’Those jobs are not really there’: Nigerian expat says U.S systems have replaced his hours of prayer

A Nigerian man living in the United States has sparked a heated online debate after a video went viral in which he argues that effective government systems in developed nations have rendered many of the prolonged prayers he once made in Africa unnecessary.

In the video, which was shared on X and has since been picked up by multiple Nigerian news outlets, the man identified as Oyindamola (handle @dammiedammie35) reflects on how moving to the U.S. changed his perspective on prayer, employment, and governance.

“Since I came to America, I no longer pray for 10 minutes, 20 minutes. What am I praying for?” he says in the clip, which was filmed by a lakeside. “The things that I used to pray back home in Africa for God to provide for me, I came to Yankee and saw that the government and the system have already provided those things for people.”

Oyindamola claims that many Africans have been conditioned to pray for basic necessities because governments have failed to provide essential opportunities and services for citizens. He specifically recalled his post-university experience in Nigeria, where job searching often involved lengthy periods of prayer and fasting.

“I could remember when I was back home in Nigeria, those days after I graduated, I would pray 30 minutes, 40 minutes, fasting to get jobs,” he says. “And I came to Yankee and realized that I was wasting my time back home in Nigeria praying for some things. First of all, we pray to get jobs back home in Africa, and those jobs are not really there.”

His comments have drawn a sharp divide online. Some social media users agreed with his critique of governance. “He’s saying the truth. Good governance solves many problems,” one user wrote. Others, however, maintained that prayer remains important regardless of location. “Prayer is still important no matter where you live,” another added.

The viral video has also reignited conversations surrounding Nigeria’s growing “Japa” emigration wave, as millions of citizens continue to seek more reliable systems and better living conditions abroad. The clip has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times across platforms, fueling a debate about the role of spirituality versus structural reform in national development.

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Citations: The news report is based on information from Newswatch (Nigeria), Tori.ng, and Amonpoint.ng, with additional context from other reports. The man’s full name as reported is Oyindamola.