AQUINO Journal of Philosophy

One of the major mandates of the European Christian missionaries in Nigeria was the propagation of Christianity. To achieve this, missionaries were dispatched to various regions and communities across the country with the aim of converting the people from their traditional religions to Christianity. In addition, the missionaries sought to eradicate certain practices they considered inhuman—such as the killing of twins—and to promote legitimate trade as a replacement for the slave trade. This study examines and evaluates the roles, activities, and impact of the European missionaries in Afikpo, Ebonyi State. The study relied primarily on secondary sources such as books, academic journals, newspaper articles, and other relevant literature. The findings reveal that European missionaries, particularly the Presbyterian and Catholic missions, made significant impacts in Afikpo. However, their activities also brought about social disruption and cultural change within the community. The study concludes by recommending sustained collaboration between the European mother Churches that sent the missionaries to Nigeria and their Nigerian branches, in order to promote mutual partnership and further development.

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