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Nigerian Pentecostal churches have increasingly utilised online posters as pulpits beyond church walls, transitioning from programme advertisements to subtle, and sometimes complex platforms for sociocultural commentary. This study examines how biblical place names function metaphorically on digital posters to address contemporary Nigerian socioeconomic realities and leadership failures. Drawing on conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) and the Metaphor Identification Procedure Vrije Universiteit (MIPVU) approach, the study analyses 21 purposively selected online poster themes to identify cross-domain mappings between concrete biblical place names and the abstract socioeconomic struggles of Nigerians. Findings reveal that these metaphors act as cognitive triggers, enabling an indirect critique of systemic issues such as corruption and insecurity while providing a resilient framework for hope. Specific mappings distinguish between domains of transformation (e.g. Gadara, Peniel) and restoration (e.g. Bethesda, Mount Zion), offering a blueprint for spiritual and physical liberation. Indeed, these poster themes served as beacons of hope amid national stagnation. The study concludes that the use of biblical place names reflects a shift towards socioculturally determined metaphors, illustrating how religious communication participates in broader public discourse concerning national development and social evolution in Nigeria.
Ukaegbu et al. (Tue,) studied this question.