Nseobong Okon-Ekong argues that companies should be assessed based on their contributions to the nation
There is a growing trend in Nigeria’s public discourse that deserves scrutiny. Whenever a company becomes successful, expands rapidly, or secures a significant share of the market, a section of commentators often rushes to frame the conversation around ownership, asking whether the company is truly Nigerian or foreign.
At first glance, such concerns may appear patriotic. On closer examination, however, many of these arguments are lazy, simplistic, and sometimes dangerously xenophobic.
Ironically, they mirror the same narrow-minded reasoning that Nigerians frequently condemn when directed against them in other African countries like Ghana and South Africa.
Across Africa, Nigerians have built some of the continent’s most successful businesses. Nigerian banks like Access and Zenith, telecommunications firms, fintech companies, and professional service providers have expanded into dozens of African countries, taking significant shares of local markets.
