In a recent interview, Dr. Maduka stated, “The number one debtor in Nigeria is Aliko Dangote. He’s the wealthiest man in Africa.” He further noted that the United States, despite being the world's largest debtor nation, is also considered the richest.

Dr. Maduka emphasized the importance of leveraging credit wisely, advising individuals to avoid borrowing more than 20% of their income. He underscored the necessity of having a solid financial structure to support any loans taken, illustrating how strategic debt can be a tool for growth when managed responsibly.


Dr. Cosmas Maduka's recent statement identifying Aliko Dangote as Nigeria's top debtor has ignited widespread discussions online. While some view his remarks as insightful commentary on leveraging credit for wealth creation, others interpret them as a critique of Nigeria's economic practices.

Here are some notable reactions from social media:

  • “Only people who build real wealth like this can write a book and host or speak in seminars. The rest are either motivational speakers or political looters who can’t defend their wealth.”

  • “Go to market and see how people proudly boast about the large loans they’ve taken from the bank to start their businesses. They stress themselves out trying to make sales to repay those loans, and their claims about being successful entrepreneurs seem like a complete joke to me.”

  • “Imagine going to the bank to take a loan of N1,000.”

These comments reflect a mix of admiration for strategic financial leveraging and skepticism about the broader implications of debt in personal and national finance.