Nigeria Tipping Protocol, Nigeria Gratuities, & Nigeria Culture

Clothing

• DON'T wear revealing clothes, if you are a woman.
• DO wear suits for business functions.
• DON'T wear shorts at business meetings or restaurants, but they are fine for the beach or casual social gatherings.

Food/Drinks

• DO try eating with your hands! You'll be given finger bowls and towels. It's OK to ask for utensils if you're uncomfortable eating with your hands.
• DON'T use your left hand at all. Don't eat with it, pass food with it, or receive food with it.

Gifts

• DO wrap presents. Any colour wrapping paper is fine.
• DON'T give or receive gifts with the left hand.
• DO say that a gift came from a female relative, if you're a man giving a gift. Say it came from your wife, sister, mother, etc.
• DO bring gifts for children.
• DO bring gifts such as fruit, nuts, or chocolate if invited to a Nigerian's home for a meal.

Visting Someone's Home

• DO understand that in Muslim homes sometimes the male visitors and hosts will not eat with the women.
• DO compliment your host's home and belongings, but don't overdo it. If you do, your host might feel obligated to give you the belonging you're complimenting.
• DON'T linger after a meal is over. Leave about 30 minutes after.

Business

• DO schedule meetings three months in advance.
• DON'T be late, but don't be surprised if your host is late or even reschedules. It's not meant to be disrespectful, however, as a guest to Nigeria, you should be on time and keep all appointments.
• DO engage in small talk. Chat about sports, current events, or even politics. Don't discuss religious conflicts.
• DO bring a small gift that costs less than USD 50. Pens or little knickknacks are fine.
• DON'T use first names until invited to. Address people by their title and surname.
• DON'T give or receive business cards with your left hand.
• DO examine a business card that is given to you before putting it away.
• DO send an agenda in advance.
• DON'T try to make a deal that sounds to good to be true. It will likely also sound suspicious.

Other

• DO be careful about eye contact. Constant and direct eye contact can be seeing as being intrusive.
• DON'T use your left hand to give or receive objects.
• DO shake hands upon meeting someone and don't forget to smile! Sometimes men may place their hand on the other person's shoulder during a handshake.
• DO shake hands again upon departing.
• DON'T shake hands with a woman unless she initiates it.
• DO exchange hugs and kisses with people you know well.
• DO be aware that observant Muslims will not shake hands with the opposite sex.
• DO lower your eyes or bow when meeting an elder. This shows respect.
• DO inquire about the person's family and health when exchanging greetings.
• DO haggle at a market. You can usually get the price down by 50%.
• DON'T try to bargain for bread. Bread prices are fixed.
• DON'T walk away without buying something after you've agreed on a price with the merchant. It's very rude.
• DON'T use slang or profanity.
• DO note that people who live in the south of Nigeria speak louder and more directly.
• DO be aware that in the southwest of Nigeria, where the Yoruba tribe resides, they use a lot of proverbs and humour throughout conversation.
• DO understand that Nigerians communicate with a lot of gestures and body language, so you may have to pay attention to non-verbal cues when conversing.
• DON'T make generalizations about religion in Nigeria. Nigeria is a religiously diverse country, so it's important to understand that and maintain an open mind.