THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR, AND THE BEGINNING OF ORGANIZED LAY APOSTOLATE GROUPS AMONG THE IGBOS OF SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

The socioeconomic crisis of the postwar period, the government takeover of mission schools, and the expulsion of expatriate missionaries opened the way for a larger role for the laity in Igboland South in eastern Nigeria, especially in evangelization and the organization of lay groups. Although these lay groups made some progress in addressing the problems of the period, taking the gospel message beyond conversion, adopting a more radical approach to evangelization, and building a healthier society remained substantial challenges.