Veteran Nollywood actor Chiwetalu Agu has urged Nigerians to stop believing that poverty can be prayed away, insisting that only hard work and diligence can bring true prosperity.

In a viral video shared on his X (formerly Twitter) page, the actor dismissed the growing reliance on prayers as a shortcut to success, stressing that faith without effort is empty.

“Poverty does not die by fire. I repeat, poverty cannot die by fire. Pray from now till tomorrow — if you don’t work hard, poverty will deal with you,” Agu said.

He explained that while prayer connects people to divine wisdom and favour, the blessings that follow only materialize through hard work and consistent effort.

“Yes, prayer is powerful; it connects you to divine wisdom and favour. But work is the channel through which blessings manifest,” he continued. “You can pray all day for success, but if you refuse to plan or act, you will still remain poor. God blesses effort, not idleness.”

Agu, known for his wisdom-laced humor and iconic movie roles, encouraged Nigerians to abandon the “manna mentality” — the belief that wealth or success will simply appear through prayer alone.

His message has sparked a wave of reactions online, with many agreeing that while spirituality is important, discipline, skill, and hard work remain the real foundations of success.