Greeting

The traditional form of greeting is a firm, energetic handshake accompanied by a friendly smile. During the handshake it is customary to ask the interlocutor how his family is doing, his health, etc. The ritual of greeting is generally unhurried, and there is no need to rush it.

The exchange of personal news is an important part of greeting. It is important not only to listen carefully to the Nigerian partner, but also to share your information. Nigerians greet each other in this way even if they have only recently seen each other (for example, on the morning of the same day).

Handshakes are common among both men and women. However, this does not always happen between the sexes, especially if one (or both) parties adhere to Muslim traditions. The man should wait for the woman to take the initiative before extending her hand in greeting.

When greeting older people, it is important to be as respectful as possible. Socially, you may see Nigerians bow their heads slightly as a sign of respect, showing their respect for someone who is obviously older than they are.

Family and close friends hug each other and kiss each other when they meet.

Introduction

Every possible regalia that distinguishes a person is important in Nigerian business practice, especially those that indicate his or her status in an organization or society. When addressing a partner, first state his or her job and/or other distinctions, followed by his or her last name.

In formal, formal and business situations, use the partner's titles, professional qualifications, degrees or ranks, if any, when addressing him or her. When you address someone, if for some reason or another, you don't mention their title or qualifications in your speech, it would be considered impolite and even rude.

You should only use your partner's name if you have his or her permission to do so. Sometimes a long working relationship or multiple projects together make this a right. If your partners are younger than 35, it is quicker to start addressing each other by name.

The most common "professional" forms of address are "Engineer"or Professor". If not, use the polite terms "Mr. or "Master"with the last name added. The forms "Sir"when speaking to men and "Madam/Madame"women

particular deference should be paid to people of older age and standing.

If you are going to meet a civil servant, find out in advance how he or she should be addressed. Common forms of address include "Excellency," "the Honorable," "Member of the House," and "Senator. Be polite and respectful in your interactions with government officials.

In terms of the use of names and titles/titles, follow the example of your Nigerian counterparts. Be as formal as possible.

In terms of the use of names/titles/titles, follow the example of your Nigerian counterparts.

Exchange of Business Cards

In Nigerian business practice, business cards are very important and are exchanged not only during business meetings or negotiations, but also during social events.

The business card is intended to help the Nigerian to establish the professional position and/or social status of his interlocutor. In this regard, it should display comprehensive information about its owner, such as professional qualifications, job titles, academic degrees.

The usual contact information, including phone numbers, website, e-mail address, is often placed on the front of the business card on the left, with the last name and all regalia on the right. The key is to include all your formal information.

Nigeria has around 500 local languages, with English as the official language. It is also used by the business community in this country-both locally and internationally.

When you hand your business card to your partner, hold it with both hands or just your right hand. Likewise, you should hold the business card with both hands or your right hand only. This ritual is especially important if you know your partner has Islamic traditions.

There is no specific time commitment mentioned when giving business cards in business communication. But when you receive your partner's business card, be sure to pay attention to it before you put it away or put it in your business card drawer, for example by reading what's on it.

Never write or write anything on your or your partner's business card. If you have a change, get a new business card.

Have enough business cards with you at all times, whether you are at a business meeting or a party after a trade show.

Small Talk: Overview

Nigerians can be described as friendly and sociable conversationalists. They can touch on almost any topic that concerns them.

In taking their first steps toward a joint project, Nigerians are eager to get to know their potential partner, because building a relationship is at the heart of any business. Light, friendly small talk will certainly serve this purpose.

Nigerians often (especially compared to other cultures) bring up personal and family issues in conversation. This precedes the discussion of work issues. In doing so, questions like "How are you?" (How are you?) or "How is the family?"(How is the family?) are not rhetorical, they require an answer and therefore an exchange of personal information.

Your Nigerian partner will appreciate your attempts to say even a few words in the local language, even if it is only a greeting. It will be seen as a sign of consideration for their culture.

Preferred Topics

Family. Nigerians are quite open about themselves and their family, such as how their children are studying and what their successes are.

The country or city of your birth is a good topic at the beginning of the conversation.

Sports. Soccer is loved in this country. It is a topic that is both safe and interesting for most of the country's male population.

Nigerians care about a variety of topics that they are also willing to discuss with their guests and partners. These topics include religion, politics, economics, and social and ethnic issues. Opinions expressed vary widely. In such situations, it is best to take a neutral stance, not to express a commitment to any particular viewpoint.

Taboo Topics

Religious issues are among the topics to be avoided in the course of conversation, especially in light small talk.

Do not develop the topic of health if you know that someone in your partner's family is ill.

Real taboo topics do not exist in Nigeria, even politics are discussed quite openly at the moment.

Personal Space

It should be kept in mind that Nigerians have a shorter comfort distance than other cultures, such as those in Northern Europe or North America. This is especially true for those living in the south. In northern Nigeria, the comfort distance is noticeably greater.

If you feel that the person you are talking to is too close to you, don't still take a step back to increase the distance. This could be perceived as unfriendly behavior.

Nigerians are quite expressive when communicating with each other. Physical touching is considered a natural and integral part of communication, especially between people of the same sex.

In Nigerian society, direct and much less prolonged eye contact is not accepted. This probably stems from the habit of not looking your boss in the eye, as this is seen as rude and disrespectful behavior.

Communication Specifics

The importance of developing and maintaining relationships is enormous in Nigeria's business culture. This is especially important when dealing with foreign partners. Therefore, pay special attention to small talk with the Nigerian party, because this is how you can get to know each other a little better. Business in this culture is based on relationships based on trust between partners.

In general, the communication style in Nigerian business practices can be described as polite and quite formal.

Formal behavior is maintained not only between managers and subordinates, but also between managers and business partners who have the same status. Formality in communication reinforces hierarchical relationships between people whose boundaries should not be violated.

In Nigerian culture, emotional and expressive speech is valued, especially in public. Nigerians tend to go to great lengths to make their opinions explicit and unambiguous, and to sound effective.

Nigerians in general have an indirect way of speaking, especially when discussing problems or difficult situations. It is not uncommon for them to say what the other person expects them to say, rather than what they really think. Nigerians do not want to deceive or mislead anyone. They simply want to avoid offending the person and get away with it if possible.

Your Nigerian partner will not feel comfortable if they have to give a negative evaluation or simply say "no" to you because agreement in this situation is not possible in principle. Most likely, he will nevertheless say "yes" to you, really meaning no. It is important to watch how he expresses his refusal. If there is enthusiasm in his voice, his "yes" is sincere.

Sometimes the evasive answers of Nigerians are difficult to understand. In this case, try asking the question again if you are not quite clear about the answer. In this case, ask the question in a way that asks for a detailed answer.

The senior citizens and those in positions of power are important in Nigerian culture. It is important to observe a certain formal protocol and to be respectfully polite when dealing with such persons.