PASTORPRENEURSHIP IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA AND WEBER’S PROTESTANT ETHIC: INSIGHTS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

For over four decades now, some people in Nigeria have taken advantage of the Pentecostal Christianity as a survival option through which they navigate through the socio-economic crises in Nigeria. The churches flourish as vibrant business enterprises with church founders and ministers (pastorpreneurs) operating in the praxis of entrepreneurs. The number of people operating in the frame of pastorpreneurship is so numerous that investigation into the phenomenon is necessary. A descriptive research approach with ninety (90) participants drawn from six (6) states in Southern Nigeria was used for the study. The finding is that pastorpreneurship in Nigeria thrives on the exploitation of the poor. Its operational strategies revolve around tithing, offering, fund raising, donations, and thanksgiving and these have adverse implications for national development. But to stop this development, this study recommends the creation of job employment for Nigerians and provision of enlightenment to ordinary Nigerians who in their religiosity are subjected to all forms of organised exploitation via pastorpreneurship.