Nigeria

Business customs and cultureIntroductions Nigerians place great value on

properly greeting someone – handshaking is customary

Learning local greetings is very much appreciated by prospective business partners

Be aware that English is widely used when exchanging greetings

Business customs and cultureSocial conventionsWhen conversing, members of the

same sex stand much closer to each other than do people in North America.Good conversation topics include modern and future aspects of the country.

Business customs and cultureSocial conventionsFriendship is a valued commodity among

most Nigerians.Hospitality is abundant and generous.Relationships develop quickly and tend to be long-lasting.

Family ties are very strong in Nigeria.Family members remain close to each other throughout their entire lives.It is not unusual for family members to expect a relative to either find or create a job for them

Business customs and cultureSocial conventions

As in many other cultures, the left hand is considered unclean in Nigeria.Although women in the cities and young girls often wear Western dress, most women wear traditional long wraparound skirts, short-sleeved tops, and head scarves.

Business PracticesBusiness Practices

After greeting your Nigerian counterparts, take some time to converse socially before commencing business.

Business cards are sometimes called the “compliment card.”

They often say “with the compliments of…” and are given with more meaning than as just a handy reference.

Age is highly respected and associated with wisdom.

Business PracticesBusiness Practices

Business hours are weekdays from 8:30 to 5. Almost half of all Nigerians are Muslims and

they dominate the northern part of the country. In Nigeria, any significant transaction is always

conducted in person. Any attempts to conduct business by telephone

or by mail is interpreted as unimportant or trivial.

Business PracticesBusiness Practices

Foreign executives should avoid lumping vaguely related cultures together in the same general groupings.

It is best to schedule no more than two appointments per day and to allow plenty of time in between.

Most entertaining, especially in Lagos, is conducted in clubs, hotels, or elegant, expensive restaurants.

Breakfast meetings are very popular, as Nigerians start their day early.

It is common to continue business over lunch. If you are invited to a Nigerian home,

remember you always take gifts. Perfume and makeup are acceptable to a woman. Your Nigerian host would enjoy customized

stationary or western-style clothing.

Business Entertaining

The most interest part of Nigerian entertaining is the music and dancing. Lagos has more nightclubs with live music

than most of Africa combined.• One can expect to be shown to his host’s favorite

discos during a night out.

• Juju, a local style of pop music with strong local flavor and rhythms, dominates many clubs.

Business Entertaining

Gestures

People in Nigeria always try very hard to please their guests, thus they are congenial and hospitable and respect punctuality.

Among the Yoruba ethnic group, an important guest will be greeted by applause.

A vulgar gesture in Nigeria is called the "hand push", wherein the hand is held forward at shoulder or head level, with the fingers spread.

The Yorubas will wink at their children if they want them to leave the room.

Gestures

The Nigerians are colorful and love colors. Tend o be loud as a reflection of this.

Nigerians respect elders, such that, one would seldom see them in an argument or dissentions with their superiors.

Most businesses is done by cash. Place importance on personal space.

Sole of foot is not pointed towards another. Objects are passed with right or both hands.

Communication

Making contact – referrals, recommendations are extremely useful

Getting down to business – Nigerians usually want to chat in length

The pace of business life in Lagos and other cities is somewhat leisurely

Status in Nigeria is largely determined by one's social class and family background

Explains the formality in social interaction

Communication

Verbal communication – either direct or indirect.

Nigerian negotiators rarely interrupt their counterparts across the bargaining table.

Hand shake - The Nigerians normally shake hands with colleagues upon meeting in the morning and again when leaving the office.

The normal interpersonal distance in a business context is about an arm's length.

Eye contact tends to be less direct. Most Nigerian people avoid touching others in

public.

Negotiations

Making a Presentation -Presentations should be straightforward and factual .

Bargaining Range-They put a wide safety margin in their opening position.

Decision-Making Behavior- Americans may find the Nigerian process too time-consuming.

Role of the Contract -emphasis on the legal aspects and the fine points of the written agreement.

Forms of Address -Use Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms. until your counterpart suggests switching to given names.

Leadership StyleThe Main Leadership Styles in Nigeria Is the Type of Using Power and Influence Primarily in the Pursuit of Private (Personal, Close Family, Cohorts) Goals.  Community Objectives to Them Are Secondary. The Main Concerns of Them Are How They Can Use Their Offices to Achieve Personal Objectives.

Women Leadership

Lack of Education Socio-culture normsLack of economic powerLaws and government policies are gender sensitiveDomestic responsibilities

Motivation and Reward System

Reward system is one of the poorest in the worldNo social security, unemployment compensation systemPension system is awfulSocial system is suffering many deficiencies

Proper Tools and System

Pursue the privatization programSome of institutions need to be re-structuredEstablish a serious motivation and reward systemWorkers performance recognitionMore CommunicationProductivity improvement programTaking proper workers’ interests

Nigerian Scam - 419

Also referred to as "Advance Fee Fraud", "419 Fraud" (Four-One-Nine)

The Scam operates as follows The target receives an fax, email, or letter concerning Nigeria containing either a money laundering or other illegal proposal At some point, the victim is asked to pay up front an Advance Fee of some sort

The Nigerian Scam is, according to published reports, the Third to Fifth largest industry in Nigeria.

SAMPLE 419

ETHICAL CHALLENGES

Upon arrival into the country, one is required to process their entry paper with the department of immigration and customs.

officials expect the passengers and visitors to "grease their palm."

However, after the former President Obasanjo, things start to change