The Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has issued a strong warning to young Nigerians against relying on sports betting as a pathway to financial success, describing it as a dangerous distraction that can derail destinies.
Speaking during a Sunday sermon, the cleric urged youths to abandon the pursuit of quick money through betting platforms and instead embrace hard work, patience, and diligence as the true route to lasting prosperity.
“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!” Bishop Oyedepo declared.
He acknowledged that progress in life may sometimes appear slow, but insisted that genuine success is assured for those who stay on the right path. “Things may be slow, but it is sure,” he added.
The bishop also shared a personal reflection on his journey of faith, recalling how the woman who led him to Christ when he was 15 years old later received a car from him as a gesture of gratitude when he turned 60.
“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.
Bishop Oyedepo’s remarks come amid growing concerns over the rising popularity of sports betting among young Nigerians, with religious leaders and social commentators continuing to raise alarms about its financial and social consequences.
He called on the youth to wake up, take responsibility for their lives, and pursue sustainable paths to success rather than gambling away their future.