Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Pentecostal Prosperity Teaching has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with moral development of youth. This growing interest reflects the recognition that pentecostal prosperity teaching does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Lagos State.

Lagos State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While pentecostal prosperity teaching is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on moral development of youth within Lagos State remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to pentecostal prosperity teaching are helping or hindering moral development of youth — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Pentecostal Prosperity Teaching on moral development of youth in Lagos State.
2. To assess the extent to which pentecostal prosperity teaching influences moral development of youth within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with pentecostal prosperity teaching in relation to moral development of youth.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing pentecostal prosperity teaching in order to improve moral development of youth.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of pentecostal prosperity teaching on moral development of youth in Lagos State?
2. To what extent does pentecostal prosperity teaching influence moral development of youth within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with pentecostal prosperity teaching in relation to moral development of youth?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize pentecostal prosperity teaching in order to improve moral development of youth?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around moral development of youth. For managers and practitioners within Lagos State, the study provides practical insight into how pentecostal prosperity teaching can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on religious studies by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this BSc study confines itself to Lagos State, focusing specifically on how pentecostal prosperity teaching relates to moral development of youth within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.