Business mogul, Obi Cubana, has shared his thoughts on why African entrepreneurs struggle to achieve global success, attributing it to a lack of collaboration and an obsession with sole ownership.
Speaking on the mindset gap between African and Western entrepreneurs, Cubana said most Africans prefer to run businesses alone, while foreigners understand the power of partnerships and shared ownership.
He noted that this mentality limits growth and makes complex projects difficult to execute, as individuals often prioritise control over collective success.
Trust and transparency issues
While Cubana’s comments stirred praise online, many social media users argued that the problem runs deeper than greed.
They pointed out that lack of trust, poor accountability, and dishonesty within partnerships discourage collaboration.
According to one commenter, “We are a low-trust society. Many investors have lost money because business partners were neither transparent nor accountable.”
Calls for structure and competence
Others maintained that true collaboration requires structure, fairness, and competence.
They noted that foreign investors rely on legally binding contracts and systems that protect every shareholder’s interest.
Another commenter wrote, “The oyibo we admire don’t mix emotions with business. They draft contracts, hold leaders accountable, and remove anyone who fails to deliver, no matter their stake.”
Watch the video below…
“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