Nigerian businessman Obi Cubana has weighed in on why many African entrepreneurs struggle to achieve global success, attributing it to a lack of collaboration and an overemphasis on individual ownership.
Speaking about the differences between African and Western business approaches, Cubana explained that while many Africans prefer to run enterprises alone, entrepreneurs abroad recognise the value of partnerships and shared responsibility.
He emphasized that this mindset often limits growth and makes large-scale projects difficult to execute, as people tend to prioritise control over collective achievement.
Cubana’s comments have since sparked mixed reactions online. While some praised his insight, others argued that the issue goes beyond greed.
Social media users pointed to deep-rooted challenges such as lack of trust, accountability, and honesty among business partners, which make collaboration risky.
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One user commented, “We live in a low-trust environment. Many investors have lost money because their partners were neither transparent nor accountable.”
Others highlighted that genuine collaboration thrives only when supported by structure, fairness, and professionalism.
As another commenter put it, “Foreign investors don’t mix emotions with business. They rely on contracts, ensure accountability, and remove anyone who underperforms—no matter their position or ownership share.”