Nigeria Culture Tips
The following culture tips will come in handy when traveling through Nigeria or when interacting with its people.
+ The four primary languages are Fulani, Hausa, Ibo, and Yoruba. The official language of the government and of many businesses is English.
+ Religious diversity abounds in Nigeria: Christians predominantly live in the south, while Muslims live in the north. Indigenous religions exist throughout the country, which are connected to traditional medicine and magic.
+ With the possible exception of the Muslim north, Nigerians tend to be accepting of foreign businesswomen and will treat them with the same respect they would a businessman, if she has the qualifications and credentials deemed necessary for her position. Since male chauvinism is entrenched in the culture, women should establish her credentials prior to her arrival by forwarding a brief bio of herself, including her academic background and professional accomplishments.
+ Address Nigerians by their academic, professional, or honorific title and their surname. As a sign of respect, males who are older than you can be addressed as “uncle” and women as “auntie.”
+ Nigerians employ proverbs, wise sayings, and even songs to enrich the meaning of what they say.
+ Non-verbal facial expressions that imply empathy are preferred to indifferent facial expressions, which indicate to Nigerians that a person is ignorant or obnoxious.
+ Nigerians can be both direct and indirect communicators depending upon the situation or degree of friendship. Even when stating their position clearly, they will temper their language so that they do not cause offense.
- provided by RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles
