THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES; COMPANY RULE, ACTIVITIES AND THEIR IMPACTS ON THE COASTAL STATES
The Portuguese missionary penetrated Nigeria and settled in Benin and Warri respectively but did not last long. That was between the 15th and 17th centuries.
A second attempt in Christianizing the whole country was made in the 19th century.
However, the Portuguese missionaries were motivated to carry out the activities by the following factors:
- The first motive was that they had the intention of converting the whole country to their religion.
- Again, they aimed at promoting a legitimate trade between Nigeria (and their other African colonies) and the Europeans.
- Moreover, they equally aimed at abolishing the trans-Atlantic slave trade in their colonies (e.g., Nigeria).