Theological Education and Rural Church Development in Kebbi State

This study examines the impact of formal theological education on the capacity of rural church leaders to facilitate community development in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. The study is anchored in the growing recognition that trained clergy are better equipped to address the developmental needs of their congregations beyond spiritual ministry. A descriptive research design is employed, targeting twenty rural churches affiliated with the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) and the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) across Argungu, Zuru, and Jega Local Government Areas. Data are collected through structured questionnaires administered to 180 church leaders and community members, supplemented by in-depth interviews with ten theological educators. Findings reveal that church leaders with formal theological training are significantly more likely to initiate community health programmes, literacy campaigns, and agricultural cooperatives compared to untrained counterparts. The study also identifies inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and limited access to theological institutions as key barriers to formal training in rural areas. The research recommends the expansion of extension theological education programmes and the use of digital learning platforms to reach church leaders in remote areas of Kebbi State. These findings have broader implications for denominations operating in rural northern Nigeria and for national theological institutions designing outreach curricula. Keywords: theological education, rural development, Kebbi State, church leadership, ECWA