Founder and presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has urged Nigerian youths to shun sports betting, warning that it is not a reliable path to wealth but a habit capable of destroying their future.
Preaching during a church service on Sunday, Oyedepo advised young people to embrace hard work, discipline and patience, stressing that genuine prosperity is achieved through diligence rather than gambling.
“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!” he said.
The renowned cleric admitted that success may sometimes take time but emphasised that those who remain steadfast and committed to the right principles would eventually reap the rewards.
“Things may be slow, but it is sure,” he added.
Reflecting on his personal faith journey, Oyedepo recounted how he honoured the woman who introduced him to Christianity by presenting her with a car many years later.
“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 against the backdrop of growing concerns over the rising participation of young Nigerians in sports betting, with religious leaders and social commentators increasingly warning about its financial and social impact.
