Nigerian Meetings

If going to Nigeria for meetings there are a few practical issues you really need to take into consideration.

Firstly make sure that you will be met at the airport by somebody you know or a representative of the company you are visiting. Personal safety is a real issue in Nigeria so don’t be tempted to go off on your own — no matter how seasoned a traveller you might be.

Secondly, meetings can be difficult to arrange by phone whilst in Nigeria due to the unreliability of the inherent infrastructure. Local appointments are best made by appearing in person or through the use of hand-delivered notes. (For this reason, take a supply of company-headed stationery with you on all visits.)

Nigeria is definitely a country in which relationships are all-important and so meetings will often start and finish with a great deal of social interaction. Do not try to rush these conversations as they are vital parts of the getting-to-know-you process.

Do not expect meetings to start on time – they may do, but you cannot count on it. It is best to arrive on time yourself but be prepared to wait. Patience is necessary in many business dealings in the country.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture. 

Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Nigeria only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.