Sometimes I wonder when people post things here. How can one talk about curriculum being better abroad. The curriculum is the same, it's just facilities that differ. The university is not supposed to make you whole, it's a foundation you build on yourself. I work in a technologically-intensive industry and some of the brightest and most effective people have never stepped out of Nigeria for education.

There are two centres of excellence in petroleum engineering in the UK and at present the best students in both schools on all the courses are Nigerians that did their undergraduate study in Nigeria. The Nigerians that schooled here in the UK are not measuring up at all.

@Ndipe

I'm sorry to say this but if you say you didn't learn much in Nigeria, I'll say it's because you attended university of Uyo. I'm not slighting the school but I served there and was utterly disappointed that the school awards degrees. I guess we need to monitor our schools more closely to ensure the quality but some schools as at now still give you the quality of education you can get anywhere (leaving out the stuff you need capital intensive facilities for).

Emmie4j

you are an idiot for posting such rubbish. So because you just came in from the US, you are suddenly seeing armed robbers everywhere. You talk about people staring down at you, me I think you are pissed because they weren't looking at you with awe because u just came in from "Yankee". Look the myth of coming from abroad has been shattered because a lot of people visit these so-called "abroad" and see what our naija folks are doing there.

So dude, just stay away OK. Don't even call Nigeria again or speak to any Nigerian you meet anywhere. Ewuuu!!!!

Seun,

you are wrong. I can not go into a contract with somebody to come and be producing "pure water" in my sitting room and include your own sitting room too in the arrangement without telling. Such a contract will not be binding if you kick against it. Let's see how they work it out, may the strongets entity win.

Blow

don't be in a hurry to hit the reply button. She said she visited for two years - meaning she went there for holidays in two different years. With that in mind, re-read the post and see if your views are the same (they don't have to change ).

Cheers

I don't understand why folks are saying DSTV is being robbed.

If I recall the genesis of this issue correctly, it started with the government complaining to the English Premier League that they don't want the premier league rights for Nigeria to be bunched together with South Africa. Given that, the Premier League separated the rights and put it up for auction. I believe both DSTV and HITV bidded and HITV won the rights. If that is the case, why should DSTV still continue to show the matches? Have people forgotten that FSTV couldn't get off the ground because they couldn't get the proper programming that attracts Nigerian viewers. Let's be frank, the major driver for satellite TV ownership in Nigeria is the football (premier league, uefa CL etc).

I don't see anything wrong in what the government has done to support a Nigerian business. There's no illegality in it, it's just recognizing the market drivers and positioning the NIGERIAN company to be able to access it. At least if DSTV wanted the rights so much they could have bidded twice what HITV bidded. Now that they don't have it, it's illegal to show it, SIMPLE!! Flout the law, get your ass in jail!!

People forget that the US gave most of the contracts in Iraq to Halliburton. That's what a respectable govt does, you favor your businesses anywhere you have a leverage.

Menn,

old school full for nairaland o. See as people just dey produce names of footballers wey don retire before dem born me!!!

Anyways, I thought this thread is supposed top refer to guys that are supposed to be playing now but are lost in some unknown places?

With that in mind, I wonder where Ibrahim Babangida is? The guy is a brother to Tijani and Haruna and he played with Kanu, Oruma et al at Japan 93.

oyb,

please I addressed the post below to Nuru but he refused to address it. I am not attacking your religion o, I'm just trying to understand or maybe see things from the view of the people mentioned in the post. You sound knowledgeable and I believe you should be able to give me a reasonable reply.

God bless

Nuru abeg, no mind all these people, them no know wetin them dey talk!!

Me i have just one question and it's retrospective. It has been bugging my mind since last year and now that I've met someone who can explain, I gladly grab the opportunity.

The question is: What exactly made northern Muslims attack southerners/Christians over the cartoons about Muhammad in Denmark? Are southerners related to the Danes? Or when the US attacked Ahghanistan, what concerns us as Nigerians that northerners would attack southerners because of this. Please believe me that I am not trivializing this issue, I've tried to make sense out of it but it doesn't just make sense. Is it a psychological thing? Or are northern Muslims reserved as the avenging force of the Muslim world?

Please help me out hennnn, God will bless you. I think I'm having some mental fatigue not being able to crack this since.

Thanks

Loverbwoy

you're just being mischievious. We all know what our contry folks go through in the west to make ends meet. Just stop this notion that the west is all in all as it isn't. For your information, there are young men in Nigeria with honest businesses who can afford to pay you all you earn in a month in London in one week (even with the 250 naira to 1 pound conversion).

My take: if Nigeria pays you very well, don't leave it oooooo. Unless you have a SOLID arrangement here

@topic

please which parts of Nigeria are you referring to? I am not aware of any such thing in Nigeria

The guys that accuse people of disrespecting London are guilty of the same offence concerning Lagos. Yes London is a good place, NO DOUBTING THAT. If you compare London and Lagos infrastructure-wise, London beats Lagos hands down. But have you ever asked yourself why honest Nigerians who have the money to go to London every week chose to stay in Nigeria? Having lived in the UK for a while now (I'm in graduate school), I can say the place is just not living up to all the effizy that "Londoners" put up when they go home nor the myth that I can make a better life for myself here.

This system is one that ensures that most of what you earn goes back into the system and personally that is my problem with it. I like money in my pocket to do what I like with (to grow it and get out of the rat race I mean). I personally can not live in the UK because it just doesn't tally with my aspirations. Again, I know some Nigerians have made it good in the UK but truth be told, majority of brothers are involved in vocations that they'll say are beneath them if offered to them in Nigeria. I think it's a waste for skilled people to be salesmen at ASDA, McDonalds, to be early morning cleaners and stuff all because of the POUND!!

My personal observation is that it is people that are unable to crack Nigeria that mouth all the rubbish that Nigeria is bad. We can admit that it is tough to get positioned for a good life in Nigeria but that's where the law of natural selection comes into play. Only the best get to crack it and others have to move on to more favorable climes and there's no problem with that. Just don't turn around and start saying rubbish about Nigeria all because you've got a £6/hr job in the UK. And before all the London apologists start with the "leg/runs" argument, let me tell you that that is in the past. In the job market of today in Nigeria, for the most part, MERIT RULES. I can tell you that in my graduating class there is NOBODY that I know of that doesn't have an OK job and most are in the same Nigeria. A significant number are in the bracket termed "high-earning". A whole class of 70 people cannot all be using "leg" now my people!! Maybe when you guys ran away it wasn't the case but please don't sit in London and expect to know what is actually happening on ground in Nigeria.

In conclusion: Londoners, please enjoy your London but PLEASE don't disrespect our Nigeria. Some of us can still make a decent life in the country.

Nuru,

abeg address my post to you now?

Nuru abeg, no mind all these people, dem no know wetin dem dey talk!!

Me i have just one question and it's retrospective. It has been bugging my mind since last year and now that I've met someone who can explain, I gladly grab the opportunity.

The question is: What exactly made northern Muslims attack southerners/Christians over the cartoons about Mohammed in Denmark? Are southerners related to the Danes? Or when the US attacked Ahghanistan, what concerns us as Nigerians that northerners would attack southerners because of this. Please believe me that I am not trivializing this issue, I've tried to make sense out of it but it doesn't just make sense. Is it a psychological thing? Or are northern Muslims reserved as the avenging force of the Muslim world?

Please help me out hennnn, God will bless you. I think I'm having some mental fatigue not being able to crack this since.

Thanks

I was in this same situation in April 2005 only that in my case I just requested to get down immediately they started talking about dollars in the booth and everything. I was so angry as that morning was my resumption day on MY FIRST JOB AFTER NYSC.

In reality, even if you have never heard of the scheme before, having been in that situation I can say it is only GREED that will make you fall for it.

@ ijayc

I thought I read somewhere where you said you had a boyfriend before and all he did irritated you and that you got yourself a new boyfriend and he rocks!! You see, that's the problem with you girls. When you're with somebody and you suddenly see this other guy that you have the hots for, you start seeing everything that's bad in your guy.

I'm not wishing bad stuff for you and hope you guys are able to sort yourselves out. I just have the feeling that I've seen these situations so often and the girl is usually the loser.

My honest opinion is that I would PERSONALLY prefer to go back home. You might say it's because I have something I'm going back to but I think it's much more than that. I was always curious about life in Western countries and decided to take time off work to come to school in the UK and see what the life is all about. On the surface, it seems a good life i.e. good roads, constant electricity et al. But upon critical examination, I discovered that the system is set up to ensure that most of what you earn goes back to the system. I am uncomfortable with that as it does not tally with my aspirations as I would prefer most of my money in my pocket in order to invest and get out of the rat race soonest (a la RICH DAD, POOR DAD).

With this in mind, I am definitely going back home. The UK does not even offer me a better pay even with the N250 to I pound conversion.

The clincher for me is this: there is no way another man's country can be like your country. There are overt and covert ways that the system uses to remind you that you are an alien. I wouldn't blame them though as I would draw an analogy from a situation where a Nigerian and a foreigner are contesting for something in Nigeria. Common sense says that the Nigerian will be favored so I don't complain when UK citizens are favored in certain things here. I just count the days until I'm through with the program and I can go back to the land WHERE I AM KING IN MY OWN COUNTRY.

That, candidly, is my take on this.

Me i gbadun the thing no be small

Anyone in Edinburgh?

Guys,

please get your facts right before you post. Atiku was indicted for corruption but Obasanjo was sanctioned for granting anticipatory approval for projects which are not ordinarily within the purview of the PTDF. See excerpt below:

The Committee’s recommendations are as follows:
•That Otunba Johnson Oyewole Fawsawe should be made to refund the sums of N400 million purported loan to NDTV from TIB, N420 million purported loan to Mofas Shipping Company Limited and N730 million purported loan to NDTV and be prosecuted for any offences disclosed. EFCC had recovered N100 million from him.
•That Ahmed Vanderpuye should be made to refund the sum of N300 million purported loan to Transvari Services Limited from TIB and be prosecuted for any offences disclosed.
•That Hamisu Abubakar, Executive Secretary of PTDF from September 2000 to July 2005 abused his office by diverting public funds in the sums of $125 million and $20 million approved for specific projects to deposits in banks, some of which were fraudulently converted as loans to NDTV, Mofas Shipping Company Limited and Transvari Services Limited and other criminal acts and should be prosecuted for any offences disclosed. EFCC had recovered N200 million from him.
•That Husseini Jallo, the Executive secretary of PTDF from July 2005 to November 2005 having abused his office through criminal acts and for which N49 million and six vehicles have so far been recovered from him by EFCC should be prosecuted for any offences disclosed.
•That his Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of the Federal republic of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, abused his office by aiding and abetting the diversion of public funds in the sums of $125 million and $20 million respectively approved for specific projects to deposits in banks, some of which were fraudulently converted as loans to NDTV, Mofas Shipping Company Limited and Transvari Services Limited and should be sanctioned for any offences disclosed.
On President Obasanjo and the FEC, the Committee said:
•In respect of some projects commenced by PTDF in 2006, particularly the establishment of African Institute of Science and Technology in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); incorporation of Galaxy Backbone, Plc; and purchase of computers for civil servants under the Computer for all Nigerians Initiative (CANI) for which Mr. President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, gave approval and subsequently obtained the ratification of the FEC, laudable as they may seem, were outside the mandate of the PTDF as provided for in Section 2 of the enabling Act.
•The President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Federal Executive Council acted in disregard of the law establishing the PTDF. Though the ratification by the FEC may mitigate this breach of the law, it however does not absolve the President and the FEC.
The report continued: "The Committee therefore recommends that the President be advised to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law establishing the PTDF at all times in either approving projects, expenditure of funds or howsoever.
•The Committee further recommends that the projects which are outside the purview and contemplation of Section 2 of the PTDF Act should not receive any further funding from the PTDF. The Committee also recommends that the said projects be verified and evaluated".
The report stated further in respect of other recommendations thus: •That in respect of the Progress Report on Obasanjo Administration and Photographs for State House Library, though the sum of N4.5 million approved for the project by the then Executive Secretary of PTDF, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri was within his approval limit, he should be made to refund the said sum of N4.5 million to PTDF nevertheless as the project was outside the contemplation of Section 2 of the PTDF Act.
•That all the projects approved for the PTDF from 2003 till date should be verified and evaluated by the relevant Committees of the Senate, that is to say, Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) and Committee on Public Accounts, or alternatively by Ad-Hoc Committee for this purpose.
•That the relevant committees of the Senate should be alive to their oversight responsibilities over the PTDF.
•That Marine Float Accounts should be independently investigated by the relevant organs of government especially Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) since the initial investigation by the EFCC had generated controversy.
•The taxes payable on the bill by Emmanuel Chambers should be recovered by the PTDF and paid over to the relevant Tax Authorities. The said Chambers should also itemise its bill.
•That all the accounts in the name of the PTDF within and outside Nigeria should be established by the Senate Committees on Petroleum (Upstream) and Public Accounts, or in the alternative, an Ad-Hoc Committee established for that purpose.

Peace to all

@Multitask

I have a few questions for you and I hope you will answer them truthfully:

1) When did you leave Nigeria?
2) What were you doing before you left Nigeria?
3) Did you attend university in Nigeria? If so, which one? Which course? What grade did you make?
4) Are you a legal American citizen now?
5) What exactly do you do in America now?

Observation:

A lot of Nigerians in diaspora left Nigeria before say 2002-3 and think the country is still in the same state as it was when they left. In terms of infrastructure, maybe, but in terms of empowering people with jobs and businesses it's a different situation now. There are A LOT of Nigerians (young men and women) who are better off financially than a lot of you folks in the US and other countries. To these people, the lure of relocating might not be tempting (you'll rather stay with a good known than an unknown).
I find it personally insultive when people write as if Nigerians are all eating from the garbage dumps. It is not true and the earlier you realise that the better.

N.B

Please note that I have not alluded to issues like roads, electricity, security etc. This is because I PERSONALLY believe that it is better to attain financial independence early in life than live in the comfort that some other climes can offer. Better believe it, FOLKS ARE GETTING THERE FASTER THAN YOU THINK IN NIGERIA.

@Loverbwoy,

wetin happen 4 stadium? abi those Ghanians import jujumen from Kumasi? Wetin u dey look for stadium wey scores reach 4 - 1 and u no pull cloth enter field. Mennnnnnnnnnnn, me I've made enuff noise to all these Ghanians around here o.

Abeg, make somebody suggest good excuse for me, BIKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 4th mainland bridge idea was actually conceived and evaluated but was killed with POLITICS.

The whole idea was for Addo road (linking Lekki-Epe expressway) to be expanded and dualized up till it's termination point at Badore and for the bridge to take off at Badore and land somewhere in Ikorodu. Ogunlewe (then Fed Minister of works - also from Ikorodu) insisted that there was no suitable landing point in Ikorodu and got the people that matter in Ikorodu to support that. This was in the days when the struggle was still mainly between Tinubu and Ogunlewe and because of this, is whole idea was dumped (or is it kept in the cooler for now?).

The moment we start divorcing politics from basic developmental issues is when we'll start making real progress.

@Superman

your point?

Loverbwoy,

that's not a guess. That what you know!!!!!

LadyT,

I am studying for a degree in Petroleum Engineering. So you see, my skills are required back home

LadyT,

I am currently studying for an M.Sc degree in the UK. Pls b4 you start asking me why I am not in Nigeria, let me help you: I am here on a scholarship. I did not want to come here at first (and I actually didn't cos I was supposed to do the program in 05/06 but chose not to but I was offered the opportunity a second time) as I was/am doing very well back home. I'm not a refugee in whatever way you might define it (economic, political, family etc).

So you see, some of us still feel we can do better back home OK!!

LadyT

You are the most narrow-minded person I have had the displeasure of reading from on nairaland. Where did you get these trash from?

Let me re-interate what I am trying to say.

Theres a few people here dissing foreign countries.  And my point is you do not bite the hand that feeds you.  The type of opportunities that are open to you here in the UK are not present in Nigeria.  The level of education in Nigeria I would say is HIGHER than the west because people read more than one topic like TOH saying  a engineer becoming a banker!  But where does that get you?  The people who are doing well in Nigeria I suggest you investigate properly.

It is more then likely to be one of many reasons

1) They have connections to people in power

2) The come from a rich family

3) They have worked aboard and have now come home to invest.

4) They have committed 419 crime to raise some capital


Look our greedy leaders do not make it easy for us to progress thats why people need to go aboard and work like dogs.  When Nigerias see people from aboard they think they must be living the high life and sweeping gold from the streets.  Thats why I said to the person who started the topic that now she ca return home and tell people that actually theres no gold on the streets and some people are actually working hard!

Do you get it now! *rolls eyes*

The fact that you and the people around you didn't make it in Nigeria shouldn't make you generalize that nobody can make it in Nigeria without the factors you mentioned. Hellooooooooooo!!! Wise up girl, people are making it much more than you'll ever make it in that London of yours OK!! I'm not saying London is not OK but I get seriously pissed when people just generalize abotu Nigeria the way you did.

Piddo,

where do u work let me tell you your salary

I honestly don't know how to answer you. What I can simply tell you is that the package for Total, Chevron and Mobil is more than 6 million per annum for entry level. At least I got that when I started and evrybody that I know got that. Maybe you are a contract staff??

A lot of times I am just disappointed with some opinions on nairaland. Peeps should understand that there are tens of thousands of folks with 2:1 out there and it is in a company's interest to limit application to 2:1 alone FOR THEIR OWN CONVENIENCE. We all know that the number of 2:2 graduates is usually more than twice that of 2:1 so if they start calling for both 2:1 and 2:2 then it makes their work difficult.

All I can say here is that Niegria should stop these 2.1 issue and offer people jobs based on their knoledge, This is how it is done abraod, only in Nigeria/Africa per se that age, sex, 2.1 or none is asked in da CV,

That is definitely not true. In the so-called abroad, employers still insist on grade. Why do you think grades were introduced anyway? If there is no need for them no one will waste time doing it.

i don't want to rule out the fact that there are many students with 2:2 who are simply 2:1 or 1st class material. many times one frustrating lecturer keeps giving them low grades on purpose and because of their principles, they refuse to sort and thus their CGPA drops. its really sad.

I feel lost when I read posts such as these. I find it very strange, maybe because I attended OAU Ife but I have to say that if you are worthy of a 2:1 in Ife you will get it. A lot of smart folks get it. And when people talk about buying 2:1 for 250,000, again I wonder which school that applies to. My own experience in Ife was that the rich folks who were club boys (always partying) were the ones who always had like 2 sessions extra even though they can afford to pay money. There might be one or two lecturers who collect money but they are a very proportion and you will definitely come across those principled lecturers who don't take shit from no one and you just don't have a choice but read (or cheat if you can manage to do it without getting caught - a difficult proposition).

The truth be told: every dog has its day. If you are screened out based on your grade, look elsewhere. Maybe it's the push you need for the giant in you to be unveiled. You don't have to work for anybody you know - AT LEAST YOU CAN'T BE RICH THAT WAY.

But pleaseeeeeeeeeeee, let's stop saying people who got 2:1 don't deserve it and people who didn't do, IT JUST AIN'T TRUE.

Can somebody tell me how this is possible?

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/education/2007/jan/30/education-30-01-2007-001.htm

I believe it can't be possible for a 38 years old man to have the highest score in JAMB. It bothers on the ridiculous. What happened to all those hot 16, 17 & 18 year olds fresh out of school. Anyway, in these days of post-JAMB tests, we will ultimately know the truth.

It's true that it could be a good time to buy such shares but you don't buy if you don't know what's happening with the company. People like Warren Buffet will buy into a company that has potential but is going through a hard patch and try to turn it around (if they have controlling shares) or one that they know will definitely get over the bad times. In this case one just doesn't know what is happening. I guess some folks that are stock brokers will know.

Any stock broker in da house!!!!!!

Does anyone know why the share price of spring bank seems to be in a free-fall. At the beginning of the year it was N7.16 and right now it is N3.92 and it is still falling at the maximum 5% per day. I know they did some share reconstruction but that doesn't mean the value should plummet at this rate.

I actually bought into one of the banks that make up the present Spring bank on compassionate grounds as the girlfriend of one of my friends used to work there. The funny thing is that she wasn't even retained after everything. And before anybody starts sermonizing about not being sentimental about such - let me say I bought just N75,000 worth of shares, which is money I could dash out then. I just didn't invest like I would normally do because I was unconvinced about the bank.

Looks like they are proving me right?

CChild

Those figures are for entry level. Trust me henn, I KNOW!!

You see the thing is that most people in the oil industry would not actually tell you what they earn because of the NIGERIAN SITUATION. The moment you reveal it, then all your immediate and extended family, people from your village and stuff tend to think you should start solving their financial problems and if you don't, they become your enemies. So folks just generally say, hmm, around 150K a month.

What I've quoted for you are entry level stuff OK.