“Dangerous Trend”: Pastor Oyemade Warns Nigerians About Social Media-Driven Self-Hatred |LAGOS EYE NEWS

Senior Pastor and Founder of The Covenant Nation (TCN), Pastor Poju Oyemade, has raised alarm over a growing trend of Nigerians developing negative sentiments towards their own country, a mindset he attributes to the influence of toxic narratives on social media.

Speaking during a recent engagement, Pastor Oyemadrbsaid he encountered a group of Nigerians who, in his words, have been “programmed on social media to hate their own country,” describing the phenomenon as a form of self-hatred.

He shared an exchange with a Nigerian living abroad who harshly criticized the nation’s condition. In response, Pastor Oyemade highlighted the affordability and value of education in Nigeria compared to the United States.

“In Nigeria, someone can become a medical doctor with as little as ₦500,000. That same doctor could eventually work at prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins in the U.S.,” he said. “But in America, graduating from Johns Hopkins or Harvard as a doctor could cost nearly $2 million.”

He emphasized that many Nigerians often overlook these advantages. “Nigerians are sometimes ungrateful. They receive quality education at a fraction of the cost, but don’t appreciate it,” he added.

Pastor Oyemade also pointed out the strong work ethic of Nigerians abroad and suggested that if such dedication were applied locally, the country would witness significant growth.

Addressing questions about Nigeria’s unemployment rate, he argued that global methods of measurement don’t reflect local realities. “We don’t calculate unemployment the same way. There’s no accurate figure,” he noted.

Citing a trade fair organized by his church in Yaba, Lagos, Oyemade shared the example of a wig vendor who made ₦750,000 in one day—despite operating informally and without business registration. “Such businesses aren’t captured in official data, but they reflect Nigeria’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

He compared Nigeria’s economic landscape with that of the U.S., noting, “In America, the IRS would take a large chunk of that money. Here, people can start small from their homes and grow.”

The pastor urged Nigerians to adopt a more optimistic and grounded perspective about their country, insisting that Nigeria remains a land “where good cometh.”

He also commended Nigerian-American families for preserving core values, noting their high levels of success abroad. “Our parenting culture emphasizes discipline and education. Even in the U.S., Nigerian parents still demand academic achievement before any other pursuit.”

Pastor Oyemade concluded by cautioning against the erosion of these foundational values due to blind imitation of foreign trends. “Our value system is gold. Don’t throw it away,” he said.