“Stop Wasting Your Destiny!” — Bishop Oyedepo Blasts Naija Bet Culture Among Nigerian Youths
By Passman Akpos
The founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has issued a strong warning to Nigerian youths against depending on sports betting as a pathway to financial success, urging them instead to embrace hard work, patience, and diligence.
Speaking during a sermon on Sunday, the renowned cleric described betting as a dangerous distraction capable of wasting the future and destiny of young people.
Addressing his congregation, Oyedepo said, “Young people, naija bet is not the way to financial fortune. Stop wasting your destiny, stop wasting your time. I have never been once deceived. Stop!”
The bishop stressed that although success may sometimes come slowly, genuine prosperity is guaranteed for those who remain committed to honest labour and disciplined living.
“Things may be slow, but it is sure,” he added, encouraging young Nigerians not to seek shortcuts to wealth through gambling.
During the sermon, Oyedepo also reflected on his personal journey of faith, sharing an emotional testimony about showing gratitude to the woman who introduced him to Christianity when he was just 15 years old.
According to him, when he turned 60, he bought her a car and had it delivered to her residence in the United States, a gesture that moved her to tears.
“My mother of faith led me to Christ at 15. When I turned 60, I got her a car that they took to her place in the U.S., she wept. You had better wake up,” he said.
His remarks come at a time when sports betting continues to gain popularity among Nigerian youths, with many seeing it as a quick route to financial freedom amid economic hardship, unemployment, and rising living costs.
However, religious leaders, financial experts, and social commentators have repeatedly cautioned that excessive gambling can lead to addiction, mounting debt, emotional distress, and significant financial losses.
Oyedepo’s latest message has reignited public debate over the growing betting culture in Nigeria, with many agreeing that sustainable wealth is built through hard work, discipline, and long-term commitment rather than relying on games of chance.
