Who Should Attend ?

Company managers and staff working and dealing with the Nigerians

Benefits of Attendance

The aim of this seminar is to significantly improve the participants’ effectiveness in their professional relationships with the Nigerians, enabling them to be operational right from the start.

At the end of this training, participants will have acquired insights and techniques to:

• Be aware of their own cultural baggage
• Fully understand Nigerian context and culture
• Analyse possible situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating
• Reduce stress and misunderstandings
• Decipher and understand Nigerian decision-making and negotiation processes

Training Approach

Programme Outline

Module 1 : Understanding cultural differences

1. Intercultural awareness, the key to success in international business

• Taking stock of one's own cultural baggage
• The basics of effective intercultural management
• Identifying and going beyond cultural stereotypes

2. Key aspects of Nigerian culture

• A patchwork quilt of cultures and traditions
• A unique heritage which has stood the test of time
• The impact of British colonisation and the military dictatorship
• A country with extensive resources crippled by years of warfare
• The importance of Nigeria’s sects

3. The impact of values and behaviour patterns on professional dealings and relationships

• A paternalistic society centred around the family
• The importance of castes and religion
• Extraversion and sociability
• The Nigerians’ attachment to appearances, titles and status
• Coolness and spontaneity
• A flexible view of time

4. The Nigerian corporate world

• A patrimonial and hierarchical organisational structure
• Concerted decision-making
• The scourge of nepotism and corruption
• Professional relationships

Module 2 : Succeeding in work with the Nigerians

1. Effective communication with the Nigerians

• Small talk: a vital aspect of Nigerian life
• The importance of tone and gestures
• A frank and direct communication style
• English for business and dialects

2. Adapting your working methods

• Effective management: neutrality, moderation and leadership
• Building trust and confidence to guarantee staff loyalty
• An open mind, humanity and justice
• Supervising, giving praise where praise is due, correcting errors
• Pitfalls to be avoided

3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Nigerians

• Anticipating unforeseen events
• Giving relationships that personal touch
• Patience and perseverance
• Organising the post-negotiation phase

4. Final handy tips

• Caution, patience and humility
• Protocol and etiquette
• Social standards, gifts, business cards, dress code
• Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion
• Humour: a double-edged sword