₦airaland Forum

Will really appreciate opinions from those who've travelled with them before

Dis Guy: He'll like to anyone to share their general experience i presume

Are they reliable?

How easy was the booking system?

Were they on time? Departure time

How was their customer service; in flight and on ground

And their planes....?

yeah, that's more like it.
Do they provide good service? How's the quality of the flight in general? How safe really?
Am billed to travel with them this weekend. I need to know how good they are so I can either do this or make alternative arrangements of mine.

Has anyone flown with MedView Airlines before? Please, I need an opinion on them for better judgement.

Towards a More Open and Profitable Nairaland

For the everyday entrepreneur, profit is always the motive. His living is defined by it. He hustles and searches; he buys for less and sells for more. For a webenterpreneur however, things may seem a little different. Though profit might as well be the ultimate motive, there always seems to be something grander behind his every move, his every action as he sits before the computer clicking away or composing codes at will. This may not be so unrelated to the fact that he’s often driven by the will to “make things open”, the will to cause others to notice, to impress them with the power of information and of connectivity.

Webentrepreneurship has undoubtedly changed lives around the world. From Facebook to Yammer, it’s a constant evolution unwilling to stop for a short breath. From the cubicles of Silicon Valley to the streets of St. Petersburg, it’s a marvelous turn of events connecting friends with friends and developers with developers. Yes, Africa is not left out and the many changes we see around the world are evident here as well, even if only slightly. Yes, only slightly for the many players who could and should change the landscape have refused to make the move.

Nairaland may be Nigeria’s (or perhaps Africa’s) most visited forum; it should be. With its simplistic web interface, its offer of varied personality profiles, its plethora of interesting threads and its over 1 million internet users, this website can indeed lay claim to being grand. I have personally found it very interesting and engaging, if not addictive. And Christ! It’s just a forum, but of course no ordinary one.

Wouldn’t everyone agree that this site has all those features every successful web story needs? Just look at Facebook or Twitter and tell me if this website doesn’t share all of these with them: a reticient, reclusive founder. A simple interface. Minimal ads. Free to everyone with a cellphone and an internet connection! What stops Nairaland then from rising into these big leagues? Well, if not globally, at least in Africa?

Truth is, it disturbs me that this engaging website is not living to its full potential. It’s disheartening to learn of how successful other less trendier web stories are; and there’s Nairaland unable to keep pace. Could anyone look at how Nairaland’s business profile has risen since its establishment and not argue that it should have achieved a million users much faster? That companies should be jostling to place ads on the site? That it should be no surprise when its content makes daily news in the country and outside?

So, why hasn’t Nairaland thought about making great leaps in operation so it’ll not only attract a wider user base home and abroad, but also make a name for itself globally? How is this achievable? The idea should be for Nairaland to make its own news using different possible strategies. One way this has often been done is when users post witness events: a lost baby, a car wreck, Tinubu’s birthday celebration, etc. We see how other users immediately flock to these threads to comment on how this has affected them or to learn a thing or two. Besides such user-generated news, we have got hardly any other Nairaland-own news on offer, instead we get copy-and-paste. Is Nairaland management considering this? Perhaps, Nairaland could do a “Ask me Anything” session with a popular Nigerian celebrity just as Reddit does? Perhaps Nairaland could indeed assemble a group of historians, journalists, doctors, and yes, women for a random question-asking session just as is done on Reddit? Indeed, doesn’t Nairaland have enough to learn from Reddit?

Besides such Reddit-like sessions, shouldn’t Nairaland think about offering celebrities an avenue of making first disclosures on Nairaland so this can be news for other blogs and TV stations? The idea sounds impossible, but Nairaland-sponsored lobbying can win Nigerian celebrities over to it, help such celebrities expand their fan base, while they (celebrities) create news for the site.

In addition to this, there are many more ways this website can expand its operation, making itself significant in Nigeria and abroad. It’s high time this site wakes up from being just a forum for entertaining discussions to being a voice for everyone and a name everywhere. The founder needs to show that he’s a true webenterpreneur interested in making things happen by being truly creative.

iamSi: Seyihyzik1055@gmail.com please

I just sent you an email.

Hi guys,
I sent almost the same email format to you all, but it was basically addressed to kayjegs, cos there's not much time to start typing emails for each person. I'd love to give my number, but I don't think that's important for now. Please, this is not a scam. I'd expect that you guys think well. A scam is when someone starts to demand money from you for no reason. Once you see that happening, you sure know what to do.

I have sent you all emails requesting basically the same information from all of you. I still need more people to show interests. Thanks.
I'm serious about this, and I hope others are.
Thanks.

kayjegs: @enKE...To start with, mine is an idea which is online based. It is a start-up business and needs some funds to be injected into it. We can meet one on one to discuss further. I dont even need up to a million to start up. Willing to start this immediately because it involves designing of a software and mobile application which is contracted to an Indian software developer. You can email me for more info: kayjegs@yahoo.com

Hmm. . .is this idea yours or the Indian software developer's? Am not too sure. What's the language you guys are writing the mobile app in? Do you write programs? Have you actually started this start-up? I'd like to know more. I'll send you an email.

princewell: The guy is a scam.....who would want to invest a million bucks in online biz?
Who would like to invest and would come online to announce it?
A SCAM!!!!

I really don't know what to say to you. But suffice it to say am no scam, bro. "A million bucks" may indeed be much, perhaps. But if you read through the details I posted, you would know am not bent on doing only online business. Neither will the money be released in one swoop. Yes, I can come online to announce it. But will certainly be meeting any business owner face-to-face to discuss possibilities.

judel: Hello sir, This is Judexfx What do we do we are grope of traders we trade on currency,crude oil gold and global stock,we make good profit for all our client, sir if u can let us manage your fund we promise good profit JFEXBCURRENCY 08030723185 08108239037 08094915936 Jfexbcurrency@yahoo.com

Okay, I'll send you an email

iamSi: Please Kindly send your mail_ I already have the business proposal for you Sir
I'll be waiting, hoping to read from you as soon as possible sir
Yours Isaac
Thanks

PM me, I'll send you my email. I'd certainly love to see your proposal. I hope it's patented. Not that I intend to copy. But you should protect yourself. What exactly is your business about?

iamSi: Dont Stress it Mr. I'll introduce you to a spectacular and rewarding biz... With that amount I assure you with a monthly bonus or reward of over 160,000 per month
Kindly call Isaac on 08095811959

This is a biz... You dont have to follow but it follows you_Ultimately _we just had our car awards last saturday. Would love to show you some pictures pls if you are BBM kindly text it to me please_I promise you, Jehovah's willing you wont regret this Kindly place a call now I'll call back
Yours Sincerely
Isaac

Is 160k per month realistic? I have no BB and I can't call for now. Am not readily accessible. So, please provide an email address. You can PM me. You haven't said though exactly what you deal in

solosamste: We are interested in a soft loan of N1 Million for our biz expansion.

We are into production of Moringa products

U can text ur email to 2348034025251 OR email citimoringa@gmail.com

Rgds

Okay solosamste. I have no idea what Moringa products are. nevertheless, I'll send you an email. In your reply, it'd be nice if you provide me with a website or an intro into what you do.

Hello People,

I'll just go straight to the point. I have got a million naira, I want to make more money out of this. So, I'd love to invest this in someone's business. There are conditions attached though.
First, I'd find it more pleasing if this person's business is some idea related to online business. I have always had love for this kind of business (though, it's not what I do) and I think I might also be able to contribute to its growth not just money-wise (given my skills in that area). However, this isn't compulsory
Second, I'd definitely love to see this person's financial statements, or at least a good and reliable indication of how the business has been doing. Perhaps schedule a meeting with him and his banking officer.
Third, I'd most certainly love to talk to the person involved one-on-one before any release of funds.
And fourth, the funds will be released in stages as the need arises.

In the event I'm unable to find anyone, could someone please point me to a good and viable business to do with this money? Something I wouldn't have to involve myself in too much.

And as a final note: I'm not the kind of entrepreneur expecting returns in a month's or year's time. I can wait much longer, give or take 2 years.

Thanks.

yamakuza: are you eNKe! ?

Enke! Is enke! That's an impostor. Thanks everyone nevertheless for the answers. I appreciate them. Am gonna take my time to make my decision. Chylo, if you'd like to talk offline, i'd appreciate. There might be a couple of things to talk about. And i might want to also ask you a couple of questions.

Chylo: Lots of people are so shortsighted, they see things only from now. In the future, maybe after 20-30 years, the difference will begin to emerge between people who followed their passion, and those who simply followed money.

IMHO, now is the time to pay the sacrifice for tomorrow. Get the PhD as you have said and eventually, u'll end up with a more fulfilled career.

NB: I was the one who posted about the internship stuff from manchester.

Chylo, thanks. How's the internship going now?

deenee: @ poster, Hopefully, the decisions you take might or might not pan out depending on the prevailing circumstances on ground. One common mistake we all make is to apply generalizing assumptions to our individual and respective scenarios. Issues should be treated on a case by case basis and not as we address them here.

Additionally,I have noticed your outright rejection of certain opinions and immediate praise and overriding acceptance for others and this suggests to me that you seem to have your mind made and only require further conviction to back up your desired thought of action.

3 years in O and G is still entry level in my view and switching to developmental studies is a 360 degree career change that could spell suicide for you if not properly planned and risks mitigated against. A few questions for you- how many languages do you speak?, how many published papers have you written?,how many seminars and workshops have you attended re the course you want to pursue? If your answer to the above set of questions is NO, then you might end up being just a 'foot soldier' or a number in UN/EU if eventually your expectation pans out or worse still unemployed at the end of the program.

Another question is would you have embarked on this course of study if there was no scholarship incentive tied to it? Would have spent your own funds?
If no then you need to have a rethink!

More so, is there an "assured guarantee" that you will get your desired job once you are done or have you based your assurance on some random career assessment poll quoting figures that cannot be validated?

I might sound harsh, but I have the best of all intentions and don't want you to go along with this mentality of "group think" wherein there is harmonious acceptance to your plans without critically considering the downsides. As one poster rightly mentioned, being an adult and also broke at the same time is not a funny thing at all. You will be amazed how quickly you will deplete your savings if there is no source to replace them.

What if you don't get the UN/EU job? What are your plans after this? If you cannot provide sincere answers to the questions above then I will suggest that you stick to your job for now till you are able do. Success is not all about making money or impact, Success first and foremost is about passion. The other factors will automatically align once your have laid a strong foundation for your self!

Ironically, life in its entirety is a 'zero sum game' so your exit from the O and G upstream sector will surely create space for another person to fulfill their life long ambition of making "Oyel" money as a lot on this domain refer to it!

All the best!

Honestly, I appreciate all the advice am getting here. Thanks guys for taking out time to respond to my thread.
I'll try provide as many answers as possible, just so I can get more advice.
Okay, my present job pays a lot, but the truth is there's a lot of need to conform to certain "unnerving" company standards that might very well prevent you from expressing yourself. Don't get me wrong, it could be interesting. But then it could as well be routine and dogmatic.
I also agree with you on the fact that it's possible I'm unable to find a job after completing this masters. I should also look at the possibility. I'll be hurting myself if I don't. If it wasn't a scholarship, I might not have gone for it. But it doesn't remove from the fact that the course offering attracts me, particularly because it has mathematical research elements in it and is oriented towards development. In addition to that, it's a prestigious fellowship with a network of rather renowned alumni worldwide. That makes it more attractive to me. Looking at it, the opportunities that might follow may promise to be less dogmatic than my present occupation.
On your questions: I speak three languages, including French and German. I do not have any published papers, but am greatly desirous of having some (including patents). And I have attended just a handful of seminars related to this subject.
I can't see any guarantee of getting a job with those agencies I listed. But then, the alternative plan would be to get a PhD and anything can follow from there. I know with a PhD my chances are still good in these organisations. SO, am pretty much open to all the possibilities that can result from here.
The truth remains though, that I'm still in doubt about what the future can hold and am naturally skeptical about dropping this seemingly assured future for an uncertain one.

This is the kind of reply i was looking for when i started this thread. If only i can get more like this. Admonition, please can u pm me with ur contact? Can we talk offline? Pls treat as urgent. Thanks.

I appreciate your input, violent. Some are not as motivated by money. Not to say money is not good though .
Anywayz, thanks.

debosky: Very interesting choice here.

I'm a bit puzzled as this developmental studies fellowship seems at odds with your engineering degree and O&G experience thus far.

Some of your comments are a bit odd too - you want to 'make a career' but don't intend to stay long at organisations like the UN (if you get in) and want to do a PhD?

You don't sound like you've nailed down what you want to do with your life - a 'career' can be in whichever field you choose, but once you have the resources and the will, you can contribute to humanity. In terms to contributing to humanity, there are folk right here on NL doing their jobs, studying, etc and already contributing to humanity through TeHN.

Why do you feel you can't have a 'career' in the O&G industry? What does a 'career' mean to you? I think it would be useful to better understand your motivation for this development studies program before I can advise. In my opinion, you haven't really decided what you want to do long-term.

Thanks for this input.
Yes, the developmental studies fellowship is not directly related to my first degree. But indirectly? It is. It's also an engineering degree, except it tends towards engineering for development and sustainance, than towards engineering for manufacturing and construction, or anything like that.
YOu raised several questions. So, I'll just go into a bit more detail.
For me, a good career would allow me some independence and render me an authority in that chosen field. A global authority would be a good one. As a Nigerian, can the O&G industry allow for that? I really don't know. Perhaps someone should educate me here. Can anything in development do that? Quite a chance

This fellowship just seems quite appropriate to plung me into that global pool. The alumnis of this programme enjoy special benefits and can also easily make a name for themselves. I believe they get quite some support from the scholarship body.

And to add, I do have some passion for developmental studies. I could say almost equal passion as I have for my first discipline. If I let this opportunity go now, I wonder if I'll be able to remedy it.

A-town:
@ OP.

Guy forget about that Germany thing. Keep your job. If you are keen on getting that masters you can do it online and even get one at a prestigious school. Texas A&M offers a DL Petroleum Engineering program. It'll only cost you additional pepper which shouldn't be a problem. You can keep hopping from rig to rig while you do everything online.
At least this way you'll get something related to your job

well, thanks. You have a point.

sisieko2001: op

you had better hold on to that job and hold on to it TIGHT.

there are many grads with masters degree abroad struggling to break in the oil and gas sector

except your employer is willing to give you study leave. if not, i repeat, hold on to the job TIGHT with your two arms and legs

if you are so keen on getting a postgraduate degree, then do one online/distance learning

sisieko2001: watt

it is not related to your field.

and who told you that a course on developmental studies guarantees you a job with the UN

Besides, do you know that such UN, EU jobs can be boring? I had a brief stint with one of such organisations. it was the most boringggggggggg job i had ever had.

like i said earlier, hold on to the oil and gas job. which career is not stressful these days

sisieko2001: op

you had better hold on to that job and hold on to it TIGHT.

there are many grads with masters degree abroad struggling to break in the oil and gas sector

except your employer is willing to give you study leave. if not, i repeat, hold on to the job TIGHT with your two arms and legs

if you are so keen on getting a postgraduate degree, then do one online/distance learning

Good point. Yea, it really could be boring. You right. but I was thinking more of making a career. This means I won't be spending too much time in these agencies. Perhaps a PhD could follow, and then other stuffs. Am looking more at the chance of making a career. Do you know very much about the O&G upstream industry? What chances of making a real social impact are there, besides just making money for oneself?
Anywyz, thanks for this advice. I appreciate it.

chamber2: Yours is an impressive profile. However, the labour market can be very funny a times. Just few days ago i read a post here on nairaland of a young man with a Masters degree in development studies from the University of Manchester seeking advise on how to get an ''internship'' with those organisations you listed.

Unless you are 99% sure of getting jobs in those organisations you listed then i will advise you thread softly.Jobs in the oil sector don't come easily, even with a masters.

Then i ask, is it possible to get a study leave from your organisation? At least to have a back-up plan?

If yes, then take up the study offer. But if NO and you are 99% sure of getting jobs in the listed in't agencies upon completion of your studies then also go for the study. Also, if you are not sure of getting jobs in those agencies upon completion of your studies, then know that you are only taking a risk-an uninsured one for that matter. Because you will probably be competing with young men who have or even better professional, academic and even volunteering exposures than you and the competition could be very stiff and depressing.

oh, thanks for your response. I don't think study leave is possible. With the crazy workload at this moment, I don't think my employers will consider study leave. PLus one has to do a certain number of years before that leave. I'll find out. Thanks for this advice.

I'm not 99% sure of getting a job in the listed agencies. However, the scholarship is a fellowship, a rather prestigious one. I was thinking it could up my profile and therefore better my chances of getting a job in these agencies.

Guys please more replies. Don't just view!

Really? THanks. I need more opinion still. Mods!!!

Am trying not to divulge too much information about myself. But I'll give it a shot. In addition though, I'd love to know your own background as well. I hope that's not a prob.
Studied Engineering, Electrical and graduated with a first class. I work with a multinational in the O&G upstream sector. The pay is good and I get to travel around the world. Let's leave it at that. Yes, the work is related to my degree. But if you know about the O&G service industry, you know how stressful life can get.
The fellowship, however, is not related. As I mentioned, it's strictly a course on developmental studies and best career opportunites will be with the UN, EU, etc. U get?

Mods, please assist by putting this on the frontpage. Please o!!!!

yemmy_ma: I will advice you to stick with your job especially when you earn well. Times are hard.

Again, if you think you have 15-20 years experience already and want to go for the masters, then you can give it a shot. But with 20 years experience, i would rather thread softly to retirement

Good point, bro. You didn't really offer any reason. Times are hard everywhere, not only abroad or in Naija.
And I think 15-20 years is rather long.
The deal is not exactly to just have a masters degree, it's to build a career. And the masters looks like a good way to start.
Perhaps I should add that the scholarship is a fellowship. That has its own benefits.

Hi people,
It has come to a time I need serious advice from fellow nairalanders. I never thought it'd come to this, cos I can be stubborn about making my own decisions. But this time, I'm just at a loss on what to do. So please help.
I work for one of the biggest O&G upstream service companies, a multinational. I earn well. But I also have an offer to go do masters in Germany on full scholarship. Everything is paid for, down to flight, living costs, accommodation, etc. I won't be spending a penny. The masters is in one of Germany's elite universities, but the course is on developmental studies with a very possible career in a developmental agency (UN, EU, AU, UNESCO, etc). I wish I could divide myself in two and do both. But then, that's not possible. So, I seek advice.
Though I have travelled out of the country many times and know quite well how difficult it is for blacks there, I'm still tempted to give the scholarship a chance given the many gains that can come out of it. My present job is interesting as well, but it could get boring and horribly stressful with numerous days offshore.
I should point out that for me, money is not the objective. Not at all. Instead, it's making a good career and contributing some quota to humanity, if I could. That's my primary motivation. And I hope to achieve this anyway, whether working in O&G or anywhere else.
I'd really like people to please say a thing or two about this. I'd like to know exactly how difficult it could get abroad. Does having a scholarship do anything to mitigate the difficulties one may experience? What exactly is the possibility of making a career in foreign land? In addition, is there really anything achieveable in the O&G industry besides making a lot of money?
I'd really like sincere comments, as this can influence my final decision.
Mods can also help a person by putting this on the frontpage.

Thanks

lol

Today I heard some news about a Nigerian couple who got stuck while having inter/course. Such news aren't exactly uncommon in Nigeria, and the explanation we get for it is that the woman (who is most often an adulterer) has been laced with some weird form of black magic. This is untrue.
Apparently, the case of Peniis Captivus is not something unheard of in medical science. Wikipedia has an entry on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis_captivus
In addition, there have been reported cases of regular couples who are simply having normal, daily sex.
Peniis Captivus can happen if the woman develops vagi.nal spasms serious enough to entrap a man's peni/s. The good news, though, is that the chances of this happening is very, very small. Less than 1 in a trillion.

It would seem to me that Nigerians have some sort of concoction or a mix which is fed the woman, and which probably increases the incidence of spasms in her pelvic area. The many native doctors have probably had this formula for ages. This could explain how Nigerian men can successfully reproduce cases of Peniis Captivus. smh!

Two years later and I'm still the same!!

.