Country Profile

Modern History
Facts and Figures
Education
Government
Economy
Geography
Environment
Industry in Nigeria
Technology
Arts and Sport

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Modern History:

Modern History:

Nigeria was under British rule until October 1960, when Nigeria gained its full independence. In July of 1966, Yakubu Gowon, a northern officer, became the country’s leader and divided the country into twelve states to help prevent the chaos and tension between different regions. In the following years, Nigeria became very wealthy through its reserves of oil with an output of about 2 million barrels a day in the mid-1970s. However, in the late 1970s, the price of oil dropped tremendously and Nigeria went through an economic crisis. Nigeria split into more states, nineteen states in 1979, twenty-nine in 1991, and now Nigeria has thirty-six states. Ibrahim Babangida, a military ruler, held a presidential election in 1993, but after seeing that Moshood Abiola would win, he canceled the election. This led to Nigeria’s first act of democratic movement. Nigeria experienced many obstacles in establishing their government and leadership through various types of tension after becoming an independent country, but they are improving and developing as they are the most populous country in Africa and can be one of the wealthiest as well with its large oil reserves.

                     Figure One: Nigerian Soldiers fighting in Civil War to gain independence

Facts and Figures

Facts and Figures:
·Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
.Capital: Abuja
. Ethnic Groups: over 250 ethnic groups including Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
. Population: 135,031,164
· Currency:Naira
· GDP: US$ 173bn
· GDP per heads: US$1,120
· Main Exports:Type: Oil, Gas, Vehicle parts, Rubber % plastics.
· Life expectancy: Men 48 yrs & Women 50 yrs
· Adult literacy: 61%

http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/Business-Facts-and-Figures-on-Nigeria.html

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/nigeria.html

http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/2012-10-29-11-05-46/history-of-nigeria

http://www.ng.total.com/01_about_nigeria/0103_history.htm

Education

Education:

Children under 15 years of age account for around 45% of Nigeria’s population. This large number has made it difficult to effectively educate the children of Nigeria, but the education system, which is supervised by the State Government, is surely developing, improving, and recovering from the neglect of previous governments. In the formal education system, there are six years of primary school, which are mandatory, three years of junior secondary school, three years of senior secondary school, and four years of university education. Primary school starts at the age of six for most Nigerians. They are taught math, the English language, bible knowledge, science, and one of the three main native languages: Hausa, Yoruba, and Ibo. In 2004, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act was passed and it portrayed the Nigerian government’s strategy to fight illiteracy and extend basic education opportunities to all children in Nigeria. 

For more information about Nigeria's education system, visit these links:http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/nigeria_education_profile.htmlhttp://www.unicef.org/nigeria/children_1937.html

Government

Government:

The capital is Abuja and it currently has 36 states.  The president of Nigeria serves for 4 years as the head of the state, head of the government, and the head of the multi-party system. The current leader is Chief Executive Goodluck Jonathan.

 The law of Nigeria is based on rule of law, followed by the British rule in Nigeria. There are four distinct systems of laws in Nigeria. The first one is English Law, which is derived from its colonial past with Britain. The second, Common law, was developed after the British rule. Third is Customary law. These laws are developed from the traditional norms and practices. The last, Sharia Law, is used in the northern part of the country.

The government started to support Nigeria for economic growth in different methods. The first method is through trade liberalization. Trade liberalization makes for a friendlier atmosphere so the foreign countries will start businesses and make investments within the country. The Nigerian government also started allowing privatization, which made a positive impact in Nigeria’s manufacturing productivity and also allowed for improvement in the production of agricultural tradable goods (cocoa, cotton, groundnut, palm kernel, palm oil and rubber).  Second, the government helped with commercialization which ensures the productivity of the economy.  They transformed the government run business into private companies, increasing the productivity of the economy. Recently, the new Nigerian government approved projects to recapitalize the Bank of Industry (BOI is under mixed ownership with the majority of assets owned by the federal government) to develop finance institutions that will triple the total capital of the country.  The third method is by Capital requirements. Capital requirements help private enterprises borrow the capital they need for large public utility projects such as the construction of railways or airports. This helps the development of the country in the transportation sector which will eventually attract foreigners.

Economy

Economy:
Their GDP, using the purchasing power parity (PPP) is $413.4 billion with a GDP per capita of $2,578 and these values are increasing every year.  These values were calculated using the market exchange rate of $1=75.75 Nigerian Naira.   Over the last seven years, the Nigerian economy has had an average annual growth rate of 7% and this is largely due to the industry part of the economy, which mostly consists of oil production.  In the year 2013, the Nigerian economy is expected to expand still.  This is largely due to the government’s concentration on macroeconomic policies.  Nigeria is now ranked 30^th in the world according to GDP and has the second largest economy in Africa, behind South Africa.  If Nigeria keeps growing as it is now, it is on track to becoming one of the twenty largest economies by 2020.  

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Geography:

Nigeria is in Western Africa between Benin and Cameroon. Though it is not the largest country in Africa, it is the most populous country in Africa. Nigeria's capital is Abuja, and some major cities are Lagos and Benin City. The climate in Nigeria varies, but it is mostly tropical since it is located near the equator. Some of Nigeria's natural resources are petroleum, natural gas, and tin. 

Environment

Environment:

Nigeria has one of the worst environmental records in the world. In recent years, the country has seen the execution of a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, widespread social and environmental problems stemming from oil operations in the Niger River delta, and the world's highest deforestation rate. The Niger River delta of Nigeria is home to coastal rainforest, mangrove forest, and rich oil deposits. Nigeria also has one of the highest pollution indices in the world, standing at 93.97. Below is a link that breaks down each aspect of pollution in the country of Nigeria.
http://www.numbeo.com/pollution/country_result.jsp?country=Nigeria

Industry in Nigeria

Industry in Nigeria:

Petroleum, Mining, and Agriculture

            The petroleum industry is the main generator of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP). Nigeria’s oil revenue has totaled $340 billion in exports since the 1970’s. Although the country is a major oil exporter, it imports most of its gasoline.

            Agriculture in Nigeria is another major branch in the economy of Nigeria, providing employment for 70% of the population.  It is the second largest contributor to the country’s GDP. The agricultural industry is responsible for producing major crops that include beans, sesame, cashew nuts, cassava, cocoa beans, and more.

            One more source of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for 0.3% of its GDP, is it’s mining industry. In the mid 20^th century, Nigeria was a major producer of tin, columbite, and coal. However, the discovery of oil in the 50s caused government and industrial efforts to focus away from the mining industry and towards the new resource.

             

Technology

Technology:

When Nigeria declared independence in 1960, the idea of technological development started to unfold. Nigeria needed technological advancement to make learning and teaching more effective. Today, Nigeria is one of Africa's fastest growing telecoms markets. However, more than 95% of Nigerians do not have access to the Internet or a PC. Only 0.9% actually own PCs. Despite these facts, Nigeria is working on developing the technology throughout the country. There are organizations, such as Project Development Initiative (PRODA), that are helping in promoting the nation's drive towards self-reliance in science and technology. 

Arts and Sport

Arts and Sport:

Nigeria's artistic heritage emerged around 1897, when outsiders began to see Nigerian art. Some examples of Nigerian art are:

Nok Terras - Nok terras are believed to have been made between 500 BC and 200 AD and are presumably the oldest sculptures in Africa. The culture that developed these Nok terras influenced sculptures that were made later on in Western Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

Igbo-Ukwu Bronzes - These works of art are some of the earliest works of bronze, dating back to 600-1000 AD. The people of Igbo-Ukwu used different metals to construct these pots. 

Sports: Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in not only Nigeria, but all of Africa. Nigeria's national football team is nicknamed Super Eagles. Nigeria is qualified for the upcoming 2014 World Cup.

Other popular sports are boxing, basketball, running, and dancing. 

References:

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcnigeria.htm

http://www.humanipo.com/news/3079/survey-shows-less-than-five-percent-of-nigerians-have-access-to-pc/

http://allafrica.com/stories/201311010515.html

http://www.onlinenigeria.com/artsandCrafts/

http://www.africastarnews.net/index.php/asn-sports-feed/205-the-5-most-popular-sports-in-nigeria.html

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Reference

http://www.africastarnews.net/index.php/asn-sports-feed/205-the-5-most-popular-sports-in-nigeria.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201311010515.html
http://www.humanipo.com/news/3079/survey-shows-less-than-five-percent-of-nigerians-have-access-to-pc
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcnigeria.htm
http://www.unicef.org/nigeria/children_1937.html
http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/nigeria_education_profile.html
http://geert-hofstede.com/nigeria.html
http://www.sestudyabroad.com/guide/NG-religion.htm
http://www.onlinenigeria.com/links/adv.asp?blurb=72
http://www.onlinenigeria.com/artsandCrafts/

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Business Culture

Business culture

Here are some key Do’s and Don’ts when doing business in Nigeria

Do’s

• ·      Do some research on the Nigerian company you visit before you arrive
• ·      Do get to know the hierarchy of the company as early as possible
• ·      Do show up on time
• ·      Do be patient with Nigerian traffic
• ·      Do address Nigerians using their titles as this shows respect to the status of the person
• ·      Do remember to shake hands with everybody when you enter a room and go through the obligatory, fairly lengthy introductions with warmth and good grace.
• ·      Do try to avoid using your left hand when handing things to people, eating food etc.
• ·      Do be aware that a large part of the Nigerian population are Muslim so be aware of Muslim taboos on alcohol, pork, gambling etc
• ·      Do take care at all times and never go anywhere with people you do not trust or know quite well

Don’ts

• ·      Don't try to get decisions out of middle-managers - they usually can't make them.
• ·      Don’t ignore lower ranking officials - they can still be highly influential
• ·      Don’t worry if meetings seem a little informal and non-business focused, the more time spent on relationship-building, the better.
• ·      Don’t be alarmed if your Nigerian counterpart does not show up on time, that is based on Nigeria’s loose reckoning of time.
• ·      Don’t be scared if Nigerians are standing quite close to you. This should not be seen as threatening.

Dress code

• ·      Men: should wear dark suits and ties and women should wear dark, demure business-style suits.
• ·      Women: should not dress provocatively or too fashion-forward for business situations. If a woman is doing business in the predominantly Muslim northern Nigeria, especially if she will be meeting with a religious leader or conservative Muslim, a headscarf is suggested. 
• 
  

Team Working

As Nigerians are enormously relationship oriented, they have the potential to work very collaboratively and successfully in a team environment. However, team members need to feel comfortable with each other and this can be difficult to achieve. Many factors are at play when Nigerians interact with each other. Tensions are never far from the surface. These tensions could be religious (Christian vs. Muslim), tribal or even language related. Once a team has been formed and is seen to be working well together, it is probably best to leave it in place. Don't be tempted to break teams up unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Team members will work best when managed by an authoritative leader who clearly defines each team member's roles and responsibilities and gives clear, consistent instructions.

Communication

• ·      Nigeria has well over 300 ethnic groups, each of which has its own language or dialect. In such a language-diverse country, English has come to be seen as the unifying language and although the dominant indigenous languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are widely used they are not universally understood.
• ·      Nigerians are outgoing and friendly. Communication commences with polite inquiries into the welfare of the person and his family.
• ·      Nigerians living in the south of the country tend to speak more directly. You may also find their tone slightly louder than elsewhere. They may raise their voices even more and become emotionally excited when they feel passionately about a topic.
• ·      Nigerian communication can also be indirect and may rely on non-verbal cues. Many use gestures when communicating.
• ·      They may smile to mask their true feelings, especially when disappointed or confused. Many employ indirect eye contact to demonstrate their respect for the other person. It is common to gaze at the forehead or shoulders of someone they do not know well.
• ·      Very direct eye contact may be interpreted as being intrusive unless there is a longstanding personal relationship. 
• ·      At the same time, there are some Nigerians who are extremely direct communicators and have no difficulty stating what is on their minds. Therefore, it is a good idea to observe the situation carefully before determining what behavior is appropriate.
• ·      Handshaking is very important and it is usual to exchange long, lingering handshakes with everybody you meet. Do not be in too much of a rush to have your hand released — just relax.

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Country Culture

Customs, behaviors, norms, traditions

Etiquette and customs of Nigeria The most common greeting is a handshake with a warm, welcoming smile.
•You must take the time to ask about the person’s health, the health of their family, or other social information
•Address people initially by their academic, professional or honorific title and their surname.
•When greeting someone who is obviously much older, it is a sign of respect and deference to bow the head.

Gift Giving Etiquette •
If invited to dinner at someone’s home then bring fruit, nuts or chocolates for the host.
• A gift for the children is always a nice touch.
• Gifts should be given using the right hand only or both hands. Never use the left hand only as that is considered a sign of disrespect.
• Gifts from a man to a woman must be said to come from the man’s mother, wife, sister, or other female relative, never from the man himself.
• Gifts should be wrapped, although there are no cultural taboos concerning paper color.
• Gifts are not always opened when received.

Business etiquette
• Handshakes are the most common greeting.
• Wait for a woman to extend her hand first.
• Shake hands at the beginning and end of meetings.
• To rush a greeting is extremely rude; spend time inquiring about the other person’s general well-being.
• Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis. This is not a first name culture, although that may be changing with people under the age of 35.
Business cards
-Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
-Present and receive business cards with two hands or the right hand, never with the left.
-It is a good idea to include any advanced university degree on your business card.
-Make certain that your title is prominently displayed.
-Never write on your business card. If the information has changed, have new cards printed.
-Make a point of studying any business card you receive before putting it into a business card holder.


Expressions, Meanings & Values:
Nigerians prefer facial expressions that imply empathy and believe an indifferent facial expression indicates that a person is ignorant or obnoxious. They are fond of the expression, "When Nigeria sneezes, the rest of the African nations (with the exception of South Africa) catch cold." In some parts of Nigeria, people’s communication employs proverbs, sayings and even songs to enrich the meaning of what they say. As part of traditional Nigeria culture, age is seen as sign of wisdom. Respect for your elders is an axiom or rule. Older people are given the responsibility or privilege of leading a group. Takes things slow initially and don't seem to be in a hurry especially when meeting people for the first time. In social situations people are laid back and like to talk politics. In the U.K, people shy away from politics as a subject in social conversations.
Symbols

National flag: The National Flag of the Federal Republic Nigeria is divided, vertically, into three equal parts. The central part is white while the two outer parts are green. The two green parts represent agriculture while the white represents unit and peace.

The National Motto is "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress"
National Flower: The Nigerian national flower is the Coctu Spectabilis. It is a very common sight in the Guinea Savanna, which is the most extensive vegetation belt in Nigeria, occupying nearly half of the country's land area

ARMORIAL BEARINGS The Nigerian coat-of-arms, feature an eagle mounted on a black shield, which is tri-sected, by two wavy silver bands. Two white chargers support the shield, and at its base is a wreath (coctus spectabilis flowers, cast in the national colors of white and green). The black shield represents the fertile soil while the silvery bands denote the Niger and Benue rivers which form the main inland waterways in the country. The eagle stands for strength and the chargers symbolize dignity.


Artifacts:
The Pre-coinage currencies of Nigeria may be divided into two groups. The first group consists of local items adopted as a result of internal trade such as iron, tin, cattle, salt, feathers, seeds of wild plants, farm products,textiles and beads. The second consists of imported items determined by the external trade, influenced by what early traders considered to be of value to a large number of Nigerians. These are cowrie shells, iron and copper bars, manillas, textiles, beads, salt, gin and tobacco.


Beliefs:
According to the 1999 census report, 50% (70 million) of the populations are Muslims, 40% (56 million) are Christians, and 10% (14 million) observe other religions such as Judaism, Hinduism, and Baha’i. Islam is predominant in the north and South Western, Yoruba part of the country. Nigeria has one of the biggest Muslim populations in West Africa. Most Muslims in Nigeria are typically Sunni Muslims. The Christian denominations in Nigeria include Roman Catholicism, The Anglican Church of Nigeria, Christ Apostolic Church, and the Aladura Church. Catholics are predominant in Abuja, Benin City, Ibadan, Laogs, Calabar, Jos, Onitsha and Owerri. Judaism has around 40,000 believers most of whom belong to the Igbo tribe in the eastern, Ibibio, Annang, and Efik. Hinduism started in Nigeria during the immigration of Hindus and Hare Krishna Missionaries. There are about 25,000 Hindus mostly found in Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria.

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Cultural Dimensions

Cultural Dimensions in Comparison to the U.S.

References:

http://geert-hofstede.com/nigeria.html

Hofstede’s cultural values dimensions are a good way of determining how any nation would interact in a business relationship.  

Power Distance Dimension

In terms of power distance, Nigerian businesses have hierarchical organization, where the company’s delegation of power resides in the people of high-management positions. Native Nigerian companies display hierarchical as “the boss expects and receives respect from those below them in the structure” (World Business Culture) The hierarchical dimension is also exhibited in how “decisions are invariably made right at the top,” and time is not rarely wasted in consulting people in lower positions (World Business Culture). As with many hierarchical societies, age is highly valued because it is believed that age brings wisdom. Thus, people in high-management positions are usually of an older generation. When addressing business counterparts, titles are significant as many Nigerians “will insist on being addressed with full titles at all times” (InterNations).

        The root of the hierarchical structure of Nigerian businesses comes from the tribal background of the country.  In much of Nigerian history, the country was run by a series of kingdoms and empires. Within such societies, only few hold authority over the country. In modern day Nigeria, this hierarchy has translated to its businesses, as well.     

Time Dimension   

The second dimension is time orientation.  On the spectrum of precise reckoning-of-time and loose reckoning-of-time, Nigerian businesses tend to lean closer to the loose reckoning-of-time side. Nigerians tend to live and work at a pace that is more relaxed than Americans.  Although punctuality is valued, “sticking to schedules is less important than an individual’s particular situation” (InterNations). As with other business cultures that have a loose reckoning, patience would be beneficial in doing business with Nigerians. Also, based on the infrastructure of the country and its large population, traffic is fairly common and unpredictable. Thus, being punctual can be difficult at times.

Individual-Collectivist Dimension

Regarding the individual-collectivist dimension, Nigerian businesses reflect their culture in that they both follow the collective end of this dimension. In Nigerian society, extended families “are in fact the backbone of the social system” as there is a strong tradition of mutual caring and responsibility among members of the family (Kwintessential). Another important reflection of a collectivist culture is their emphasis on having strong personal relationships. In the business environment, it is important to take the steps in “establishing a personal relationship with your colleagues and superiors,” as one can expect the first two hours of a meeting getting to know your business contact. (InterNations).  

Masculinity-Femininity Dimension

Another reflection of the country’s tribal roots is where it stands on the masculine/feminine spectrum. Nigeria falls closer on the masculine end as it is driven by competition, assertiveness, achievement and success.  When doing business in Nigeria, it is important to stay committed, and assertive in your efforts because it requires “constant attention and constant renegotiation” (Palk).

Although the Nigerian business culture is predominantly masculine, there are some feminine tendencies. People in high-management positions are “expected to take an interest in subordinates beyond their directly work-related duties,” which reflects nourishment  and sustaining good working relationships which are characteristic of a feminine culture.

Uncertainty Avoidance Dimension

On the spectrum of uncertainty avoidance, Nigeria stands slightly towards the preference for avoiding uncertainty. Countries on this end of the spectrum “maintain rigid codes of belief and behavior and are intolerant of unorthodox behavior and ideas” (Hofstede). Nigerians respect the rule that “time is money, [and] people have the inner urge to be busy and work hard” (Hofstede). The reasoning that Nigeria only stands slightly towards avoiding uncertainty is seen in the earlier discussion of their stance on the time dimension. Although they value time, Nigerians value individual circumstances over a precision and punctuality set by a schedule.

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