The Business End

UNDERTAKING WORK IN Nigeria can more often than not be a very positive experience, with the majority of Nigerian organisations conducting themselves in a similar manner to a family. You will encounter a welcoming open-armed approach to newcomers, making your business trip a thoroughly pleasant experience from start to finish.

At present Nigeria is recognised as a mixed economy-emerging market, with lower-middle income status, although it is gradually working its way up the business ladder in terms of sector development.

With a plethora of natural resources to utilise as well as a highly-developed financial system, legal operations, communications, transport sectors and an increasingly renowned stock exchange - the second largest in Africa - the country show a lot of promise when it comes to recognition as an African business hub.

Although there are increasing signs of change to the business world in Nigeria, at present more than 30 percent of Nigerians are employed by the agriculture sector. The country has a huge agricultural production net, with its major crops including beans, sesame, cashew nuts, cassava, cocoa beans, ground nuts, gum arabic, kolanut, maise, melon, millet, palm oil, rice, rubber, soybeans and yams.

The country also has an abundance of mineral resources that are yet to be properly utilised which explains the smaller scale of its mining industry at present, including coal, natural gas, bauxite, tantalite, gold, tin, limestone, lead and iron ore, leaving massive room for expansion.