Socio-Religious Nexus Of Youth Corruption In Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the socio-religious influence of religious organisations on corruption practices among youth in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria. While religious institutions are known to be the moral bedrock and guardians, their role extends to social environments that can shape youth behaviour.  The research problem, therefore, centres on the potential of socio-religious organisations to mitigate or inadvertently foster ethical compromises among youth.  This article employed a mixed-methods approach, using surveys distributed to a stratified random sample of 100 youths, along with oral interviews with selected youth leaders and religious clerics. The findings reveal that religious doctrines from all three major religions practised in the studied town condemn corruption and serve as a moral base that deters many youths from unethical behaviours. Also, socio-religious practices, such as the public worship of wealth, the pressure for flamboyant monetary contributions, and the use of religious networks for favouritism, are factors that subtly normalise corrupt tendencies. The study concludes that the influence of religious organisations in Ikere-Ekiti is deeply rooted in a socio-religious relationship where sacred teachings often interact with, and are sometimes dominated by, pervasive social pressures and materialistic aspirations. The article thus recommends that for interventions to be effective, religious bodies must consistently align their internal social cultures with their external moral pronouncements to nurture integrity among the youth.