Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between church/mosque-based youth programs and attitude towards religious pluralism has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Lagos State where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

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 church/mosque-based youth programs is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on attitude towards religious pluralism 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 church/mosque-based youth programs are helping or hindering attitude towards religious pluralism — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Church/Mosque-Based Youth Programs on attitude towards religious pluralism in Lagos State.
2. To assess the extent to which church/mosque-based youth programs influences attitude towards religious pluralism within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with church/mosque-based youth programs in relation to attitude towards religious pluralism.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing church/mosque-based youth programs in order to improve attitude towards religious pluralism.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of church/mosque-based youth programs on attitude towards religious pluralism in Lagos State?
2. To what extent does church/mosque-based youth programs influence attitude towards religious pluralism within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with church/mosque-based youth programs in relation to attitude towards religious pluralism?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize church/mosque-based youth programs in order to improve attitude towards religious pluralism?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of religious studies, this study has practical value for management teams within Lagos State seeking to understand how church/mosque-based youth programs translates into measurable outcomes around attitude towards religious pluralism. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Lagos State, focusing specifically on how church/mosque-based youth programs relates to attitude towards religious pluralism within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.