Iyke Chukuka, a Nigerian-Canadian preacher, has criticised some pastors in Nigeria for encouraging laziness among their members by giving them false hope instead of urging them to work hard.
Speaking during an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, Chukuka said many Nigerians now believe prayer can replace hard work — a mindset he believes is harming the country.
“Jesus came so that Christians will have life to the fullest and that the works of their hands will be blessed,” he said. “But we’ve been telling our people that they have to stay all night and pray, and in the morning, instead of going out to look for jobs, they are at home sleeping because they prayed all night.”
Chukuka, who leads Emblaze Ministries, advised Nigerian pastors to follow the example of Apostle Paul, who worked as a tentmaker while preaching. He said pastors should not rely only on offerings and donations but should also experience the struggles of their members by working for a living.
The preacher warned against telling unemployed people that “God will provide” without encouraging them to actively search for jobs.
“We have given people false hopes. You know that somebody needs a job and has not gone out to look for one, but you are telling him that God shall provide. That’s not the God of the Bible. We are not teaching what Jesus taught,” he said.
Chukuka also attacked the spread of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that faith automatically leads to wealth. He said not everyone will become rich and described the message as the “gospel of the poor,” pointing out that it does not work in developed countries where basic needs are already met.
His remarks have sparked conversations about how faith leaders in Nigeria can balance prayer with teaching practical life skills, especially in a country where unemployment remains a serious challenge.
