Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo of David’s Christian Centre has sparked conversation with his straightforward message to women about financial independence.
During a recent sermon, the pastor challenged the widely-held belief that men should be responsible for taking care of women financially.
He argued that this expectation comes from cultural traditions rather than biblical teaching.
“It never favours you. That idea was cultural, not biblical.
The Bible says that he who does not work should not eat. Before you married, before you had a boyfriend or fiancé, how were you surviving?
That’s the question,” Pastor Okonkwo told his congregation.
His message was clear: women shouldn’t measure their worth by what a man can provide for them.
He warned that financial dependence often opens the door to poor treatment in relationships.
The pastor didn’t mince words when addressing what he sees as misplaced priorities: “All this talk is poor people talk.
Someone with well-to-do parents will be sent to the best schools, get the best jobs, and won’t need to depend on a boy to pay their way. Some of you are letting a man who buys you puff puff squeeze you like puff puff.
If you reduce yourself to someone who can be bought with popcorn, then don’t be surprised when they pop you like corn.”
His colorful analogy drove home a serious point – that accepting small favors in exchange for compromising your standards can lead to being undervalued and mistreated.
Pastor Okonkwo wrapped up his message by encouraging women to maintain their self-respect and avoid lowering their standards for temporary material benefits.
He emphasized that real dignity comes from being able to stand on your own feet through independence and hard work.
