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NIGERIAPROFILE

Info4Migrants

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AREA 923 768 km2

174,5 millionPOPULATION

GDP per capita

NAIRA

Language ENGLISH

CURRENCY

$3416

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MAIN INFORMATION

Location: Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in Western Africa. It borders wtih Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south.

Capital: Abuja. The biggest city is Lagos.

Climate: semi-dry in the northern part of the country, while in the southern parts it can be characterized with high levels of humidity.

Ethnicity: Nigeria is the most populated African country and holds 8th place in the world in terms of number of population. There are three main ethnic groups co-inhabiting on its territories – Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, and along with them hundreds of other ethnicities and tribes with small numbers.

Religion: the religious belonging of the Nigerian population is almost equally distributed between Islam (50%) and Christianity (40%). The other 10% of the population follow traditional religions.

Government: presidential republic.

Flag

3“Coat of Arms of Nigeria” by Lumia1234 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Nigeria.svg#mediaviewer/File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Nigeria.svg

“Nigeria - Location Map (2013) - NGA - UNOCHA” by OCHA. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nigeria_-_Location_Map_(2013)_-_NGA_-_UNO-CHA.svg#mediaviewer/File:Nigeria_-_Location_Map_(2013)_-_NGA_-_UNOCHA.svg

Coat of Arms

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After gaining its independence in 1960, Nigeria defines unity of Africa as its main goal in its foreign policy. The only exception from the focus on Africa is the tight relations which the country maintains with Israel in the 60s, when Israel finances and controls the building of the government offices in Nigeria.

Nigeria supports the African National Congress. The country is one of the founders of the Organization for African Unity (today called African Union) and has a great influence in Africa.

Nigeria is the founder of several regional initiatives for cooperation in Western Africa, among which the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) and ECOMOG, the respective economic and military organization.

During the 70s Nigeria supports several pan-African movements, as well as movements for self-governance in countries like Angola, Namibia and Mozambique.

In the end of November 2006 Nigeria organizes in Abuja a meeting between Africa and South Africa. Nigeria is a member of the International Court of Justice and the Commonwealth of Nations (a unity of countries which in the past have been part of the British Empire). In 1995 Nigeria is temporarily excluded from the Commonwealth of Nation due to Abacha’s regime.

Nigeria plays a key role in the petrol industry even back in the 70s of the last century and is an OPEC member since 1971. This role of important producer of petrol leads to frequent changes in the relations between Nigeria and countries like the USA, China, Jamaica, Ghana and Kenya.

Due to the economic difficulties in the country, many Nigerians have emigrated to Europe, North America and Australia. Over one million Nigerians live in the USA.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

4 Photo by Teasmileland at freedigitalphotos.net

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Coat of ArmsThe coat of arms of Nigeria is a black shield (a symbol of the fertile soil) with two white lines that form in a “Y” shape – Niger and Benue Rivers. There are two white horses around the shield, representing the dignity of the nation. They have stepped on a green field with red flowers - costus spectabilis – the symbol flower of Nigeria. There is an eagle above the shield that represents the strength and under it is the Nigerian motto “Unity and faith, peace and progress”.

FACTS ABOUT NIGERIA

LanguageThe official language in Nigeria is the English – the aim of choosing it was to encourage the cultural and linguistic unity of the country. In addition to the English language, over 500 local languages are being spoken in Nigeria; some of the most widely used ones’ being Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. The languages that are spoken in Nigeria belong to three families of African languages – Afro-asiatic, Nilo-Saharan and Niger-Congo. Some of the languages are still not classified and are being spoken from a very small number of people in the village regions of the country.

GovernanceNigeria is a presidential republic. The president is the head of the executive power. The president of Nigeria is elected by the people for a period of four years, and cannot be elected for more than two consecutive mandates. The National Assembly is bicameral and includes a Senate and a House of Representatives.

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“Coat of Arms of Nigeria” by Lumia1234 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Nigeria.svg#mediaview-er/File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Nigeria.svg

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FACTS ABOUT NIGERIA

AbujaAbuja is a planned city, built almost entirely in the 80s of the previous century, after a decision was taken that the capital of Lagos, is not longer functional enough. Abuja became officially the capital of Nigeria on 12.12.1991. Abuja is situated in central Nigeria on a place which is considered neutral by all the tribes of the country; the goal was for the city to symbolize the unity of the nation. Its location was determined by the two rock monoliths – Aso and Zuma, formed after erosion.Today the city is an important cultural andadministrative center with a modern look, whichattracts more and more inhabitants from all over thecountry.

In the antiquityThe earliest data about settlers on the territory of Nigeria dates back to 9000 BC. There is proof for the existence of shepherds and farmers, as well as pottery work around 4000 BC. Furnaces for melting metals, dating back to 4th century BC have been found in Taruga – probably the oldest ever found. These lands have been in the heart of a large commercial network in ancient Africa. Until the 16th century dozens of kingdoms have been formed, the biggest one being kingdom Nri, founded in 9th century. It exists for about 1000 years, and despite its small territory it has a huge cultural and political influence over southeastern Nigeria. With the time more powerful countries emerge, like Yoruba, Ife, Oyo and Benin Empire, Calabar Kingdom and a number of city-states.

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“Yoruba-bronze-head” by WaynaQhapaq - English Wikipedia. Licensed under Public Domain via Wi-kimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yoruba-bronze-head.jpg#mediaview-er/File:Yoruba-bronze-head.jpg

“Nigeriahouseofreps” by Shiraz Chakera - The House of Representatives. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://com-mons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nigeriahouseofreps.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Nigeriahouseofreps.jpg

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BiodiversityNigeria has a large diversity of plants and animal species. The region around town Calabar is considered to have the richest diversity of butterflies in the world, and the drill monkey inhabits only the southeastern parts of Nigeria and the northwestern regions of neighboring Cameroon. The border mountain regions to the southeast are rich in animal species, some of which are the cross-river gorilla, the extremely rare Nigerian chimpanzee, the endemic country bird Ibadan Malimbe.Three main ecosystems can be distinguished clearly in the country – semi-desert and savannas to the north, equatorial forests in the central and southern parts of the country, and coastal ecosystems along the ocean cost or river basins.

EconomyNigeria has the third largest economy in Africa, after Egypt and the Republic of South Africa. Nigeria has the largest natural gas reserves in Africa and the 7th biggest in terms of volume in the world, as well as the 10th biggest in terms of petrol volumes. It is the biggest OPEC member state and exports the 5th biggest volume of petrol in the world, overpassing countries like Iran, Iraq and Norway.The economic development of the country has been detained in the past by numerous war conflicts, corruption and bad governance, but the gradual introduction of democracy and the successful reforms allow Nigeria to develop its economic potential. During the last couple of years the GDP has risen with 8-9%, which is one of the highest in the world.

FACTS ABOUT NIGERIA

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Photo by meepoohfoto at freedigi-talphotos.net

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FACTS ABOUT NIGERIA

ReligionThe religious identity of the Nigerian population is almost equally distributed between Islam (50%) and Christianity (40%). The other 10% of the population follow traditional religions. The Muslim population is concentrated in the north; while the Christians are disperses in the southern parts of the country. Since 1953 the number of Christians has increased, the Christians in that year have been 13%.Most of them are Protestants, minor part are Catholics. Hausa tribe is the main part of the population that adheres to Sunni Islam.

National identityThe colonial rulership of Great Britain for the first time leads to the union of the Nigerians. Their mutual fight makes them stop thinking about themselves in terms of belonging to Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba, but rather as being a unified nation. The urbanization and education also contribute to the unification of the Nigerians and they gradually realize that they have much more things in common than they have supposed.

Food independencyAgriculture is the main source of sustenance for more than 60 million people inhabiting the village areas of Nigeria. Many important vegetable crops that are widely used in agriculture (especially in Africa) have emerged in Nigeria - sorghum, yams and West African rice. The main agricultural crops that are raised here are: millet, palm oil, cocoa, peanuts, sugar cane, rice and others.

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Photo by africa at freedigitalphotos.net

Photo by artur84 and Vichaya Kiaty-ing-Angsulee at freedigitalphotos.net

Photo by meepoohfoto at freedigitalphotos.net

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Yankari National Park

The Yankari National Park is located in northeastern Nigeria, covering an area of about 2,244 square kilometers. It is the home

to several natural warm water springs. Its location in the heart- land of the West African savanna makes it a unique place for watching wildlife in its natural habitat. Yankari was originally created as a game reserve, but laterdesignated Nigeria’s biggest national park in 1991. It is the most popular destination for tourists in Nigeria and, as such, plays a

crucial role in the development and promotion of tourism andand ecotourism in Nigeria. Yankari is the home of over 50 species

of mammals, among which antelopes, lions, hippos and manyspecies of monkeys. It is also one of the most popular eco-destinations

in West Africa. One of the biggest populations of elephants in West Africa can be found in Yankari – about 300 animals.

Aso and Zuma Rocks

The Aso and Zuma Rocks are located around the capital of Nigeria,Abuja, and the architecture of the city has been complied with them to a great extent.

The Aso rock is a 400-metre monolith around which fmous building like the Nigerian Presidential Complex, the Nigerian National Assembly, and the Nigerian Supreme Court have been located. "Aso" means victorious in the native language of the (now displaced) Asokoro ("the people of victory").

Zuma Rock is a 725-meter high monolith which rises to thenorth of Abuja, on the road to town Kaduna.

Sometimes the rock is referred to the “Gateway to Abuja”. Zuma is depicted on the 100 naira note.

UNIQUE PLACES IN NIGERIA

9“Zuma Rock”. Via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zuma_Rock.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Zuma_Rock.jpg

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FOOD IN NIGERIANigerian cuisine is extremely diverse, alike the ethnic composition of the country.Palm oil and groundnut oil are often used, as well as chili and spices.Popular dishes:Pate – made of ground dry corn or rice, served with spinach, tomatoes, onions, peppers, beans, groundnuts and minced meat.Tuwo shinkafa – rice pudding served with pumpkin stew, spinach and meat or fish.Jollof – rice, prepared with palm oil, onions, tomatoes and various smokes seafood.Akara – a dish made from peeled black-eyed peas formed into a ball and then deep-fried in palm oil. It is usually served for breakfast with millet or corn.Moin-moin – steamed bean pudding made from a mixture of peeled black-eyed peas, onions and fresh ground peppers.Suya – grilled meat coated with ground chili pepper and peanut powder; very popular in Nigeria.Balangu – goat, sheep or cow meat, grilled over wood/coal fire, no seasoning is applied to bring out the natural flavor of the meat.Amala – thick paste made from sweet potatoes, formed in a ball and served with different soups. If prepared with manioc, instead of sweet potato, the dish is called “lafun”.Fufu – pieces of boiled cassava pounded into dough-like consistency, by adding water; balls are formed and served with different soups and stews. The dish is called “sakoro” among the people of Hausa tribe.Maafe – groundnut stew made with groundnuts, tomatoes and onions as the base, and be infinitely varied with chicken, beef of fish and different leafy vegetables. Masa – made from rice which is soaked and then ground into a thick paste, which is then poured and baked into a clay form. Funkaso – millet pancakes.Mosa – fermented corn, which is ground into a thick paste and then fried; it is served sprinkled with sugar.

“A Plate of Pounded Yam (Iyan) served in Birmingham UK” by Toludpilgrim - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Plate_of_Pounded_Yam_(Iyan)_served_in_Birmingham_UK.JPG#mediaviewer/File:A_Plate_of_Pounded_Yam_(Iyan)_served_in_Birmingham_UK.JPG

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BEVERAGES IN NIGERIA

Soft drinks

Kunu

Kunu is a popular Nigerian drink made of millet, sorghum or maize. The grain seeds are left to germinate, then soaking the seeds in water for a few days and blending the soaked grain with sweet potatoes and ginger or pepper to form a smooth paste. This paste is then divided into two parts. One part is placed in a vessel and has boiling water poured on it, then it is stirred to give a thick mixture. The other part of the paste is then added to this mixture and it is stirred some more.The mixture is then left for a day or two for the grain husk to settle. After this, the husk and other sediment are filtered out of the mixture, and the filtered liquid is bottled for consumption.

TeaTea is very popular in Nigeria. When visiting someone, tea is usually served three times. The first cup of tea is without sugar, the second – slightly sweet and the third – very sweet. This symbolizes the development of friendship.

Alcoholic drinks

Palm wine

Palm wine is produced of coconut palms or palm that gives dates. After gathering the palm juice, in two hours it is already fermented and the result is a sweet wine with about 4% alcohol contents. The juice can be left to ferment even longer – for a maximum of one day, for the drink to be even stronger, with a more sour and bitter taste.

Ogogoro

Ogogoro is a strong alcoholic drink, distilled from juice of Raffia palm trees. The active ingredient in ogogoro is ethanol, whose concentration within the drink is very high and the alcohol content of local ogogoro ranges between 30-60%. The drink is home-brewed and very popular in Nigeria. In Yoruba language the drink is known as Sonse, other local names are: Iced Water, Push Me, I Push You and Craze man in the bottle.

“Mbo” by Original uploader was Mbopar at en.wikipedia - Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mbo.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Mbo.jpg

Soy milkSoy milk is prepared from soya which is first soaked and grinded, and after that filtered.

Fura da NonoA popular drink made of cooked then pounded millet or sorghum with some cow’s milk.

ZoboA drink made of Roselle juice.

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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1 January: New Year’s DayThe beginning of the New Year is celebrated.

Variable date during the spring: Easter DayThe Christians commemorate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death.

1 May: Worker’s and Solidarity Day

29 May: Democracy DayThis holiday commemorates the restoration of democracy in Nigeria when the democratically elected president took office, ending the multiple decades of military rule in the country. The restoration of democracy restores the civil rights and the free press and puts an end to the arbitrary arrests and violence.

Variable date during the summer or autumn: RamadanMuslims observe Ramadan, visit their relatives and give tribute to the elder people. Many people give away pastries and desserts on this holiday.

1 October: Independence DayThis day marks the independence of Nigeria, declared on 1 October, 1960, after many years of British rule over the country. On this day the president makes a speech on the radio and television; ceremonies are held for raising the national flag, military parades, celebrations with national dances.

Special tribute is paid to the people who have fought for Nigeria’s independence.

Variable date in autumn or winter: Kurban BayramMuslims make a sacrificial rite on this day, visit relatives and give aid to the poor.

25 December: Christmas DayChristians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on this day.

“Durbar 5” by Riki - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Durbar_5.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Durbar_5.jpg

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PEOPLE IN NIGERIAUrbanization and good education unite the different ethnic groups for the first time. As a result of this rapprochement, Nigerians realize they have

much more things in common than they have thought. This leads to unprecedented levels of inter-ethnic relations and mutual work. People

strive for the development of Nigeria as a whole and not as separate ethnic groups.

Due to the ethnic diversity of the country, the communication style of the Nigerians varies. To the Southeast, in Yoruba tribe, people often use sayings and even songs to emphasize the meaning of what they have said. Yoruba often joke to avoid boredom when there are long and serious conversations. They believe by adding a joke, what they have said will not be easily forgotten. Nigerians living in the south usually are more direct and speak louder, especially when they become excited about something. The serious tone of voice is considered impolite and even hostile. Nigerians prefer faces which express empathy, an indifferent facial expression is not well-accepted.

Nigerians are usually communicative and friendly. Each conversation begins with detailed questions about the prosperity of the person and his family. Foreigners, who spend enough time trying to get to know the Nigerian as a person, can easily be accepted among their closest friends.Sometimes Nigerians count a lot on the non-verbal communication and often use gestures. Their smile can sometimes hide their true feelings, especially those of disappointment or confusion. The indirect eye contact when the gaze is pointed towards the forehead or the shoulders of their interlocutor is considered an expression of respect. The direct eye contact is considered intrusive.

“A woman attends a health education session in northern Nigeria (8406369172)” by Susan Elden/DFID. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_woman_attends_a_health_education_session_in_northern_Nige-ria_(8406369172).jpg#mediaviewer/File:A_woman_attends_a_health_education_session_in_northern_Nigeria_(8406369172).jpg

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PEOPLE IN NIGERIAClass and caste

Highest in Nigerian society are the rich politicians, businessmen and the cultural elite. These people though, represent a very small part of the population. Today many Nigerians live in great poverty and these people have almost no chance of getting out of this vicious circle of poverty. Bad education, lack of opportunities, bad health, corrupted politicians and lack of any savings, prevent most people from achieving any development in their life.

The caste distribution is common for some ethnic groups in Nigeria, where some members of society are treated as being lower class. The criteria for defining which people belong to the lowest caste vary in the different regions: sometimes these are the members of minorities, the inhabitants of a given village or the members of a given family or clan. The Ibgo tribe calls this lowest class Osu.

The members of the community are against any personal or business contacts with members of Osu, regardless the individual qualities and values of the respective person. Osu members usually don’t have representatives in politics; they are deprived of access to education, possibilities for wok and even basic social interaction. Such caste system can be found also in Yoruba and Ibibio tribes.

Symbols of social stratification

Wealth is the main symbol of social stratification in Nigeria, especially in the cities. For many ethnic groups in the past, having an inherited title has been something common and the origin has been of utmost importance. Today money has become the main measurement of social status. The rich elite can easily be distinguished by their beautiful clothes, expensive vehicles and western style houses. These people usually speak better English, due to the better education they have acquired. Wealth can play an important role in marking the social boundaries in the village regions. In many ethnic groups, people who have accumulated enough wealth can buy local titles. For example, in the Igbo tribe, a men or a woman who has enough money, can buy themselves the title Ozo. One of the requirements for women to be called Ozo is to have enough ivory, corals and other jewelry, required for the ceremony. Men, as well as women who wish to acquire this title, have to organize a celebration for the entire community.

14“Hausa harpist” by Melvin Baker - www.flickr.com. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hausa_harpist.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Hausa_harpist.jpg

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PEOPLE IN NIGERIALabor distribution

In general there is labor distribution in Nigeria between men and women. Very few women take part in politics or build a professional career. More and more women start to work in the cities, but in terms of percentage distribution they are still less than the men. Even if they manage to get a good job and establish themselves as professionals, women rarely reach the higher management levels.

However, women in Nigeria play an important role in the economy, especially in the village regions. Women are often expected to provide a major part of the income in the family budget. In general, men are not considered to be carrying the responsibility to provide the sustenance of their women and children. This is why women often have to do agricultural work or sell hand made products at the local market, to make sure they can provide the sustenance of their children.

There is labor distribution between men and women even within the limits of one field. For example women and men grow different types of crops. Igbo tribe considers the sweet potatoes as a crop grown by the men, while beans and manioc are crops grown by women.

Men and women comparative status

Nowadays the society in Nigeria is patriarchal. Men dominate over women in almost every area. Despite the fact that Nigeria has adopted the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, for the regular woman in the country this doesn’t mean anything. Women still have less legal rights than men.

Despite this, there are some areas where women still have big influence. In most ethnic groups the opinion of the mothers and sisters regarding the life of their sons and brothers is considered very important and is respected. The blood connection of these women gives them certain rights which the wives usually don’t have.

“Igbo hat and Isiagu” by infomatique - http://www.flickr.com/photos/infomatique/2812478793/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Igbo_hat_and_Isiagu.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Igbo_hat_and_Isiagu.jpg

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PEOPLE IN NIGERIAMarriage

There are three types of marriages nowadays in Nigeria: religious, civil and traditional. A Nigerian couple might decide to have only one or all three types of marriages. Religious marriages, usually Christian or Muslim, are carried out in a church or a mosque, according to the norms of the respective religion. Christians can only have one wife, while Muslims can have up to four wives. When it comes to civil marriages, regardless of the religion a man is allowed to have only one wife. Traditional marriages are usually held in the home of the woman, according to the traditions of the respective ethnic group. Most tribes allow men to have more than one woman.

Although the western way of searching for a partner and getting married is not unfamiliar, the traditional values and influence of the family are still considered as more important even in the bigger cities and among the richer people. According to tradition women have no right to choose who they are going to marry although in the last years the number of arranged marriages has been reduced. Girls often get married before they turn 20 years of age, sometimes to a much older man. When the man has already several other marriages, it is the oldest wife’s responsibility to introduce the youngest wife to the family, to take care of her and help her integrate.

It is common in many Nigerian ethnicities to pay for your future wife. The price can be paid in the form of money, wine, cattle or other valuable good, which is given to the family of the woman, but it can be done in a more subtle way: for example the man can pay for the education of his future wife, help her start a small business or arrange for her agricultural work.

Although women who decide to leave their husbands can return back to their family, they are expected to give an explanation for their action. If it is decided that the husband has been treating his wife well, the price he has paid for her, will be returned to him.

Although traditions vary in the different tribes, the traditional weddings usually include lots of dances, music and rituals. In Yoruba tribe for example, the future wife and a couple of women come out together covered from head to toe in a white veil and the man has to recognize among them his chosen one, to show how well he knows her.

“Durbar 5” by Riki - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Durbar_5.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Durbar_5.jpg

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PEOPLE IN NIGERIAHousehold

Most families in Nigeria are very big compared to the western standards. Many men in Nigeria have more than one woman. In some ethnic groups, the more children a man has, the higher his status among the others. Often a family consists of ten or more members.

In polygamous families, each woman carries the responsibility for the nurturing of her own children; however women help each other when necessary. Women take turns in the preparation of food for the husband, thus the expenses for his sustenance are distributed equally among everybody. Men are considered heads of the family and their ideas and wishes are rarely put under dispute.

In most Nigerian tribes, the man takes care of his fields, while women have their own work to do: take care of the family garden, processing of palm oil, selling vegetables in the local market, etc. Sometimes children go to school. When they get home, the eldest boys help their father with his work, while the girls and the smaller girls help their mothers.

Divorce is common in Nigeria. Marriage is considered a social contract, aiming at continuing the family, and not a union based on love and emotions. Often the man and the woman live in separate homes and are quite independent from each other. In most ethnic group marriage can be terminate by the man as well as by the woman. If a woman leaves her husband, she is often taken as a second or a third wife for another man, in which case he has to return to the first husband the price he has paid for her. The children of the divorced woman are accepted in her new family without problems.

Family ties

Although men dominate in the Igbo tribe, women play an important role regarding family relations. All Igbo members, men and women, maintain very close relations with the clan of their mother, even if this member lives in another village. When a person passes away, usually the body is returned to the village, to his mother and is buried among her relatives. If an Igbo member is violated and thrown out of their community, the relatives of his mother usually accept him among them.

In the Hausa tribe young couples usually live separately. Connections with brothers and sisters and their families are being maintained, but not so much with distant relative.

“Kwarastatedrummers” by Melvin “Buddy” Baker from St. Petersburg, Florida, United States - Nigerian Drummers. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kwarastatedrummers.jpg#mediaview-er/File:Kwarastatedrummers.jpg

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USEFUL INFORMATION

Meetings

The most common greeting is the handshake, accompanied with a smile.

Sometimes men place their left hand on the other person’s shoulder while shaking hands.

It is important during greeting to smile and show real satisfaction from the meeting.

When meeting someone always enquire about their health and the health of their family.

Close friends and relatives often kiss each other on the cheek and hug when meeting.

Nigerians usually wait for the woman to first put her hand forward for a greeting.

Muslims rarely shake hands with a person of the opposite sex.

When greeting an elder person, it is considered respectful to slightly bow your head.

Form of addressing

In the beginning address people with their professional title and surname.

Friends usually address each other in different ways – by their first name, by surname, by using a nickname.

Always wait for permission in order to start addressing someone by their first name.

Gifts

If invited to somebody’s home, it is appropriate to bring fruits, nuts or chocolate for the host.

A small gift for the children is also always a good idea.

Always hand the gift with your right hand or with both hands.

Photo by panuruangjan at freedigitalphotos.net

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USEFUL ADVICEDuring Ramadan Muslims often give away fruits or food.

If a man gives a present to a woman, he has to say that the gift is from his mother, his wife, his sister or other female relative.

Gifts have to be wrapped.

Gifts are usually not opened immediately.

When visiting

When you enter somebody’s home, always take off your shoes.

In many cases, especially in Muslim tradition, men and women eat separately.

You might be invited to sit on small and low chairs or right on the ground.

Your feet should never be pointed towards the food or towards the other people around the table.

Wash your hands before and after eating. Only use your right hand to eat, to hand or take food, your left hand is considered being dirty.

Usually the oldest man is served food, then the guest of honor, after that to the rest of the men, then the women and children at the end.

Do not start eating before the oldest person at the table.

Be aware that Muslims do not eat pork and do not drink alcohol.

Have in mind that it is not acceptable to eat and drink at the same time. It is also not acceptable to pour yourself a drink, wait for somebody to pour it for you.

If invited to a restaurant, it is possible for you to be seated on a one table with people you don’t know.

Behave as if you are alone at the table.

To call the waiter slightly lift your hand and establish an eye contact, waving your hand is considered impolite.

The bill is paid by the one who has made the invitation; the tip is usually 10% of the bill.

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Photo by africa at freedigitalphotos.net

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BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

Meeting and greeting

Arrange meetings at least three months in advance.

Be for the meeting on time, but do not be surprised if your Nigerian partner is late.

The most frequently used greeting is the handshake.

Wait for the woman to forward her hand first.

Shake hands in the beginning and in the end of the meeting.

When meeting a person higher in the hierarchy, it is considered an expression of respect to slightly bend your head.

In the beginning of the meeting talk about small things, like the weather, sports, family. Wait for the host to start talking about business first.

Bring a small present – a pen and other company materials are suitable.

Titles are important. When addressing somebody use their professional title and surname.

Business cards

The business card is handed with the right hand or with both hands. The left hand is

considered dirty.

In your business card include information about your completed education and current position.

Never write on your business card, or on the business card you’ve been given.

When given a business card, take time to read it before putting it away.

Dress code

Wear formal clothing – a suit and a tie, regardless of whether your meeting is held in the office or in the restaurant.

Women should avoid bare clothing.

Negotiations

Nigerians prefer to establish personal connection first before doing business with someone; this is why the first couple of meetings are usually to get to know each other.

If you have agenda for the meeting, send it in advance. Nigerians usually follow the agenda bullet by bullet.

Do not make suggestions that sound too good, this might seem suspicious.

Do not display disagreements with other team members.

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