Nigeria, the giant of Africa, is a nation of immense diversity and complexity, with a history that has shaped its struggles and strength. Long before colonization, the land was home to flourishing kingdoms and empires such as the Benin Kingdom, famous for its bronze artistry; the Oyo Empire, known for its military and political sophistication; and the Kanem-Bornu Empire, which thrived on trade across the Sahel. In the 19th century, Nigeria became a British colony, bringing profound disruption and spreading Western education and new political structures. The issue of corruption, military dictatorships, and ongoing ethnic and religious divisions has challenged Nigeria.

Christianity in Nigeria dates back to when Portuguese Catholic missionaries arrived in the 15th century. However, the 19th-century Protestant missionary movements truly transformed the nation. Samuel Ajayi Crowther, once sold into slavery but later freed, became the first African Anglican bishop and led powerful evangelization and Bible translation efforts that gave Nigerians Scripture in their own languages.

Today, Nigeria is home to some of the largest Christian congregations in the world, with Pentecostal movements, Anglican dioceses, Catholic parishes, and evangelical fellowships numbering in the millions.

Yet despite this strong presence, Nigeria’s Christian teenagers live under severe pressure. They face constant fear from kidnappings by terrorist groups, the collapse of public education infrastructure, poverty fueled by corruption, and violence aimed at their families and communities.

Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) specifically target Christian schools, abducting students and using them as bargaining chips or forcing them into slavery. Fulani militant herdsmen continue violent raids on Christian farming communities. Human trafficking gangs also exploit Nigeria’s weak security to abduct schoolchildren, with Christian teenagers often targeted because of their faith. On top of these dangers, a corrupt government and complicit media clampdowns usually downplay or silence reports of Christian suffering, leaving young believers with a sense of abandonment.