“Get-rich-quick syndrome” among Nigeria’s Youths Sign of Gaps in Good Parenting: Catholic Bishops’ Conference Official

“There was a time when parents saw you with something they didn’t buy for you, and they would ask where it came from. The reverse is the case now. Today, society celebrates wealth without questioning its source,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest said.

This shift, Fr. Banjo warned, fuels the “get-rich-quick syndrome,” which in turn drives some youths toward paganism and questionable spiritual practices to achieve wealth and recognition.

The Catholic Church upholds hard work and dignity in labour as fundamental values, according to the Secretary General of CSN since January 5 following his appointment that members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) made public on January 1. 

He reminded Nigeria’s youths that work is a divine mandate from God, who laboured for six days before resting on the seventh day as narrated in the creation story.

“If we want to solve this problem, we must begin with the family. Then, we must extend the effort to schools, the Priesthood, and Religious institutions. Our society needs to intentionally engage in the formation of conscience,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest emphasized. 

“The Catholic Church, aware of its duty to guide the youth, has ramped up efforts to counter this trend,” Fr. Banjo said highlighting several initiatives, including a three-day training program in March aimed at reorienting young people away from materialism and moral decadence and another event in April that is to focus on evangelization and deepening knowledge of the Christian faith.

“We are working hard against the tide. The government, families, and society seem to be promoting what is easy for the youth to use against real moral values, but with the Church and with God, we hope to reclaim our youth,” he said.

Asked about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, the member of the Clergy of the country’s Ijebu-Ode Catholic Diocese, who was ordained in July 1998 said, “Christian persecution involves denial of places of worship, destruction of lives and property. And it's not as if the Church has been silent about it, but on several occasions, the Bishops, through their communique and other fora, have spoken to the government on the need to protect the lives and property of people and also to give Christians their rights wherever they are staying.”

Fr. Banjo further decried abductions, which he said have become a widespread menace in the country, affecting not only Catholic Priests but Nigerians across various backgrounds.

“It would be a fallacy to claim that only Catholic Priests are targeted. Kidnapping has become a business for some individuals, not necessarily driven by religious motives, but by the need to make money,” he said.

The Catholic Church, the CSN official went on to say, maintains a strict policy of not paying ransoms for kidnapped Clergy. 

“The Church does not have money for ransom, nor does it want to create the impression that it does,” Fr. Banjo, adding, “Some kidnappers assume that if the Church doesn’t pay, the Congregation will gather funds and pay which is a misconception.”

He called on the Nigerian government to take stronger action in addressing insecurity, and added, “No one should have to kidnap to survive. The economic hardship in our country is a driving force behind these crimes, and all hands must be on deck to put an end to this menace.”

With economic instability, a decline in moral values, and rising insecurity plaguing Africa’s most populous nation, Fr. Banjo urged all stakeholders to take decisive action.

“The ball is in our court. We must make conscious efforts to raise children with integrity, promote a culture of hard work, and reject the societal glorification of ill-gotten wealth,” the CSN Secretary General told ACI Africa on February 13. 

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