BY JEMI EKUNKUNBOR

While on official assignment to Nigeria from her former office, National Geographic, Pannaz Pahnam met her husband, a Lebanese whom she later married. That was four years ago. But while trying to settle in Nigeria, she encountered some difficulties especially with getting where to buy basic household needs…Truly, in a big city like Lagos, only a foreigner knows what it is truly like to be lost.  Pannaz tells her story.

Her experience led her to open an online guide, Lostinlagos.com. She later followed with a lost-in-lagos exhibition, a fair that brings sellers and buyers together.

This year’s Christmas edition sponsored by Samsung, held for two days at the Habour Point on Victoria Island. Truly, in a big city like Lagos, only a foreigner knows what it is truly like to be lost. The charming, Pannaz tells her story.

What is lost in Lagos about?

Lost in Lagos is an online guide to Lagos, shopping, restaurants, bars, everything you need to know about Lagos and its for everyone not just for experts or visitors. It is for everyone living in Lagos. If you are looking for a doctor, or hospital and things like that, lostinlagos will guide you. It also gives you an ideas about what to do at weekends. The website generally covers every aspect of living in Lagos.

Pannaz Pahnam

And the exhibition?

The idea was not only to do a guide where people could go get information but also to create a platform where people could promote their businesses. Because I found that there are so many businesses that are behind walls that people don’t know about and they depend on word of mouth.

It’s good sometimes but it doesn’t take your business to the next level. I felt there was a need for an organised platform where people can come in and promote their businesses, enjoy the food and have a fashion show. So this is bringing the shops to the people.

This fair, is it just about fashion and style?

No it’s everything; clothes, shoes, jewellery, furniture, we have holiday, gifts, electrical, kids stuff, etc

What made you decide to introduce Lagos to the outside world especially considering the fact that you are a foreigner?

Because I think there is such a misconception about Lagos. There is so much good in Lagos, so much talent and so much opportunity, so many things you can do. People think living in Lagos has to be difficult, it doesn’t have to be. You can find everything in Lagos that you need to find and I think, even abroad, people don’t still understand that Lagos is a beautiful city with fantastic people and it’s a really great place to thrive; to work, to play, to enjoy just like South Africa. You have the beaches it could be a tourist’s hob.

What was it like for you four years ago when you came?

It was horrible. I couldn’t find anything I needed. But the issue then was that I didn’t know shops existed that sold some of the items that I needed. So, every time I got in my car and I saw anything that looked like a shop or a restaurant, I just told my driver to pull over and I got out to see what they had and that was how I got to know the city really well.

After one year of doing this, people started calling me to ask where they could find things to buy. I didn’t have the answers to all their questions so I became like a working directory. This was how I started lost in Lagos.com.

Is it usually for foreign wives?

No it’s for everyone. It’s actually more for Nigerians. People live here but don’t know where to go get what they need.

What do you find really interesting about Lagos?

The people. It’s the people that make Lagos, Lagos. If it wasn’t the kind of people who are in Lagos, I think it would be a whole different city. I love the people they are very energetic, kind, just really helpful, really friendly it just makes all the difference.

Is there a similarity with your home town Iran, or UK and New York?

Actually, I never grew up in Iran. I grew up in the UK. In New York, people are very cold and very stand-of-fish, they are not very friendly. Here people make you feel welcome and some of my best friends are Nigerians now and it’s completely different. Here, you get to know a lot of different people. You are very divers and it’s really a great city because of the fact that it’s like a melting point. There are people from all over the world here.

How would you compare Christmas here and Christmas in the UK?

I think every year, Christmas gets better and better in Lagos. I think the governor Fashola, is putting so much effort into making the city much more interactive and active with the Christmas decorations. Look at Eko round about and all such places. Sometimes, I think Christmas is better here than in London. I feel like London has gone down and Lagos is going up in terms of Christmas festivity. It’s nice because a lot of people come in from abroad so the city gets really crowded during Christmas.

If you could change anything in Nigeria, what would you do differently?

There is a lot of traffic. The police don’t always do their jobs properly. It’s a tough city to work in because it’s very competitive, if you can get through it, you can succeed like you’ve never succeeded anywhere before. I think if you can do it here, you can do it anywhere. I still care about New York but it’s truer here.

If you could bring anything from UK here, what would it be?

My sister just moved here from London. She loves it here. I think the people here have made life here for her so much better. She has made a lot of fantastic friends who have been so welcoming, who are really good to her. She loves it here its different.

So, what I would bring here would be, more organization and more openness in terms of businesses. I wish there were more direction to guide people. But in terms of prices, I think its about equal between here and UK.

How do you cope with electricity?

You get used to it but that is another thing I wish I could change because that I think is the breaking point in Nigeria. If there was 24 hours light it would be a completely different city too. I love the weather. How can I not love the weather except when it rains. I like the harmattan. I love the weather here.

What did you do before now?

I used to work with the national geographic. I used to travel round the world which was how I ended up in Nigeria. I had a project here and then I met my husband and I ended up here. It was meant to be. My husband is Lebanese. He is the other Nigerian

How has the reception to this event been?

It’s been very well received because it’s well organized and very classy. People who come here, really enjoy it. Nobody has complained to us at all. It’s a different type of event that we are offering to Lagos.

When you first came to Nigeria how did you assess how fashion and style here?

I think Nigerians are one of the most fashionable people I’ve ever seen in my life.

Better than New York, better than London. People are dressed to the nines. The designers are amazing, very talented, very creative. I’m completely impressed by the standard here.

How has that affected your style?

I have loads of Nigerian clothes now in my closet. I love Jewel by Lisa, Kiki a lot of fantastic designs here.

If you were to pick a Nigerian name what would it be?

Omon. I love it