaspora in Britain and the United States. The introduction begins by outlining the aim, scope, and contribution of the book. One of the book’s aims is to elucidate the nature and significance of Nigerian Pentecostal development activities. Another aim is to investigate the contextual and cultural factors that influence Nigerian Pentecostal approaches to development. The book’s main thesis is that there is an emerging sector within contemporary Nigerian Pentecostalism, which is becoming increasingly active in development initiatives geared towards poverty alleviation and human well-being. The chapter sets the book within the broader context of research on religion and development as well as studies of Nigerian Pentecostalism. This is followed by an historical overview of Pentecostalism in Nigeria and its transnational expansion in Britain and the United States, where some of the largest Nigerian diaspora communities are located. Finally, the chapter discusses the research methodology, the choice of case studies, and the main research locations. The research on which the book is based is primarily qualitative in nature, drawing on ethnographic research conducted in Nigeria and Britain.
