Authors :
Eucharia Ugochi Opara
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 8 - August
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/mzz85z98
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26aug1152
Note : A published paper may take 4-5
working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and
ResearchGate.
Abstract :
The rapid growth of digital technologies is reshaping Nigeria’s economic, social, cultural, and religious landscapes.
Nigerian youth, as active participants in digital environments, engage in entrepreneurship, education, employment, content
creation, social networking, and religious practices through online platforms. This study investigates the impact of the digital
economy on Nigerian youth, focusing on religious transformation, digital evangelism, content creation, and human
development. Grounded in a humanistic perspective, the analysis draws on the Digital Religion framework and the
Capability Approach to explore how digital technologies influence young people’s economic opportunities, religious
identities, social relations, and moral orientations. Employing a qualitative design, the study utilizes semi-structured
interviews and a review of relevant literature, examining experiences across Christian, Muslim, and non-religious contexts.
Findings reveal that digital platforms expand access to religious teachings, foster new forms of community, and enable
religious organizations to reach youth beyond traditional worship spaces. However, challenges such as misinformation,
polarization, commercialization, cybercrime, unequal access, and value erosion accompany these opportunities. The study
concludes that Nigeria’s digital transformation must be human-centered, inclusive, and ethically grounded, aligning with
the socioeconomic and spiritual aspirations of young people. Recommendations include strengthening digital literacy,
promoting responsible digital evangelism, supporting youth-focused digital entrepreneurship, and fostering collaboration
among government, educational institutions, technology stakeholders, and religious organizations.
Keywords :
Digital Economy, Nigerian Youth. Digital Religion, Digital Evangelism, Youth Development, Human Development, Digital Literacy, Religious Transformation.
References :
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The rapid growth of digital technologies is reshaping Nigeria’s economic, social, cultural, and religious landscapes.
Nigerian youth, as active participants in digital environments, engage in entrepreneurship, education, employment, content
creation, social networking, and religious practices through online platforms. This study investigates the impact of the digital
economy on Nigerian youth, focusing on religious transformation, digital evangelism, content creation, and human
development. Grounded in a humanistic perspective, the analysis draws on the Digital Religion framework and the
Capability Approach to explore how digital technologies influence young people’s economic opportunities, religious
identities, social relations, and moral orientations. Employing a qualitative design, the study utilizes semi-structured
interviews and a review of relevant literature, examining experiences across Christian, Muslim, and non-religious contexts.
Findings reveal that digital platforms expand access to religious teachings, foster new forms of community, and enable
religious organizations to reach youth beyond traditional worship spaces. However, challenges such as misinformation,
polarization, commercialization, cybercrime, unequal access, and value erosion accompany these opportunities. The study
concludes that Nigeria’s digital transformation must be human-centered, inclusive, and ethically grounded, aligning with
the socioeconomic and spiritual aspirations of young people. Recommendations include strengthening digital literacy,
promoting responsible digital evangelism, supporting youth-focused digital entrepreneurship, and fostering collaboration
among government, educational institutions, technology stakeholders, and religious organizations.
Keywords :
Digital Economy, Nigerian Youth. Digital Religion, Digital Evangelism, Youth Development, Human Development, Digital Literacy, Religious Transformation.