₦airaland Forum

kika41: @jarus,plz am just a fresher in 1 of the prestigious federal universities in the country,department of petroleum and gas,plz I'll need some advice

Send email to jarushub@gmail,com and check my blog: www.jarushub.com.

JideTheBlogger: Can't wait to win again by His grace.

Thanks God we're not in same niche.

4. Pointing out Buildings without Any Depth of Knowledge about the Owner: This is closely related to the above only that it is more pointed. In your discussions, you might find the agent just reeling off the various addresses of properties from his list but knows nothing about the owner(s) or the details of the property as in the house type, street number and details of ownership documents. In other words, the agent is not convincing.

5. Strange Relationships: This also makes reference to the office. You may note that there is no coherence in office activities. Perhaps the person introduced to you as the Chairman does not seem familiar to the person introduced as manager. Again you might have observed that there are too many whispers here and there between staff each time glancing at you or being pretentious. You may need to back out quietly of such relationships.

6. Hurry: This is another strong point you need to watch. If everything about the people you are dealing with is hurry; hurry for payments; hurry and hurry; you are under pressure to perform or the agents exert a sense of compulsion in the things they want you to do. Wait to think so you can operate with a clear mind or else you might have agreed to do things you may never be able to reverse.

http://www.jarushub.com/acquiring-a-property-in-nigeria-how-to-identify-a-fraudulent-set-up-i/

By Mayowa Akinsola

http://www.jarushub.com/acquiring-a-property-in-nigeria-how-to-identify-a-fraudulent-set-up-i/

1. Environment: Office setup is one of the things you need to observe. Here you will be given two extremes. One is the office you enter and you really don’t see the sign of any serious work going on, for example, proper staffing, files, computers (desktop or laptop). Most often, it is a blackboard with properties listed on it written in chalk that leads to such offices. It is not unusual for the purported office owner to bear a title aimed at impressing like Chief, Alhaji, Elder, Apostle or Doctor. When you do meet the Chief Executive, he is not dressed in a proper office-like manner and would be dressed traditionally. Be careful of such people, you may need to ask around as there must be people who can speak up for their reputation.

The second situation reviews a situation where you enter an office which looks so posh and appears to be telling you “you are the one we have been waiting for.” This is not very common. Everything looks so organized and practiced, including the way they are talking to you. No sweaty looking junior staff. No one comes in saying “I just came back from that Gbagada duplex house, oh the landlord is difficult.” If it is tea and biscuits they are serving, you need to be wary. They might just be after your money. In Nigeria, estate practice is a lot of hard work and easily you will see it in the offices and the speech of those around the office.

There is the middle line of a proper estate office which oftentimes is a little untidy because of activity and phone calls for enquiries. There is usually a secretary and other staff who conduct themselves in a proper office-like manner. Sometimes there is an information board within the premises with typed brochures, photographs etc. introducing properties to let and for sale. That oftentimes is the right office for you.

2. Character: As a matter of fact within thirty minutes in an office you should be able to catch the spirit of their dealings. How educated are they? Do they seem honest and dependable? Are the staffs already asking for money one way or the other? Are they dressed in a way suggestive of irresponsible people? All these can let you into the type of agent you have come to and these things have serious implications here in Nigeria.

3. Inconsistency of Speech or Information: You may observe that the things you are told either by the manager or his staff are untrue or that they are constantly making mistakes and trying to cover them up. For instance you are taken to a property for inspection and within a few hours you are told that you were shown the wrong property or perhaps you were told the landlord lives in Lagos only to learn that the landlord actually died three years ago. Beware!

Dear,

You’ve got a very interesting case there. But the good thing is, you’re already on track and my input will only be more of validation. Your plan is the route I would have advised even if you approached me as a first year undergraduate.

I like people that have plans for their post-school career right from their school days. I gained admission into university to study economics so as to become a banker, but somewhere along the line (around 200 level), I dropped that ambition and since then the only place I wanted to work was oil and gas industry. I was aware it was going to be competitive. That is the highest paying sector and it is only natural that almost every graduate will want to work there. I saw the competition ahead, I knew I needed to do something extra-ordinary to stand out from the competition. I knew thousands of people graduate with 2.1 every year, and everybody wants to join the sector. I burned midnight candles to ensure I made a First. While a First would not guarantee me automatic employment, it would at least get me invite for oil and gas company tests, now left for me to prove myself in the tests and interviews. Knowing the God factor in everything, that was also always one of my prayer points. To God be the glory, all my post-NYSC career has been in the industry, covering downstream, midstream and upstream. So I’m happy seeing someone that had similar plans.



Like I mentioned earlier, it is a highly competitive industry – thousands of graduates from Nigerian and overseas universities competing for few spaces. Given the nature of the industry – a technical industry – engineers, geologists and graduates of similar fields have the highest demand. But again, many of them are competing for relatively few spaces. So you have to be very hot to be able to compete and break into the technical window. For the support functions, like finance, commercial, HR etc, it is also competitive, but there are two factors that make them even more competitive: one, there are fewer support roles. A typical average oil and gas company may have 100 staff, 70 of them are technical guys (engineers, geologists etc), and the rest 30 shared by Finance (which may have like 20) and others like HR and Admin (10). So you can imagine the competition for these few spaces. Two, most oil companies actually prefer experienced hires for finance functions, they want you to hit the ground running, no time to train. There is also a third factor – though general – which is, most people hardly leave the oil and gas industry for another sector, you see people that have spent 30 years in Mobil, Shell etc, so there is a very low labour turnover rate, which makes openings very few. These factors account for the very stiff competition, moreso for support roles like Finance.

So I fully support your decision not to wait for the competition that will come with your petroleum engineering route, which is a technical route.

I don’t particularly support abrupt career change without passion, just to break into an industry, but since you said you have passion for finance, then I’m also with you on that. Good for you, you’ve already got a job in an accounting firm, one of the Big 4. You asked whether it’s too early to change your career path. Well, this is actually the best time to, if you want to. Interestingly, many big finance professionals also read engineering. I always mention that the Chief Finance Officer of one of Nigeria’s biggest oil companies actually had his first and second degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and he is a Finance guru today.



Go and start ICAN or ACCA immediately, and make the best of the training you will receive in that firm, which I know and indeed, the same firm some of my colleagues here trained. More than half of the job is done already, with your getting job in a Big 4 accounting firm. Try to waltz your way into being part of the energy sector group in the audit firm as that will make you part of teams that will be auditing oil companies and gives you exposure and network into the industry. After 2 – 3 years, by which time I expect you to have qualified as an accountant (chance of getting into oil industry finance role, especially upstream, without professional qualifications like ICAN or ACCA is as low as less than 10%), you then begin to throw your CV around, either through private network or public advertisements.

In fact, in my company – a fast growing independent company in the upstream sector - most people in the Finance department were from 3 of the Big 4: PwC, KPMG & Deloitte. Only few of us joined from other oil companies. That tells you that most organizations in the scetor prefer people trained in these big accounting firms.

So you’re already on track, just ensure you make the best use of the training opportunity in your new firm.

Lest I forget, did I mention 2-3 years there? Yes, for the big, more competitive IOCs, 2-3 years experience is still regarded as entry level and you are on track to be shortlisted for entry level roles there. But for others, it may take 4-5 years working experience in a big 4 accounting firm before you can get experienced level positions, which are what they usually seek for. In any case, start throwing your CV around after you are qualified.

All the best.

Jarus

http://www.jarushub.com/how-do-i-break-into-the-oil-gas-industry/

Hello Jarus,
I stumbled on your post on a thread on oil and gas industry on Nairaland. I just need a career advice as I see you are an accountant. I’m a petroleum and gas graduate of a top Nigerian University. I finished my service in February this year and it’s been quite a struggle trying to penetrate the oil and gas industry since then. Luckily, I will be resuming with one of the big accounting firms soon, and already I’m beginning to consider building a financial career path with interest in the energy sector. Is this really a wrong move? A path of me thinks it’s too early (I’ve always had a soft spot for finance, I just want to be in the oil and gas sector, hence my choice of petroleum engineering).



Will I really be able to get into the oil and gas industry as an experienced hire after spending few years with this accounting firm or this is just me dreaming that 3 years accounting experience plus all the accounting certificates and trainings I will gain (possibly and MBA) will be more than enough to get me a financial role in d oil and gas industry? Or I should still continue strutting it out with the millions of engineering graduates trying to get into the energy sector? I just want to know if my newly created career path will pave way for me in about 2-3 years time into the oil and gas sector I’ve always craved for, and if it’s more than 80% possible maybe you could recommend any suitable MBA course that will be relevant to the petroleum industry.

http://www.jarushub.com/how-do-i-break-into-the-oil-gas-industry/

Abu Mikey: If I'm not mistaking,a prophet actually predidcted something about the death of Tinubu

Everyone informed person knew Tinubu has not been enjoying good health in the last one year (at least when it became public knowledge). A sick person can die anytime. I don't wish Tinubu dies now though.

the front page of that paparazzi makes it look like an anti-Tinubu sponsored campaign (saw the Aregbesola story too).

That notwithstanding, there is obviously something wrong with Tinubu's health. the rumours have been flying for like one year now.

Good one.

vislabraye: I don't know how they did it Oh. A builder said that the foundation of a building usually takes @least 30 days to become solid enough.
Foundation tAkes a lot of time. I wonder how they did it.

I guess you meant birikila. There is a difference between a birikila and a contsruction engineer. We are not talking about birikila here. All the natural process that your birikila will wait to happen in 30 days (drying of cement, etc) can be artificially hastened up with machines in 3 hours.

You get it?

FACTS

1, Nigeria only needs to win one more Nations cup to move from 4th to become 2nd most successful nation in AFCON, overtaking Ghana and Cameroun
2, Nigeria and Egypt have had the most appearances in Semi Final, but Egypt had more of theirs when there were just 4-6 nations playing the toiurnament.
3, I wasn't born the last time one of our neighbours won. And I'm 30+ plus
4, Cameroun won 4 editions - 3 out of that 4 editions, they defeated nigeria in final
5, Nigeria never lost a 3rd place match.
6, One would have thought CIV has achieved more - They have only won once, and got to semis only 9 times
7, Mali and Senegal have always had great players for decades, but they never won this tournament
8, North africans have won more
9, Egypt, Ghana, Cameroun and Nigeria alone have won 18 editions out of the 29 editions ever held - and one of them is likely to win the next edition. They are the real historical superpowers of African football, effectively.
10, Nigeria has had the most semi-final loss (7 times)
11, Once Cameroun gets to semi final, chances of winning is as high as 75%. They are fighters. They hardly lose at that point. They hardly lose in final too.
12, Sudan and Ethipoia only won something in the 50s to 60s when there were just 4-6 nations competing, so their stats up there is flattering. So are our neighbours

Africa cup of Nations Performance by Nations

1, Egypt - Winner, 7 times; 2nd, 1 times; 3rd, 3 times; 4th, 3 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 14 times
2, Ghana - Winner, 4 times; 2nd, 4 times; 3rd, 1 times; 4th, 3 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 12 times
3, Cameroun - Winner, 4 times; 2nd, 2 times; 3rd, 1 time; 4th, 1 time; Total Top 4 Finish = 8 times
4, Nigeria - Winner, 3 times; 2nd, 4 times; 3rd, 7 times; 4th, 0 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 14 times
5, Congo DR- Winner, 2 times; 2nd, 0 time; 3rd, 1 time; 4th, 1 time; Total Top 4 Finish = 4 times
6, CIV - Winner, 1 time; 2nd, 2 times; 3rd, 4 times; 4th, 2 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 9 times
7, Zambia - Winner, 1 time; 2nd, 2 times; 3rd, 3 times; 4th, 0 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 6 times
8, Tunisia - Winner, 1 time; 2nd, 2 times; 3rd, 1 time; 4th, 2 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 6 times
9, Algeria - Winner, 1 time; 2nd, 1 time; 3rd, 2 times; 4th, 2 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 6 times
10, Morocco - Winner, 1 time; 2nd, 1 time; 3rd, 1 time; 4th, 2 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 5 times
11, Ethiopia - Winner, 1 time; 2nd, 1 time; 3rd, 1 time; 4th, 2 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 5 times
12, South Africa - Winner, 1 time; 2nd, 1 time; 3rd, 1 time; 4th, 0 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 3 times
13, Congo - Winner, 1 time; 2nd, 0 times; 3rd, 0 times; 4th, 0 times; Total Top 4 Finish = 1 time


Only these nations have won nations cup

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Cup_of_Nations

adegwurulez: Nigeria win tournaments in grand style(afcon)

Lolz... Na Ghana own dey pain u pass

2010 - Ghana got to quaterfinals of world cup, lost only by penalty; Nigeria booted out at group stage, with just 1 point
2010 - Ghana got to final of ANC, Nigeria out in semis (defeated by same Ghana)
2012 - Ghana got to semi final, Nigeria did not qualify
2013 - Ok, Nigeria won, Ghana also got to semis.

So you can see why cumulatively, Ghana still ahve more points in the last 4 years which FIFA ranking is based on.

spade: Tuface you mean?

yes jare

Royal Roy: Two stories per day!

Made Built in China!!

I can't trust that building for a minute!!!

Chinco

Channels. Suleiman.

yes

Nomination will soon start

Nominate Jarushub.com for:

1, Best Career/Job Blog 2013
2, Best New Blog 2013
3, Best Personal Blog 2013
4, Nigeria's blog of the year 2013

See reasons why Jarushub deserves your nomination: http://www.jarushub.com/nigeria-blog-awards-2013-why-jarushub-deserves-31-awards/

SailorXY: What exactly has Cote d'Ivoire won sef to be the no 1 in Africa for so long

They qualify for tournaments in grand style: 5-0, 3-0, 4-1 etc.

1, My natural, default inclination.

2, This world is too perfect for someone to tell me there is nobody behind it. From time immemorial, day follows night; human beings are born, grow, later die; These patterns are too perfect for one supernatural being not behind them. I use my computer system - it works, follows a pattern, if I switch it on, it comes on, if I click one button, something happens etc. This could not have been if nobody made the computer system. I don't believe this could happen by chance.

airmark: It seems south west Nigeria has more musical talents than others. Northern part not repping on your list. At least put MI or Iceprince.

If only you know Tuface's Benue is in the North.

JMOI: Naija carry go jare, nothing do una. So after Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations countries like Algeria and Ghana are still above us How does FIFA come up with this forgery known as the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking? Colombia of all teams is at number 5. Oooooo

It is not based on a 5-match tournament (which Nigeria still drew 2 matches in, anyway). It is based on aggregated performance over a number of years (3years, I think).

Before our resurgence late last year, we had poor run, culminating in not qualifying for Nations cup just last year. All of them still counting.

adegwurulez: hopefully egypt will overtake tunisia in todays fifa ranking and get seeded

Lol. Na so Naija fear Egypt.

crusufixo: I smell something fishy here !!!!, y did they not realize it before the game, at least I do no for sure that team lists are being made avaliable at least 24 hrs b4 kickoff. Ok answer me this question, If cape verde had not qualified, would anybody have remembered that an eligible player wz fielded ??, abeg jare, this na set up.........rubbish

Why would anybody do your job for you? It's Cape Verdean FA's fault.

Nobody would have remembered because it was inconsequential, but if by any chance it was discvered, they will be sanctioned by the 3 points deduction and fine rule.

What model? I use 4runner 2005 and it's doing fine. Does Lagos-Kwara trip without hiccups.

Eeyah. Pity them.

That means Burkina Faso will also be seeded (6th in Africa, I think). I prefer Tunisia to Egypt though. Although BF is surer,and Ethiopia still the surest.

Steezz: What do u mean? We drew goalless i accra and trashed u guys 3-0 in Port-harcourt...and we beat you a couple of other times too.

Don't remind him of the thrashings we received in their hands in recent time like 4-1 thrashing in London Feb 2007, and eliminating us from Nations cup 2008, or was it 2010. Ghana have had upper hands in recent time.

Eeyah. Pity them.

That means Burkina Faso will also be seeded (6th in Africa, I think). I prefer Tunisia to Egypt though. Although BF is surer.

adisa204: I don't know ehy I want cape-verde to go to the world cup,they will be the suprise package the tournament

Forget, they cannot surprise anything. They were surprise package to last AFCON too but were shown their place by Ghana is QF. World Cup is not for small boys. They will be the whipping boys of any group

kingoflag: Id say at least 60% of Nigerians are illiterate. We see them on NL everyday.

When I saw the topic, I opened only to read this post. I was sure someone would make such comment.

Good points.

[quote author=190-the-clown][color=RED]after reading all comments i can proudly say NIGERIANS ARE SCARED OF EGYPTIANS [/color][/quote]we just don't want to take risk. we are being risk-averse