Ochendo: An African Journal of Innovative Studies

The global environmental crisis (or ecological crisis) remains unabated. Outside the global dimension, the ecological crisis can also be seen in different places, such as Urhoboland in Nigeria's Niger Delta. Environmental problems in Urhoboland include deforestation, oil pollution, which has affected air, land, and atmospheric conditions; mismanagement of waste, etc. And even a lack of awareness of environmental problems constitutes a problem. The paper argues that Franciscan eco-spirituality (emanating from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi), which emphasizes the intrinsic value of nature, the need for human beings to live in harmony with nature (birds, animals, plants, and all other creatures), and humans as stewards of nature have a role to play in ameliorating the environmental problems found in Urhoboland. The paper uses critical, analytic, and hermeneutic methods to examine and explicate the issues in the paper for better understanding. The paper finds that there are environmental problems in Urhoboland. The paper concludes that Franciscan eco-spirituality can play a role in resolving the ecological crisis in Urhoboland.

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