How Spiritual Mentality Fosters Ignorance Attack in Nigeria — Adedara Oduguwa, Ph.D

By Adedara Oduguwa, Ph.D —I woke up this morning reflecting on my childhood and the people around me. A question struck me: why is Nigeria so deeply spiritual yet neck-deep in poverty? Is God angry with Africa? Has He turned a deaf ear to our prayers? Or are we praying to the wrong God? The answer, I believe, is none of these. God is not angry, and He listens—but our works are dead. We are hypocrites who expect divine prosperity while shunning the discipline of hard work. Until this changes, poverty will remain our portion.

From Spiritual Attack to Ignorance Attack

In religious discourse, a “spiritual attack” is often described as the influence of evil spirits, demons, or unseen forces designed to weaken faith, disrupt one’s relationship with God, or derail destiny. Many Christians in Nigeria dedicate their lives to fasting, prayer vigils, and deliverance sessions against such perceived adversaries.

But what is often overlooked is the far more destructive “ignorance attack”—the conscious or unconscious weaponisation of a lack of knowledge. Ignorance impoverishes societies, denies people opportunities, and ensures perpetual stagnation. For all its famed spiritual intensity, Africa—and Nigeria in particular—remains at the bottom of global development indices precisely because ignorance thrives unchallenged.

Poverty in the Midst of Prayer

When ranked against global indicators of progress, Africa consistently lags behind. Nigeria, with its abundant natural and human resources, stands shamefully at the forefront of this backwardness. Consider the comparison with China: less than a century ago, it was classified among “third world” nations. Today, China has transformed into a global superpower, boasting advanced military technology, robust industry, and remarkable economic growth. This progress was not fuelled by mass prayer campaigns or all-night vigils. In fact, the majority of Chinese citizens are not religious.

The statistics are telling. According to the CIA Factbook (2025), 52.1% of Chinese identify with no religion, while only 5.1% are Christians. Yet their average life expectancy is 79 years. By contrast, Nigeria—where 54.2% are Christians and 45.5% Muslims—has an average life expectancy of just 56 years. Despite being one of the most prayerful nations in the world, Nigerians remain plagued by poverty, disease, and insecurity.

Faith Without Works is Dead

I have observed many people spend three decades in ceaseless prayer and fasting without any visible change in their circumstances. Conversely, I have seen non-religious yet diligent and disciplined individuals build stable and prosperous lives. Their secret is not divine favouritism but intentionality, productivity, and intelligence. They are immune to “spiritual attacks” because they have defeated ignorance.

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Unfortunately, many Nigerians cling to a distorted spirituality that discourages productivity. A poor man who receives ₦5,000 will often part with 10% for tithe, another 5% for offering, and sometimes hand the rest to a pastor—believing such sacrifice will guarantee blessings. This is not faith but folly. Such practices deny families the chance to eat well, invest in education, or access healthcare, perpetuating cycles of deprivation.

Time is another resource wasted. Churches and mosques host daily gatherings that draw millions away from productive labour. Meanwhile, over 200 million Nigerians remain trapped in multidimensional poverty.

Witches, Wizards, and the Wrong Battles

Instead of confronting these harsh realities, many retreat into the language of “spiritual warfare.” Challenges are blamed on witches, wizards, or enemies from the village. Any attempt to challenge this worldview is met with “Holy Ghost fire!”—even as ignorance burns more deeply.

While Nigerians waste energy binding demons, the Chinese are building factories, Americans are inventing technologies, and Israelis—the descendants of Jesus Christ—are developing nuclear weapons to defend themselves. The strength of nations today is measured not in the number of prayer mountains but in industrialisation, science, and military technology.

Defeating Ignorance Attack

If we truly wish to save our families from poverty, the battle must shift. We must fight ignorance attacks, not imaginary witches. We must cultivate social capital, invest in education, read books, innovate, and create value. Spirituality without productivity is barren.

God does not require anything from us. We are the ones in need of Him—and one of the ways we honour Him is by using our minds and talents to confront ignorance, build industries, and uplift humanity.

Conclusion

The more we pray without working, the poorer we will become. The choice is simple: embrace knowledge, productivity, and discipline—or remain trapped in poverty while chanting prayers. Our destiny is not determined by how loudly we pray but by how wisely we work.

Get to work!