Nigeria Celebrates Ill-Gotten Wealth, Discourages Creativity, Cleric Laments
By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Senior Pastor of Victory Life Bible Church International, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, has criticised Nigeria’s societal and political culture, saying the celebration of questionable wealth is discouraging creativity, innovation and meaningful contributions to national development.
Achudume argued that the perception of politics as a means of acquiring personal wealth, rather than serving the public, was undermining the country’s ability to nurture talented individuals and develop innovative businesses.
He made the remarks during a thanksgiving service organised to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Abeokuta.
According to a statement issued by the church’s media office on Sunday, the cleric expressed concern that people who accumulated wealth through questionable political means were often celebrated rather than held accountable.
He said Nigeria needed individuals who would deploy their talents, ideas and creativity to address societal challenges, establish businesses and inspire others instead of relying on political positions for personal enrichment.
Achudume also expressed concern over what he described as the declining standard of societal values, particularly the promotion of indecent dressing and nudity under the guise of entertainment and fashion.
“They celebrate emptiness and call it showbiz. They celebrate nakedness and call it fashion,” he said.
The pastor further criticised the growing obsession with social media popularity, observing that some people now measure their relevance by the number of followers they have online.
He urged Nigerians to make responsible choices, resist negative societal influences and pursue lives defined by purpose and positive contributions to society.
On religious matters, Achudume encouraged Christians to establish a strong relationship with God before encountering difficult circumstances, noting that challenges were inevitable in business, marriage, careers and other aspects of life.
He advised believers to remain steadfast in their faith during difficult periods rather than abandon their convictions or turn to questionable spiritual alternatives in search of solutions.
Speaking at the event, the Ogun State NUJ Chairman, Wale Olanrewaju, commended the cleric for his longstanding support for journalism and contributions to society.
Olanrewaju described Achudume as a social crusader who had consistently used his voice to challenge government actions and draw attention to issues requiring urgent intervention.
He added that the cleric’s relationship with journalists and willingness to support the profession had earned him the respect of media practitioners.
In recognition of his contributions to journalism and society, Achudume was presented with the Ogun NUJ Golden Jubilee Ambassador Award during the thanksgiving service held as part of activities marking the council’s 50th anniversary.
The Daily Reality