The Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics said Nigerian government and business delegations are losing valuable investment and trade opportunities abroad.
The think tank group raised the concern in a policy document, ‘The Cultural Key: Why Nigerian Businesses and Government Delegations Fail Abroad – And How to Master the Art of Crosscultural Commerce,’ issued over the weekend by its Chairman, Dele Oye.
It stressed that the government and its delegations poorly prepare for international engagements, and oftentimes, they fail to follow through on agreements.
The group laments that many official and business trips have become exercises in publicity rather than platforms for securing lasting economic partnerships, warning that the country risks missing opportunities for foreign investment, technology transfer and market access.
“Too many Nigerian delegations treat foreign trips as opportunities for photographs, press releases, and social media posts,” the Alliance said.
According to the group, the emphasis on ceremonial activities often comes at the expense of relationship-building, implementation of agreements and long-term engagement with foreign partners.
The Alliance also blamed what it described as widespread cultural illiteracy among Nigerian delegations for the country’s weak performance in international business negotiations.
It said many delegates travel with little or no understanding of the business etiquette, communication styles, religious observances, legal frameworks and cultural expectations of their host countries.
“They do not study the business etiquette of their host nations. They do not learn basic greetings in the local language. They do not understand religious observances, dietary restrictions, or social taboos. They assume that Nigerian warmth and charm are universal currencies. They are wrong,” Alliance stated.
The think tank further argued that Nigerian businesses often adopt a transactional approach to negotiations, seeking to close deals quickly instead of investing time in building trust and long-term relationships.
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It also identified poor follow-through after overseas engagements as one of the country’s biggest weaknesses, noting that many memoranda of understanding and agreements signed during foreign trips are never implemented.
The Alliance added that government delegations frequently travel with oversized entourages, diverting resources that could have been used for market research, cultural preparation and post-visit implementation.
It also faulted the failure to engage Nigerians in the diaspora, describing them as an underutilised resource that could provide cultural intelligence, business connections and investment opportunities.
To reverse the trend, the group called for compulsory pre-departure cultural immersion programmes for members of government and business delegations before any foreign trip.
It said the training should cover business etiquette, communication styles, religious and cultural practices, historical context, legal and regulatory frameworks, and basic language skills relevant to the destination country.
The Alliance also recommended that every official delegation should hold structured engagements with members of the Nigerian diaspora in host countries to gain insights into business opportunities and potential risks.
It further urged government agencies and businesses to allocate resources for sustained relationship-building after official visits rather than focusing solely on travel and accommodation.
The think tank stressed that all memoranda of understanding and agreements reached during foreign engagements should be monitored through to implementation, with delegation leaders held accountable for measurable outcomes.
In addition, it called on government institutions and major corporations to build internal capacity in cross-cultural business communication to better prepare officials for international engagements.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Our economy requires foreign investment, technology transfer, and market access. Our government seeks partnerships for infrastructure, energy, and industrialisation. Yet we continue to send delegations abroad armed with little more than optimism and PowerPoint,” the Alliance said.
The group maintained that improving cultural intelligence, strengthening accountability and building lasting international relationships would better position Nigeria to attract investment and secure more meaningful outcomes from official foreign engagements.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X