Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, the controversial Onitsha-based pastor better known as Odumeje, has argued that “every Nigerian is illiterate as long as the country is still underdeveloped”.
In a recent sermon, the clergyman opined that it was wrong for a Nigerian to assume he or she is learned when the country does not enjoy basic infrastructure.
Odumeje likened literacy to development, arguing that Nigeria lacks strong economies, advanced technology, and high standards of living.
He also cited an example with Dubai — a city in the United Arab Emirates — referring to it “as one of the most developed countries in the world”.
“Anybody claiming educated in Nigeria where there is no good road, do you know what they call learned people? Educated people stay in a country where there is a lot of digital development,” he said.
“Everybody in this country is illiterate. Go to intelligent countries like Dubai, you will see modern things. Any educated people or country, go there you will see development every day because being an educated person means you have something others do not have and you must bring into practice.
“Educated people in a white man’s country are the ones who manufacture cars, bringing modern cars. They want to kill fuel, now they have brought electric cars. Every borrowed a professor and doctorate and borrowed certificates and coming out to say, my learned colleague. As far as this country is not moving forward, all of us are illiterates.”
It was Lifestyle earlier examined Odumeje who has continued to gain prominence on the back of his unorthodox practices.