The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, has assured Nigerians that God has not forgotten the country amidst its escalating socio-economic hardships and security challenges.
The archbishop made this known while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 2025 Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON), an annual convocation of believers, held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ndukuba, while speaking on the conference theme, ‘And The Lord Remembered,’ drew parallels between the current national distress and the trials of biblical figures, urging citizens to hold onto faith.
“People may disappoint us. People may challenge us. People may bring reproach on us, but at such a time as this, we are encouraging everybody, every citizen of Nigeria, that as God remembered the people of old in their trying times, God will remember us. He will never leave us. He will never forsake us,” he said.
However, he swiftly turned his attention to the man-made causes of the national crisis, condemning the culture of connection over qualification, a sentiment that resonated with many young Nigerians.
“If you don’t have any connection in Nigeria, you may not have anything. You may be qualified even carrying first class in your university degree.
“But if you go for an interview, they will be asking you who is sending you? If it is not a senator or a very prominent man or a woman, then you are nowhere,” he said.
Contrasting the struggles at home with the celebrated success of Nigerians in the diaspora, Ndukuba identified the root causes of the nation’s failure.
“Why do we fail in Nigeria? It is because of corruption. It is because of weaponisation of religion.
“The people who rule us are people who hate the welfare of the people, because they are there for themselves. Every opportunity they have, they mobilise it for themselves,” he said.
The primate also criticised the mismanagement of public resources, citing constituency projects and aid meant for the poor as areas rife with malfeasance.
Ndukuba, who framed the DIVCCON conference as a vital refuge for a nation losing hope, acknowledged the severe inflation, job losses, and personal struggles facing citizens, and that the theme was very apt and fitting to the situation in the country.
“You see that with the inflation, the money we have on hand cannot even feed the family, things are really getting harder and harder, and people are beginning to lose hope.
“Nigeria will not continue like this. God will remember us and we turn things around,” he said.
