Lagos is a huge, sociable city that can still be lonely when you arrive, whether from abroad or from another state. Lagosians are friendly; the work is in getting past hello.
Where people meet
- Work: colleagues often become friends. Say yes to the after-work invitations and the owambes.
- Church and mosque: congregations are communities, with groups for young people, professionals and families.
- Sport: running and cycling clubs, five-a-side football, gyms and tennis clubs.
- Interest groups: book clubs, tech meet-ups, photography walks, art openings, language exchanges.
- Volunteering, which puts you alongside people who care about the same things.
- Communities of people from your home, whether another state or another country, which often run their own associations.
Running and fitness The Lagos tech scene Volunteering and giving
Making it stick
Go back to the same group more than once. Invite people, rather than waiting to be invited. Traffic makes spontaneity hard, so plan things near where people live.
Loneliness
The first months are often the hardest. If loneliness turns into something heavier, talk to someone.