We are generally desperate, always in a rush (Lagosians especially) in a lush with absolute disregard to collective interest.

Interesting topic.

However, as someone who has managed a lot "Nigeria trained" and "foreign trained" staff, I will say this post is guilty of faulty generalization. Empirical fact has not shown that there is any difference in (terms of output and conduct) between the foreign trained folks and the locally trained ones.

What I have observed is that foreign trained folks are generally priggish and tend to assume an air of superiority. This post just corroborates that.

In a previous job, I was managing an international team based in different countries in Asia, Africa, South America and North America and honestly, all of them, without exceptions exhibited at least one of the points raised in this post.

I think it will be interesting to see someone write a Phd thesis on "the impact of western cultural imperialism on the psyche of Nigerians"

^ Your post criticizes the OP of faulty generalization, but haven't you done just the same by suggesting your personal empirical evidence invalidates the OP's points?

Very many studies have already been done on the subject of western imperialism in Africa - there're several on the Internet if you check.

"The impact of western cultural imperialism on the psyche of Nigerians"

Now that is worth writing on.

firestar:

Now that is worth writing on.

Seconded. Would be definitely worth researching. Because, frankly speaking, it is difficult to decipher our true nature.

AjanleKoko:

Seconded. Would be definitely worth researching. Because, frankly speaking, it is difficult to decipher our true nature.

Probably because we hide under so many assumptions, no?

AjanleKoko:

LOL.
At all.
We are all Nigerians. All this foreign-trained, local-trained, worreva. We share a common destiny in my view.

Hopefully maybe this perspective will help people look at developing their soft skills. I do feel we have a serious problem with that. The way we communicate for one. There are actually courses that help people with business writing, speaking, and whatnot. That might well be better investment than all these PMP, CFA, worreva t[b]hat everybody prefers to accumulate.[/b]

in addition to what other forumite about the society in general

all these training/certificate sell over the others because companies perhaps use these as part of their screening tools
and the first advice most job seekers get is to do one or two courses or join some redundant institute like NIM

AjanleKoko:



6. We respond much more positively to threats than to incentives. Imagine, it is assumed that you get a better response from Nigerians if you threaten to fire them, than if you promise to multiply their salary. Or to put it differently, you get better results when you threaten Nigerians than when you promise them stuff.

Very true. But, only got to know about no.6 last year sha.


In Nigeria, don't bother yourself with theory X and theory Y. Use theory X and theory X again.



Edited

9. Many Nigerians generally have inferiority complex. That's why most Nigerian bosses have poor managerial skills. They just love seeing their egos massaged.
10. Many Nigerians in office work are not quick to respond your request. They think delaying a response shows importance or value. They love been reminded over and over again before they act.
11. They think through issues sentimentally eg. "He doesn't greet", "he doesn't stay beyond normal working hours", "he didn't pay the sum for the wedding ceremony"

Etc etc

Forget locally trained Nigerians. Personally, I just feel many blacks suffer from low self esteem. A lot of issues in the office and out of it - dictatorial attitude of boss, unhealthy competition, uncouth language, poor attitude, greed, intentional delay in response, etc can be traced to low self esteem.

coogar:

no amount of courses can change the way we behave in professional circles. the gravy train was derailed from the onset. we were only taught how to solve quadratic equations and algebra in schools - they forgot to reach us about ethics and politeness!

[/b]nigerians are generally loud - simple instructions that shouldn't require more than a whisper are conveyed in a loud aggressive manner[b]. it's almost like modern day slavery in nigeria the way bosses bark at their employees. the education ministry must put this into the school curriculum.

[b][/b]

ahahhahahahhahaha..................This is indeed so true

AjanleKoko:


You must have been in Ghana or Sierra Leone, for the gal to be speaking pidgin

Try not to derail tho

Ghana or SL? why not somalia?

Bidvest2020: Ghana or SL? why not somalia?

Those are the only two countries I can think of, where they speak pidgin English.
Somalia na Arabic and some Bantu variant

coogar:

no amount of courses can change the way we behave in professional circles. the gravy train was derailed from the onset. we were only taught how to solve quadratic equations and algebra in schools - they forgot to reach us about ethics and politeness!

nigerians are generally loud - simple instructions that shouldn't require more than a whisper are conveyed in a loud aggressive manner. it's almost like modern day slavery in nigeria the way bosses bark at their employees. the education ministry must put this into the school curriculum.

About bosses barking...That's bad!But have you noticed most times Nigerians don't take others serious unless they are barked at?If a boss becomes so reasonable and decideds to "whisper" those under him would take him for a ride.Nigerians actualy enjoy being treated harshly as doing otherwise makes one look like a fool.

The OP is very right here. It's actually not about being locally trained or not, it's just a cultural thing. We have a culture of being rude, not thorough, aggressive and generally poor attitude to work.
The reason it seems the foreign trained grads are different is because they have been forced to adopt the culture of the society they have gone to study. A rude person will unconsciously become polite over time when he surrounds himself with polite people.
Schools should not only teach academics but general lifestyle courses. Kids in kindergarten should be taught to be courteous, rational and polite. It will take a whole generation to notice a difference but we can start now.

Gaggi: The OP is very right here. It's actually not about being locally trained or not, it's just a cultural thing. We have a culture of being rude, not thorough, aggressive and generally poor attitude to work.
The reason it seems the foreign trained grads are different is because they have been forced to adopt the culture of the society they have gone to study. A rude person will unconsciously become polite over time when he surrounds himself with polite people.
Schools should not only teach academics but general lifestyle courses. Kids in kindergarten should be taught to be courteous, rational and polite. It will take a whole generation to notice a difference but we can start now.

You nailed it. You can usually tell a Nigerian that has just landed. Give it 6 months to a year, and a mellower version usually appears . I dont know that your prescription will work though...we are taught to be courteous and our cultures usually emphasize some level of communal respect already. As someone mentioned earlier, I'm not sure we fully realize the western damage done to our psyche. I personally think you need to live outside the country for a bit and observe. I see some "locally" trained dudes rolling their eyes already

birdman:

You nailed it. You can usually tell a Nigerian that has just landed. Give it 6 months to a year, and a mellower version usually appears . I dont know that your prescription will work though...we are taught to be courteous and our cultures usually emphasize some level of communal respect already. As someone mentioned earlier, I'm not sure we fully realize the western damage done to our psyche. I personally think you need to live outside the country for a bit and observe. I see some "locally" trained dudes rolling their eyes already

@bolded, here's the thing: Is it really the culture of all Nigerians to be courteous and respectful?
Controversial I know, but worth looking into.

when you try doing the right thing in nigeria, you become a prey. I spent almost two days trying to get registered in orientation camp because i wouldn't want to beat the line.Following the band wagon and the status quo(this is how it is done here) seems to be in voke. Now that these has been brought to our notice by the OP, we have to start treading the path of change..
As for the children of this generation, hmmm.... I fear for them....

jbrodaly:

About bosses barking...That's bad!But have you noticed most times Nigerians don't take others serious unless they are barked at?If a boss becomes so reasonable and decideds to "whisper" those under him would take him for a ride.Nigerians actualy enjoy being treated harshly as doing otherwise makes one look like a fool.

Point 6?

AjanleKoko:

Point 6?

Yes,point 6.It seem like many Africans just love being treated as slaves.You need to push themm!

perhaps some of the reason Oyinbos start barking orders when in nigeria- seems they are only playing the game


when in Rome..

The Nigerian national culture is one of authority (high Power distance index http://geert-hofstede.com/nigeria.html)

I recently had a conversation with one of my estate's managers
I got to the point I told him point blank "look, I am a top manager, forget my lack of belle and easy carriage. Do not compare me with people u see around here, and do not take my desire to discuss logically with you for granted. You must do ........"

Interestingly it got done immediately. plus they keep on saying sir, sir, sir after that incident instead of oga esere826 or Mr esere826 that they used to call me.

This thing I wanted done is what I have been logically arguing about for more than a month. Chei!!!

^ In other words, civility does not work in obodo naija

naijababe: ^ In other words, civility does not work in obodo naija

Its a cultural thing

When ur in a position of high authority, ur expected to make demands that get responded to by ur underlings
so even if ur a 'small man', and u bark orders
it is immediately assumed that u must be a man oaf authority that is why u are backing orders

So everyone tries to gain an edge by barking orders/screaming etc (apart from the drama part)

^ Let's just say being civil means you are Mugu abi?

naijababe: ^ Let's just say being civil means you are Mugu abi?

ok o I gree. for 9ja, being civil means u be mugu
for jand, barking out orders means ur aggressive

esere826:

ok o I gree. for 9ja, being civil means u be mugu
for jand, barking out orders means ur aggressive

Very aggresive!
Even oyinbos when they are dealer with darkies
sometimes now have to bark.

This is even evident on Nairaland.
Prior to my life on NL, I didn't even know how to unleash verbal attack again because I had 'lost touch' with aggression abroad. I had to adjust quickly because, on NL, you are simply assumed weak if you don't know how to give it back.


It is what it is. We are aggressive, arrogant and rude.

It is funny because we are religious and the observed pattern of behaviour has no correlation whatsoever with religion.



PS: The OP's points are so well structured the Oyinbo guy na one observant guy.

Back to my "operation vitriol" mood.

Ola one:
PS: The OP's points are so well structured the Oyinbo guy na one observant guy.

Back to my "operation vitriol" mood.

The guy was a lot more politically correct than what I wrote here. I only helped to put things in the right perspective.

Ola one: This is even evident on Nairaland.
Prior to my life on NL, I didn't even know how to unleash verbal attack again because I had 'lost touch' with aggression abroad. I had to adjust quickly because, on NL, you are simply assumed weak if you don't know how to give it back.


It is what it is. We are aggressive, arrogant and rude.

It is funny because we are religious and the observed pattern of behaviour has no correlation whatsoever with religion.



PS: The OP's points are so well structured the Oyinbo guy na one observant guy.

Back to my "operation vitriol" mood.

Agbaya

Ola one: This is even evident on Nairaland.
Prior to my life on NL, I didn't even know how to unleash verbal attack again because I had 'lost touch' with aggression abroad. I had to adjust quickly because, on NL, you are simply assumed weak if you don't know how to give it back.


It is what it is. We are aggressive, arrogant and rude.

It is funny because we are religious and the observed pattern of behaviour has no correlation whatsoever with religion.



PS: The OP's points are so well structured the Oyinbo guy na one observant guy.

Back to my "operation vitriol" mood.

Rather it is the weak-minded that resort to abusive languages and insults. You were strong-minded but you had to bow to other's weaknesses. Be strong irrespective of other people's weaknesses. That's personal leadership

x-fire:

Rather it is the weak-minded that resort to abusive languages and insults. You were strong-minded but you had to bow to other's weaknesses. Be strong irrespective of other people's weaknesses. That's personal leadership

Okay. Noted.

AjanleKoko:

The guy was a lot more politically correct than what I wrote here.

They usually are.

I only helped to put things in the right perspective.

So, you edited it in order to stir something in us?

naijababe:

Agbaya

Mama granite city, you know you're my mentor.