2025/10/03 by Akighir, Erdoo, Akighir, David Terfaa
#Human Development #Makurdi Diocese #Roman Catholic #Social Teaching #Sociological
paper · doi:10.82265/h6kb-ze04
This study investigated the impact of the Roman Catholic Church’s social teachings on human development in Makurdi Diocese of Benue State, Nigeria. It employed a qualitative research design using both primary and secondary data sources. The primary data were collected using oral interviews. The Directors and Coordinators of Education and Health institutions as well as the Heads of Schools and Hospitals/Clinics in Makurdi Diocese were interviewed. Secondary data were sourced from literary works such as books, journals, internet sources and various directories. Using descriptive and analytical tools, the study found that Makurdi Diocese has been actively involved in human development especially in terms of educational provision and health care delivery services. Makurdi Diocese has established 49 schools and 9 health institutions. The educational institutions in the diocese have annual average students’ enrollment of 8,235 students, while the health facilities in the diocese have an average daily attendance of 150 patients across the facilities. The study made the following recommendations. First, the Catholic Church in Makurdi Diocese should consolidate on her social teachings and continue to make improvements to ensure that the intended benefits of her human development strides get to the target population in line with the Church's principle of the subsidiarity. Second, the diocese should strive to make health care delivery services available to the various Local Governments under her coverage to ensure easy accessibility of health care services especially in the rural areas among others