₦airaland Forum

Breakfast:

Baked the second set of meat pies this morning. Decided to use one tray and baked 8 out of the 10.

Picture 1:
Took it out from the freezer and arranged in a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Picture 2:
Baked meat pies.

Dinner:

Plantain amala with remaining ofe onugbu from Sunday.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. He's transitioned and I pray his soul finds rest with his savior.

Delta once served something that looked like Meatpie aboard as our last meal on an ATL-LOS flight. The stuff wasn't tasty and I wouldn't know why served such. If they have to go with this, they should please put quality above quantity.

Gretmang:
I’ll be inclined to believe that this is OyoTunjiUSA again but I wouldn’t rush. If you are the type that can do in-depth research, you’ll see that the two accounts have the same format. The same approach. Also, OyoTunjiUSA account went dormant, this one arises.

Don't waste your time. The person you quoted is the same person with multiple monikers.

armyofone:
I see meatpie what the other 2 in the middle called ?

Showed my aunts and she said there used to be a delicious pastry she ate in Nigeria called sausage- looked exactly like yours but with no meat inside. Do you know what it is called or how it is made?

This was two extra doughs without feelings as I made two batches. The other batch was frozen and will be baked tomorrow morning while these ones were baked on Sunday. I don't know how to make sausages and this ones were just folded rolled out dough.

potken:
The school I'm going to offers a lot of scholarships to currently enrolled students through their scholarship web, and even more for honors college students, so I'm not sure if it's worth it. Honestly, I had no idea how this US college application process worked when I started last year, and I'm just realizing how good my SAT score is. But starting it from the beginning might be too psychologically tasking, and it's a gamble. I'm really tired of having life on pause, and I hate that this visa process is presenting another seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

Regardless, I'd appreciate some college suggestions that could offer better scholarships based on my grades and SAT, and thanks for the suggestions!

It is your choice however, it will be great to avoid visa challenges if you have a profile stunning to get you what you want and make your visa application easier.
Based on your scores, you can check schools in your states of interest and look through each requirement particularly for Honors College. I have a few friends who did their undergraduate studies here in various public schools on full ride and near full ride including tuition, fees, books, and boarding.

potken:
Hi everyone.
I had my F1 visa interview in Abuja in the first week of October and was denied, unfortunately. I'm hoping to reapply again, maybe the first week of December, but I just need help identifying what could be improved upon in my responses. I've been on a break from school for a year now and had to defer to spring because I couldn't find a date, so I really don't want to delay my schooling further.

Profile:
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Age: 18
Residence: Lagos
COA: $38,000
Funding: $0
I-20 Amount: $58,500
College: Mid-sized public university, not highly ranked, but known for nursing
Travel Experience: Once to the UK 5 years ago
Previous denials: Once, when I was 9, my family applied for a tourist visa to visit Disneyland but was denied

Funding details: I had a scholarship that reduced my COA to about $20,000, but after I deferred, I lost it. I think I have a good chance of regaining it though because I have an SAT of >1500 and a good GPA, but it depends on the amount of funds they distribute for spring admits. I emailed my school after the denial and they informed me they'd release the decisions in early November.

Interview details:
A white woman at the last interviewing window. She seemed already frustrated and annoyed and didn't want long answers at all, which made me more uneasy because I was hoping for an interviewer who would want to have a conversation with me and not just an interview.

Me: Good morning (smiling)
VO: pass me your documents
Me: *In my mind* God abeg, (passes them)
VO: Where are you going?
Me: I'm going to the University of ////// in ///////// to get my bachelor of science degree in nursing.
VO: Who will be covering your deficit?
Me: My parents will be covering it. They own a business that deals in the importation, packaging, and distribution of ///////////. Additionally, they have 2 rental properties in Lagos.
VO: What address will you be staying in
Me: *States the full address of my school as I wrote in the DS160*
VO: Why did you pick this school?
Me: I picked it primarily because of my admission to the honors college (stuttered a bit because of how fast and tension-inducing the whole thing started to feel) with the honors college, I'm going to learn how to develop my ability to work in a team and think critically. I'll also have access to the best research opportunities my college has to offer, which is important for my long-term goals because...
VO: *cutting me off* What do you want to do with this degree
Me: after graduation, I plan to come back to Nigeria and complete my NYSC program, after which I'll apply for a job at a large public hospital like Maitama General or National Hospital. After that, I plan to use the experience gained there to apply for a job at the Federal Health Ministry... (I know it's a bit rambly now, I honestly have researched my future career plans, but it felt like she wasn't really interested and the whole thing made me slowly lose motivation and composure)
VO: *cuts me off* You've been to the UK? I don't see a stamp
Me: Yes, sorry, it's in my old passport (I try to bring it out, but she's already moving on)
VO: Why haven't you traveled again since 2019?
Me: *In my mind (nawa o)* Yes, I planned to travel the year after, but unfortunately, COVID struck then after that I had to focus on my upcoming final exams.
VO: Are you married?
Me: No, I'm not ( )
VO: You applied for a US Visa?
Me: Yes, in 2016 my family applied to visit Orlando, but we were denied.

Those are all the questions I can remember being asked. I'm sure I have the order a bit scrambled.
She didn't ask for any documents aside from my passport and I-20. I was, a bit surprised by the rejection, but just to an extent. The vibe was already off and I had no funding.

This was kinda painful typing out so I hope it's worth it. I just need as much advice as I can get at this point. If you need me to give any more details, please let me know. I'm also planning on reapplying in Abuja, so if you have any advice about the embassy in general, I'd be glad to hear it.
Thank you all in advance.

Can you reapply for Fall 2025? You have such a good profile to be paying for the full cost of attendance at a US college considering the cost to your parents. I will say this is a good time to look for potential schools that can give you a free ride. When you come in, if the school has nursing, you can change or switch schools thereafter. Utilize your great profile. You are good enough to be educated on at least a near full ride.
Your explanation on honors college is not good enough. Honors college gives you more privileges such as research, one on one tutoring/mentoring with top professors, scholarships etc.

Chemist4life:
Good evening everyone, please I need your kindly advice, I was given admission for fall this year but without funding so I defer to fall next year, but the professor I intend to work with message me now if I could make it for Spring 2025 and if visa will be ready by mid January

Please, if the offer is confirmed, please take it as it isn't late although I understand the change in the visa application system is messing up things but never say never.

Rach86:
Thanks so much, God bless you. I'm grateful for the compilation of schools that accept HND.

But if I may ask, what are the step for WES evaluation. Thanks

Take your time to research these schools and others. Some do not require WES as their international student office have staff who has very good understanding of evaluation of foreign transcripts. You could save the money for WES and use it for other stuffs.

SOPWriter:
Hi Zinachidi,

Why would a former employer choose to sponsor you? Spend a large portion of his life savings on you? Why? To maintain a close relationship with you? What does he stands to gain? Your friendship?

I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but you should understand that VOs are trained professionals with a high intelligence quotient. They probably won't buy your story, and there's a high propensity that they won't demand your affidavit and bank statements either.

I do not doubt your submission considering the cost and the benefit to the sponsor however, if it is true his former boss is willing to support his education and not just giving him POF, he should be able to convince anyone without any issue. I believe the true intent behind the sponsorship is sufficient.

It is what was decided during courtship. For me, I believe in joint account of a reasonable proportion of income. It necessarily need not be in an account however, with transparency, both parties can be true to their commitment on how they plan using the amount.

The British Diplomat is a crook like his imperial bosses who colonized us. The Nigerian clowns supporting him are stooges who once they sees Obi's name can't think straight. I would have expected the diplomat and his supporters read to understand the term "non-state actors" before they responded/reacted.

What is the relevance of the information? I see this as clout chasing.

ManuTee:
Any Naija peeps in Reno Nevada as I would be there on Sunday and Monday for work related activity. Might also move there potentially if all go as plan.

@oluezekiel. This one concern you oooo.

Dinner from last night:

Rice, pepper sauce, and beef from stew.

PEACE2023:
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, this article is based on my personal experience.

I work with a High profile federal government parastatal with good remuneration.

We were 100 that was employed in 2013 drawing from South and North.
We have been promoted 3 times and expecting another promotion.

But something is disturbing me as a Southerner from South East.
About 25 persons from my set have resigned and relocated abroad. Only 2 are still in Nigeria.

It is more shocking that this 25 persons are all from the South. Either South West or South East or South South.

My fear is the implications when our set will get to the pick.
No northerner had resigned or thinking of resigning as at today.

The future implications is that they will occupy majority of the apex positions in this parastatal and the south will start shouting marginalization and why all top directors are from the north.

The last meeting I had at the NNPCL Head quarter's Abuja saw 99% of Top Management Staff from the north.

During The introduction of members I was shaking my head. This bring me to ask, could this issue I am experiencing in my own organization be the same in NNPCL?

Currently a Lady I know in NNPCL resigned and moved to Canada. You already know the future implications to the South when her set will get to the top.

Why are Southerners relocating and leaving their beautiful jobs why the northerners are comfortably enjoying the same work.

Is this greed on the south or that our problems are too much?

I taunt my friend from sokoto some days ago why he doesn't want to japa, he laughed and answered me, to do what over there?

Why are the southerners the only people who sees reasons to japa?
Knowing that we can not live past 100 yrs and we can not go anywhere with all this wealth.

Remember the higher a southerner become a director, the higher the chance of Southerners getting employment in this organizations.

If you work with a good federal government agency share your thoughts.

Are you experiencing the same in your organization?

What is the renumeration on the job without any form of kickbacks? If people thrive because of the corners they can cut and not the salary, they are evil.

PEACE2023:
You are wrong bro. My uncle gave over 2,000 southerners Job during his time because he got to the top. I am a beneficiary.
Another of his beneficiary was just appointed permanent secretary recently.
He has started giving southerners Job too.
The problem is us not the northerners.
Imagine having 30 people climb up the ladder and 7 of them are Southerners, it will still be good because 7 southerners will get Job but if among the 30 no southerner, the FG can not appoint a junior southerner when there are seniors from the north. Never.
Let me tell you.
My uncle gave people Job in many government agencies and parastatals. Some are DPOs, Controllers both in immigration and customs, some are Captains in Army, navy and Air Force. They are climbing with their set, if they remain till their pick, one of them must join the top ladder because federal character is still being used where you have personnel across the geopolitical regions.
Greed is stopping us from taking what belongs to us.

You see what I was referring to? Jobs are not earned on merit but on who you know. Can we first get the fundamentals right?

radautoworks:
wait, what?? You can pound yam in a blender!??

When the food processor failed and the yam was already boiled, I had no other option. I will try to see if I can buy a new food processor cup this week.

paskal16:
how do you make different varieties of ethnic dishes
And they look so good

Thanks for the compliment. I learned most of them from YouTube channels. I also watch food show network to understand food to a large extent.

Dinner from last night:

Beans and dodo.

Meat pies made this morning.

Dinner;

Pounded yam with ofe onugbu. The food processor wouldn't work so had to pound it with the blender.

Men should learn to participate in their homes. I don't believe in one party being the sole provider. As such, contribute to the family purse and work and plan things accordingly.

My wife enrolled sometime last year but she hasn't done any of late. I know how to knit courtesy of my Primary 5 teacher. I joined the class last year to up my skills but haven't had time to do anything.
I will try to encourage her so that we can at least do an hour every Saturday if possible.

The president, his vice, the legislative, and judiciary all are currently on autopilot and they don't care. At this point, we take it the way it is.

Beremx:
It is well o! I'm tired of talking about Tinubu's government.
Ulcer and high blood pressure is on the rise in Nigeria because of Tinubu.

I no talk again. We're waiting for 2027. That's all

We go make the same mistake come 2027. We get brain wey we no fit use. The one wey God give us power to do, we dey wait for God and the one wey God suppose do, we dey strive to do am for God.

Dem no carry gun but dem be big time mayhem for Nigerian road. How e go be when dem get gun? Do we truly need them on our roads?

Cousin9999:
I don't have a recipe for you, but try making pumpkin bisque. It's smooth, rich, and creamy, almost like hot cocoa. I only recommend it because I had the most awesome pumpkin bisque a bunch of times, and I'm still trying to make it. I think it's a matter of blending and straining, probably using an immersion blender.

I made bisque with butternut squash a few times and when I realized madam was forcing herself to eat it, no one told me to withdraw it from the list of food to cook. I like it because of its smooth texture and what I use was the regular blender once it is well roasted and soft to be blend for the creamy texture. I also add heavy cream and sour cream to it when blending.

Cousin9999:
You can try it with turkey sausage and turkey bacon, or beef sausage and beef bacon. I doubt it would taste quite the same, but it's an option.

Turkey sausage isn't that tasty. Tried the breakfast Turkey sausage patties at some point and felt it was a very wrong choice. Perhaps, I have been too used to the regular sausage.

descarado:
Use cooked and shredded chicken or fish.
I use tuna or salmon.

Will try with this.

cococandy:
Maeve7, GboyegaD and other soup lovers here’s one for soup season. These ingredients make a big pot so adjust to your taste.

If anyone has a tried and trusted pumpkin soup recipe pls share.

Nice. I will pass on this for now because my mom doesn't eat pork. For now, we can't eat ordinary bacon.

CrownedPhoenix:
Didn't know Bini people also have Owho soup. I think the one you constantly refer to as 'Delta' is specifically Urhobo. Owho soup is native to the Urhobos, not Delta.
Regrettably, I didn't like the soup when I ate it. Maybe I am just an exception, because everybody else seem to love it.

Bini people do and it is cooked very differently. The ingredients are totally different and they use theirs to eat mainly boiled yam and boiled plantain. This was the one we ate growing up in my house.

May his soul finds rest with his maker. May God console his loved ones.

Dinner:

Starch with Delta Owho soup. My mom helped with making the starch. Hopefully, I can make it the next time.