Before I start talking about my experience in Nigeria, let me tell you that it has always been a goal of mine to visit Africa. When T.K and Tammy said that I could go with them, I did not hesitate. Plus we had started to talk about doing business in Nigeria, and I wanted to see how business was done and if there were other opportunities. So on May 28th, 2008, we set “sail” for Nigeria, the heart of Africa. It was a long trip. Specially for someone how has never been on a plane for more than 5 hours. We arrived on May 29th, 2008, in Abuja. It was exciting to see the African sky, and to feel its sun burn through my clothes. I was in Africa, and I was looking forward to my 7 day business trip in Lagos.
Lagos was the place where most of the business that TK and I had talked about was going to take place. It is a coastal state, divide into many small districts (in the US they are called cities). It is a place like no other. Like TK says: “TIA”, this is Africa. If you think you struggle to make a leaving, or to carve your niche, come to Africa. You will immediately fall to your knees and thank the Almighty Jesus Christ for the blessings in your life. (Thank you Jesus for the place where you have placed me. It is a place where you have made me to prosper. A place blessed by God.) You will also think to yourself “how do these people live?”. And you come to realize that it is only by the Grace of God, that this country of over 140 million people has managed to survive. Some say that the devil resides in Nigeria. I say that God rests it feet in Nigeria. Maybe it is my ideology, but if it were not true. Nigerians would not exist. There is a church in every corner. And God promises that if there are pure and righteous people He will save the land. So from this I draw my conclusion that God’s feet rest in Nigeria.
I went to Lagos for business. Business is not the same in the US as in Nigeria. TIA. If you are doing business in Nigeria, you should be prepared to wait, wait, and wait some more. This is somewhat ironic, because Nigerians are very impatient. They want things yesterday, but they do things next week. There are true opportunities in Nigeria. Opportunities to make nice profits, but you must be willing to wait. One advice for anyone that wants to do business in Africa is to have a plan and stick to it. Don’t deviate. Be firm. If it is not what you had agreed upon, don’t be afraid to walk away. This is true for any business transaction but it is more important, I think, in Nigeria
If you are thinking of coming, COME. Don’t hesitate. But have a plan, and a backup plan, and just in case another backup plan. Your trip will not be a waste, because you will have grown as a person and as a businessman or woman. You will leave a different person. As for our trip’s business success, I will tell you next week….TIA..
- Jacobo Rodriguez
June 4th, 2008
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