Every great company you admire today was not built by one man’s pocket.
They leveraged partnerships, investors, and other people’s money.

If your company grows to ₦200B and it’s only your capital behind it, it means you have under-explored its true potential. Because two, three, or four other partners could have multiplied that growth far beyond what you alone could finance.

A business funded only by you will always be smaller than it could have been. It may look big on paper, but it is still limited by the size of your wallet.

The truth is this, to expand, you must learn to partner. Money is not the only thing investors bring, they also bring their networks and expertise. Their participation is validation that your vision is worth betting on.

The companies that dominate industries understand this principle. They don’t pride themselves in “doing it alone.” They pride themselves in building structures that attract others to join the journey.

If you truly want your business to grow into a giant, stop thinking only in terms of personal capital. Start thinking in terms of collaboration and the ability to multiply through other people’s resources. That’s the difference between a business that survives and a business that shapes an industry.

Dr. Smith Ezenagu is the Chairman of Esso Group, a diversified conglomerate shaping real estate, finance, education, and media. Dr. Smith Ezenagu is recognized as a real estate & investment mogul, life coach, and private equity expert. He leads Esso Group and its subsidiaries: Esso Properties (awarded Nigeria’s Most Innovative Real Estate Company in 2024 and recognized as the best real estate company in Nigeria), Esso School of Enterprise (the leading institution equipping entrepreneurs), and Esso Capital (delivering smart, trusted financial solutions across Nigeria).