White Lady Who Left Germany to Build Business in Nigeria 6 Months Ago Shares 5 Things She Has Learnt
- Mira Wörgötter, an AI business coach, relocated from Germany to Lagos six months ago to build a business and work with Nigerian entrepreneurs
- She shared five observations about doing business in Nigeria, touching on trust, humour, appearance, and the country's youthful energy
- Her post sparked a wave of responses from both Nigerians and foreigners who have experienced the country's unique business culture firsthand
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Mira Wörgötter, a German AI business coach, packed up her life in Germany and moved to Lagos six months ago to build a business from scratch in Nigeria, and the experience has reshaped everything she thought she knew about professionalism.
Wörgötter, who previously coached executives from major German firms including Siemens and Bosch on artificial intelligence implementation, is now working with Nigerian business owners and corporate teams in Lagos.
Source: UGC
On August 31, 2026, she took to LinkedIn to share five candid lessons from her first half-year navigating a completely new business environment.
What Nigeria taught German lady
Her first observation centred on the gap between enthusiasm and commitment. She noted that people in Nigeria can express excitement and agree to things very quickly in conversation, but that verbal enthusiasm does not always translate into actual payment.
Relationships, she said, matter far more than polished presentations. Without genuine trust built over time, even the most professional pitch can fall flat.
She also found that humour opens doors. According to Wörgötter, some of her most lighthearted LinkedIn posts generated more real customer conversations than her more formal, serious business content ever did.
On appearance, her observation was blunt: if your clothes are not ironed, people will not take you seriously. Presentation, she discovered, carries significant weight in Nigeria's professional circles.
Perhaps her most striking observation was about energy and age. She described Nigeria as "incredibly young" compared to Germany, noting that she now regularly works with people who are 20 to 25 years younger than her typical counterparts back home.
"Moving countries has taught me that there is no universal definition of 'professional,'" she wrote.
"A lot of what we call professionalism is simply the culture we're used to."
Nigerians and foreigners react to German lady's observations
Her post drew responses from people on both sides of the cultural divide.
IJEOMA UDOBI said:
"This is a great reminder that professionalism isn't a universal language. What looks 'professional' in one culture may simply be unfamiliar in another. The ability to adapt, listen, and build genuine relationships is often more valuable than trying to fit into one definition of professionalism."
Yusuf Amusa said:
"You are really exploring the beauty of Nigeria. The irony is that we Nigerians don't value our country. A foreigner opening our eyes to hidden treasures of Nigeria. What a shame!"
Andreas Weidlich, who works with Nigerian universities, shared his own advice:
"My advise: make sure to give credit to the right people. Lots of times it's important to shout out bosses and managers. It's a hustle culture, everybody tries to earn some additional cash - not even much, often, but it can go a long way. Stay safe and good luck!"
Wörgötter closed her post by saying she could not wait to see what the next six months would bring.
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that a lady who moved to Nigeria after years in Germany had reflected on her decision.
Nigerian lady relocates to Germany
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a Nigerian lady had shared a video as she finally relocated to Germany.
The inspiring clip chronicled her exciting journey as she embarked on a new chapter in pursuit of a better future.
The video captured the lady's trip from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, to Frankfurt Airport in Germany.
Source: Legit.ng
