JOS JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY

This study examines the socio-religious effects of single motherhood on child upbringing among Yoruba Muslims and Christians in southwestern Nigeria. Previous studies have often misaligned doctrinal interpretations with lived realities, leading to conceptual ambiguity. Using a qualitative case study approach, this research draws on in-depth interviews with selected single mothers across urban and semi-urban communities. Findings reveal that single motherhood is primarily a socio-economic condition rather than a strictly religious construct within both Islam and Christianity. Participants reported financial constraints, social stigma, and role overload as major challenges affecting child upbringing. While religious frameworks provide moral guidance and coping mechanisms, they do not significantly determine parenting outcomes compared to structural factors such as income, education, and social support. The study concludes that effective child upbringing in single-mother households depends largely on community support systems and economic stability rather than doctrinal differences. It recommends policy interventions, faith-based support programmes, and economic empowerment initiatives to enhance child welfare.

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