Asks Ibukun Emiola, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

For many Nigerians, each new year should not begin with resolutions written on paper or one’s mind, but with days of fasting and hours of prayer to seek divine direction.

This has been a ritual which many claim helps them to seek clarity and stability before stepping into an `uncertain’ future.

Also, many churches declare fasting and prayers for their members at the beginning of every year, with the same aim.

Many Nigerians strongly believe that such fasting and prayer prepare them spiritually for the months ahead.

This practice, according to them, is important, especially in the face of economic hardship, job insecurity and social pressures.

A worker in Oyo State Ministry of Education in Ibadan, Mrs Yetunde Alabi, is of the view that fasting and prayer reflect total dependence on God.

She acknowledges that the practice helps her to shut out distractions and realign her desires with God’s will.

Mr Ayodeji Smith, who teaches at Oluyole Private School,  Ibadan, describes the practice as seeking God’s face for a new journey.

“Prayer and fasting are like oxygen and water to my soul; they are essential for spiritual growth and renewal,” he says.

For a businessman in Ibadan, Mr Lanre Ogunshina, prayer is a way of conversing with God and seeking guidance from Him.

“Fasting helps me  to abstain  from distractions and selfish desires,” Ogunshina says.

He is determined in 2026 to honour God, love people and make positive impacts.

Ms Kemi Elufowoju, who sells confectioneries in Ibadan, says that the exercise means giving God the right to direct one’s life.

She believes  that God knows the end of everything from the beginning and should be trusted to direct.

Mrs Blessing Oreoluwa, an entrepreneur, describes fasting and prayer as a form of consecration, a fresh setting apart unto God, reflecting total dependence on God’s leading as well as surrendering of personal ambitions to divine will.

“Fasting helps to align human desires with God’s purpose.”

For Mrs Kofoworola Tirimisiyi, also an Ibadan-based businesswoman, prayer represents sincere communication with God and submission to His will.

According to her, fasting involves abstaining from what God does not desire.

Mrs Gbemisola Ajakaye, a worker at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, views  the practice as a means of drawing closer to God and aligning with His purpose, while Mrs Omolade Oladosu, also a civil servant in Ibadan,  is of the opinion that prayer and fasting  help to `redesign’ one’s life.

A Health Safety Officer in Agbor, Delta, Mr Davis Aghwadoma, believes that starting the  year with fasting and prayer signifies spiritual ‘reset’.

He is convinced that the practice helps  one to connect deeply with God, renew commitments and gain clarity.

A lecturer in  Ado-Ekiti,  Dr Adesola Osunkunle, however, advises that fasting and prayer should not be limited to the beginning of the year, although  it is important and signifies committing the year and one’s plans into God’s hands.

For a Lagos-based self-employed Mrs Kemi Gbadebo, fasting and prayer also signify entrusting God with one’s life and plans.

Similarly, Mr Samuel Kayode, a civil servant in Lagos State, describes the exercise as ‘waiting on the Lord for wisdom, strength and direction’.

Ms Busola Tuwase, also a Lagos resident, says the exercise helps her to retrace her steps when necessary.

According to her, prayers not only change situations but also transform people.

Pastor Kayode Opemuyi, Founder, New Realm Church, Lagos, says fasting and prayer  help to prepare one to receive instructions  from the Almighty.

A Port Harcourt-based businessman, Mr Promise Maducho, believes that fasting and prayer show total surrender to God.

“They signify emptiness before God, allowing for deeper concentration and spiritual sensitivity.”

Mr Tajudeen Saka, also a resident of Port Harcourt, says fasting and prayer nurtures one’s spiritual life the way fertiliser and water nurture crops.

Pastor Godwin Shina of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, Ilorin, says when one fasts and prays at the beginning of the year, one is spiritually preparing for the journey ahead.

Pastor Muyiwa Adewale of  the God Will Do it Ministry, Osogbo, advises that starting the year with fasting and prayer should be based on divine direction.

“Committing the year to God remains important. Proverbs 16:3 says committing one’s plans to God helps to establish one’s thoughts and direction,” he notes, but says the practice should be done on conviction.

Mrs Omowunmi Williams, who trades at Mararaba, Abuja, described the practice as a spiritual work that provides a deeper connection with God.

As 2026 progresses, many Nigerians believe that engaging in fasting and prayer will provide them with spiritual foundation for navigating the months ahead and succeeding in their endeavours.

Analysts have observed that year-by-year, many Nigerians hold on to the exercise to reinforce their faith and hope for a sense of direction  and success throughout the year.

They commend such dedication but urge  those engaging in the exercise  to be honest, just and charitable  in their daily lives to make the society a better place.

Analysts also urge them to pray and fast not only for their families,  but also for their communities, states and the entire Nigeria for advancement.