Why Money Isn’t the Key to Happiness – Banky W
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Olubankole Wellington, widely known as Banky W, a Nigerian singer who has transitioned into a clergyman and politician, has shared his perspective that money is not the key to happiness, contrary to popular belief.
As the head of Empire Mate Entertainment, Banky W pointed out that if money were the true source of happiness, billionaires would not commit suicide. He expressed this view while discussing his journey from being a rockstar to becoming a clergyman on the latest episode of ‘Who’s In My House,’ hosted by Hawa Magaji.
“I am convinced that everyone has an inner void that only God can fill,” he said. “You can try to fill it with money, fame, success, relationships, drugs, or alcohol, but you’ll always feel incomplete.”
He further explained that many people, especially in their youth, believe that they are chasing money. While financial stability is necessary to a degree, it is not the ultimate source of happiness. Banky W shared a personal anecdote about knowing a billionaire who ultimately took his own life. “I sat across from a billionaire, not in naira, who ended up killing himself. At that time, I thought, ‘This guy has it all.'”
Banky W emphasized that his intention is not to judge those who make such decisions but to highlight that what people truly seek is not money. He referenced scripture, saying, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Reflecting on his own life, he mentioned that around 2014/2015, despite appearing successful to the outside world, he felt unfulfilled inside.
