₦airaland Forum

[b]UPDATE: [/b]This event has been canceled as most of my invited guests are out of Nigeria for vacation being summer period.

However, my team will go ahead to hit the market/bookshop same week. So you can order by sending email to info@jarushub.com or SMS to 08061198625 or 0703621640

UPDATE: This event has been canceled as most of my invited guests are out of Nigeria for vacation being summer period.

However, my team will go ahead to hit the market/bookshop same week. So you can order by sending email to info@jarushub.com or SMS to 08061198625 or 0703621640

Preface

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another” – James Keller

The above quote aptly summarizes my disposition to life, and people who have related closely with me, first offline before the popularization of the Internet, and both online and offline today, would readily attest to this. In my secondary school days at Offa Grammar School, Offa, Kwara state, Nigeria, my classmates would testify to my penchant for going extra mile to teach the academically less talented ones among us. Those were my early teenage years. I was happy to see that some of these friends made credit passes in as much as seven subjects in our WASSCE in 2000 – an examination I finished as second best candidate in the school with eight distinctions in nine subjects.

Being a natural part of me, it took no time for me to continue same in my undergraduate years at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where I took tutorials, pro bono, for students from my year two till I graduated, sometimes sacrificing my study times to ensure those juniors – and some mates – were well prepared for their mathematics, sociology, macro- and micro-economics, philosophy and other general subjects offered by year one students in the department and faculty at large. I also always went extra mile to mentor these naïve fresh students on how to succeed academically in the ultra-competitive Ife. True to the quote up there, this sacrifice did not stop me from graduating with a very good grade, and as many as five of my students and mentees also graduated with same grade in subsequent sets and are doing well today. My coaching them did not stop me from making mine. A candle does not dim by lighting another.

When Internet came of age and attention shifted to it, I found myself giving free career and educational tips online, on the career and education sections of Nairaland.com, the largest Nigerian website, and subconsciously built a reputation that was enough to earn me authority status on the subjects. I was only following my passion to see other people excel, and never even knew some people out there were watching and recognizing my efforts. I would later take a step further to float my own career portal, JarusHub.com, in March 2013, to continue what I have always been doing: lighting other candles. To God be the glory, as you would read in some of the testimonials in this book, not a few people have had their lives turned around due to my activities.

The encouraging feedback motivated me to put together this compendium of such essays that have had great impacts in the lives of many Nigerians.

Suraj Oyewale
Lagos, Nigeria
June 2014

CHAPTERS

Part 1: Education – The Underrated Beginning
of the Journey

Part 2: Job Search – The Bumpy Bridge on
the Road to Victoria Island

Part 3: Career – Practical Dilemmas

Part 4: Career – Oil & Gas

Part 5: Career – Investment Banking

Part 6: Workplace Issues – Welcome
to Victoria Island

Part 7: Networking & Relationship
Management

Part 8: Case Studies – Some Nigerian
Executives and Their Journey to Victoria
Island

Part 9: Mentorship & Management

Part 10: Entrepreneurship

Part 11: Thoughts on Some Career Issues
in Nigeria

Excerpts from the book:

DEDICATION


I dedicate this book to the over one million fans of Jarus (my online moniker) in the Nigeria’s cut of the Social Media space – from Facebook to Nairaland to JarusHub – for trusting my judgment on various issues, especially career.

Acknowledgements

Although I had always had the intention of documenting my thoughts and experiences on career and related matters, it was the advice of Mr. Tope Fasua, in his book, Things To Do Before Your Career Disappears, in which he emphasized the need to write, that activated the idea. I must also thank my friends, from university days to the various places I have worked, interactions with whom partly shaped some of the ideas and reflections shared in this book. Sola Fagorusi took his time to go through this book and offered his thoughts, calling my attention to areas that needed improvement. Also did Obafemi Bamidele. I thank them both.

My passionate followers, the hundreds of thousands of them from Nairaland to JarusHub, also deserve mentioning for trusting my judgment and availing me a pool of case studies from their personal experiences. Jide Ogunsanya of Ogbongeblog, also provided helpful insights as I set out to organize my thoughts into this book.

The four Nigerian Executives I used as case studies in this work deserve thanking. I sat down with two of them and communicated with the two others via other means as I prepared materials for this book. I am grateful to them all.

I cannot forget the efforts of my partners at Goldman Jarus (Career Services) Limited, Jacob Ajayi and Okpanachi Adaji. When I decided to give a corporate face to JarusHub, they shared the vision with me and that birthed GJL.

PapaBrowne: Big congrats man. Wish your book extraordinary success.
Can't attend but wouldn't mind supporting its success by buy a couple of copies. Where can we assess it?
Once again congrats. I love to see positive progress.

Thanks bro. It is because of long time friends from politics section like you that I placed invitation ad on Politics section.

Shoot me an email at info@jarushub.com for ordering process.

ueskman: how much 'll d book cost??

It's N2000, but it is not compulsory for attendees to buy. This is just a ceremony.

maclatunji: Description of venue or does the book launcher think we all know the place? Some of us cannot swim and do not live on the Island or a peninsula.

Citilodge Hotel, Lekki, Lagos. [Description: Opposite Zenith Bank/Ecobank, Elf Bus Stop, after 2nd roundabout, Lekki-Ajah expressway)

ueskman: hmm ok.. I should try to b there..

how much 'll d book cost(though have read d pdf copy)?

And hope no entrance fee??

Entrance is definitely free.

Victosin09: Congratulations Jarus. Thats really good to hear. I hope to be there...

*Please reply my pm*

I cant access the email my PM goes to again.

Email me via info at jarushub dot com

onegig: If I may ask-Why the choice of the title?


I don't remember the island to be synonymous with anything careerwise. Not like the Wall street of Nigeria or something close.

Just wondering. Care to share any insights to that?

Congrats.

I don't think there is conflict of opinion on Victoria Island as the corporate capital of Nigeria. It used to be Marina from 70s to early 90s. Today, any company that doesn't have their Head Office in Victoria Island, is, for want of nicer word, not rated. Even those that have their Head Offices in Abuja, like old Oceanic Bank, have towering offices in VI. I think it is fair enough to use VI as a metaphor for 9-5 job in Nigeria.

Guys

maclatunji: Description of venue or does the book launcher think we all know the place? Some of us cannot swim and do not live on the Island or a peninsula.

full description later sir

LaurelP: Will there be some free copies?

no sir, because the publisher did
not do it for.free and.the hotel venue did not come free.too

UPDATE: This event has been canceled as most of my invited guests are out of Nigeria for vacation being summer period.

However, my team will go ahead to hit the market/bookshop same week. So you can order by sending email to info@jarushub.com or SMS to 08061198625 or 0703621640



THE ROAD TO VICTORIA ISLAND: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLIMBING CAREER LADDER IN CORPORATE NIGERIA




The 240-page book is a collection of my essays and case studies on careers in Nigeria and beyond. It documents my thoughts and experiences on critical career issues.

Nairalanders are specially invited because I actually dedicated the book to "Nairalanders for trusting my judgment on various issues, especially career" . It was on Nairaland that I realized this potential and got the inspiration.

DATE: Saturday, August 2nd, 2014

TIME: 9.00am - 1pm

VENUE: Citilodge Hotel, Lekki, Lagos. [Description: Opposite Zenith Bank/Ecobank, Elf Bus Stop, after 2nd roundabout, Lekki-Ajah expressway)

CHAIRMAN
Mr. Tunde Fagbenle
Veteran columnist, Sunday Punch

CO-CHAIR
Mr. Femi Awoyemi, PhD, FCA
CEO, Proshare Nigeria

SPECIAL GUESTS
Mr. Niyi Yusuf,
CEO, Accenture Nigeria

Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje,
Editorial Board Member, BUSINESSDAY

Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, FCA
Partner, PwC Nigeria

Mr. Chude Jideonwo
Managing Partner, RedmediaAfrica

Mr. Akeem Oyewale, FCA
Director, Equities Brokerage, Standard Bank Group

Mr. Mohammed Garuba
Executive Director, Cardinal Stone Partners Limited

....and other special guests

GOODWILL MESSAGES FROM (those who will be unavoidably absent due to commitments outside Nigeria on same day, but sending in their message to be presented at the event):

Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi
Former Presidential Spokesman

Professor Pius Adesanmi,
Canada-based public intellectual


Kindly confirm your intention to attend by sending an email to info@jarushub.com or SMS to 07036216408 for our planning purpose.

Jarus

NB: This is a printed book, which is an extended version of the ebook I wrote in December last year.

http://www.jarushub.com/book-launch-the-road-to-victoria-island/