Navigating Lagos with ease

THE book, Oyinbo (Foreigner’s) Guide To Living In Lagos by Annette A O Fisher, described as “factual and funny”, will certainly assist any first timer to navigate the Centre of Excellence without stress. It is full of useful tips to find your way in this bustling lively metropolis.

And what stands the new publication out is the fact that it is the author’s life experience that has been documented. She said,”it suddenly came to me to write this book about how to cope when you first arrive in Nigeria. Having been abroad myself for the past 30 years; re-adjusting to the Nigerian environment was very perplexing, and I thought it must be even more so for foreigners.

“So this book is targeted not only at Europeans and other Africans who may be visiting Nigeria for the first time, but also to Expatriate Nigerians who may or may not have touched our soil in decades, and who definitely need a refresher course judging by my own experiences having returned to Lagos to live in 2010.

“Even though Nigeria is an English speaking country previously a British Colony the unofficial accepted language is Pidgin English and as such the use and translation of simple English words in Pidgin English differ widely and have meanings that would baffle you…!”

The expectation is that the book will help to dispel any confusion in communicating locally and make any visitor’s stay a vibrant, enlightening and enjoyable experience.

Annette A O Fisher is an award winning UK trained RIBA Chartered Architect and frequent flyer; born in the UK of Nigerian and Sierra Leonean parents and raised in Lagos, until the age of 17 when she left to do A levels, attended University in Britain and stayed on to work there. Her practice started life in London as Fisher Associates now also operating in Nigeria as FA Global. She has been in practice for over 30 years, most of that time spent abroad in the United Kingdom and North America. She now spends more time living in Lagos.

Her other activities include being a former RIBA Vice President and Nominated Presidential Candidate. Former Chairman Kush Housing Association and Places for People Group board member. Former Executive Council Member of ACAN.

Commonwealth Association of Architects Alternate Regional Vice President Europe and Trustee of the Africa Centre London.