Dr. Cosmas Maduka has condemned the slang “money na water,” calling it a symbol of misplaced values.
He warned that flaunting wealth promotes moral decay and misleads young Nigerians about true success.
Billionaire businessman and founder of the Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, has criticized the growing popularity of the phrase “money na water,” saying it promotes reckless spending and a shallow attitude toward wealth.
Speaking at a public event, Maduka condemned the culture of throwing money at parties and showing off wealth in public, describing it as a “dead value system” that distorts morals and sends the wrong message to the younger generation.
“I’ve never heard any truly wealthy person say ‘money na water,’” Maduka stated. “You will not hear Tony Elumelu or Femi Otedola say such things, and I’ve never said it myself. Whenever I attend an event and people start spraying or throwing money around, I quietly leave. Those acts reflect a bad cultural practice and a poor value system we have adopted.”
He lamented that genuine wealth is often accompanied by humility, not showmanship. “When we were growing up, rich people didn’t make noise,” he said. “Those shouting today never made real money. Real wealth makes you calm, humble, and thoughtful.”
Maduka warned that the increasing celebration of wasteful spending is corrupting the nation’s moral compass. “We have embraced a destructive culture and are passing it on to our children,” he said. “It must stop. People should not celebrate such behavior they should reject it.”
