Entrepreneurial Networking and Business Development Among Nigerian Diaspora Entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom

This study examines entrepreneurial networking practices and their role in business development among Nigerian diaspora entrepreneurs operating businesses in the United Kingdom, with a focus on how these entrepreneurs leverage transnational networks connecting them to Nigeria's economy, culture, and business communities. The Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom is among the most entrepreneurially active immigrant communities, with enterprises spanning professional services, retail, media, food and hospitality, and technology. Understanding how diaspora networking functions as an entrepreneurial resource, both within the UK Nigerian community and transnationally, provides insights relevant to both diaspora enterprise policy and the development of Nigeria's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study employs a qualitative methodology, conducting in-depth interviews with 20 Nigerian diaspora entrepreneurs operating in London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Participants were selected through purposive snowball sampling from Nigerian professional and business associations. Thematic analysis was applied to the interview data. Findings reveal that diaspora entrepreneurs rely heavily on co-ethnic Nigerian community networks for initial customer acquisition, market intelligence, and informal business advice. Transnational networks connecting them to Nigeria enable niche market positioning in UK Nigerian cultural products and services markets, supplier access for Nigerian consumer goods retail, and co-investment opportunities in Nigeria. The study identifies a transition pattern in which maturing diaspora businesses progressively diversify beyond co-ethnic networks. Recommendations include the development of a formal Nigerian Diaspora Business Association chapter in the UK with a commercial linkage mandate. Keywords: diaspora entrepreneurship, networking, Nigerian entrepreneurs, United Kingdom, transnational business.