“Why Every Lagos Handshake Now Feels Like a Business Pitch: CTIBOI’s Viral Post Sparks Citywide Laughter”

Lagos has always been a city of fast talkers, sharp minds, and street-smart hustlers, but a viral post from content creator CTIBOI Olayinka has thrown the spotlight on a new kind of Lagos behaviour that many residents swear is getting out of hand. In a humorous but painfully relatable X (formerly Twitter) post, he wrote: “Almost every guy for Lagos now get firm handshake and go dey look into your eyes. Everyone don read books die. Make una dey take am easy… na normal hailing I dey do, no be business networking.” And just like that, the internet erupted in knowing laughter, because if you’ve lived in Lagos long enough, you’ve probably experienced this exact moment — when a simple greeting suddenly feels like a job interview.

The post, which has quickly climbed the trend charts, resonated with thousands who say the city’s hustle culture has now started showing up in the simplest human interactions. What used to be a casual “How far?” has reportedly become a calculated handshake, a confident smile, and a gaze so intense that many now wonder if they mistakenly walked into a motivational seminar. Lagos, known for birthing some of Nigeria’s most ambitious personalities, is once again proving that its people don’t just hustle — they study the hustle like a course.

For many Lagosians reacting online, the joke hits close to home. A number of users shared their own anecdotes, recounting moments when someone gripped their hand just a bit too firmly, locked eyes for a bit too long, and spoke with the tone of someone ready to sign a multimillion-naira deal. One user responded, “I just say make I greet my guy, next thing he grip my hand like say him wan close partnership.” Another added, “If person shake you in Lagos now, you go fear to break eye contact first, before them go say you no get confidence.”

The trend, as CTIBOI pointed out, seems to be emerging from the wave of self-development culture currently sweeping through the country. Social media is flooded with clips of motivational speakers teaching young people about “presence,” “dominance,” “first impressions,” and “the power of a good handshake.” With job scarcity, entrepreneurship pressures, and a growing gig economy, young Nigerians are constantly told to “package” themselves properly. And apparently, many have taken the advice quite literally — right into their everyday greetings.

Experts say it reflects a deeper shift in how young Nigerians perceive social interaction. A lecturer in social psychology noted that what Lagosians are witnessing is “a blending of personal development and cultural adaptation.” Lagos has always been intensely competitive, and many now feel the need to present themselves as sharp, confident, and assertive at all times, even when exchanging simple pleasantries. “People don’t just want to exist in Lagos, they want to appear ready for opportunities,” she explained. “So even in a handshake, they are signalling seriousness, confidence, and ambition.”

But despite the seriousness behind the phenomenon, the conversation remains largely humorous. Lagos residents are known for turning everyday frustrations into jokes that eventually take on a life of their own. This latest one is no different. Social media platforms are now filled with memes of exaggerated handshakes, people practicing “intense eye contact” in the mirror, and skits of Lagos guys sounding like TED Talk speakers during normal conversations.

Content creators have particularly embraced the trend. Several skits portraying Lagos handshakes have gone viral, with actors dramatically gripping hands, leaning forward in slow motion, and maintaining deep, almost spiritual eye contact — all while greeting someone they’ve known for years. Some Lagos women also chimed in, saying the new greeting style is giving “too much.” One commenter joked, “Person go greet me, I go begin wonder whether he dey toast me or he wan mentor me.”

Still, beneath the jokes lies a reality many have pointed out: Lagos is a city that never stops moving, and its residents never stop evolving. The rise of the handshake-and-eye-contact trend might seem funny, but it reflects the pressures and aspirations of a generation constantly seeking ways to stand out. In a society where opportunities are scarce and competition is fierce, everything — even a handshake — becomes a chance to make an impression.

Yet, as CTIBOI humorously reminds everyone, not every moment is a business pitch. Sometimes, a greeting is just a greeting. His post has sparked a conversation about finding balance: maintaining ambition without turning casual interactions into audition scenes. Some responders praised the reminder, saying Lagos needs more people who can simply exist without evaluating everyone as a networking prospect. “Make una relax,” a user wrote. “Person fit greet you without business plan.”

Interestingly, older Lagosians have joined the conversation as well, reminiscing about how greetings used to be more relaxed. Back then, a handshake was soft, calm, and quick; eye contact was respectful but never intimidating. They note that while it’s good to see young people trying to improve themselves, there’s something refreshing about simple, pressure-free interactions. As one elderly man commented, “This new style dey fear person sometimes, like say I suppose check my CV before coming out.”

But whether people love it, hate it, or find it funny, one thing is sure: Lagos is always setting new cultural trends. Today it’s firm handshakes and eye contact; tomorrow it might be seminar-style introductions or “elevator pitch greetings.” The city has a way of absorbing global trends and remoulding them in its own chaotic, energetic image.

For now, CTIBOI’s post continues to generate conversation, serving as a mirror reflecting Lagos’ evolving social landscape. It reminds residents of how quickly the city changes, how easily trends spread, and how deeply Lagosians absorb anything that promises an edge in the hustle. It also proves once again that humour remains one of the city’s strongest coping mechanisms, helping people navigate pressures that could otherwise feel overwhelming.

As the jokes continue to fly and more people share their exaggerated handshake stories, Lagosians seem united by a familiar truth: the city will always be dramatic, always be ambitious, and always be unintentionally funny. Maybe the handshakes will soften again, maybe the intense gazes will reduce, or maybe this new style is here to stay. But for now, residents simply want one thing — to greet their friends without feeling like they are accidentally applying for a CEO position.

And until that happens, every Lagos handshake will continue to be a small, comedic mystery: Is this a normal greeting, or is this the beginning of a business proposal? Only the hand-gripper knows.