Obi Cubana: From ‘Mama Put’ Seller To Multi-Billionaire

Obi Cubana: From 'Mama Put' Seller To Multi-Billionaire

Obi Cubana: From ‘Mama Put’ Seller To Multi-Billionaire
Today on this video, we are going to uncover the making of the man that has changed not just the nightlife landscape in Nigeria but more so, a business tycoon in its true meaning- Obi Cubana.

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Thank you very much. Now that you have done that, you might want to grab some popcorn and a chilled drink as we take you through this exciting journey.
Let’s start from “the known, to the unknown”.

Before the burial of Obi Cubana’s mother- Ezinne Uche Iyiegbu in July 2021, ( which many later tagged the rain of money), the name: Obi Cubana didn’t ring a bell to the ears of many.
So, what changed? You may ask… was the burial of his mother a launching pad for his unprecedented popularity or was it the media frenzy that publicized his show of wealth? How was it even possible to have gained about five hundred livestock from friends and associates during his mother’s burial?

Let’s find out together.

Obinna Iyiegbu popularly known as Obi Cubana is a Nigerian businessman, entertainer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist and of course , as you may have already known, he is the chairman of Cubana groups.
He has over the years, shown tenacity and strength of will in building his career and proving jobs for thousands of Nigerian youths for more than decade now.

To the mere onlooker, the Name ‘Obi Cubana’ is just a myth promoted by social media buzz and rich circle of friends, but in reality, the name Obi cubana, tells a story of a dreamer who dreams with his eyes open and focused on the vision before him.
Like every other Nigerian, the Anambra-born billionaire didn’t just stumble on wealth, rather he chose to create his wealth by turning ideas into realities and inventing new and fashionable ways to solve needs of the people as well as creating an exceptional path in the hospitality business.

Let’s go back in time for a while… In 2006, Obi Cubana saw a vacuum and decided to fill it. So , in order to satisfy fun seekers and nightlife lovers; the king of Nightlife established his first club which is today known as the Ibiza Club in Abuja. He did not rest on his oars, with the remarkable success of Ibiza Club, he was motivated to aim higher and so in 2009, he established the Cubana Group- a hospitality club that provides all-around entertainment satisfaction.
Now that sounds like a walk in the park but was it really a walk in the park? Or was it an adventure mixed with tales of fear, uncertainty and hope? An answer to that will take us back to Genesis, in the year 1999 before it all started.

It is understandable that you would like to know what exactly happened in the year 1999.. but wouldn’t it be more interesting to know even more about the Nigerian socialite?

The forty-seven years old club-owner was born on the 12th of April 1975 in Oba, Anambra state Nigeria. He attended Central school Oba, after which he proceeded to Denis Memorial Gramma School (DMGS), Onitsha. Upon completion of his secondary education, Obi Cubana Continued to University of Nigeria, Nsukka; where he graduated as a Political Scientist… did that surprise you? Yeah, talk about taking your destiny by your own hand.

Now that we are talking about destiny, perhaps its safe to add that we all are somehow… architects of our destinies. Like every other Nigerian youth, Obi Cubana finished his National Youth Service in Abuja in the year 1999 but sadly for him, there was no job. So after a few years of job-haunting, as a young enthusiastic Nigerian full of zest to achieve his dreams, he did not allow the unemployment in the country to keep him down, so he decided to create job for himself-and that was one single-defining step towards the journey of a thousand miles.

To keep body and soul together, Obi cubana, opened a food canteen ( popularly known as ‘mama put’). It was just a matter of time, the food canteen metamorphosed into a beer parlor. But just before he could celebrate that achievement, the garden was demolished by the Ministry of Environment – Federal Capital Territory… undeterred, like a broken shell, he refused to give in to self-pity.. rather he picked up his pieces, and established Ibiza Restaurant … and then came Cubana club.

The demolition of the structures at the garden returned Obinna Iyiegbu to ground zero but he refused to remain at ground Zero. He weighed his options and made his choices and like the saying goes….. the good had to give away for the better—or even the best. So The nightlife giant picked up the pieces of what was left, went back to the drawing board, conceived a bigger idea of business and gave birth to Ibiza Restaurant.
Gradually, just like drops of water that make a mighty ocean, Obi Cubana has today, become a household name, and the Cubana Group that was first established in Owerri, Imo state; has today spread in major cities of the country like Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu.

But how did it happen? How did he rise from a job-seeker with a demolished kitchen/ bear pallor to become an employee? ….you want to know more? Draw closer because you are about to find out how Obi Cubana made his first One Million Naira.

At the initial stage, like every other business-minded individual, Obi Cubana had tried several other business ventures, some of which worked and some of which didn’t exactly work out and some totally went south, but in the face of it all, he continued to work hard at his dreams and perfecting his skills and horning and refining his business ideas.

As unbelievable as it may sound, the reality of things is that…within this period, the show-bizz boss, together with six other groups of friends were sharing one single room. They would put the bed on the floor and sleep and in the morning everybody went about his business and the hustle continued. Mind you, it was during this time that property/ Estate agency business was budding in Abuja, so Obi would sell landed property and get his own share of five percent commission from every sale he made.

It was one fateful day that he met a client that would change the story of his life. After he was contracted by the client to help him furnish a house, the client was so amazed by the quality of service rendered that he decided to dash Cuban extra five hundred thousand Naira.
…. Now you add the five hundred thousand Naira gift and his six hundred thousand Naira profit and do the maths!

As if luck was never done with him… shortly after, he landed another contract with Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC), from where he made some more profits and bought a Mercedes V-Boot.

Since then on, Obi Cubana has been able to build a business empire whose magnitude and capacity is almost unmatchable. Starting from Ibiza Restaurant (Abuja) to Crave Cubana (Abuja) to Opium Cubana (Owerri) to (Lagos) to Gustavo Cubana (Enugu) to Hustle and Bustle (Abuja) to Grand Cubana Hotels (Abuja)….and more recently in March 2022, he added yet another brand to his business line- Odogwu Bitters.
Odogwu Bitters is currently Nigeria’s leading herbal alcoholic drink, an energy booster that increases libido provides antioxidants and helps the body fight flu.

The herbal spirit which can be found in major Nigerian cities is also sold in New York in the US, Milan in Italy, Paris in France, Johannesburg in South Africa, London in the UK, Frankfurt in Germany, Dubai in the UAE, Guangzhou in China, Sydney in Australia and many other destinations worldwide. Within a year of its launch into the Nigerian market, Odogwu Bitters is now making waves around the world and making steady inroads into the international liquor market. Sweetened with pure honey and spiced with organically grown ginger, Odogwu Bitters is one of the most consumed liquors around the globe.

Aside from all these multi-million Naira investments, in order to cater to a variety of tastes and classes, Obi Cubana currently floats different brands of wine, consumed by millions of Nigerians who identify with and believe in his ideals.
One such company is the Cubana Fast Moving Consumer Goods (CFMCG), a firm in foods, gadgets and cosmetics. Cubana FMCG’s mission is to provide everyday care and democratize consumer brands, making them accessible, available, affordable and trendy to meet the daily needs and aspirations of its customers and consumers. The Company’s vision is to be one of the world’s leading arbiters of consumer goods.

To expand his ever-growing frontiers, particularly in the real estate industry, the business mogul is currently building Cubana Dubai and Cubana Real Estate. This is expected to replicate what he has here in Nigeria in the UAE.

This type of feat, no doubt; is a clear demonstration of Obi Cubana’s unbeatable strength of ideas, sense of quality and entrepreneurial acumen in hospitality/entertainment industry.
With an estimated net worth of over 96 million dollars, the business mogul is showing no sign of relenting as he is dearly committed to helping people through his numerous philanthropic gestures, especially towards the younger generation.

He remains the indisputable grandmaster of showbiz in Nigeria and is still thriving on in exploring new opportunities, not just to create wealth but to also make the society a better place by creating employment for a multitude of youths and assisting young entrepreneurs; an act that has endeared him to the heart of many.

Driven by his desire to give back to society, Obi Cubana created the KIEK foundation, a non-governmental organization established to improve the lives of the less privileged children in society through the provision of quality education, healthcare, and nutrition among others.

One of those that benefitted from Obi Cubana’s goodwill is Emeka Jeremiah, a young hawker who went viral for giving money to inmates in a Nigerian Correctional Service bus in Ajah, Lagos State.

Obi Cubana offered to sponsor Jeremiah up to master’s level in any university of his choice across the world and provide him automatic employment in any of his organizations upon the completion of his education.

 

On the flip side, Obi Cubana is a socialite who believes that socializing and holidaying are essential ingredients to having a fulfilling life. This accounts for his frequent outdoor activities which include partying and vacationing with loved ones across the globe. And the icing on the cake?… His clubs across the country are worth over $ 2 billion.
Maybe they it will be nice to end this episode with his motto…the world is yours…Thanks for watching.


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