The Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, has underscored the growing importance of cultural intelligence in international business, describing culture as a strong strategic asset that shapes collaboration, innovation, and sustainable global partnerships.
The envoy stated this in Lagos at the CultureFactor 2025 conference organised by The CultureFactor group with the theme; “Culture and Technology: Blueprints for Future-Ready Organisation.
The conference focused on developing roadmaps for sustainable, highly effective public and private sector organisations.
Selin, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), Bankole Oloruntob,a said Finland has long recognised that culture is not merely a backdrop to business but a decisive factor in how societies interpret information, build relationships, and set organisational goals.
“In today’s interconnected world, understanding and respecting cultural nuances is essential for meaningful collaboration. For Finland to achieve sustainable success around the world, it is important that we understand each other’s cultures,” she said.
Selin noted that although Nigeria is geographically distant, it remains a key trade partner with dynamic markets and a young, diverse population that attracts Finnish companies.
However, she acknowledged that many Finns know little about Nigerian culture or business norms, which can make market entry daunting.
She highlighted CultureFactor, a Finnish enterprise focused on cultural intelligence, as a success story, noting its expansion across Africa since opening its Lagos office in 2019.
Selin also stressed that technology from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Information Communication Technology (ICT) is reshaping organisational culture, enhancing communication, breaking language barriers.
