₦airaland Forum

I thank you all for the posts and counter posts - all insults are indeed welcome.

The essence of my post was/is to stimulate a discussion/engagement around the issue of investing in Nigeria and not returning to Nigeria - there's a wide difference between both.

As you continue to ruminate over investing in business opportunities in Nigeria, please be reminded that Nigeria's growth and development will largely depend on the growth of cottage industries. While the government in Nigeria has indeed continued to display lack of capacity to initiate enabling policies that can stimulate growth especially in security, electricity and road construction, we can't ignore other noble strides by this government (revised finance act, ease of company registration and tax clearance certificate filings).

Don't be afraid to lose money in investing back in Nigeria - learn from such process and be very prepared next time. I have lost money and gained money. That's business. I learn, plan and invest while hedging my risks - I adopt diversified portfolio investment methods. I create jobs and feed families - that's value addition back in Nigeria. That FDI is important because other businesses also benefit from me - accounting, auditing, lawyers etc.

Elon Musk today sends astronauts to the ISS but we fail to recognise that he had failed multiple times prior to that. We learn from failures and do better in our next attempt. This is no motivation but truth.

As I conclude, I'm reminded of this provocative statement - why tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death.

Nation building as a process entails engagement especially in the form of debates and intellectual exchanges.

Assuming that having prejudiced opinions on issues that centre on national development is freedom of speech is simply mendacious at the least.

What has promoted democracy across the nations and continued to sustain good governance has been the preservation of platforms that necessitate for continuous engagement. Think Westminster.

Personal opinions around issues like euthanasia or sexuality which have no direct relationship with historical development and growth can be respected without even having the need for justification, however to stimulate and precipitate radical transformation in Nigeria, we must be able to demand from citizens reasons for their decisions on germane issues.

It is not enough to come on this platform and state that investments in Nigeria is a risk considering that such statements have the tendency to influence borderline potential investors. You have got to come with reasons and be ready to engage constructively with others who may hold contrary views.

It is only in such engagements that enlightenment can be achieved and learning can take place. Our kids are watching and would ask us serious questions tomorrow. Their ability to be critical thinkers would be better shaped by how much of such they can learn from us.

Lastly, there is a pathetic story I saw on SM recently. Mcedopikin a popular comedian in Benin posted that during the last #EndSARS riots, no bookshop was looted. That speaks to how knowledge acquisition has been pushed to the rear among youths. A lesson from this is that we must ensure that our support for respecting personal opinions isn't on the basis of insufficient knowledge.

marylandcakes:
You will end up fighting to justify your ownership, any investment in Nigeria at the moment is full of stress it’s not worth it.

Sincerely, you are entitled to your opinions but objectively speaking what makes you think that investments in Nigeria at the moment aren't worth it?

If you want sure and safe investments with minimal risks then try the money market funds (MMF) with their low RoI. If you want higher returns then you have to take risks. The problem with investing in Nigeria aside the government's own contribution centres on lack of preparedness on the part of the investor to understand both the political and technical and social and economic implications of society on such investments. It isn't just about putting in money. You've got work to do. You've got to identify the right persons, train them, equip them and empower them and monitor them.

It isn't uncommon for folks to think IT businesses will thrive in Nigeria when they fail to realise that there is low internet penetration among users and low IT knowledge among Nigerians. Imagine someone targeting investing in electric vehicles (EV) chargers in Nigeria because the government is championing renewables while failing to see that the government is very much invested in crude oil for the foreseeable future and folks lack the financial capital to sustain such businesses. As a matter of fact, our inverter batteries have been trapped at the Lagos port for over 4 months now while still incurring costs from financing that project. We aren't sad because we have diversified into other sources to hedge that risk. We know how the system works so we ensure we diversify to derisk risky aspects of our business.

Nigeria has an enormous amount of human capital and wealth domiciled within the country. However, one must be savvy enough to understand social strata, herd thinking and also familiar with the economic reality to really turn profit.

Isn't it strange that mama akara will prefer to collect loan of 30K Naira from LAPO at 10% every 30 days (translating to 120% per annum) than the bank around the corner because of the high barrier to accessing such credit from them (even cheaper at 15% per annum) and also because the banks are blind to the availability of capital that exists outside of TB's, oil coys, Dangote and corporate workers.

Why have all major brands in Nigeria started adopting the sachet method of packaging their products from toothpaste to milk to bournvita to drinks to detergent etc.? Isn't it funny that Emeka will prefer buying 2 satchet toothpaste weekly at 50 Naira each (100 Naira) compared to 1 big tube toothpaste for 300 Naira that can last 5 weeks. If you don't understand this way of thinking, you will be investing in products and services that are way above the reach of the average Nigerians and they are over 120 million.

Why do all mobile networks in Nigeria have options of purchasing recharge cards even as low 100 Naira? Why didn't MTN maintain their stance that per second billing was impossible?

There is a thinking of the peasants (apologies to James Scott of The Moral Economy of the Peasant) and understanding this is key to doing business in Nigeria. Indomie understands this and they have remained in the business. The satchet water guys understand this and have remained in business.

Government policies yes can cause issues especially with recapitulations and poor thinking, but 200 million people must feed at least twice daily - that's your market!

akanniade10:
Newly Wedded!!! What did you guys use to prove your marriage (genuine and subsisting) apart from marriage certificate. Tier 4 and Tier 4 dependant application

There's a difference between spousal visa and PBS dependant visa.

Guidelines from the UK are usually very explicit. This is from page 107 of the guidelines for students taken from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/points-based-system-student-route

If the Student and the dependant partner are married or in a civil partnership acceptable forms of evidence include:
- a valid document providing record of the marriage or civil partnership such as a marriage or civil partnership certificate.
- a valid overseas registration document for a same-sex relationship which is entitled to be treated as a civil partnership under the Civil Partnership Act of
2004.

If the Student and the person applying as a dependant partner are not married or in a civil partnership, they can demonstrate a genuine and subsisting relationship by
providing evidence they have lived together for 2 years. This can include if the Student and the person applying as a dependant partner are not married or in a civil
partnership, they can demonstrate a genuine and subsisting relationship by providing evidence they have lived together for 2 years. This can include
• bank statements, council tax, or utility bills
• residential mortgage statements or tenancy agreements
• official correspondence or documents that link the Student and their partner and show they are living at the same address.

This is not an exhaustive list and other documents can be used to demonstrate that a relationship is genuine and subsisting.

Be careful not to add unnecessary docs that end up raising suspicion and doubts and showing desperation. They can smell it from afar. It's better they request for more. Give them what their guideline says - marriage certificate if legally married or provide the proofs requested if in a civil relationship and goodluck with your application.

LagosismyHome:
What I can think about is maybe at the start of the covid. A lot of white took off and took time off. While Bame felt it more money to their pocket and either were taking more shifts in the frontline or been forced by their supervisors to take these shift even without adequate PPE

Ah, that would make sense. Of course the white folks have all the support they can need while most BAME staff have to battle with No Recourse to Public Fund. Unfortunately, we have also had very high death rates among the BAME group too.

LagosismyHome:
I agree because my husband and I have had this discussion before. .... apart from one job he worked in east london. Majority of his other work and during training it is majority white ethnic group that he has observed works in the NHS

I'm suspecting Labour being behind this narrative since they are migrant friendly. Yes, the bulk of low level staff in the key worker sectors MAY have a disproportionately higher level of BAME staff but overall na 'oyinbo' still get their country.

Yakeeboy:
I can’t take a Nigeria girl abroad that won’t bear my name lol

Well, different strokes for different folks. There are numerous advantages when your spouse bears a different last name from you here in the UK and if you are a business person. You both are distinct individuals to any client thus creating that professional outlook.

As the marriage certificate don show say A & B are now H&W and you both have and continue to have 'koinonia' along with the usual newspaper change and affidavit, the usual admonition is to let her be - use it to your advantage.

Lexusgs430:
Keyworkers in the UK, are majorly from the BAME sector of the society........

If people would naturally be affected, it would be from the BAME sector........


What is saving African countries are - :

- Poverty
- Visa restrictions

I'm having a hard time knowing why this narrative is being pushed around in the UK. The site below shows that BME make up less than 11% on average of the total key workers across the UK across the key worker areas.

Site - https://www.health.org.uk/chart/black-and-minority-ethnic-workers-make-up-a-disproportionately-large-share-of-key-worker

The ONS also shows that white ethnic group still makes over 80% of the UK's population which would mean majority status across most of the workforce in most occupations excluding those that majorly serve minority ethnic groups.

ONS - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/articles/ethnicityandnationalidentityinenglandandwales/2012-12-11

Is there a reason why this narrative of BAME making up the bulk of NHS key workers is being pushed around? Even the NHS site has white ethnic group making almost 80% of its workforce (excluding care and GPs in training - the 'trust jobs')

Site - https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/workforce-diversity/nhs-workforce/latest

Still on the UK's descent to nothingness

So for those who have been popping champagne and shouting hurray at Oxford/AstraZeneca's so-called covid-19 trial putting the efficiency of their "concotion" at 90%, well the truth is gradually coming out (see link below - free if you mobile phones).

https://www.ft.com/content/4583fbf8-b47c-4e78-8253-22efcfa4903a

As an academic, one thing the UK is showing me daily is that it is becoming a mediocre country with so much emphasis on baloney (Hancock, BoJo and Gove).

While approval from the USFDA is most likely (since threshold is 50%), we may want to exercise caution and see the long term effects of these cocktails so we don't end up with strange sicknesses in the long-run.

We await more disclosures shortly from their publication.

Caveat: The UK still offers enormous opportunities for young Nigerians as its gradual decline will first need to assume institutional status before it can begin to generate crisis.

Oggg:
Pr stunt and propaganda as per Buhari’s aide? Or Osibanjo’s payroll?
A little click would have saved you from making such an unfounded and frivolous comment whilst trying so hard to sound intelligent.
There is a dedicated thread on nairaland with Nigerians real life experiences and real reviews which can be found here.... good, bad and ugly...

https://www.nairaland.com/1969461/cost-nigeria-international-passport/37

Abeg shift!

No need for personal attacks - slow your roll.

My sibling just got his 2.5 wks ago and it cost 60k Naira and yes it was in Lagos.

Experiences differ abi no be the same Naija we dey see different optics about #EndSARS?

This is Naija and not UK or SA or US or the other OECD countries.

Oggg:
The new enhanced E passport 32 pages valid 5 years is 25k
64 pages valid 5 years is 35k
64 pages valid 10 years is 70k
Anything asides this is entering the official’s passport.
If you are applying in Nigeria, U dnt need any immigration officer to help you, pay online, print ur receipts and forms online and go with all ur documents to their office.
Any documentary requirements tht will be asked are specifically stated on the portal below.

https://immigration.gov.ng/standard-passport/

Pls stop falling into scam.
Check the thread below for more advice
https://www.nairaland.com/1969461/cost-nigeria-international-passport/163

Praise the Lord!

LoL. Try getting a replacement at some obscure place outside of Abj/Lag like Warri, Benin, Kogi etc and lets see how it goes.

Nigeria will get better but not with PR stunt and propaganda. When there is a public portal that shows the throughput of each station (data capture, processing and collection time) like McDonald's and public review where applicants can submit verified reviews then we can start talking.

wallg123:
My brother this one no be standard business practice ..lol

LoL.

Thats because Nigeria is not a standard country.

When a country will decide to increase import duty for cars to 35% and does not have the capacity to meet local needs cheaply or the capacity to defend its borders against smugglers and now realises that it wants to increase imports of cars to generate more income and so needs to reduce import duty to 5%, then you realise the country no balance.

Na fingertip person dey hold Naija matter - no be by airforce.

wallg123:
I beg to disagree Oga...
The only way you’ll be breaking even while doing business in Nigeria is either by stealing from your staffs (paying them low wages) or not paying the correct taxes to the government....The government will frustrate business small business owners with unending levies and bribes.
I’ll still advice investing even in Elsewhere (Uk or one of theses European holiday destinations)

Let's leave the RoI - experiences differ.

Let's focus on your reasons.

Taxes/levies - I have been in biz since 2017 and I recently got my latest TCC (expiring next month). I've never paid taxes in Nigeria because I ensure turnover in any of my businesses is below threshold. There is tax evasion (criminal) and tax avoidance (use brilliant accountants).

Staff salaries - owner's business and no one stops staff from leaving.

Govt issues/bribes/rogering - Just make it formal and send hamper/gifts regularly to the officers in charge and deduct it as part of your CSR. Discuss it with your accountant.

Govt policies - increase your network. People are still getting forex for cheap.

Tobexin:
you only brought out augment to support your unfounded claims. What do you mean that accommodation is not essentials? Are those what you listed normal? Leaving under the bridge or squatting? Does that make sense to you. Education is an essential phenomenon and it all varies on what one believes.

I thought long about responding and I was able to convince myself in the affirmative.

My advice is this - whenever Nigeria is in a sentence, kindly assume that all existing laws and principles are non-applicable. That way, you won't be shocked by what you see or hear. Secondly, believe whatever strange tale you hear about that country until convinced beyond all reasonable doubt.

Maslow's law does not apply in qualifying what are essential needs in Nigeria - it is the over 170million Nigerians who earn less than 60K Naira monthly that do.

Education is no longer an essential need in Nigeria considering that first class graduates (and 2.1) are now the targeted class of graduates to employ as TEACHERS (to earn minimum wage).

With regards to what makes sense about Nigeria..., it is well!

marylandcakes:
Nigeria is the worst place to invest at the moment. The government is unstable and the economy is volatile.

Have you ever wondered why despite all the problems MTN has had with Nigeria, them still dey here?

Can you point out the reason why China still dey give us loan and why you see them buying over all available land in Ogun State?

When you target essential needs, even government go become your friend. How government policy summersault wan take affect MTN or Indomie or Cocacola or Oil companies?

Plan your business to ensure that the woman who sells akara or that low level civil servant needs your product and you are game.

Lastly the RoI Nigeria gives is blood money. It will I repeat compensate for inflation (15%), devaluation for forex purposes (25%) and still hand you some profit. Just plan extra to accommodate initial stress from increase in your inputs and logistics and "rogering" and you will be fine.

Leave Abuja politicians alone with big big grammar and actions, street is where the game is.

Tobexin:
but those things are still essentials.....

If by those things you mean rent and school fees then NO, they are not essentials.

For Nigeria, the definition may reside around the existence of alternatives.

Are there alternatives for rent/accommodation - yes (sharing, squatting, under bridge, office etc.). Ditto for fees - go to a cheaper university or sec school etc.

Again, another way is to gauge the repercussion of not having or doing or acquiring something in Nigeria to know if it's essential. Are there repercussions for not having an accommodation - No (who cares). Are there for not having an education - No (even our president is UNEDUCATED).

Conversely, do you have alternatives for clothes, food (onions, tomatoes, rice, meat/fish/egg), transport, recharge cards, etc - NO.

Are there repercussions for not wearing clothes or eating - YES. One would be first be mad, then die.

Unfortunately this same logic drives spending by Nigerians. This is why recharge cards accounted for 70% of a households spending on a monthly basis. Yes, Nigerian households were spending on average 450 billion Naira monthly on recharge cards.

Tobexin:
you are not absolutely correct.... some price of things won’t be affected. House rents remain the same, school fee remains the same. Last March I sent £1000 to my young ones for school fee which come out to be N500,000 while last week I sent the same £1000 which comes out to be N610,000 the school fee didn’t change meaning they have more extra money to spend.

School fees and rents won't just go up since they are not consumables and have no 'input' or factor of production per say. Already, school fees for private schools are high up there same with rents. Their increases when they happen are usually around 10-20%.

But foodstuffs, clothes, transport are subject to everyday exchange rate and suffer from adverse effects to associated factors of production.

wallg123:
You are very correct..The more devalued the Naira gets, the more expensive things become in that country ... ...Personally I’ll invest in the UK rather than Nigeria....

Unfortunately Nigeria is still the best market to invest especially in finance, logistics and agriculture. These are the major businesses that can guarantee you over 60% annually which is enough to compensate for inflation, devaluation and still give you some handsome profit. The only downside is risk but as na Naija, we go dey alright.

Here in the UK with BoE interest rate at 0.1% we are looking at negative interest rate next year (possibly) with low interest hovering around 1-3% annually.

The issue with furnished or unfurnished aside cost and ease of moving also lies with hygiene especially for furnishings (chairs, beds) that one will lay on and ...

I no talk say oyinbo dirty o, it's just that some people may just want to feel comfortable with things that they have bodily contact with. If furnishings are new, thats priceless otherwise you may want to visit and see the general hygiene culture of current occupants (if possible). You don't want your kids getting strange sicknesses.

In my former work place, a colleague moved into an apartment where the former occupants had cats/dogs. Shortly after moving in, she had strange body reactions only to do deep cleaning and come and see fur/hair (inside the chairs, underneath beds, deep inside the carpets etc.).

Of course, someone can argue about hotels and guest houses and all - there's a reason why hotels have ratings and people leave comments and hygiene depts rank them.

flinton:
Hello I tried an experiment this afternoon and here are my findings(wetin boredom dey cause )

Note, I'm 12days old in the UK

Title of experiment : Currency conversion
Aim : To convert naira to pounds via cryptocurrency exchange
Procedure:
Monzo account was opened on Saturday (online) I'm still in isolation. Debit card arrived this morning and got activated

Nigeria verified binance account was funded with 15k, since it was an experiment the account was funded trice with 5k each transaction in order to meet the minimum transaction requirements

Btc was purchased with ₦ and exchanged for £

Withdrawal from my binance wallet to Monzo account
Total of £21.81 was received

Major transaction costs
To fund 5k, 150 naira charge, I did that 3 times
(Minimum 150naira max 18million)
Withdrawal charge £1.5

That is it!
Do you think it's worth it?
Started out with 15k, got £21.81
What do you think?

You want to avoid moving money from Nigeria to the UK via the financial sector - its a loss.

Adopt a double edge method
Use binance/crypto pairs to move £ to Naira and then do the normal exchange of selling Naira to folks here who need Naira for £.

Ensure you offer something close to black market rate and the differential between binance rate and what you sell to folks here is your profit.

So you may want to start with selling Naira to folks here to get £ then using binance to move the £ to Naira. The difference is your profit.

You may want to have a wider platform and structure your 'business' so you can also assist folks who are in Europe and want Naira for €.

Its all about trying but 3 Naira on 10k transaction is 30K Naira and month endings can net you that 5 folds.

In all TRUST matters.

Dear All,

Please does anyone here have any idea on how to get UKZN to verify my certificate (PhD) for WES?

Humbly expectant.

boyka1:
Long time indeed.

I am not here to brag or to chase clout but to educate some myopic Nigerians who thinks we are all suffering in the UK.

Cheers!

Sincerely bro, I'm happy for you. One thing I've always loved about the abroad is that there is opportunity for empowerment especially for young and abled bodied people. Your age mates back home are mostly unemployed, underemployed, roaming the streets as urchins and omo-ita, acting as thugs and agberos to politicians their mate, surviving on handouts from parents/guardians, dead from SARS or some accident or other avoidable circumstances or just frustrated about life - depression, drugs etc.

Pls don't feel anger towards the folks back home who talk about poverty in the UK and all. They are talking from the place of ignorance. Yes, there is poverty in the UK and there is more to life but one must start somewhere. They haven't even started life. You are talking of PG studies abroad and talking about completed projects back home - they can't even itemise anything of value they have done.

Folks back home need all the love and support they can get. Too much time spent in deprivation and suffering and oppression and poverty has formatted them and naturally, most Nigerians don't know how to genuinely celebrate someone else's success.

They need help and support and love. I wish you the best of life and more successes.

Tinyemeka:
Na porting tins.

Most Nigerian nurses I know personally who've recently moved to practice in the UK are just marking time to port over to the US. Or are waiting to accumulate sufficient CRS scores to move to Canada.

A fresh BSN graduate in the UK NHS starts on Band 5 (usually). £25,900 - 30,600.

Meanwhile see what Glassdoor says a Registered nurse in Alberta Health services earns...

P.S. I stand to be corrected o and would welcome any comment with factual counter opinion. Na browse I browse am. I'm not even a nurse.

Agreed that the salary may be miserable. In fact, I'm at loss for a better word. However, on the flip side, some folks may just be ok with that salary considering other benefits they derive from the UK.

For some perhaps the proximity to home and the relative abundance of Nigerians here in the UK (per sq m of developed land) with the constant owambe parties and jolly rice may be appealing enough reasons.

For others it may be the natural attachment between Nigerians and the UK considering they were our colonial masters. I grew up wanting nothing more than to visit the UK. I needed to see Great Britain and then visit England and then port over to London

When you cost these values and add them to the salary, you begin to see that they earn more here in the UK than perhaps in Canada. Salary isn't the only income to consider, there's also the emotional cost!

fatima04:
You are right. Add Australia to the list. The major difference between US and UK is the latter being a government employer and the former is mostly private employer. Hence a higher salary range.

But the truth is its easier to get a job in the UK in medical profession than those countries. Imagine registering as a nurse in Texas and you want to move to Newyork, you have to register with that state all over again. Meanwhile NHS is NHS.

Don't even start on the whole Nclex exam process again...

The money gap is crazy, I really do feel Nurses are greatly underpaid in this country but ofcourse some too they chop well well.

Sincerely speaking, the UK is setting itself up for a repeat of the French Revolution.

How someone will qualify as a Nurse and work crazy shifts and be paid under £35K or slightly more is baffling. If there is anything covid-19 has done for the UK - it is helping to stress test the system and expose the significant inequalities and injustice and POVERTY prevalent in this country. Why the current conservative government cannot see a revolution simmering in the shadows is unbelievable. A supposed major superpower and still battling with Food Poverty.

£12bn for Serco to do test, track and trace and £bns more for supposed contracts on PPEs and wasted £400m in a bankrupt satellite company and many more wastages and yet she can't agree on a standard living wage. Look out how food banks are running out of supplies and how overloaded DWP is becoming with claimants for UBI and parliamentarians are arguing about libertarianism and egalitarianism and all what's not.

By the time the system gets stuffed and the UK can't generate more wealth (especially considering the uncertainty of Brexit coupled with the massive hit from covid-19 and the potential for Joe Biden to win and thus frustrate UK out of the EU without a deal), it may be said years to come - "Behold, there lies the ruins of the once great UK. A great superpower was she. Alas, her walls are broken and storehouses emptied."

Caveat - it doesn't mean people can't leverage the UK for the foreseeable future. She is still miles and miles better than Nigeria especially for young people for now.

Aphrodite007:
Yeah you hit the nail on the head. Me I was even talking from the perspective that MSC doesn’t allow you to practice, it’s BSC that does— especially for specialised courses like Eng, Med, Nursing, etc

Actually remove ENG courses from that list. I think only medical based courses are that strict now and maybe law practice. I've seen non engineers with unusual first degrees jump into an engineering masters programme and then an engineering role and do some qualifications and achieve CENg status! The reverse is also the same and ongoing. Some even get into engineering roles with basic science qualifications and voila they become chartered. In fact someone (a Nigerian and working in Nigeria) I know achieved his CENg status here in the UK and doesn't have a first degree! He's a PhD holder but followed other means.

For the reverse, it's just having skill set in qualitative and quantitative analysis a well as theoretical understanding of key themes. The work environment is really crazy. I'm an engineer by training with a PhD in CS and yet my current role is purely social science/humanities/law.

What seems to be selling within the sciences, engineering and humanities now is skill rather than degree qualification. Of course all these are majorly happening outside of NIGERIA.

Lexusgs430:
You snatched our wife....... Who is this lucky lady..........

Ah baba, MUM is the word. I can't jeopardise my akara and akamu this morning

justwise:
LagosismyHome don't waste your time, time will tell.

Last year this same Chukwuka was discouraging people from running away from Nigeria, today he is singing another tune. SARS did not start last month.

Justwise, one of the beautiful thing about life is HINDSIGHT.

Nairaland serves as a diary for me where I actually assess my thinking at different stages of my life and contrast it with the prevailing political economy. That is why I write and post on Nairaland. I started this during my PhD and it was here on this platform that I met my wife! In the future, I will compile my Nairaland posts as part of my autobiography.

I will be insincere to actually advise anyone now with Nigeria's climate to remain back there if one is YOUNG and not living the best life. If I have turnover of £1m annually from my Nigeria business, Nigeria will be my defacto home - until then, I keep working.

Don't be too quick to take my posts out of contest, read through the write up and understand where I'm coming from. The UK has given my some excellent platforms that have created opportunities for me in recent times. I am everyday discovering that new talents that I never knew I had. That is what the RIGHT environment does.

LagosismyHome:
But Nigerians are something else sha .... why is everything that you dont want to hear called an attack or seen as attack. Why isnt it called a constructive feedback or caution because the road ahead might be very rough due to the pandemic , too much uncertainty especially with the UK job market which should be the ultimate destination

Yesterday I saw two comments although now hidden , calling names even insulting, justwise because he said he didnt think coming now is wise and someone even put enemy of progress

This is the same justwise who has spent years, time and effort putting student through visa inquiry. I found nairaland back in 2010 when we were doing my brother master application and it was justwise comments that guided up in the end to end process. 2010 is a whopping 10 years ago, till date he still takes his time to give students guidance and yet he enemy of progress ... our people matter tire me jare .

Anyone anybody wants to do go ahead ....

There is no uncertainty in the UK job market. You are talking of uncertainty - THINK NIGERIA (that's worse than uncertain). Don't be too fixated with the stats and all. There is more behind the scene than meets the eye. The hysteria is usually pushed by the media to influence stock market. Also, there will always be expendables in any crisis - that's life!

In this pandemic I've moved from Tier 2 to Tier 2 to Global Talent Visa. My wife's joined me and I've changed accommodation. The only inconvenience I have faced is travelling for biometrics on both occasions as I needed my BRP urgently. I worked in a HEI in the Humber region for 4 months in this pandemic before resigning without stepping foot there. I've resumed a new job in another HEI and won't be stepping foot there till way into Q2 next year when the dust has settled. I still run my businesses both here and in Nigeria.

The UK will be releasing another set of bailouts to SMEs and individuals in the coming days/months to keep the economy afloat. The furlough scheme has helped countless Nigerians on Tier 2 visa still remain in their jobs. Students in the UK can now work unlimited hours in NHS related jobs (care jobs) which have high vacancies. Amazon continues to open warehouses and is need of huge number of staff. IT jobs are picking up pace and people are changing career faster than a blink. What is differentiating peoples experiences during this pandemic is KNOWLEDGE. Those who know are making a killing.

It is in this same pandemic that consultants from BCG are collecting over £6K per day and SMEs are collecting government contract left, right and centre. Let the students come in here. Chaos is always the best time to exploit opportunities. The UK MUST spend its way out of this pandemic. They have just started.

I do not hold forte for Justwise, however, we must learn to be REALISTIC. Nigeria is not offering HOPE to YOUNG people and if coming here even if it is for 3 years (study + 2 years PSW) is what will give them some semblance of sanity, let them come. HOPE is what keeps us living. If Nigeria can't afford you that and you can emigrate for studies, please "Japa".

Lastly, time is very important. At a certain age in life, some opportunities become meaningless. What's the excitement of owning a new car at 60 years or having a masters at 50? Rather than wasting away in Nigeria, let those folks emigrate and "struggle" in a country that has safety nets and offers them HOPE.

Dear All,

Please if you know of anyone back home intending to come overseas to study - don't discourage such person(s). It has become imperative to say this considering the increased "attack" by Nigerians on Nigerians attempting to relocate overseas via the education route especially in this pandemic.

Recent events back in Nigeria have now shown me that indeed MOST people in Nigeria are 1 level away from poverty. 1 simple government policy and GOKADA was gone like puff! Protest simply gone awry and businesses across Nigeria lost trillions in days due to vandalism. Simple disagreement over payment platform (Lord!) between ASUU and FGN and students are still at home. Palliatives hoarded despite hunger in the land. Soldiers and security agencies continuing their oppression of harmless civilians. The whole country is on autopilot and everyone is just doing what they like - this is a precursor to chaos.

Young people in the UK are going to be worst hit (so they say) by the coronavirus (they are being called the lost generation). Didn't do their GCSE's, lost the fun of going to university (no sophomore experience) and locked in to study online and banned from having raves/parties. These are the issues that young folks in the UK are contending with (imagine!). In Nigeria, their contemporaries are at home, forced to contend with SARS and other security agencies hell bent on decimating them, forced to act as electoral officers during elections, sent to distant and unsafe locations in the name of NYSC, killed without any national outcry (we've even become accustomed to such deaths), unable to access cheap start up loans (don't be deceived with CBN's N75 bn so called loan scheme), can't access forex etc. What then is the essence of living if a young person can't maximise their potentials.

Please encourage those who can sponsor themselves to leave the country as soon as possible especially if they are YOUNG. It is only the living that can talk of potential and maximising such. People shouting investments in Nigeria and high RoI are not being honest. I run businesses in Nigeria and yes, the RoI is really encouraging (especially in the agriculture sector), but what is the benefit of making profits if I have to spend it on providing everything (road, security, water, sanitation, healthcare, electricity etc.) for myself and family? What is the essence of having Naira if CBN will not allow me freely move my money overseas when I like? What is the essence of high RoI if cancer or liver/kidney issue or one serious sickness can practically make you POOR? Please don't shout insurance before thinking about the NHS and its inexhaustible resources and affordability.

The essence of living and being comfortable is the liberty to engage in activities without being hindered by unnecessary issues. Days ago, my wife and I felt we should experiment pounded yam (we can't come and go and "keel" ourselves) - time was 10pm. All she needed to do was microwave soup, put the yam in the pot to boil, dump it in the blender and by 10.50pm we were eating pounded yam with egusi soup. We didn't turn on a generator nor did we have to be bothered about gas/kerosine/light being available to boil the yam. I'm in an environment that works and that enables me to function well - Nigeria as it stands now CANNOT offer me that opportunity.

Let them try. It may not work out here but at least they tried. Let them also experience sanity and see what it is like to live in a sane environment. Let them understand how things and systems work in the developed world. Don't deprive anyone the opportunity of experiencing the "abroad" life. It has now become a necessity which every YOUNG person must experience in order to disabuse their already corrupted mindset and stimulate productive thinking.

With regards to information, please don't hoard information from them. Load them with information. Inform them about the newly launched PSW visa and the fact that they can apply for startup visas and innovation visas (£50K though) and tech nation visas (IT focused) and even register companies here in the UK when on the PSW visa. Let them know that there are loads of grants/funding and innovative competitions and events routinely being organised by the UK government that they can exploit. I'm not a British citizen but the UK govt has sponsored me multiple times overseas on trade missions (fully funded). No body even asked me what visa I was on!

The prevalence of poverty and multitude of unempowered YOUNG people back in Nigeria is TOO MUCH. Graduates in their tens of millions and no job and still living on handouts from parents and guardians and friends at 35! We can't compete with the Asians here if we don't have the number. We are less than 350K in the UK compared to the millions of Indians and Pakistanis. Why should Asians be doing my taxes and selling me African food and servicing my car and also my financial advisor when such funds can be recycled among Nigerians? We can't develop Nigeria if we don't have the financial power to drive investments back home and create jobs for the teeming population. Asians are buying up property like no man's business - I mean young Asians less than 30 years have portfolios of property in high brow areas and we are here talking about Nigerians staying back home? Ah, let's have conscience o.

erico2k2:
Those are Online bank for kids or students.These are not traditional bank the newest bank in the Uk for the last 34 years was Metro bank,That is the newest bank in the UK

Ah baba no talk like that o.

If my life depended on Barclays and its 'idiot' colleagues, I for don kpai o.

Hats out to MB though. They are redefining high street banking.

You see those challenger banks, they are the real deal. From opening account (business to personal) and operating freely with no need to visit one branch or answer STUPID questions - it is priceless.

The advise is to keep your high street bank accounts for ease of assessing credit at cheap interest rates but operate using the challenger banks. Challenger banks still have a long way to go with credit offerings. If Soludo were here, him for don recapitalise them as the 'bad guy' that he is. Thank God for FSCS.

Kids and students you say? Lolz......

wonlasewonimi:
Old generation banks are very hopeless when they see movements in your account that is unusual. If I want to do such transactions, they go through my challenger banks.

Fact!

Unfortunately they serve some very useful purposes.

The verdict is this - have an account with them (business and personal) as they prove very useful when you need credit at cheap interest rates. Think about how much they were able to lend out during this pandemic to businesses under BBL. The challenger banks are still learning in that regard. Twale to them! In fact Monzo no near there.

However, to operate freely unhindered (business and personal), the challenger banks prove very useful as they see no evil and hear no evil - no too much questions! Since they operate digitally, it is almost easy to have issues resolved within 24 hours.

I can't overemphasise your advise - please have a lot of accounts!