At the sixth edition of the Wealth Summit in Lagos, billionaire industrialist Dr. Cosmas Maduka, Chairman of Coscharis Group, delivered a blunt but inspiring charge to young Nigerians: take ownership of your future.
Speaking to an audience of entrepreneurs and innovators, Maduka emphasised that long-term success is built on discipline, savings, and relationships—not luck. “Only a fool spends everything he has. Start saving from childhood. True wealth is not money in hand, but access, networks, and the value you create,” he said.
Maduka’s story, which drew nods across the room, underscored his point. Orphaned at ten, he began hawking spare parts in Lagos before eventually transforming grit and consistency into Coscharis Group, one of Nigeria’s largest conglomerates. “If I could make it, anyone can. But you must embrace the discomfort that comes with discipline,” he told participants.
Wealth Summit: Impact Over Numbers
The summit, hosted by Pertinence Group, is designed to push beyond motivation into measurable impact. Dr. Sunday Olorunsheyi, Co-founder of Pertinence and Chairman of Pettysave Microfinance Bank, explained that the goal was always empowerment, not applause.
“When we started 13 years ago, our focus was enterprise development. Today, more than 100 businesses have emerged through our platforms. We’ve given out over 100 cars, sponsored hundreds on international trips, and even enabled home ownership for many. The question for us has never been about numbers—it’s about real transformation,” Olorunsheyi said.
He also unveiled the Genius App, a multi-functional platform that integrates savings, credit, commissions, and business automation. “Think of it as a financial upgrade. Just as phones need software updates, Nigerians need life updates—and Genius is one way to achieve that,” he added.
Beyond Capital: Resourcefulness First
Co-founder Wisdom Ezekiel challenged a common belief among young entrepreneurs—that capital is the greatest hurdle. Reflecting on his own journey, he revealed that he never completed formal education, teaching himself to read and write along the way.
“Capital doesn’t build businesses; resourcefulness does. I had no degree, just courage to keep showing up. Opportunities will always find people who prove resourceful. Don’t wait for perfect conditions—move in spite of fear,” he said.
Bridging the Wealth Gap
Other speakers reinforced the summit’s central theme, “The Real Money of Lagos.” Financial mentor Olumide Emmanuel, nicknamed the “Common Sense Guru,” praised the summit’s commitment to practical solutions. “This is more than motivation. It’s a blueprint—systems, habits, and literacy that move people from poverty into stability,” he explained.
Damilola Hassan, Managing Director of Meristem Trustees, added that the summit was reshaping traditional saving cultures like ajo and esusu into more structured, secure systems that could build long-term wealth.
