Oyedepo warns Youths: Internet fraud, betting, drugs destroy future

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has issued a stern warning to young Nigerians, declaring that internet fraud, sports betting and drug-related activities offer no pathway to lasting success.

Speaking during a sermon titled “Understanding the Demands of Success” at Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, on March 22, Oyedepo urged youths to embrace hard work, discipline and legitimate enterprise, stressing that “there are too many legitimate ways of earning a living” to justify criminal pursuits.

“Young people! Computer scams, 9jabet and drug connections don’t create a future. You have no business with peddling drugs,” he said.

The cleric decried what he described as a growing culture of idleness and quick-money pursuits among graduates, warning that prolonged dependence on parents and refusal to engage in productive work could ruin destinies.

“Life only answers to workers. Don’t watch your life decay before your very eyes. Wake up and take responsibility,” he added.

Drawing from biblical references, including Proverbs 14:23 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Oyedepo maintained that diligence remains the foundation of sustainable success, insisting that “no one will ever taste success without putting his hands to work.”

He reinforced his message with real-life examples, recounting the story of a university student who turned to fish farming after losing his father and went on to support fellow students, as well as a Liberian youth who built a thriving business starting as a shoe shiner.

According to him, productive labour not only guarantees economic stability but also sustains mental and physical well-being.

“Working enhances man’s worth. There is dignity in labour. Work is not a curse,” Oyedepo said, adding that “living without working is dying without knowing.”

The bishop further cautioned that academic qualifications without continuous development quickly lose relevance, urging young people to build skills and remain productive.

“Success does not belong to non-workers. It belongs to those engaging in productive labour,” he stated.