In early May, a group of INSEAD students descended on Lagos and were shepherded by their generous Nigerian hosts through a week of company visits and cultural experiences.
The company visits were great for getting to know firms in Nigeria, allowing us to develop a deeper understanding of the corporate scene. There were some fascinating local firms such as Paga, a mobile payment facility and CBO Capital, an investment advisory focused on Africa. The general optimism about the Nigerian economy was impressive – every Nigerian we met, including those in our group, were upbeat about the country and excited about the opportunities available.
On the culture end, we enjoyed an array of different cuisines, feasting on Jollof rice, Suya and pepper snails, but also sneakily indulged in burgers and milkshakes at an American burger chain (American culture was indeed flourishing in Lagos as proven by the KFC, Cold Stone Creamery and Johnny Rockets outlets around town). Our merry band of travellers also gatecrashed a traditional wedding, disguised in traditional outfits to blend in with the local crowd. It was a glorious Technicolor dance sequence, to say the least.
Time flies when you’re having fun and the trek was over before we knew it. We stumbled onto our flight back to France, drunk on Nigerian sunshine. One of the best things about INSEAD is the opportunity to travel. Plan your weekend breaks around European cities and tropical islands but don’t miss out on the student treks either. Many thanks to the INSEAD Africa Club for making this happen!
