Speaking a Nigerian language can help your business

Posted by Felix Okoli on Thursday September 6, 2012 9:44:49:

In Nigeria, there are some advantages in speaking in your local language as it can open a lot of doors for you.

If you are running a local business, you should know that businesses need people and from what I've known, most Nigerians like to speak in their local languages, most especially if they were talking to someone from the same tribe. They feel more comfortable speaking in a Nigerian language than in English. Igbo people love to speak Igbo to their friends, Yorubas do so too and also the Hausas.

Truth is, you can make more deals, get and retain more contacts as well as get more support if you are fluent in at least a Nigerian language. If you can't speak the language of your potential customers, you can always learn some keywords and besides, one can always lean a Nigerian language within a space of 1 year if he is serious.

In cities across Nigeria, there are certain languages that really rule in each sector of the economy. There are come places you go to and it would be advantageous if you can speak in Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa.

In the financial and manufacturing sector, Igbos and Yorubas seem to be the main investors and top management staff. In areas like Agriculture and military, Hausas tend to dominate. That is how Nigeria works and it would be helpful for you to at least learn a Nigerian language if you intend to be successful in the country.

In Southern Nigeria, being able to speak in either Yoruba or Igbo can open a lot of doors to you as the people who hold most of the money in the economy prefer to speak in those languages to their would be friends. In the South West, being able to speak Youruba helps while in the East, being able to speak Igbo also helps. In northern Nigeria, speaking Hausa also helps and brings you a lot of clients.

In Federal cities like Lagos, Abuja, Jos, Port Harcourt and Kano, most of these three Nigerian languages are present and being able to at least speak one can help you belong to an economic group that can aid your success in the long run.

The good thing about being able to speak in a local Nigerian language is that it not only creates friends and business clients for you, it also helps in encouraging them to remain loyal clients. So, if you want your business to be long term, think Nigerian language.