₦airaland Forum

There are few things worse than a youth who does not value and embrace knowledge, because knowledge is power and the foundation of innovation. Like Leke Alder said, the accumulation of knowledge from various sources will spark up that idea that can change your life. So was Platform 10.0 worth it? Every bit of it.

Thank God for people who still believe in Nigeria. Thank God for Ibukun Awosika, for Leke Alder, Pst Poju Oyemade, Anand Giridharadas and the many others who are using their resources to birth a knowledge revolution in Nigeria.

Ok

I read through the 11 pages of this captivating and enlightening thread and am both impressed and challenged. Many thanks to Vito for sharing with us every step of the way. You made building a house so simple and straightforward as against all the many stories I have heard before now. I will now move to planning my own building project as my father has been urging for some time now.

Whats the cost of that dining?

yomz1e:
Clearly some1 has been watching too much nollywood and hollywood! no creativity or ingenuity at all. The same old trial and tested method! Also placed monetary value on the event, by giving a cheque of unknown amount which made her go bonkers!  A romantic getaway to some paradise island gives you time to reconnect and rekindle your love. There you will be pampered and all your needs taking care off, all you have to worry about is  the birds and the bees!  But i guess  its the thoughts that matters!

if you can't travel abroad because of restrictions you can go to some african national tourist areas. which we need to promote

I dont know whats 'Nollywoody' about this, but I do know what every great man knows - that women should be appreciated and pampered, more so when she is a great wife. Its a tried and tested method that always brings out the best in them and if throwing some cash into the pot will gladden her even more, then do it!

[quote author=olajide_07 link=topic=787996.msg9415010#msg9415010 date=1319546351]please we want more specifics i have been their and if you are not an exisiting customer you cant get a thing from them even with collateral the response time to all applications for loans are also appauling no predefined measurement and in respect of the nature of your business you cant get a thing rather you would get stressed and that dream of yours may be killed i wait for the day hen their marekters would come to marekting me so i can tell my gatemen to drive all of them out of town craZY BALD heads.[/quote]Stanbic is partnering with businesses on so many fronts, including SMEs that have no collateral. The key thing in obtaining a Stanbic loan is packaging. Package your proposal correctly and you are already halfway.

Am planning to take a holiday and explore the Okomu Game Reserve.

If you have ever been there or have their contact details pls leave some info in here.

Many thanks

Whatever suits you.

It was 365 days yesterday since that day I took a stroll down the aisle, stood beside this angel and took my vows, and I daresay that the days have just been beautiful. As against all the old wives' tales that marriage is not a rosy street, mine has been better than rosy and I trace it all to marrying the right person. And indeed, when a woman is this good, nothing you do to appreciate her can ever be too much.

So how did we celebrate it?

She woke up to find on her make-up table a lovely card, some sweet-smelling perfume, chocolates and a cheque for XXXXX amount (that made her go WOW!!!!). Went to church for a lovely time of fellowship and in the evening went to the Cinemas and a late dinner somewhere. Then retired home for one more movie and a night of seasoned *********

By and large, it was a lovely day and could have been better of course; but thats how it went.

Interestingly, some organizations give paternity leave. Mine gives 3-4 days. And thats in Nigeria.

Which phones can do this pls? And has anyone tested the Etisalat gaga stuff?

yungwun:
@Logica, my points exactly!
Moreso, the 3.75g HSPA+ network is pretty much amazing!

Have you tried using the phone to create a hotspot as advertised?

Precious, Miracle Birth Woman Gets Baby No. 8 (with Pics)


The life-affirming tale of Precious Donatus Ogbonna and her controversial babies is yet to be over as she has delivered another baby, the same way she delivered seven others bringing the number to eight in a space of 16 months, and about two months after she was released on bail from the prison custody.

The so-called birth took place at 12:15 am Thursday, at Rose Natural Clinic, Afam Street, Heritage junction, beside Paradise International School, Afam, Oyigbo, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state. It was one of the places SaturdayVanguard had reported of carrying out mysterious deliveries. Precious is yet standing trial in court over child trafficking.

Her lawyer, Barrister B. E Nwigwe had written Vanguard informing it of the planned delivery and requested everybody to witness the process. He said he had also written the Police, the Court and NAPTIP to be part of the process. Among all these, only Vanguard was present at the place during the birth.


The reporter had arrived Owerri, Imo state on Tuesday, ahead of the planned delivery scheduled for Wednesday September 21, 2011.

She didn’t appear as an expectant woman, moving about with so much agility that no one could believe she was pregnant let alone about to deliver a baby. But she told Saturday Vanguard that the last time she went for antenatal at the same clinic, she was given September 21 as her delivery date.

She added: “the thing has been disturbing me since the last few months.” She said she chose the clinic against the conventional hospital because the hospitals did not see anything in her stomach other than fibroid, but Rose Natural Clinic, detected it was a baby and gave her an Expected Date of Delivery, EDD.

On Wednesday, the reporter travelled from Lagos to Owerri to join Precious and four other women who are members of her church in a commercial ITC bus to Port-Harcourt at about 1:15pm. We did not reach Port Harcout until about 4:10pm.

The stress of driving on the Aba-Port Harcourt road was phenomenal, exacerbated by the bad road along Oyigbo, Aba road. It was the most deplorable road in the country. That also was enough to induce labour on a heavily pregnant woman passing through the road in a popular ‘Keke NAPEP’. We arrived the clinic at about 5:05pm and was joined by another Vanguard reporter based in Port-Harcourt.

There was no indication denoting an activity of such going in the environment. The only sign post in that area was erected at the Heritage Junction, about a kilometre from the house and it read Ogechi Natural Clinic. No other natural clinic was known in the neighbourhood.

It was a two- apartment bungalow. The first where the delivery took place was occupied by Nurse Rose for her activities. The large sitting room is used as the waiting room where guests and patients are received. There is a lobby by the right hand side of the waiting room which has a toilet and a room used as labour room.

There were three other middle aged women billed for delivery that evening. They all had a similar appearance which did not portray heavy pregnancy. After several hours of waiting, four tea-cups were passed around to the four ‘expectant women’. All the four women drank the substance in it which the nurse said would aid ‘labour.Few minutes later, she began walking around, exercising her body apparently to aid the ‘labour’. They were called in according to their turns.

Precious was the second in the list. She told Saturday Vanguard that she had been tested and that the nurse confirmed that she could feel the head of the baby and that she would be the second person on the list.

The first person had a baby girl about ten minutes after she was called in. Precious who went inside the ‘labour room’ about 11 25pm did not come out until 12: 15am. No one was allowed inside the labour room to witness the process, not even any of the female members of her church was allowed into the labour room. Precious had assured Saturday Vanguard that a third party would be allowed to witness the process in order to vindicate her, but the fair-skinned Nurse Rose objected, arguing that such a demand would not be made in a conventional clinic . She threatened that she would walk-out if Precious should insist. She entered the labour room all alone with Nurse Rose.

Right from the moment she entered, it was shouts of ‘Jesus’ and cries of pain. The cry rent the air so much that all the women in the waiting room began to pray. Ada Ngozi, her personal assistant who was arrested with her in June and recently got released on bail did not fail to show her dexterity as a prayer warrior. Eventually, when Nurse Rose finished with Precious, she asked whoever cared to come and see the baby. The baby was dressed up while other women took their turns in the delivery room. They all had baby girls and none of them breastfed their babies. From about 12:15 am till about 8:30am when we were with her, we observed that Precious’ baby was not breastfed nor fed in whatever way throughout our stay. The baby did not cry either. With this development, the issue of Precious controversial birth is yet unresolved.

Responding to questions after the delivery, Precious said she is satisfied and believes that she would be vindicated. On when she got the EDD, she said she was given the date recently when she went for check up at the same clinic. We gathered that Nurse Blessing in whose clinic she delivered five of her babies refused to handle her latest delivery with an alibi that she was on vacation and would only resume after the dedication of her baby in October.

Precious however told Saturday Vanguard that she had one of her babies in the same Rose Natural Clinic.

Asked to narrate what happened in the labour room, she said, “it was not easy, I almost collapsed. I didn’t even know that I was going to survive it. They said that the head of the baby was too big and she gave me a heavy cut. In the process, I had muscle pull which I had not experienced in life before. The baby wanted to die and the nurse asked me to co-operate .They had to beat me very well before God gave me the strength. I even vomited seriously. Whenever I wanted to push, I would vomit. They threatened to leave me if I did not co-operate.The pain was too much. It was hard a labour.

On the possibility of having more babies, since she had said in an earlier interview that God said she was going to have ten babies, we asked whether the nurse also detected more babies coming, she said: “No, the nurse did not tell me anything like that. Further conversation goes thus:

When did you conceive this baby?

It was the same conception. You will recall I told you I was feeling some kicks in my stomach in one of your interviews and this resulted into the baby.

So, are you still expecting more babies?

Ehm! I can’t say that for now, but if there is any development, I will let you know. I just put to bed now, I can’t say.

While you were shouting in the labour room, was the light off?

No, it was on. Before I went into the labour room, I called one of you to go and check if there was any thing hidden.

One of the four ladies who went with her to the clinic in Port Harcourt, Chidima Okorowu, Lolo of Eze Izonme community in Oguta local government area of Imo state, said: “Today I thank God that the truth has come to life. It is a divine work of the Lord. We travelled together, and when we got to the clinic, Rose Natural Clinic, there were other expectant women. It was a prolonged pregnancy, but God used the woman to deliver her. It was also a prolonged labour, we were all panicking, but God intervened. The woman in the process went into a coma before she was injected and resuscitated.”

Given these circumstances, Lolo, Chidinma said she believes the process and that Precious truly gave birth to the baby. “Under these cicumstances, I think people should believe her because I saw that she passed through painful and prolonged labour. Before she entered, I saw that water came out of her body and after the baby came out, I saw when the umbilical cord and placenta were cut.”



Dates of births of her babies

August 25 2009, Amarachi (died after five days); second baby, May 6, 2010 (Conqueror, female); third baby, June 3, 2010, (Chizitere, female); fourth baby, August 16, 2010 (Ekpereamaka, male); fifth baby, September 19, 2010, (Fineseed Angel, female); sixth baby, October 19, 2010 (Evidence, female); seventh baby, January 13, 2011,( Flourish, male), eight baby, April 2, 2011, (Ebenezer, male) . Now the eighth baby, September 21, 2011, named Hero Delight Chimedere (God wants me to live)

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/precious-miracle-birth-woman-gets-baby-no-8/

The best thing you can do for yourself is to make your results speak for you. Work smart!

Like you, I had a 2.2 at Uni, went to law school and got a 2.1. Today, I practice corporately in one of the foriegn banks in Nigeria where 2.1 or 1st class is the requirement. As you go higher and garner more experience and training, you first degree is not so important anymore. And if you are looking at a career in the legal profession, particularly corporate practice, go get your LLM, ICSA, CIA or other such certifications.

ajadek:
I said so ooooo,but he try to confuse us that it was 3% per month,even 5% i can go 4 it,bt 23% per month is a disastreous

23% per month is 276% per annum. Show me a legitimate business that will give you that yield annually and I will finance it.

On a more serious note, the rate is as I earlier said, but applies if you are classified as a low risk customer. Classification is based on a test that borrower will write. The rate for high risk customers varies, but is certainly not23% per month. And the Bank is Stanbic IBTC. Walk into any branch and ask for the EFL product.

ajadek:
23% every month for 3yrs,what busines u want to do and pay 23%, if u want to fixed money with them peanut will be given 3%,but they give 23% loan,with dis our black market

Thats incorrect.

The maximum rate for this product is about 3% per month. The facility is available to both old and new customers so long as you can provide at least 6 months bank statement, and the amount granted is dependent on your turnover. And guess what? No collateral is required.

ibrochiko:
@ headworld i have just completed my fish farm, but i need loan to start my production,please how can i get loan from you.

Whats your educational level and years of experience in that field?

mrjingles:
BG wont do it for this kind of transaction, except you want to lease the boat rather than buy one (leasing coy MAY demand a BG) You may consider a lease arrangement instead of outright purchase. (dis man is enjoying free consultancy )

But honestly bros if you are really in shipping as you claim you should have a good financial adviser on your payroll or on consultancy basis. Nland wont cut it.

Bank Guarantee can work if the boat is being leased or it is a credit sale ie the owner is willing to collect instalmental payment. That way, a Bank guarantee can assure him that his money will be paid as at when due.

There are various innovative ways to finance your projects.

tunyus:
I’m one of those agitating against the proscription of NYSC. It’s obvious that banks/oil companies are very juicy for corps members due to the mouth-watering allowance ranging from N30-50K monthly allowance, whereas, their colleagues in schools and other organisations receive 5k or less even some organisations don’t pay at all. From all indications, the mad rush of corps members to serve in these juicy companies is as a result of the financial incentives. Have u taken time to find out those that are absorbed in banks? I’ll tell you; they’re relatives of top shots of these companies or connected to those in corridor of power. Corps members who are posted by NYSC officials to serve in the banks are not usually accepted; even those who read Accounting, Biz Admin or other related courses are rejected because they’re not ‘connected.’ Have u also asked yourself why most of the corps members are ladies? They fuse them in the marketing dept. to get unrealistic targets. What happens when they could not get it? They have to succumb to all sorts of demands from management! If they refuse, they would go to classroom(s) or go to a place where little or nothing is paid. My assertion is based on evidence before me as a serving corps member. Why is everything in Nigeria being pushed to religion, how is the issue of a policy to restrain corps members to serve in banks relates to religion? My candid opinion is that posting of corps members to these places are being influenced by their family members or use what they have to get what they want. Meanwhile, the FG’s reasons to ban posting of corps members to banks is part of the reforms to b carried out in the NYSC. The minister said 90% of d ministry’s budget is spent on 10% of youth’s population (corppers) in d country. “it’s using public funds to subsidize private business.” For me it’s a welcome devt. You re expected to serve the country not where you’ll get juicy pay.

Your comment portrays that nothing works in Nigeria except you are connected, and that is very wrong thinking. We know that this exists in a so many places, but there are still opportunities for people to distinguish themselves.

I work in the Banking industry and corp members in my Bank are not assigned to marketing functions and those that distinguish themselves are retained provided they can pass the requisite tests.

werepeLeri:
I ave been driving round Nigeria lately- I have almost covered all the states - one thing that is scary on the roads is not the condition of the road- but the way and manner the drivers ply the roads- reckless driving is the other of the day. While we agree most roads are accident prone, the attitude of the drivers speak volumes.

If you go to the Northern part of Nigeria- dont go far- just start from Kaduna, a Golf that is meant to transport five people including the driver, transports 11 people including the driver, how you will say. Four in front with the driver, five in the rear part and two in the booth, and this car with this overload travels 150km/h on a 100km/h road. and you wonder.

^^^ So true.

From Kaduna to Niger to Kebbi to Sokoto this is the practice.

I remember protesting vehemently the first time experienced this. I entered a Toyota starlet from Minna to Kontagora and got a shocker when the driver added a 4th passenger to the front seat. More shocking was that other passengers gave me this strange look that made me know I was reacting as a JJC. I had to pay for extra seats many times in order to let peace reign.

o2dlomez:
[size=15pt]By regulations i did not mean no traffic regulations bruv, i mean the means to check mate them by regulating the activities of drivers. No offence taken atall, you didnt get me in the first place. In UK with all the good roads, 70kph is the speed limit, so while will drivers in Nigeria be moving at 140kph when the roads are bad? Is there anyone to regulate that? NO! all you get is a bunch of mopol stalked in different feet ahead waiting to get out of that day as much as they can.[/size]

http://www.smartdriving.co.uk/Driving/DefensiveDriving/Speed/UK_Speed_limits.html

Speed limit in the UK is 70 miles per hour which is different from kilometres used in Nigeria. 70mph is 112.7km per hour.

While we may have a problem regulating road usage in Nigeria, attitudinal change by Nigerians must start. Do you know that many people would rather run down a road safety or police officer instead of stopping for a search or check? Years ago, the Federal Road Safety Commission was known to be largely incorruptible. Now, Nigerians have corrupted them by constant offers of bribes upon violation of traffic rules.

o2dlomez:
[size=15pt]In as much as the roads are bad, we still have a duty to watch the way we drive. in a country that have no regulations on speed limit, drink driving and such, commons sense should detect our activities. May his soul rest in peace. So sad seeing how roads are claiming lives in Nigeria daily [/size]

Your statement reflects the ignorance of traffic regulations by Nigerian drivers. Am sure, without meaning any insult, that you are one of the self-taught drivers.

It is not and cannot be true that there are no traffic regulations in Nigeria. There are regulations for speed limit, drunk driving, safe driving and the like, but ignorant people choose to ignore them! Nigeria is one of the few countries where I have heard of campaigns about 'ember months driving'. This is because there is a certain madness that comes upon people at these times to drive very dangerously. There is a limit to what the road safety guys can do. Nigerians must choose to do the right thing.

werepeLeri:
People blame the road and government every time. Abuja roads are good and the best you can get anywhere- but accidents happen in Abuja on a daily basis - yes - on a daily basis. Who will you blame? Government for making the roads good? Come on.

RIP boy.

That is because 98% of Nigerian Drivers learnt how to drive with Daddy/Mummy/boyfriend/girlfriend/other relative's car. Worse still, there are those who suddenly start driving because they have watched others drive and suddenly believe they too can drive. All of them are issued driver's licenses without any tests. Very few attend proper driving schools and so do not know road signs or behaviour. This is the sad reality of the Nigerian experience.

Xtfield:
@ all
Neither the road nor the government is to be blamed for the death of our artists in road mishaps. Rather, blame the artists who drive as if they have a duplicate life. I have been driving on the Lagos - Benin Road for the past 10 years, sometimes up to thrice a week and to the glory of God, I have not had a single accident. That is not to say that roads should not be made better, but my take is that accidents do not happen they are caused. Everyone knows Nigerian roads are not bad, so there is need for extra care. Drivers should not put themselves under pressure when embarking on a long journey. They should set off early enough. Besides, a good rest a day before the long journey will keep the driver awake and alert. Not only that, drivers should aty away from all intoxicants before and during a trip. Finally, if I were going for my traditional wedding or any joyous occasion, I would rather not drive myself as the joyful occasion one is going may make one ever-excited. Nigerian stars should learn to employ the services of trained professional drivers. It does nto cost much! Our artists should stop wasting their lives and causing us unnecessary sorrow. He that has ears, let him hear what the spirit says,

The truth is that we need to change the way we drive in Nigeria. The speed limit for highways in Nigeria is 100km per hour and there are road signs on that Benin-Ore Road that say so (I know because I used the road last week). When you do above that, you do so at your own risk!

I once had this skidding experience on that same Benin-Ore Road when I was doing 140km p/h with my Ford Explorer (AC on, cool music playing, what a sweet experience). Only God helped me to remain in control of the car and continue the journey smoothly. Since then, I do everything I can to keep within the speed limit even when I see open road ahead.

^^^ Infact go read everything Francine Rivers, particularly Lineage of Grace!

DISSATISFIED with its unchallenged bombing activities in the North, Boko Haram has threatened to extend the reign of terror to southern parts of the country.

Leaders of the sect said yesterday that their radar was now on University of Ibadan (UI), University of Benin (UNIBEN) and 18 other universities, which they said they would bomb between yesterday (September 12) and September 17.

Boko Haram sent an e-mail last Thursday to the mail box of UNIBEN Registrar, notifying the institution of its resolve to bomb the university as part of its agenda to stop western education in the country. Last week, there was a bomb scare at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa.


In the purported e-mail, the Islamic Sect gave September 12 to 17 as the target date to detonate bombs at the higher institution, warning that the message was “not a threat, but a notification which must be strictly adhered to.”

The sect declared that it had listed University of Benin alongside 19 other universities where it planned to explode bombs within the stipulated period it gave, saying “Western education must stop in Nigeria. May Allah bless us.”

In order not to be caught off guards, UNIBEN authorities yesterday beefed up security at the two campuses of the institution. Security personnel thoroughly searched every car moving in and out of the institution.

Vanguard gathered that against the backdrop of the threat, several students of the university have voluntarily stayed away from the institution as a precautionary measure to avoid being victims of the planned bomb blast.

Contacted yesterday, the University Public Relations Officer, Mr. Harrison Osarenren confirmed the receipt of the Boko Haram threat e-mail message.

However, there were indications yesterday that many of the students were unaware of the threat as lectures went on smoothly.



UI receives threat too



Relatedly, UI management also confirmed Boko Haram’s threat to bomb the university between 12 and 17 September.

The rumour was confirmed yesterday by the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Pro. Elijah Afolabi Bamigboye while speaking with newsmen at the institution

The threat led to serious panic among the staff and students and there was heavy security presence at the main entrance that is opposite Agbowo Shopping Complex.

Many staff and visitors going into the campus were subjected to thorough search by security operatives who were armed with AK 47 rifles and bullet proof jackets.

Motorists entering the institution waited many hours in a traffic snarl and this affected all vehicles coming from Ojoo end of the road.

Prof. Bamigboye, who said he too was subjected to thorough search, said the security beef-up was necessary to check any eventuality.

His words: “We heard rumours that a group which detests education is likely to descend on institutions where education is being imparted. We heard that UI is top on the list. When we heard the rumour of threat to bomb UI, we did not want to take chances. We’ve heard of experiences in the past, especially the recent bombing of the UN house in Abuja as well as the Force headquarters which left several people dead. The essence is to sensitize the community and to alert the people on the rumour. We directed the security department to step up screening of all vehicles into the campus. My car too was subjected to thorough search this morning.”

The don condemned the threat and the accompanying traffic logjam saying it was not the best for the institution’s image now that some foreigners were preparing to come.

“You can imagine if such international people were to come to UI now and face this traffic snarl. Of course, they will go back and who knows, they could go back to their country to spread the information that Nigerian universities are not safe,” he lamented.

For a host of southerners, it used to sound like news from distant lands even though it was so close as newspapers, television and radio stations buzzed with reports of deadly bomb explosions detonated by the dreaded Islamic Sect, Boko Haram, in many Northern cities including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

For about a year now, counting from the October 1, 2010 Independence Day twin bomb explosions in Abuja, Boko Haram had stepped up its campaign to stop western education in Nigeria with a series of bomb blasts including a recent car-bombing of the Police Headquarters, Abuja and the bombing of the United Nations office in Abuja, which claimed scores of lives and with property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/boko-haram-threatens-to-bomb-ui-uniben-18-others/


Let us pray!

show us the front

Your car security may be responsible for this. This is because the key has an inbuilt transponder that communicates with the car engine and confirms that the correct key is being used before the engine will start. This ensures that only manufacturer pre-approved keys can start your car.

If the spare key came with it, then you would need to programme the key. The good news is that you can do this yourself. Just type "How to program spare key for (your car type and model)" on Google and you will get proper directions.

All the best.

So sad for other pre-order businesses taking the heat for one man's failing.

The general impression of Nigerians is that the law regulating the use of tinted glasses on all vehicles is no longer in effect, leading to the question: Is the tinted glass permit still necessary?

This question will be summarily answered.

First, tinted glasses are of two categories - factory fitted and non-factory fitted.

By the Minister's declaration before the elections, it is illegal to drive any car whose glasses are not factory tinted as their permits were revoked outright, hence the forced removal of the tints. The permits for factory fitted glasses were exempted from this revocation, and all users of factory-tinted vehicles must continue to obtain permits as prescribed by the law (see link below) to legally drive their cars in Nigeria.

Let me state in addition that the Minister cannot on his own proscribe an existing law. There is a legal process for that, for which we have the Legislature. The Minister's declaration can therefore not be read to invalidate an existing law - Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Decree

I submit therefore, that against the general belief that these permits are no longer necessary, every car owner whose vehicle carries factory tinted glasses must obtain a police permit for the car to be driven in Nigeria, and a knowledgeable Police Officer will be standing on the law if he seeks to enforce same at the usual checkpoints.

http://www.nigeria-law.org/MotorVehicles(ProhibitionofTintedGlass)Decree.htm

Ford cars are great, even in Nigeria, but its the mechanics that are ripping people off. I drive a 2000 Ford Explorer so I should know.

First they tell you the parts are very expensive cos they are American cars, so that by the time they give you a bill, you will think its fair.

I was at the mech on saturday to change the front ball joints (lower arm). The mech went to get the price and came back saying N15,000. Unknown to him, I strolled behind him earlier and got the price from another shop at Cole Street, Ojuelegba. And guess what? I got the same part for N6,500.

So if you keep your eyes open, and your senses sharpened, you will enjoy your ride.

Are you offering basic computer training or something advanced?