While Praying, We Need To Roll UP Our Sleeves In Triggering Development -By Abachi Ungbo

Nigeria was ranked the second most prayerful country in the world in a  recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre, a non-partisan America think-tank. It did occupy the top position in 2019 but this time, it was leapfrogged by Afghanistan.

Revealingly, while less developed countries occupied prime positions, their rich cousins languished at the lowest rung of the ladder. To underscore our reputation as a prayerful nation a young Nigerian pastor is known to have set the internet abuzz with his effervescent online prayer programme- which assumed the biggest prayer programme in Africa if not in the world.

There’s miracle in prayer. However, mouthing prayer as a panacea to the debilitating national malaise will drive the nation into a cul-de-sac.

So, imagine if prayer was the sole elixir, Nigeria  would have been an economic powerhouse, enjoying all the trappings of development and economic prosperity. Responsive and responsible leaders would have abounded. Chronic poverty and corruption would have melted away. Infrastructures would all have been top notch. Our country would have become a choice destination for many people in the world. The laughable imputation of sin for the outbreak of meningitis (diseases) by a state Governor would have been unheard-of. Recall that a Governor who should know better once made the shameful allusion.

Prayer is an indispensable instrument of worship and also a shield. And,  undoubtedly, it has its place. Prayer shouldn’t supplant work. Instead, it should be seen as “the grease in the lock.” And, it should be emphasized that faith without work is dead. Clearly, there are no substitute for hard work, patriotism and justice in arriving at the point of development.

The  Wisdom, knowledge, talent and resources that God has bestowed upon the country must judiciously be applied. Recall the Parable of the talents- it clearly illustrated the need to put gifts/resources to good use- it also translates into employing the right strategies in investing resources.

The ranking demonstrably reflected the depth of religion in our society. Religion should be seen as a force for social change. Like a knife, it depends on how its being applied.

Max Weber- the German philosopher, in his work  Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1904-05) imputed the emergence of capitalism to religion- meaning religion birthed the modern capitalist system which he ascribed to the protestant teachings notably Calvinism- the adherents were exhorted to put forth strong work ethics, unleash the spirit of entrepreneurship, invest become thrifty and plough back savings into their businesses with government support and availability of capital providing a robust crutch.

The values were undergirded by individual freedom that it  espoused. In fact, work was regarded as a form of giving glory to God and means of finding a place among the ‘elect.’

The country hasn’t recorded the protestant ethic and capitalist spirit in the scale that development and economic prosperity will thrive. The missing link which is not limited to the absence of hard work which has been eroded by corruption; thrift which has been knocked off by wild and unconscionable spending without thought for saving and investment and vitiated condition for growth of businesses and production. Essentially, pragmatic approach and policies remain wishy-washy.

The protestant values have proven to work outside the realm of the ‘religious.’ The values, work for those diligent enough to apply them. China, for instance which reside in the prayerless bracket places religion  at the back seat but it simply drove itself into economic prosperity. It kept working with the single-minded purpose of attaining glory. Its development models are sought after by the ‘prayerful.’ It remains the convenient creditor for development purpose to not a few. Chinese goods and services are ubiquitous.

In fact, in the quest for accelerated development they flirted with capitalism which spurred private businesses and unprecedented millionaires which explained their zeal and strong work ethics.

While we pray, we must roll our sleeves in being discipline in building structures that underpins market economy, robust political governance framework, requisite infrastructures and also institute prudent fiscal management.

Abachi Ungbo
abachi007@yahoo.com