Networking for founders in Nigeria: what actually works

If you are building in Nigeria without an accelerator badge or a university cohort behind you, the ecosystem can feel closed. It is not closed — it is just organised around trust that nobody can search.

The map

Yaba concentrates software and early teams. Lekki and Victoria Island hold most investor and corporate conversations. Ikeja and the mainland trade corridors are where goods actually move. Abuja is policy, government contracts and increasingly fintech. Aba and Kano are manufacturing, not software.

Why events under-deliver

Lagos traffic means a two-hour commute for a room where everyone is pitching. You will meet people, but rarely the specific person you need. Use events to deepen relationships you already started, not to start them.

What works instead

Three things consistently produce real introductions:

• Ask for one specific thing, not "let's connect".
• Build in public — shipping updates attract the people who want to help.
• Use platforms where intent is declared, so the first message already has context.

Be concrete in the first message

"I run last-mile delivery for 40 shops in Surulere and I need a technical co-founder who has built routing" gets replies. "Hi, I'd love to pick your brain" does not.