Proudly Empowering the Nigerian Youths through Information and Sensitization
Featured post
All you Need to Know about FEYEN
About us Financial Emancipation and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria – FEYEN is a youth movement founded in order to provide a forum and avenu...
Search This Blog
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Photos: Beauty queen rescued from kidnappers who posed as Aliko Dangote on Facebook
The Lagos state Police command has rescued the current Miss Nigeria International 2014 & daughter of an aide to Kwara state Governor, Miss Sa'adat Bibire, who was abducted two weeks ago by a gang of kidnappers who deceived her to come to Warri, Delta state from Lagos after they promised to make her the ambassador of the Aliko Dangote brand.
The gang, made up of students of the Delta state Polytechnic Ozoro, had opened a Facebook account disguising as Aliko Dangote and contacted Sa'adat. They invited her to Warri with the promise to make her Dangote brand ambassador. On getting to Warri, Sa'adat was kidnapped and taken to a place on the outskirts of Ozoro town in Isoko Local Government Area in Delta state. The kidnappers then contacted her family and asked for N20m ransom, which was supposed to be paid into a Malaysian account.
Parading one of the suspects before newsmen, the Lagos state Police commissioner said a manhunt for the kidnappers was immediately launched after they contacted the girls family but only one of them was arrested while the others are currently on the run.
When interrogated, one of her abductors, 23 year old Patrick Ifada (pictured above), said he was lured into the kidnap gang because of the money offered
"I accepted to join the gang because of the money involved. We opened a fake Facebook account pretending to be Alhaji Aliko Dangote and we convinced her to come over to Delta State to meet the businessman. At first, our ransom was N20 million. When they were not forthcoming with the money, we brought it down to N15 million and then N10 million. I was the one staying with the victim in our hideout. We were using the quarters of one of our members, Destiny. We are five in number and I was promised a huge sum. Other gang members are Destiny, Marcus Omajuwa, Ugada and Chuka. We are all students of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, ND 1. I was studying Computer Science. She was in our hideout for about two weeks. We asked the Special Adviser to pay the ransom into a Malaysian account that one Fred helped us to set up. None of us raped her. Destiny told us we were only going to make money from her family, and not to assault her" he told Vanguard
The wife of one of the kidnappers was arrested alongside Patrick.
Monday, 3 November 2014
Dangote slashes cement price to N1000 per bag
LEADING cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement Plc, weekend, announced drastic reduction of the prices of its cement.
The new price regime announced by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, GMD/CEO, of Dangote Cement, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, pegged the Dangote 32.5 cement grade at N1,000 per 50 kg bag, while the higher 42.5 grade would sell for N1,150 per bag.
A statement by the company at the end of a management meeting said, however, that the new prices were exclusive of the Value Added Tax, VAT, representing about 40 per cent discount on the prevailing market price of the product currently sold for N1,700 irrespective of the grade, across the country.
Edwin said the move was in line with the company’s commitment to the nation’s dire need for the development of infrastructure and to boost the federal and state government’s ongoing effort to reduce the near 20 million housing deficit in Africa’s largest economy.
He said, “we recognize the need for an increased rapid response to the huge infrastructure and housing deficit in the country, and one of the ways of addressing the issue is bringing the price of building materials down to much more affordable levels especially cement which is within our control as part of our contribution to the transformation agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and the attainment of key milestones in the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.
“Since the commencement of the implementation of the backward integration policy for cement in the country over 12 years ago, the local production capacity of the product rose from less than three million metric tonnes per annum to about 38 million metric tonnes per annum. During the more than 12-year period of the backward integration policy, nearly $20 billion has been directly and indirectly injected into the Nigerian cement industry with Dangote Cement Plc accounting for 60 per cent of that spend.”
The GMD/CEO added that Dangote Cement Plc would continue to ensure alignment of its corporate social responsibility with its strategic business initiatives and will continue to evaluate its pricing regime in Nigeria’s best interest.
Meanwhile, the timing of the initiative has confounded industry watchers, who say that from experience, the cement market is on the verge of entering the accelerated demand phase as the raining season is tapering and the dry season which provides the opportunity for increased construction and building activities is setting in.
Source: Vanguard news
The successful entrepreneur
A successful business man has a mindset that is willing to take risks and tread on places people would not ordinarily want to tread.
He would not chicken out at the slightest threat, so if you intend to start and own your business, you must have a die-hard mentality, otherwise you would quit before you even get started.
It is also very important to consider the risks involved and your ability to handle them properly, since every business involves risks.
Most business people are very comfortable with modest risk but quite uncomfortable with big risks. Although they are unwilling to gamble on long shots, they are more willing to take chances if their individual skills can affect the probability of success.
Then will they have the courage to step out into the unknown and pursue their personal dreams.
Goal getter
A successful business man has the mindset of not just setting goals but also achieving the desired result. He does not settle for less but always has his eyes on the prize. To him there are no impossibilities and failure is just part of the game.
He does not believe in half measures but believes that he can go all the way and this mentality inspires a lot of confidence in clients and customers and will keep them coming.
A high level of energy also keeps the businessman trudging through road blocks because he has his eyes fixed on long term goals. It is important you are very energetic and vibrant as it will ensure that your business is up and running. You need to have a motivation from within and from those around you.
The man who invented electricity, tried ninety-nine times and failed; he got it right the 100th time! I dare say, that is the spirit you must possess, no matter how many times you fail, you keep trying it out until you get it right….bottom line you must delete the word IMPOSSIBLE from your dictionary. Period!
It’s very important you move with the right people and read books and materials that will prepare your mind and reposition your mindset towards positivity, because “if you can think it then you can be it”.
Never forget “you are a product of your thoughts.” This reminds me of a Nigerian drama series that aired on the Nigerian national television network (NTA) in the early 90s, BASSEY& COMPANY.
The lead act was fond of saying “if you want to be a millionaire, think like a millionaire”! As funny as it sounded then, it is still very true and applies to business. So permit me to say if you want to be a successful business man, then think like one!
If you are going to run a business of your own, you should find something that makes you really happy. This should be at the core of why you are even looking at going into business of your own, because if you try and make something work and you have no passion for it, it probably won’t work out. If you have passion for the industry that you are working in, you will have a good chance of making it work out.
What make a business great are the people that run it and the passion that they have for it. Keep this in mind when you are thinking of starting a business of your own.
From experience, many just jump into business because they are excited about an idea and haven’t really thought about the ‘whys and wherefores’. Taking a moment to reflect on your motivations and defining your purpose will be time well spent.
A lot of people go into business for the sole reason of making money; this is not a good idea. It’s not a good idea because the main ingredient for success is missing. The main ingredient for success is passion, and it’s virtually impossible to maintain high-levels of energy when you’re doing something you don’t love. There will always be challenges in owning a business. Your love and passion is what takes you through those challenges. Without that passion, you probably won’t make it.
Revealed!!!! Ways to overcome severe hangover
These are healthy and scientifically proved ways to overcome hangover (severe headache due to excess intake of alcohol)
1. one drink - one glasss of water
Everybody know that drinking water prevent you from the morning headache. alcohol leads to dehydration. so you should better drink more water throughout the party. remember and try to match. one alcoholic drink, then a glass of mineral water that will ease the possible pain the next day.
2. Don't forget to eat
when you are drinking on empty stomach, alcohol is absorbed faster. so try to have a nice meal before the party starts , and remember the fact that beer has a lot of calories it does not count as meal.
3.Red is bad
Drinks that are darker (red wine, whiskey, rum etc.) contain some congeners (elements produced during fermentation), which can cause your hangover. So picking lighter drinks can reduce your chances of having an awful headache in the morning.
4. Grab some vitamins
Drinking washes out some nutrients from your body. So pop some multivitamins to refill the loss.
5. Forget about buubbles
Avoid beverages that have ‘bubbles’ like champagne or other carbonated drinks. These evil bubbles help alcohol to get absorbed faster.
6. Healthy breakfast
To gain some lost electrolytes in the morning try to eat some bananas. The other great variant for a hangover breakfast – scrambled eggs with spinach. Eggs contain taurine, which helps your liver to recover after a party night. For an upset stomach try to have some ginger tea. It will fix a discomfort in your tummy. Or you can also have a glass of orange juice – it will boost your blood sugar up to the normal.
7. Fresh air
Oxygen helps to get rid of alcohol toxins faster. If you are able to – try to do some exercises. They can produce some endorphins to fight your bad post hangover mood.
8. The most secret and the difficult rule
You can just not drink. Skipping drinking is the only way to avoid a hangover completely. It can be difficult, but having fun does not necessary mean being involved in heavy drinking.
Top most valuable companies in Nigeria.
Discover the 20 most valuable companies in Nigeria. When it comes to how valuable a company is, the market value of the company’s stocks on the Stock Exchange is what is considered. These companies’ stocks are the Blue chip stocks as they are called by stock brokers and analysts. Here are the 20 most valuable companies in Nigeria according to their market values on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
20. CADBURY NIGERIA PLC – Market Value: 150.3 billion NGN
First from the rear of the 20 most valuable companies in Nigeria is Cadbury Nigeria Plc, one of the largest food beverage and confectionery producers in Nigeria. Cadbury are the producers of Bournvita, Tom-Tom, Buttermint etc.
19. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC – Market Value: 168.9 billion NGN
Union Bank is one of the oldest financial institutions in Nigeria. A full-service commercial bank, UBN provides services in business banking, personal banking, treasury services, and commercial lending. Although many think Union Bank is one of the old fashioned banks in Nigeria, however they still found their way in the 20 most valuable companies in Nigeria by market value.
18. FLOUR MILLS OF NIGERIA PLC – Market Value: 186.1 billion NGN
The 54 year old company is a forerunner in wheat milling in Nigeria. Popularly known for its brand, Golden Penny remains one of the most preferred brands among bakers, confectioneries and consumers in Nigeria. Flour Mills has a milling capacity of over 8000 metric tons per day, which is one of the largest single site mills in the world.
17. TRANSCORP NIG PLC– Market Value: 195.5 billion NGN
Transcorp is a leading diversified conglomerate in Nigeria. The company focuses on acquiring and managing strategic businesses for long term shareholder returns and socio-economic impact. Transcorp operates on four strategic sectors: Power, Oil and Gas, Hospitality and Agriculture.
16. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC – Market Value: 204.3 billion NGN
Originally known as Lever Brothers Plc, the eighty-year old Unilever has been quoted as a public liability company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1973. The long term success of Unilever Plc is a product of consumer based deep roots in the local culture and markets. Unilever produces food and beverages as well as home and personal care products.
15. ACCESS BANK PLC – Market Value: 218.5 billion NGN
Access Bank Plc, a full service commercial bank operates through a network of about 366 branches across Nigeria and beyond. Access Bank organizes its main business activities along four customer segments namely: Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, Business Banking and Personal and Private Banking.
14. FORTE OIL – Market Value: 222.9 billion NGN
Forte is a foremost indigenous major marketer of refined petroleum products. They are spread across the thirty-six states of Nigeria including the FCT. Forte Oil has over 500 retail outlets in Nigeria and operates majorly in the midstream sector of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. They also offer a wide range of consumer products from the oil value chain; PMS, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, gas and lubricant. Femi Otedola is the chairman of Forte Oil.
13. UBA GROUP – Market Value: 253.9 billion NGN
UBA is one of the foremost financial institutions in Nigeria. The bank is spread extensively across Nigeria and the continent of Africa. UBA is poised to facilitating inter and intra African trade and also be the pivot for inflow of investment capital into Africa. The bank is led by Tony Elumelu who is the current Chairman and Philips Oduoza, GMD/CEO.
12. OANDO – Market Value: 259.4 billion NGN
OANDO PLC is one of Africa’s largest integrated solution providers. The OANDO Group comprises six companies providing quality services in Exploration and Production, Energy Services, Gas and Power and Downstream supplies. OANDO Plc is led by Wale Tinubu, the Group Chief Executive.
11. STANBIC IBTCS HOLDINGS PLC– Market Value: 260 billion NGN
Stanbic IBTC Bank is one of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria with a wide range of personal and commercial banking products offered in over 180 branches nationwide. Stanbic is a financial service group which operates with a clear focus on three main business pillars – Corporate and Investment Banking, Personal and Business Banking and Wealth Management.
10. ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED– Market Value: 269.4 billion NGN
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated is an independent regional banking company in West Africa. ETI provides wholesale, retail, investment and transaction banking products and services to government agencies, multinationals, corporate organizations, SMEs and individuals.
9. GUINNESS NIGERIA– Market Value: 301.8 billion NGN
GUINNESS NIGERIA is an iconic African company renowned internationally for its brands of unmatched quality. Guinness has been on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1965. They produce beverages such as Foreign Extra Stout, Malta Guinness, Harp, Smirnoff etc.
8. LAFARGE WAPCO– Market Value: 333.2 billion NGN
LAFARGE is a global figure in the production of building materials. Owned by the Lafarge Group, Lafarge extracts resources from the earth to make materials. Lafarge is committed to making the best cement and concrete solution available in all parts of Nigeria. Lafarge group are also the owners of AshakaCem Plc and UNICEM Calabar.
7. SEPLAT Petroleum– Market Value: 387.3 billion NGN
SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company is an indigenous company which is leading many other companies in Nigeria in oil and gas exploration and development. SEPLAT is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and Nigerian Stock Exchange. SEPLAT was formed in 2009 by two Nigerian E & P companies (Shebah E & P and Platform Petroleum Limited).
6. First Bank Plc– Market Value: 509.1 billion NGN
First Bank as the name implies is the very first in Nigeria. The Bank is still one of the leading financial institutions in Nigeria. First Bank has been ranked among the top 500 most valuable banking brand in the world. Their success is attributed to dynamism, introduction of new products and excellent customer service delivery.
5. Zenith Bank– Market Value: 786.5 billion NGN
Founded by Jim Ovia in 1990, Zenith Bank is one of the leading financial institutions in Africa. The bank has thrived over the years on its cultures of strong values, brand equity, professionalism and service excellence which have distinguished the bank among its peers.
4. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.– Market Value: 852 billion NGN
GT Bank is no doubt one of the financial institutions in Nigeria with the highest customer base. GTB has over 10,000 people in its workforce in Nigeria and other African countries. The corporate banking bias and strong service culture of GTB have been the key factor in the consistent growth of the company.
3. Nestle Plc.– Market Value: 911.6 billion NGN
Nestle Plc are makers of food and beverage products including Maggi®, Milo®, Golden Morn®, Cerelac® etc. Nestle has two main factories in Nigeria and six others in other West African countries. Beyond West Africa, Nestle is also found in several parts of the world.
2. Nigerian Breweries– Market Value: 1,300.7 billion NGN
Nigerian Breweries Plc is the pioneer and largest brewing company in Nigeria. Nigeria Breweries has eight operational breweries in different parts of Nigeria where its beverages are produced and distributed to all parts of the country.
1. Dangote Cement – Market Value: 4,089.7 billion NGN
Dangote cement is the most valuable company in Nigeria. It is a fully integrated cement company, operating in Nigeria and 14 other African countries. Dangote cement is said to be the only Nigerian company on the Forbes Global 2000 companies. Dangote Cement is owned by Dangote Group.
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
For The Ladies in the House!!!! Sure means to prevent him from cheating
Almost any woman, no matter where and how she lives, what her social and marital status is, at least once in her life either faces the problem of her man cheating or questions herself on whether he is being unfaithful.
The portal YourTango represented by the lady-journalist decided to address all women around the world and explain why men cheat and how to prevent such development.
What are the common reasons for the indecent behaviour? He wants more spice in his sex life, he is bored, he lacks attention from his second half, he wants to exercise his freedom or he is just tired of disappointing his partner. Some even attribute it to biological factors that man is meant to procreate with many women for the sake of preserving species.
However in many cases the two partners speak different love languages, which can actually be solved inside the couple, as like all human beings men have an innate need to feel respected and also be a hero for his second half.
These 10 tips will be definitely helpful for any woman in relationships. So, how to prevent him from cheating:
1. Be the one who initiates sex
Sexual relationships is the one of the means to show him he is loved and desired. Do not neglect the physical contact as for our strongest halves desirability is also associated with masculine power and success.
2. Be open for experiments
Do not let comfort and fear of the unknown prevail over you when it concerns new sexual experiences. Allow yourselves to try something new. Unless you do, he might eventually find another woman for experiments. By “new” the author is not saying that you should engage in sexual activity you find repulsive but allow yourself to experience new things with the man you love.
3. Don’t over-accommodate
Sometimes when the woman works hard to become a perfect match for her partner, she becomes too accommodating and might even lose herself. Thus the man ends up in realizing that he got what he had asked for but isn’t sure it’s what he really wants. Have you ever noticed that men get into relationships with a very clear picture of what a perfect woman should be but casually date the “contrasting” women?
4.Too much control
Sometimes we get naughty and try to make our relationships work the way WE want them to be. Thus we engage in destructive relationship habits like complaining, blaming, criticizing, etc. Here you should focus on controlling yourself but not your man.
5. Let him see that you appreciate him
You found the right man, you “got” him, the thing is done – he will be yours forever. Yes? No! Remember, all relationships are voluntary and he can leave any time. Even children is not always a reason for him to stay. So show him your love, tell him about it and make sure your man knows how important he is for you.
6. He needs time for himself
Did you know that some men cheat because they consider it a means of exercising their freedom? To avoid it allow your man time for himself without you. Surely, girls love doing everything together with their second halves, but you should be careful not to monopolize all your guy’s time.
7. Be aware of your emotions
Whether or not we are aware of it, women are masters at using their emotions to communicate volumes without speaking any words. We communicate anger, rage, sadness and disappointment that is received by our partners.
Again, control is the answer. Remember: any person gets tired of being a constant disappointment, not only men!
8. Prioritize your relationship
Often, when a man cheats, you will find the woman is also having an “affair” that’s not sexual, but in the form of prioritizing something else over relationship: job, children or anything that puts her man lower on her totem pole than the first position.
If he is your true love, other thing should fade away and the relationship will still be there if you tend to it carefully.
Of course no article poses a universal solution to the problem, as every relationship is unique and many factors might can contribute to the split in the couple. However we tend to make mistakes and it is important to realize them because so only we can stop repeating them over and over again.
Hopefully this article helped you to make some mental notes for your bond to be sacred and happy.
Must read!!! Surest signs that your lover is lying to you.
Being in a relationship means putting a whole lot of faith in someone who was, at one point, a total stranger to you. It’s all a bit terrifying when you really think about it.
So can you ever really tell what someone’s thinking and feeling, or if they’re being truly honest with you? Basically, no. But there are some clues in someone’s behaviour as to how they really feel and whether they’re lying or not. Here’s what to look out for…
1. If your other half is suddenly spouting religious phrases like ‘I swear to Jesus’ or ‘God no’, then they may be trying to hard to cover something up.
2. Watch their hands. Are they trying to make them disappear, possibly into their pockets, behind their backs or under their legs? If yes, this could be a sign that they’re hiding more than just their palms.
3. A common misconception about cheats and liars is that they can’t provide detail about their lie, but actually, they may go into too much detail. If they can’t stop talking and appear to be saying things as they occur to them, it might be that it’s all fabricated.
4. You know your partner best. Are they finding it more difficult than usual to maintain eye contact? Then they could be feeling guilty. And if they’ve fixed an unusually strong stare on your eyes, they could be doing so in an effort to try to control your opinion of them.
5. If there are noticeable pauses before they answer questions, they could be buying themselves time to think of a response. Equally, answering too soon and speaking quickly is an indication that they’re desperately trying to convince you of something.
6. If they repeat more than one of your questions, they’re probably using the time to think of a reasonable answer.
7. Are they suddenly being super honest but about something that you’re not actually asking them about? For example, you question who they had dinner with this evening and they’re more concerned with apologising for how much they spent on the dinner than discussing who they ate with. They’re trying to deflect attention by admitting to a lesser offence.
8. Any attempt to cover their mouth – however apparently subconscious – could well be a sign that they’re uncomfortable with what they’re saying or hiding something from you.
9. Very strange but true: when lying, some people’s nasal tissues engorge, causing their noses to itch. So an unexplained sniff could give away more than you think…
10. And finally… take a step back and try to look at it objectively: ask yourself whether you’d believe their story if it was one of your friends’ partners. If it now sounds implausible, then it probably is.
Inspiring!!!! How a poor abuja girl became a millonaire by working hard.
Anna’s life
It all started with a report in Leadership newspaper, telling about the girl selling snacks in Utako market of the country capital. Anna was struggling for survival and at the same time was saving up money to make her dream come true: to become a microbiology student at the university.
The 22-year-old girl preferred to follow the path of honor by working hard no matter how humble the starting point was. The beautiful female did not consider the way of degradation, taking poverty as an excuse.
After several failed attempts to find a job, the girl engaged into making snacks by herself and selling them, for which she first borrowed N10, 000 as a start capital. Doing all by herself, Anna had only several hours for sleep per day to keep the business afloat.
Regarding her earnings, the young hard worker managed to save up to N 18,000 monthly, which amount she deposited in a bank. By saving money Anna wanted to continue education and to be able to support her parents, both suffering from bad health conditions.
Accepting life as it is, the girl refused to search for “easy money” saying:
“I will never sell my body for any favour. If that’s what it has to take to make it, I can’t do it and that is why I started this small business.”
When asked to give advice to her peers experiencing hardships, Anna recommended them to understand the value of dignity in labour and create legal job opportunities for themselves.
Reactions to Anna’s story
Fortune smiled at Anna James through the director general of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Omeri Mike, who could not stay indifferent to her story.
Impressed the girl’s attitude, Omeri decided to honour Anna for portraying the value of dignity in labour.
At the occasion dedicated to celebration of the award recently granted to him by President Goodluck Jonathan, Omeri spoke about Anna recognizing her achievement at the hearing of the dignitaries who graced the event.
He donated N200,000 to Anna for her to go back to school. Additionally, the Minister of State for Power Alhaji Mohammed Wakil contributed to the donation with N300,000 amount, two more people donated N200,000 and N300,000, making the total sum of one million naira.
The girl received a call a week after her initial story had been published, she was invited to attend a function as a special guest to the DG-NOA, where she confessed she was treated like a special guest.
Upon hearing about honours and the donations, Anna could not control her emotions and she kept praying that God would bless Omeri and all those who helped to make her dream come true.
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
Latest tricks which lagos runs girls uses to lure men
Someone just sent me a list of the new tricks Lagos big babes - aka the hustling ones - devise to catch men these days. They say these girls, the very serious ones - no longer wear provocative dresses and hang around hotels, restaurants, and bars to meet men, they've gone a stepper further. Below are some of the things they do now...
1. They become members of high class gyms in hopes of meeting big men there
2. They attend big churches they know rich men attend
3. They attend weddings of really rich people hoping to meet really rich men there
4. They hustle to find money to travel business class so they can meet men at the business lounge and inside the plane
5. They look for money to join rich men leisure clubs like Boat club, Ikoyi club etc.
Na true? What others tricks do you think these girls use to find rich men? Please share
Few things you need to understand about dem so called lagos big girls
No doubt, Nigeria is one of the most popular countries in Africa with Lagos state being the Center of excellence, residence for Nollywood and very many celebrities, socialites not to forget the groupies, side kicks, hustlers, video-vixens etc
Just like people go in search of their dreams and talents in New york, people come to Lagos to make it! anyhow possible; talent or no talent. Its not like they are available jobs to sink the inflow of people coming to Lagos or like most of the Lagos immigrants are talented or qualified enough for white collar jobs. In Lagos state you can create your own white collar job out of anything.
Its only Lagos you will see a lady dressed from head-to-toe cooperate and she goes 'oh i'm a personal shopper, i help the A-listers shop and organize their closet) -in a combination of British and American accent. lol.
Anyway if you are planning on making it in Lagos, let me give you some tips girls on how to fit in. For the guys read this tips, cram them well so when next you see a girl in Lagos like this run for your dear life hahaahaha
1. LOOKS: You cant be striving to be a Lagos big girl and look tacky and all that. you must dress well...wear designers only. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Vivienne Westwood, christian louboutin, mango should be the cheapest.
They are not many dark girls left in Lagos, charcoal black is an abomination. Only fair, fresh girls. If you are black better visit all those 'iya's' that help tone your skin. In no time you will be as white as snow or if you don't want to compete with snow white just be chocolate fair (a new color i heard).
Your extensions should not be short. short hair is so last two years in Lagos from 20inch till the longest they make. virgin hair or probably all those new names they have Mongolian, Cambodian bleached with closure. The only time you are caught with short hair, it should be 'funmi hair'. (wink wink).
2. GADGETS: Very important, you cant have one phone. You must have at least 2 or 3, preferably 3. One blackberry porsche, Q-10 or Z-10 for pinging, Lagos girls are never idle they always ping. One i-phone 5 for instagram and one Galaxy note as back up phone or Sony Xperia-Z.
3. MAKE UP: Make up, cannot be under emphasized in Lagos because that is the major trade-mark. Bright colored lips like pink and red or orange should be used only. So when you take your instagram pictures and pout (duck face) of course it will show. Don't forget to arch your brows, if you are not that perfect get a 'nike sign' turn it upside down and practice.
4. HOUSE: Also where you reside is of utmost importance mainland (hmm dat one nor join) except you have a bad-ass car and mansion. Lagos Island is the place, even if its a studio apartment as far as you and your clothes can sleep every night no problem. Also, because they are pricy you can beg like 4 or 5 of your friends to split the cost of the house with you.
5. ACCESSORIES: Lagos girls like their 'candies' 'eyecandy', 'arm candy' just buy plenty hand, and toe rings and wear all at once. buy statement jewelries or better still big gold chain and wear on your neck always, like 2. Then of course own a Michael kors watch, this is a must have its about $250 dollars, dont go for a fake because most people have their receipt in their bags. And if you are planning on lieing that you forgot yours when asked, it has a serial number under. (LOL)
6. JOB; You cant be in Lagos and not have a job, so go get one. If you are really pretty, tall and hot. Buy MBGN or MISS NIGERIA form and apply. If that doesn't work, go into modelling or better still become a video-vixen. Or you can save up and be your own boss, go into make-up or own a boutique and join the other 1million girls in Lagos. Free-lance! you don't need a studio oh, thats for the real professionals, from you studio apartment do your own.
Or better still go and learn how to sew clothes, so you can open your own line of 'HAWT COUTURE' works for everyone. Or, if you have a very polished fake accent from watching Tv (like me) go and be a tv or radio presenter.
Ultimatelly the jackpot is Nollywood go and start acting, rapping or singing.
D'ont forget to go for all the shows, red carpet events and make sure you get featured, here on bella naija or any top blogs in the country. Better still buy complete fashion magazine or Thisday magazine every Sunday and check.
So you all know its not a lie, this a the qualities of the 'barbies in Lagos'.
BUSTED!!!!! Crazy things abuja big girls do just for money
Do you know that quite a lot of babes who live in Abuja do not have any correct job that they do? Do you also know that very few of them have shops or any tangible work place they can point to as office? Yes they live big and they drive flashy and exotic cars, live in very expensive apartments, dress to kill, buy expensive things and travel abroad for holidays.
Some of those babes do not have their parents or relatives in Abuja. Some are students but still engage in dirt acts, while some don’t even have anything doing.
We can tell you what they do that get them the big bucks they spend...
They are dirty things. Below are the 5 dirty things Abuja big babes do for money according to Citypeople:
1) Sleeping With Dogs
This debasing acts are mostly put together to form a part of the p**ngraphy business worldwide and the ladies involved are mostly paid in dollars.
The men mostly ask them to sleep with dogs while they record it with a camera.
2) Buying Mobile Numbers Of Top Celebrities
Some of them go as far as buying mobile numbers of top celebrities and politicians from their friends and some family members for as high as N50,000 just to have a close contact with them. After achieving their aim, they tell the politician they have once met and he personally gave them his private line. Some of these men have believed them and have falling prey afterwards.
3) Dating White Guys
They purposely go around hanging out at places were rich white guys hang around just to meet them.
4) Giving Birth and selling their babies for money
This is now a fast growing negative trend and the market is booming...
5) Hanging out around high brow hotels
You can get the full details in City Peoples magazine...
SHOCKING!!! Meet 19 year old girl who plans to sleep with different men in every city she visits
19-year-old Chinese girl, Ju Peng who resides in Shanghai, and is currently on tour in China has made it known that she has plans to be intimate with men in every city she visits. She says she plans to have sex with different men in all the cities she steps into.
Ju Peng posted an advert on Chinese website Weibo making it her specification for the kinds of men she wants. She was aid to have posted that she is looking for “temporary boyfriends” who must be “good looking, under 30, taller than 1.75 metres and, of course, rich”.
A-19-year-old-girl-Ju-Peng
“They will fund my transport to their city and all my expenses while I am there and they need to be generous. In return, they get a whole night with me, my undivided attention, and a chance to show themselves off in the company of a truly beautiful girl.” Ju Peng wrote
The adverts however has caused a whole lot of uproar in which many men, of course, replied to her advert, while the women were so angry at the surprising update which made many of them to call her names, asking that the advert be removed.
How prostitutes seduced and duped a 68-year pensioner
A mild drama unfolded last weekend at Interbua roundabout, in Asaba, when some commercial sex workers hanging around the vicinity allegedly swooped on a retired civil servant who had just withdrawn N2.3million from a bank and seduced him till he parted with it.
Reports said that the ladies got to know about the withdrawal he made earlier in the day and seduced him to patronise them.
The old man was said to have entertained them in an hotel around Anwai road.
After the ladies succeeded in collecting the money from him, the 68-year-old pensioner said, “I got to town and settled with my long time friend in Okpanam town whom I thought had long disengaged from his Casanova lifestyle, not knowing that he was still very much neck deep in the game.”
He said that his friend rather than trying to discourage him from going out with young ladies encouraged him to do so.
The father of six, however, recalled that he had gone to withdraw the money to buy some building materials and planks when he fell into the hands of the ladies.
SHOCKING!!!! A woman who delivers of a baby boy after 5 years pregnancy
An Abuja-based woman who was barren for 27 years has delivered a baby boy after five years of pregnant in a church in Lagos State Western Nigeria.
The woman, Adenike Kolawole delivered on Sunday at Evangelical Church of Cherubim and Seraphim located at Pipeline Road, Mafon area, Ejigbo, Lagos during church service.
Kolawole who is married to Kayode said her problem started after she had a miscarriage. She said she has been looking for the fruit of womb since then.
She said she had sought both medical and spiritual help before she noticed that she was pregnant. But at the same time she was observing her normal mensural circles.
She said she waited endlessly to deliver but all that expectations was to no avail. This prompted her to relocate to Lagos. She said the search for spiritual solution brought her to the church where she eventually delivered the baby.
She said those years were traumatic because her husband was under intensive pressure to send her away. “I was rejected by my relations, my husband’s family who did not give me the chance of bearing a child. My only consolation was my faith in God,” she narrated.
On how it happened, she explained that she was at the church service when she noticed that water was coming from her private part and she went to a room to check what was happening before she knew it, the baby came out alive.
She said she raised alarm which attracted church members who assisted her to deliver the baby. The news of the deliverance attracted residents who trooped to the church in droves to see the woman and the new born baby.
When our reporter visited the church on Tuesday, residents were still visiting the church to congratulate the woman and her husband, Kayode who expressed shock on what happened.
Kayode said he did not believe his wife over the years when she claimed to be pregnant because he had waited in vain. He said he was grateful to God for what he had done and thanked the well wishers for their support.
The prophet of the church, Yinka Olawale said when the woman came from Abuja, he noticed that she was pregnant and at the same time was having her monthly mensural circle.
He said he embarked on prayer and also used anointing oil and holy water with faith. He said the first sign they observed was that the circle stop and she delivered on Sunday.
He thanked God on what happened and said it has strengthened his faith in God.
Female corper lands in trouble over love portion
A serving National Youth Corps Member, identified as Chinyere, at the weekend landed in trouble in Asaba, Delta State, when a love potion meant to charm a 32-year- old graduate of chemistry backfired, Leadership reports.
The incident which occurred around Redeemed Junction along Okpanam community road, Asaba, followed a long relationship between the suspect and the young man, who hails from Ibusa community near Asaba. It was said that they started dating while they were both in Lagos, until she graduated and was posted to Asaba for her youth service.
Sources revealed that their relationship encountered some undisclosed issues and the young man broke up, but the suspect refused to let go despite all effort to convince her he was done with the relationship.
It was gathered that the suspect insisted the relationship must continue because she had put in a lot of time.
“I have invested my time and resources into this relationship and you cannot just wake up and tell me you are through with me. If you have done that to other girls before, you cannot try that with me,” Chinyere said.
Advertisement
The victim said on the fateful evening, the suspect reported the young man to his elder sister who lives in Benin, adding that he was called and advised him to let sleeping dog lie after talking some sense into him.
The young man reportedly obeyed his elder sister and invited the suspect to his house situated around Okpanam community where the misfortune happened. The two ‘love birds’ reportedly took a walk down town that night, getting to some point, the young man excused her to purchase a bottle of water and as soon as he walked away, the suspect not knowing people were watching her, reportedly brought out a small can and she packed sand from the spot the young man stood, and immediately jumped into a commercial tricycle and left the scene but was chased and brought down.
The corps member was reportedly pounced on beaten to pulp by an angry mob who witnessed the incident.
We probably may be the last Nigerians to see these animals
1. West African lion
In 1970 there were approximately 200,000 lions all over Africa. Now there are nearly 20,000. It was estimated that there are just 645 genetically distinct wild lions left in western and central Africa, with as few as 34 remaining in the whole terrirtory of Nigeria. Clusters of lions remain in Burkina Faso, Niger, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad. In Ghana, The Ivory Coast and Togo there are already no lions left.
2. Cross River Gorilla
Gorillas who used to be the kings of jungle are now numbered at fewer than 300 in the forests of Nigeria and Cameroon. In 80th it was believed that this kind of primates has already become extinct. But later it has been learnt that they were still there. So there is still some chances for their lucky future.
3. Cameroonian forest shrew
These tiny rats are also endangered species. They can be found in the Montane forests of Western Cameroon around Mount Oku and Lake Manengouba, and in Southeastern Nigeria in the Gotel Mountains or Adamawa Plateau.
4. White-throated guenon
The next vulnerable member of our list is a white-throated guenon. He is also called red-bellied monkey and the red-bellied guenon. These creatures live in rainforests or tropical areas of Nigeria and Benin. These monkeys eat fruits, small insects, leaves and crops. They live in small groups of 4 or 5. The white-throated guenon was once thought to be extinct due to constant hunting for their fur, as the animal has a unique red belly and white front legs. But a small group was found near the Niger River in 1988
5. Red-eared guenon
This kind of monkeys is also endangered. They can be found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical forests. The reasons of its extinction are illegal hunting and pet trade.
The Nigeria Bond Market
PURPOSE
Nigeria’s capital markets lack the liquidity needed for a sustainable bond market that can fund growth and development in the public and private sectors. This is a proposal to remedy market illiquidity and provide solution recommendations. The economic environment in Nigeria is sophisticated and suitable to create a sustainable vibrant bond market that can be vital in economic development. The success of the bond market depends on the collaboration between the market operators and financial institutions including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) , Debt Management Office (DMO), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), CBN, and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) must ensure that regulated bond trading operations in a shadow and little understood repo market (repurchase agreements) is protected against illicit operations.
BACKGROUND
Treasury Notes/Bonds & Municipal Bonds
Nigeria’s sovereign bonds (debt) have been in existence since the 1970s. However, the bonds issued then had been illiquid and redeemable only to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) upon maturity. In 2003, the Federal government returned to the debt market to mobilize funds for long-term capital projects. In the process, the government effectively championed the creation of an Over-the-Counter (OTC) bond market by issuing short-term maturity notes.
Today, the Federal government of Nigeria (FGN) has issued about four trillion naira (N4.0 trillion) worth of bonds that are supposed to be trading in OTC market. The approved budget in 2010 has authorized the CBN to underwrite for the DMO to raise nearly eight hundred and sixty billion naira (NGN868.00 billion). However, these bonds rarely exchange hands and are considered illiquid by most of the institutions that purchase them in the primary market at the Primary Dealer/ Market Maker (PDMM) auctions. Recently, a few municipal governments such as Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Imo (issued 2016, 18.5b naira @ 15.5%), Bayelsa, and Abia states have either issued or received approval to issue bonds for long-term capital projects. The total amount of bonds or pending issues is less that five hundred billion naira (Corporate Bonds and Debentures
In the private sector, corporate bonds and debentures are not often or have not been considered as an option by many companies in funding expansion and innovation. Recently, First Bank, Plc has received approval from the SEC to issue or has already issued about five hundred billion naira (N500 billion) worth of bonds dominated in naira currency. Other companies such as GT Bank, Plc, and Access Bank, Plc have issued foreign currency dominated bonds and convertible bonds respectively. The total amount of bonds issued in the private sector is less than one trillion naira (DEVELOPMENTS
In 2006, the DMO introduced a PDMM system to provide at least a two-way quotation or multiple quotations for government bonds in OTC market. This initiative was hailed as a significant development in providing liquidity in the bond market. Further enhancement of this PDMM system would have created opportunities for municipal bond underwritings and eventually, corporate bond underwritings for listing on the NSE. However, lack of repos to help primary market dealers to manage their liquidity and finance inventories became a major set back in trading bonds in the secondary market. Ideally, as envisioned by the DMO, the twenty one (21) registered members of the PDMM syndicate were/ are supposed to support the secondary market for bonds by placing bids as principals (take in the bonds for their inventory) or as brokers (buy and fill orders for clients at a commission/ mark-up) anytime a bond investor tenders bonds for sale. Without repos, an over night or short-term borrowing, to provide liquidity in the market, an active bond market is improbable.
BOND MARKET LIQUIDITY
The OTC bond market can be as active and liquid as the equity market if the local investment community understands the critical role the market plays in the economy and more importantly, the stability that the investment product provides to a managed portfolio. However, there is a misunderstanding of the product and the market by many investors including big institutional portfolio managers, pension fund managers, endowment administrators, public accountant generals, corporate chief financial officers, and private wealth bankers. Unfortunately, even principals / agents of some PDMMs don’t fully understand the nature of these investment products.
The repo market is the life line of the Treasury securities trading. Repos play a central role in providing liquidity for the vibrant trading and financing of Treasury securities. Without repos, it’s hard for PDMMs to generate enough liquidity to own assets on their books and take advantage on new opportunities in the market place. Repos provide the liquidity for traders to take risk in trading assets from low yielding investments to high yielding opportunities. Lack of repos in the bond market has forced bond investors at the PDMM level to hold bonds in their portfolios, at times, longer than anticipated at the time of purchase in the primary market. Many PDMMs have reported holding FGN bonds in their portfolios for substantially longer periods than planned due to lack of marketability for certain bond series. Others have expressed frustration in holding bond inventories that ordinarily would have been traded for other opportunities in the capital market.
Bond Market Liquidity Constraints
The causes of tightened liquidity in Nigeria’s economy in the past three years have largely been self inflicted by misinformed CBN’s monetary policy and the banking industry’s greed to be dominant capital market operators and formidable commercial banks. The monetary policy rates in the past three years have frozen liquidity in the bond market and created a huge gap in the federal debt management program that even the strongest capitalized banks have been struggling to maintain reserve requirements and liquidity ratios with creative bookkeeping and questionable lending practices as the recent bank audits have demonstrated.
The banking industry’s greed had pushed many banks into bogus underwritings of initial public offerings (IPO) of securities of their own competitors as a way to create wealth for the principals and insiders of the organizations. The banks had liquidity for legitimate business investments that would have recorded the greatest economic expansion of all times in Nigeria, but they chose to extend huge loans to favored customers and clients for pre-IPO share purchases. Since the share purchases were not in companies involved in the real sector of the economy, the loans did not have much impact on the overall economy, except to generate more wealth for the people that were already wealthy.
From 2006 to 2008, the Central Bank focused narrowly on stabilizing the value of the naira relative to foreign currencies and holding down inflation. The inability of the CBN to manage short-term interest rates crowded out private capital in the massive economic expansion that the Nigerian economy had enjoyed in five consecutive years. The DMO’s excellent ground breaking initiatives to manage government’s deficit financing for capital projects, drained the much needed capital in the private sector through debt auctions at coupon rates that were not synchronized with the CBN’s monetary policy targets. The liquidity crunch in the capital markets was caused partly due to the CBN’s monetary policy rates and exchange rate regimes that favored the twelve biggest banks that were also the largest participants in Treasury securities auctions. Actually, it can be argued that the DMO’s ongoing deficit financing initiatives in an uncoordinated monetary policy regime by the CBN overexposed the expanding economy to external shock that led to a panic sell off in the stock market by insiders which led to a market meltdown.
The Price of Capital
The haphazard pricing of capital in the economy has confused and continue to baffle even the most sophisticated investors in Nigeria’s capital market. The idea that capital can best be invested in shares of financial institutions rather than in the real sector of the economy, made many analysts to wonder where the true foundation of the economy lies. Many banks extended margin loans and over leveraged their assets by diverting liquidity from long-term investments that would have been more meaningful for the real sector of the economy to artificially inflated stock prices. Investors in Nigeria’s capital market have not had real alternatives in asset allocation due to lack of investment products in the equity market on the one hand and sloppy CBN’s monetary policy rates for short-term money market rates and fixed income securities on the other hand. The CBN’s interest rate policy has rarely had any impact on the direction of capital movement. The wide discrepancies in interest rates ranging from the Treasury bills to Treasury notes/ bonds auctions, to monetary policy targets, to inter-bank lending offer rates, to prime rates, to consumer lending rates, etc… have made any rational expectations a luxury consideration for serious investors. Simply, economic forecast of leading indicators like inflation, employment, consumer sentiments, and investments are often hard to compute. As a result, investors and traders do not, very often consider allocation of assets based on trends in the economy. The exchange rates and crude oil prices, the only true measurable indicators win consideration at all times in asset allocation.
Just as repos are vital for a vibrant bond market, interest rate policy plays even a more important role in bond trading. Since there is an inverse relationship between bond prices and interest rates, and since bond yields move in opposite direction to prices, bond traders need some signals from the CBN about the direction of interest rates so that they can calculate the risk factors associated with making fixed income investments versus long-term wealth creation and/ or preservation investments.
BOND TRADING AND REPOS
One of the most important sources of mobilizing funds for development is by issuing bonds. Bonds are “I Owe You’s,” generally called IOUs (debt) that are issued by the Federal and Municipal governments, and corporations to mobilize funds to manage infrastructural development. Bonds are issued in tenors (maturities) of three, five, ten, and twenty years long. A bond is a debt instrument that must be paid back with interest at a future date by the issuer or borrower. When a borrower issues a bond, they must price it with a coupon rate based on the prevailing interest set by the CBN’s monetary policy rates. In the case of a municipal government, the rating of the municipality also factors in the interest rate pricing of the bond. The longer the tenor of the bond the higher price (interest) the lenders of money to the borrower expect to be paid and vice versa for the shorter maturities. The borrower pays the lender periodic interest, usually every six months, on the bond until the bond matures and at that time, the final interest and principal are paid back to the lender. In reality, no lender (bond investor) of money to the bond issuer (borrower) wants or expects to hold the bonds they have bought for the entire duration to maturity, regardless of how short the tenor is.
Therefore, bond trading becomes an important capital market. Since the bond market is very sensitive to interest rates (the main determinant for prices and yields on bonds) and other economic management factors such as inflation, unemployment, and economic growth the CBN’s policy plays a significant impact on the stability of the bond market. Just as margin trading is important in equity investing, repos are the life line of bond traders. Repos provide opportunities for PDMMs and smaller bond traders to manage liquidity and take risk in portfolio asset allocation
Repos or Repurchase Agreements
Repurchase Agreements are contracts for the sale and future repurchase of a financial asset, especially Treasury and municipal securities that are used to collateralize the loan. For example, a bond trader can buy Treasury securities and simultaneously collateralized the securities in an overnight repo deal as he looks for someone to sell the securities to at a profit. These assets are bought and sold in hundreds of millions of naira per transaction. Most buyers of these assets do not intend to hold the assets for the entire life to maturity. Many investors buy these assets because they are the safest investments to pack cash at a decent return while waiting for spending budgetary allocations. Others investors choose these assets for tax purposes and as stable fixed income, especially at a time that inflation is not a threat to the erosion of purchasing power. Holding these assets in inventory for trading requires huge amounts of money for bond traders. Therefore, bond traders need repos with such institutions as the CBN, municipal governments, banks, insurance companies, large companies, government corporations, and wealthy individuals to be able to buy and sell bonds as supply and demand detects in the market place.
Overnight or term repos provide liquidity to bond traders to buy and sell hundreds of millions of naira worth of bonds from other dealers or sellers. In a repo deal, the bond trader specifies in the agreement the sale price, the repurchase price, the interest rate, and the termination date. If the agreement is valid for only twenty four hours, it becomes an overnight repo. If it rolls over to another day and several more days, it becomes a term repo, however. On the termination date, the bond trader repurchases the asset at the same price at which he sold it, and pays interest for the use of the funds.
Repos are short-term interest-bearing collateralized loans for usually high grade interest bearing paper, such as Treasury securities and municipal bonds. The liquidity of the bond market depends on the fluidity of repos. If regulated well, repos provide an opportunity for financial institutions including, banks, thrifts (savings & loans), microfinance, pension fund managers, and insurance companies, to invest their surplus funds in overnight lending just like the inter-bank lending offer rate that is restricted to only banks. Overnight repos provide yield enhancement opportunities to professional asset managers at almost no risk to clients’ assets.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
The OTC’s Bond Market has challenges that can only be resolved by the CBN because it is the only institution that can provide liquidity and guarantee third party borrowing in financing trading of government securities. The pivotal role of the CBN in the operations of a vibrant bond market compels it to take the following actions to ensure the market exits
1. Create and support a repo market that allows only PDMMs to participate. Since repos play a vital role in bond trading, the CBN should manage and /or monitor daily repos on collateralized government securities. This initiative can elevate the level of confidence in the market and attract foreign investors such as hedge funds, mutual funds, and foreign governments.
2. Collaborate with the DMO and SEC in the qualification and registration of PDMMs. The registration process must set a ceiling for each member’s transactions in the repo market based on capitalization. This process is important because it helps to establish the upper limit that a PDMM can leverage its assets in bond purchasing and trading. Once a dealer reaches the upper limit for the CBN’s margin rate based on capitalization, the systems monitoring mechanism will send out a red flag if a dealer attempts to effect a repo transaction that has overleveraged its ability to pay even with collateralized high grade assets.
3. Collaborate with the NSE and SEC in the qualification and registration of licensed stockbrokers who are designated by their firms as principal bond traders in the repo market. These individuals must have sufficient training to merit supervisory roles in bond trading and must be willing to submit to the SEC’s periodic review of their licenses for any violation of securities laws and other criminal conduct.
4. Guarantee, regulate, and monitor foreign investments in treasury securities to ensure that the CBN’s foreign exchange rate regimes are strictly adhered to in the massive trading of treasury securities to foreign entities.
5. Guarantee, regulate, and monitor surplus funds invested in the repo market by non-financial institutions such as municipal governments, large corporations, high net-worth individuals, endowments, and the like in the repo market.
The repo market is the engine that powers the bond market and creates equilibrium in the supply and demand for trading government securities and other high grade debt of companies in the private sector. The CBN’s monetary policy determines the supply of funds in the repo market and the overall direction of cash movements in the capital markets. Therefore, a vibrant bond market is possible only with the CBN action.
The War Against Corruption in Nigeria
Apart from the game of football, one other thing that unites Nigerian citizens is the war against corruption. It has been generally accepted that corruption is evil and responsible for the nation’s gross underdevelopment. With the high amount of human and material resources abound in the country, it is believed that Nigeria was supposed to be counted among the first twenty industrialized nations on earth. Despite the deep conviction about the negative effects of corruption on Nigeria, cases of graft have continued to be on the sharp rise. The situation is so bad that corruption has almost turned out to be a national culture. For nearly two decades now, Nigeria has been named among the ten most corrupt nations in the world by internationally recognized anti-corruption organizations. Apart impacting negatively on the country’s image and integrity of her citizens abroad, this negative tag has also slowed down Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) in Nigeria.
There is no doubt about the strong desire of every incoming administration in Nigeria to fight corruption. Somehow, this desire has failed to curb the rise in cases of corruption due to several factors. Chief among them is the crass ignorance of the root causes of corruption in the country. Correct diagnosis is very fundamental in finding cure for an illness. The inability of successive administrations to cure Nigeria of corruption can therefore be rightly attributed to the shallow and narrow nature of the nation’s anti-graft protocols. Presently, the war against corruption is mainly anchored on the principles of investigation, arrest, and prosecution of suspected offenders. This can be likened to mowing a lawn. Sooner or later, the grass will grow again. To effectively fight corruption, its roots must have to be uprooted. The rise in cases of corruption is linked to a number of fundamental factors. They include wrong social orientation, poor
leadership culture, unemployment, poverty, tribalism, and the lack of political will.
A nation is like an engine-less boat in the ocean. It would need a team dedicated and experienced crew to sail it to shore. Poor leadership culture has contributed to the collapse of key public infrastructure and utilities in the country. Nigeria has now become a popular reference point during academic discourse on failed states. The nation’s power, transport, health, educational, industrial, and agricultural sectors are all in shambles. This has led to a spontaneous weakening of the nation’s oil-based socio-economic framework. Owing to these factors, unemployment, poverty, and crime have been on a sharp rise since about 1979.
The nation’s weak socio-economic framework has either reduced or eliminated a number of platforms that would have helped to expand the economy. This has voluntarily frozen several opportunities to create jobs and legitimate wealth. Nigerians are therefore forced to embrace sharp practices to make ends meet. Unlike in the pre-colonial era when all forms of corruption were seriously frowned at, people now openly celebrate known corrupt citizens. While very many do so because of poverty, others do it in order to secure political power. Poverty has virtually turned Nigerians into praise singers. Nigerians have found out that praise singing is one sure way through which they could benefit from the dividends of democracy. It is important to point out that the rise in poverty level in Nigeria has negatively impacted on the nation’s political culture. The few money-bags now find it very convenient to manipulate the electoral system and dictate who wins what
election. It is the electorates that hold the key to credible elections. As long as poverty is still widespread in Nigeria, the much talked about electoral reforms will make no much difference.
Tribalism is another source through which the culture of corruption is sustained in Nigeria. Owing to the deep tribal-coated nature of Nigerian politics, citizens are tempted to turn blind eyes when their tribesmen and women are involved in corrupt practices. This is where the issue of political will comes to play. For Nigeria to win the war against graft, the presidency must show strong political will by ensuring that the issue of “sacred cows” are eliminated in the fight against corruption. This is the only way the masses would develop confidence and support the anti-graft agencies. Let what is good for a thief be good for the rogue also.
One other lake that waters the roots of corruption in Nigeria is the nation’s wrong social orientation. Men are created naturally to be honoured and respected. Unfortunately, the contemporary Nigerian society no longer honour citizens based on their industry, intellect, or integrity. Men are now recognized based on their movable and immovable assets. That is the reason why a Nigerian would own a fleet of fifteen choice cars and build or buy castles in all major cities of the world. Up till now, no Nigerian citizen has been conferred with national honour for not dipping hands into government purse while in office. How can Nigeria win the battle against corruption when citizens that refuse to steal public funds are ridiculed and labelled either as dullards or fools? The Nigerian society is never polite, patient, or sympathetic with honest people. Except some practical actions are taken to encourage sound moral values in society, the war against
corruption will suffer severe blows.
But above all, the nation’s anti-graft legislation should be designed to make corruption unattractive. Nigeria would therefore need legislation that would compel citizens to live within their verifiable means. Let it be unlawful for any one (citizen and foreigner) to spend or invest up to N3m and above without disclosing the sources of the money. Furthermore, the nation’s anti-corruption legislation should also be strict about tax crimes. It is a known fact that a lot of Nigerians do not pay taxes and thereby robbing government of huge revenues. The war against corruption in Nigeria would experience a big boost if citizens are compelled by legislation to live within their means. Government must however do well to improve on the delivery of public infrastructure and utilities.
The proposed anti-graft legislation should require every person (citizen or foreigner) in Nigeria that wants to spend or invest up to N3m and above to swear to an affidavit in a competent law court, stating sources of the money. Certified true copy of the sworn affidavit and tax clearance certificate should then be filed with an appropriate anti-graft agency for record purposes. Immediately following this, the anti-graft agency will issue a Confirmation Certificate with a unique number. This should be the only condition upon which any person (citizen or foreigner) can spend or invest up to N3m and above in Nigeria. It should also be an offense for any individual or business organization to sell or lease properties, machinery, or materials worth N3m and above without causing the buyer/leaseholder to disclose the anti-corruption agency’s Confirmation Certificate Number, which shall be written out clearly in the payment receipt voucher.
This arrangement will make the job of the anti-corruption agencies easier and faster too. While all of these may not completely eradicate corruption in Nigeria, it will definitely help make the culture of graft unattractive. Nigeria will be better for it.
Photo: Alleged rapist paraded at OAU Senate building this evening
Alleged rapist Abayomi (pictured shirtless) was caught in Ife town outside OAU campus today. He was alleged to have raped a student from the department of Dramatic Art, Faculty of Art Of Obafemi Awolowo University outside the school campus somewhere behind Damico Institute Along Ede Road, Ife Osun State.
He was caught after the rape victim reported to the Students Union who promptly went looking for him. He was brought back to OAU where he was paraded at the Senate Building this evening. He has since been handed over to school security who will hand him over to police.
Boko Haram raped and beat us - Abducted Chibok girls
He soon began to threaten me with a knife to have sex with him and when I refused, he brought out his gun, warning that he would kill me if I shouted.
“Then he began to rape me every night … I had never had sex before; it was very painful and I cried bitterly because I was bleeding afterwards.”
These were the words of a 15-year-old girl, who was abducted by Boko Haram and forcibly married to one of its commanders in a camp in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
The girl, according to a report by Human Rights Watch, was abducted in 2013 but she escaped after four weeks in captivity.
The teenager is one of the five girls that personally recounted their ordeals in the publication which was made public on Monday. She said that after her marriage to the commander who was in his early 30s, she was ordered to live with him in cave.
The experiences of three others who suffered sexual violence were narrated by witnesses in the 63-page HRW report titled, Those Terrible Weeks in Their Camp: Boko Haram Violence against Women and Girls in North-East Nigeria.’
The publication provides details of how hundreds of girls and women aged between 15 and 22 were being made to suffer other forms of abuses and used for ambushes.
The HRW said in the report that it spoke to 47 witnesses and victims, including some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped from their hostel in April this year.
The group also described how some of the Christian abductees were ordered to convert to Islam or be executed.
It claimed that four of the eight sexual assaults it recorded occurred after the girls and women were forced to marry Boko Haram combatants.
According to the HRW, before “marriage,” the commanders appeared to make some efforts to protect the women and girls from sexual assault.
It said that in two cases, the insurgents took advantage of the absence of a commander and sexually abused abductees who had yet to be “married.”
An 18-year-old victim also described how an insurgent sexually abused her when she went to use the bathroom.
She said, “I did not know he followed me when I walked a short distance away from the tree under which we slept. He grabbed me from behind, roughly fondling me while trying to take off his pants. I screamed in fright and he hurriedly left me as I continued to shout for help.”
Another woman, who was raped in 2013 in one of the militants’ camps near Gwoza, described how a commander’s wife seemed to encourage the crime.
“I was lying down in the cave pretending to be ill because I did not want the marriage the commander planned to conduct for me with another insurgent on his return from the Sambisa camp. When the insurgent who had paid my dowry came in to force himself on me, the commander’s wife blocked the cave entrance and watched as the man raped me.”
Another woman aged 19, who was married and had children, described how she and one other woman were raped after having been abducted in April 2014.
She said, “When we arrived at the camp, they left us under a tree. I managed to sleep. I was exhausted and afraid. Late in the night, two insurgents woke me and another woman, saying their leader wanted to see us.
“We had no choice but to follow them; but as soon as we moved deep into the bush, one of them dragged me away, while his partner took the other woman to another direction.
“I guessed what they had in mind and I began to cry. I begged him, telling him I was a married woman. He ignored my pleas, flung me on the ground, and raped me. I could not tell anyone what happened, not even my husband.
“I still feel so ashamed and cheated. The other woman told me she was also raped but vowed never to speak of it as she was single and believes that news of her rape would foreclose her chances of marriage.”
The HRW had previously documented the widespread abuses carried out by the Nigerian security forces in responding to the attacks by Boko Haram.
However, the rights organisation asserted that few members of the security forces implicated in “serious violations of humanitarian and human rights law, including violations against girls and women, have been prosecuted.”
It advised that “to ensure accountability, Nigerian authorities should investigate and prosecute, based on international fair trial standards, those who committed serious crimes in violation of national and international laws during the conflict, including members of Boko Haram, security forces, and pro-government vigilante groups.”
The group said that “in addition, the government should provide adequate measures to protect schools and the right to education, and ensure access to medical and mental health services to victims of abduction and other violence.
“The government should also ensure that hospitals and clinics treating civilian victims are equipped with medical supplies to treat survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.”
Source: Punch
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Sure questions you should expect in your job interview
Usually it is the HR-manager who is asking you some questions. But sometimes during a job interview you are supposed to ask something yourself. If you are unprepared, it can be too hard.
So keep in mind the following 5 types of questions you can ask till your interview is over:
1. How do you imagine a perfect candidate for this position?
This question can make interviewer to tell what the employer is looking for. And it helps you to note the needed qualities when you will be asked about them.
2. What do you like most about working in this company?
This question can demonstrate how the people are satisfied with their jobs. You may also learn some benefits of the company you are applying to. If the interviewer does not want to answer this question without any explanation, it can be a bad sign.
3. Do you have some more questions about my specifications and abilities?
This question is rather puzzling. But it can show that you are a confident person who is sure about his/her skills and abilities.
4. Who was previously on this position?
This question will help you to understand whether this person was promoted or got fired. Or maybe he/she has just retired or quit. This will help you to analyze the atmosphere in the company.
5. What is the next level?
This question will tell you about the next step of choosing the candidates. It also demonstrates that you are interested in this position. Or, if everything was good, you can hear that there are no further steps and you are hired.
Top-7 Tips For Students In Nigeria
1. University never guarantees you a job
Hard work in the university will not guarantee you a perfect job offer just after the graduation. Nowadays a university degree is not the only thing you need to get a good job. So it is better to figure something out yourself before you get a degree.
2. Start job searching before finishing studies
There are no cheating formulas for job searching. Try searching for some internships and trainings before your graduation. It also will not guaranty you a working place, but will make your further search a little bit easier.
3. Social media know everything about you
What happens in social media stays in social media, probably forever. So when you will be working in a serious company or just a recruiter will be looking at your profile, get sure there is nothing wrong with it. Think twice before posting bizarre jokes or too personal pictures.
4. Life is not a cheap thing
Life is expensive. Especially when you start to live on your own. So it is better to start saving some money before you will be to pay for everything by yourself. Learn to create your budget.
5. Take chances life proposes to you
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Your 20s and 30s are probably the most interesting period of your life. Nothing comes easy, but the world has a lot of surprises for you.
6. Learn how to communicate
Interacting with people is a very important skill you’ll have to develop. You will need it during your job interview, as well as for your life in general. Learn to communicate easily and to be positive and gentle.
7. Success can take a long time
You are hardly to become a millionaire in one day after graduation. Success takes time. Some illegal things can bring you fast and easy money, but they also bring you danger and no one of them is suitable for a long time or even sounds good. So start your happy journey to the world of grown-ups’ life!
- See more at: http://uniplus.com.ng/post-top_7_tips_for_students_in_nigeria#sthash.Answvr1q.dpuf
The 6 Worst Things to Wear to a Job Interview The 6 Worst Things to Wear to a Job Interview
When you’re invited to a job interview, one wrong move can blow your chances. Even wearing the wrong thing can distract an employer from your polished resume and outstanding experience.
Before you schedule your next interview, be sure to review this list of the six worst things to wear for a job interview.
Ill-Fitting Clothes
If you haven’t worn your interview outfit recently, you might find it doesn’t fit the way it used to. Don’t try to pull it off, though. You won’t look your best and you won’t feel comfortable -- and it will show.
“Better to wear an outfit that is tailored to suit you, rather than anything that feels or looks too tight or too short,” says Stacy Lindenberg, owner of Talent Seed Consulting. “It may not only give the wrong impression, it may also be distracting. Tugging at your skirt hem, for example, is another distraction that takes away from the focus on you and your skills.”
Overly Casual Clothes
Even if you’re interviewing at a laid-back workplace, it’s still possible to take the casual concept too far, says Trevor Simm, founder and president of OpalStaff. “Do not wear jeans, tennis shoes, shorts, t-shirts, hats, flip-flops, or any garments with messages or brands written on them,” he says. “For men wearing a suit, do not wear loud, obnoxious colors, busy-printed shirts or overly patterned ties.” Take the conservative approach, and save the fun stuff for after you’ve got the job.
Anything Distracting
There’s a fine line between standing out and wearing something that’s just distracting. In the interview process, you should err on the side of caution and tone it down. “Better to choose subtle patterns over brighter ones, and dark or neutral clothing versus neon colors or anything distracting,” Lindenberg says. “You should be the focus of the interview, not your clothing.”
“Women should not wear anything too revealing or low cut,” Simm says. “No platform heels, no sun dresses, nothing too trendy. Make up and jewelry should also be toned down. For men
and women both, it's generally a good idea to stick with the basics: a black, blue, or grey suit and the associated conservative accoutrement."
Excessive Accessories
You might like to make a statement with your jewelry, but the job interview isn’t the time to do so, says Annette Richmond, executive editor of Career Intelligence. “Stay away from jewelry that jingle-jangles, which can be very distracting for an interviewer.”
Experts advise against wearing perfume and cologne as well. “You may feel like something is missing when you refrain from wearing your favorite fragrance, but this is one more thing that can be distracting during the interview,” Lindenberg says. “In addition, many people have sensitivity or allergies to fragrances. Play it safe!”
Something Very Different from What the Interviewer Suggested
It’s a good idea to ask about what’s expected of you when you’re setting up a job interview. “Always ask the point person that set up the interview for advice on what to wear,” says Carl Sharperson, vice president of the Kidder Group recruiting firm. “If you wear something that is significantly different than the instructions that you were given, then you stand a good chance of turning off the interviewers.”
The Obvious
“Never attend any interview with ill-fitting, sweat-stained, smelling like smoke, dog or cat hair covered clothing that looks like something you slept in,” says headhunter Michael Mayher. “Never wear the same ensembles you would wear out to a bar or nightclub with your friends.” Mayher also says “ridiculously sculpted fingernails” on women and “pointy shoes and contrasting socks” for men are no-nos.
“When in doubt, overdress for the first interview,” he says. “If you're an adult and need to be told these things you probably are not right for the job.”
Top-9 Questions Not To Ask In An Interview
There are plenty of things one should never say during a job interview. It doesn’t matter how much do you want to tell your interviewer. Saying a wrong word can easily reject your name from the list of potential candidates.
So here is a list of ‘No’ during your job interview.
1. “How much will my salary be?”
You shall not be the first person to ask about the salary. If your interviewer ask about the desired level, then you can say. But if you ask it first, they might think that money is the only thing you think about.
2. “My previous boss was a bad person.”
Your future employers are likely to contact your previous colleagues. And this can turn out as a bad thing.
Advertisement
3. “I will have your job.”
This is the worst answer on the question about where you see yourself in 5 years. You should be confident, but try to avoid some cocky statements.
4. “I don’t like my job.”
This is a popular option for a response to a question like why are you looking for a new job. The better option is to tell why you are applying for this position and what you have learned at your previous position.
5. “You are so nice!”
Skip all the compliments. Even if your job interviewer is Mercy Johnson! No matter how stunning your interviewer is keep your comments with yourself, as they could be interpreted as flirtatious.
6. “I have no weak points.”
Be prepared to say at least something about your weaknesses. But be careful, as some jobs do not allow such qualities at all. One of the options is to tell about some weakness that you once had, but improved.
7. “I need to work from home and a lot of vacations.”
Keep these question till time you are proposed with the position. It is better not to ask about these issues during the very first interview. Remember about your personal motivation and working ethics.
8. “You should better hire me, because I am the best!”
You can’t say such things. You didn’t meet all the candidates. Too much confidence is a bad sign.
9. “I don’t have any questions.”
Prepare some questions to ask. For example, you may ask what the interviewer loves most about working in that company. Or do a little company research and ask something about it.
B.SC, HND Discrimination Bill Passes Second Reading
The bill seeking to prohibit and put an end to discrimination between the First Degrees and Higher National Diploma in the same Profession/Field on Wednesday passed second reading in the Senate.
The bill reportedly passed through second reading after an intense debate at the plenary on its relevance, seeks to amend the disparity in wages paid to HND holders in public and private establishments, Leadership reports.
Corps Members gets an Increase in their Allowance
The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, made this known on Wednesday, at the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition investigative public hearing on the N4, 000 online registration fee imposed on prospective corps members by the corps.
The revelation followed the protest made by a civil society coalition known as ‘Say No Campaign’ who dragged the corps before the Uzor Azubike-led House committee.
Brigadier Olawumi, who responded to the petition by blaming poor welfare of the corp members, revealed that the Federal Government approved N500 as feeding allowance for each corp member per day to improve their welfare.
Advertisement
The NYSC director general further hinted that over N800 million was needed to start the computer registration system the corps is currently using for its online registration. He said the fees will service a private sector driven build, operate and transfer agreement.
Brigadier Olawumi, said the registration equipment will be installed at NYSC offices nationwide, adding that the process was approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement with a certificate of no objection.
He pointed out that the N4, 000 online registration fees is voluntary, explaining that instead of requesting for money to install the infrastructure, he would prefer to canvass for increment of the current N19,800 allowance being paid to prospective Corp member.
Speaking also, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu of ‘Say No Campaign’ requested for the reversal of the proposed N4, 000 online fees and where such payment has been made, a refund should be made to the corp members.
He also called for a review of the laws establishing the NYSC that seems to have made the Director General of the Corp an exclusive preserve of serving military officers.
It would be recalled that on September 30, 2014, federal lawmakers commenced an inquest into the controversial N4, 000 online registration fee and consequently urged NYSC to suspend the policy.
In a related development, NYSC member, Abayomi Isaac Oyebukola accused of stealing N2.3m meant for 144 Corpers in Osun state has spoken out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)























