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 recognize 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 prioritize 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.
“Why we Africans don’t go far in business is because we want to own it ourselves, nobody wants to share. But oyibo people, I bet you there might be 20 owners who don’t even know themselves and they come together to make complex project look very simple”
-Obi Cubana pic.twitter.com/OVALpfN1Xa
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) November 1, 2025