₦airaland Forum

Hi All,


Personally, I would prefer my body to be cremated and the ashes scattered on the land where I fell.  Failing that, the ashes to be stored in an urn or made into a cremation jewellery pendant or rock, for my loved ones to wear or keep and remember me by it.

This might sound bizarre to you but that's how I would like it when I'm departed from this earth.



kiwi992.

Hi,


SAP without any doubt whatsoever.



kiwi992.

Hi All,


How so pathetic of the repressive and corrupt Nigerian government to try and intimidate the innocent people of the Niger Delta whose land, rivers and livelihood had been decimated by Shell as a result of the environmental pollution.

Well, may the corrupt Nigerian government be rest-assured that no amount of intimidation would stifle free speech.  A so-called government that can not put a reign on its ill-trained soldiers, rather, takes pride in unleashing those coyotes on the civilian populace which it is supposed to protect, for merely voicing their plight to the world.  Nigerians are living in a jungle and the law of the jungle, clearly applies.

My hats off to the poster of that thread in Nairaland.  At least the corrupt politicians are beginning to take notice of the feelings of people around the world.  Shell and the other oil companies which are polluting the Niger Delta, in addition to robbing them of their natural resources, can run but not hide.  The world is watching.

I would strongly encourage every Nairalander to take active steps to publicise this case and put the corrupt Nigerian government and Shell to shame. 



kiwi992.

Hi All,


It fails to amaze me as to how some of our people in this Forum think.  

First of all, with due respects to you 4Play.  However, I just can't get your mentality when you come here to express such sentiments as in saying that 'it is farcical' when it is suggested that Shell should be responsible for the clean-up operations in the Niger Delta. Well, friend, perhaps you need to check up on the meaning of the word farcical.  What is so ridiculous or meaningless about it?  Ridiculous in what form or shape?  That Shell should fix what it broke?     

Please consider these real-life examples:

1.  You hit and damage somebody's car - YOU fix it

Never mind the fact that the car with which you hit the other car in the accident belongs to two people.  The fact is that you were the one driving it at the time, so you must fix it through your own insurance company or privately.  Simple and logical - no need for a Solicitor to confirm it.

2.  You damage something - YOU fix it.

3.  You break something - YOU fix it.

4.  You pollute the environment - YOU clean it up

5.  Shell damages the environment - SHELL cleans-up the environmental damage.

If anybody thinks that the clean-up operation is the responsibility of the corrupt Nigerian government, then the one needs to have their head examined. 

Where's all the social responsiblity gone?  Did you guys notice the contempt and condescending attitude of Shell's legal representative towards the lady at the Hague?  After mentioning that Shell was waiting for money from the Nigerian government to clean-up the environment, he had the guts to go on to say that 'we know the Nigerian government is corrupt', tongue in cheek!  This, in addition to the patronising attitude of the CEO of Shell, towards the two representatives of the Niger Delta.

Shell is just taking the micky, if you ask me.  If this happened in the UK or anywhere else in the world, we wouldn't be coming here to discuss whose responsibility it is, to clean up the environment.     

In fact, as we speak, Shell made a profit of £1,000,000 (one million pounds) for EVERY MINUTE that passed by. 

Nigeria is such a corrupt country, Shell is taking it for a ride and everybody is siting in their cushy homes, laughing their heads off, while the peoples of the Niger Delta are suffering.  Any wonder as to why the troubles there persist?   

A word or two for the corrupt, bribery-minded Nigerian government ministers that are lurking in this Forum:. 

Shame on you bloody lot!   Shame, shame, shame because you've sold your souls to the oil companies operating in Nigeria.  Even with your so-called riches - you can't seem to do anything good with it.  Where is your conscience, seeing this heart-rending video?  Most probably driving about in your ill-gotten Merc in Abuja and other filthy Nigerian cities, chasing young girls for cheap sex.  You bloody scumbags.  You are the lowest of the low, I tell you.  You are all condemned fools.

I'm ashamed to be associated with the defunct Nigerian state.  A country that does not care about its citizens.  A country in which most people go into politics to line up their own pockets instead of serving their country.

May the struggles of the peoples of the Niger Delta continue until justice is finally won. 




kiwi992.

Hi All,


How so, so sad!  That is my part of Nigeria and those are my people.  It brings tears to my eyes. 

You know what?  Shell is taking the piss by saying at the Hague that they were expecting the Nigerian government to give them money to clean up the environment.  An environment that they (Shell), had polluted over several decades.  What has that got to do with the Nigerian government?

Shame on the corrupt Nigerian government for doing very little about it.  If they really wanted, they could have demanded that Shell ceased all operations in the Niger Delta until the environment had been cleaned up and properly inspected by an international body.  

Listening to that fool of a so-called Managing Director of Shell, lying through his teeth, blaming it all on budget cuts by the Nigerian government, just beats me.  What a plonker!  

I wish that all those people blaming the peoples of the Niger Delta for the troubles out there would see this video and decide for themselves.

Oh yeah, and the thieving  Nigerian politicians 'an all.  Why don't you spend some of your stolen riches to fund the clean-up operations in the Niger Delta, instead of stashing them away in Swiss bank accounts?  Bloody robbers!

This video needs to be posted on YOUTUBE for the world at large to see.




kiwi992.

Hi,


Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about it.  Take it as it comes.  I believe that what would be, would be - que sera, sera.

That said, parents are very important to us Nigerians.  Even with Western influence, Nigerians living abroad always have respect for their parents, and indeed, listen to them a lot of the times. 

I would definitely say that it's not about you being a 'white' woman.  Nigerians are not racists.  It's about a typical Nigerian parent wanting their son to get married to a girl of their choice, being that he is their first son.

My advice is just go and visit them.  Have a good chat with them.  If possible, take them out for a meal and get a feel for things - what they think of you and possibly somebody of a different race.  Never be ashamed of who you are or your circumstances before your boyfriend came into your life.  If one door shuts, another opens.

One thing though, please never ever, make the mistake of asking him to choose between you and his parents.  That's one easy way of losing him.  Again, contrary to the advice of others, please try not to get pregnant for him at this time.  That would amount to his being trapped by you which would make matters worse between you two.

Just hope and pray that his parents would see you as a suitable lady for their son.



kiwi992.

Hi,


I don't know anything about Perilon.

However, for many years, I took Piriton for my hay fever - two tablets a day - morning and evening, in the summer months.  My allergy to pollen has completely stopped as a result of taking these tablets and now, I can enjoy the British summer once again. 

The box says:

'WARNING: May cause drowsiness.  If affected, do not drive or operate machinery.  Avoid alcoholic drink'.

That said, I never, ever experienced any side effect.  I've still got a box in my medicine cabinet, just in case I start sneezing incessantly (accompanied by a runny nose) whenever the sun comes out.

The box also says: 

Fast relief from the symptoms of
- hay fever
- skin allergies
- food allergies
- pet allergies
- house dust mite allergies
- insect bites
- mould spore allergies

"Also relieves the itchy rash of chickenpox".



kiwi992.

DISCLAIMER:
I'm not a medical doctor, neither am I qualified in the medical field.  I was only relating my personal experiences with Piriton.

Listen You,


You better shut your big gob and steer clear of sensitive issues that would most probably land you in muddy waters.  You are such a plonker!

What do you know about the Niger Delta?  Where would Nigeria be without the Niger Delta? 

You are such a fool for spouting your ignorance and stupidity in Nairaland.  What do you know?  Aren't all Nigerian politicians corrupt?  Politicians that are supposed to be at the service of their country, yet take pride in robbing the country of its wealth by stashing away billions of pounds in Swiss bank accounts.

Oh yeah, you asked what we want.  In a nutshell, your water-filled brain.  You senseless buffoon!

You can bloody-well hide behind your computer screen and write such utter nonesense.  Next time, I better warn you to think carefully before saying anything.



kiwi992.

A proud citizen of Bakana in the Niger Delta - an oil-producing town without any decent school, running water, roads or electricity.  A town whose natural resource is sustaining Nigeria at the expense of itself and other towns and villages in the Niger Delta.  Our day shall come.

Fantastik,


You are most welcome.

We are all here to help each other as Nairalanders.  Just take your time to decide and you would be fine.



kiwi992.

Bash,


Thanks. 

Indeed, SAP R/3 is like an ocean, in terms of its vast size.  As I've always said, you name it and SAP R/3 has got it.

As far as the book you are using is concerned, I haven't heard of it or indeed, come across it.  My philosophy is that if anybody wishes to learn SAP, then the one must learn from the source.  By that, I mean that the one must use the SAP Academy official course material, no more, no less.  I don't personally have time for any third party book on SAP R/3 when I could write a book on one or two technical/functional areas.  If I were you, I wouldn't settle for anything less.

As it is, you've already got a head-start by having access to the SAP R/3 product at your place of work, thus, are able to play with it.  The hands-on skills are extremely important for one to acquire.  You just need to build on it through certification, as you are planning to do.   

As you could tell from my various postings on this thread, I am an advocate of training into an area of expertise in SAP R/3 that clearly maps to the one's academic or professional background, so that the one wouldn't have to struggle unnecessarily.  Can you see my point?

That said, if it's HR that you wish to train into, so be it, as long as you know what you are getting yourself into.  The HR module has thirty five (35) key functional areas.  Some of the key areas covered on the course involve the following:

Configuring HR Master Data
-  enterprise structure
-  personnel structure
-  personnel sub-group grouping
-  employee sub-group grouping
-  feature (TARIF).
   
Configuring Time Recording
-  holiday calendar
-  daily work schedule
-  planned work schedule
-  TMW (time ID)

Payroll Configuration
-  schema
-  factoring
-  processing class
-  valuation
-  concept
-  technical information

Document Flow

Recruitment

Personnel cost planning

Solution Manager
-  roadmap
-  methodology

IMG
-  project IMG
-  what it provides

Reporting
-  logical database
-  which data is kept in which logical database

Please remember that this list is by no means exhaustive.  Just some key areas for you to be aware.

Sorry but I'm not able to tell you as to whether this is a good module or not.  I think the best thing to do is to search the job ads for SAP Certified Consultants on this specific module. 

Personally, I would, with your background, take a good look at the SAP industry solutions such as utilities (SAP-IS Utility) or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

That said, since it is HR that interests you, then the best approach is like I've always preached - use the official SAP Academy material and practise the hands-on skills by using the IDES ECC 6.0.

Finally, I would strongly advice you to please try and read in-between the lines of my posting.  Enough said.

Hope this helps.



kiwi992.

Mate,


Firstly, I'm most sorry to hear about your plight, especially after investing so much of your time, energy and money in your career.  Still, I don't think the future is as bleak as it seems.  There's always a way out - just be strong.

As it stands, you said you aren't happy being a Solicitor because of the pittance you get paid.  Right?  So, I take it that you really enjoy your job and look forward to going to work everyday, but for the low pay, yeah?

The questions that I would like to ask you are these:

a)  what motivates you at this stage of your life - money, job satisfaction or participation?
b)  what is it about your job as a Solicitor that you could honestly say that you like most?
c)  what would you say that you dislike the most about your job?
d)  if the pay were good, would you be happy to remain in the legal profession?

Please answer these questions as honestly as you can because they are very important in determining the real source of your unhappiness.

Assuming that you have honestly answered those four questions, my next question is:

e)  what else can you do, other than practising as a Solicitor?

I mean which other skills have you got?  In this day and age, it's always good to have two professions, using one as a backup, just in case the other doesn't work out right.  Indeed, that's my advice to all and sundry in Nairaland.
 
My advice to you is as follows:

1.  Never, ever, jack in your legal profession until you've found a suitable employment.  This is so important to remember because the last thing that you wish to do is to find yourself out of a job.  That would be a suicidal move, if you see what I mean.

2.  Think most carefully about the other options that are open to you as a Solicitor.  The idea is to capitalise on your existing skills so that re-training doesn't become a painful experience for you.  Things like Conveyancing - is that any use to you?  Re-training into other branches of the law such as Personal Injury Law, Environmental Law, Company Law or Land Law - are they any use to you?  You could always study part-time, if you wanted.  You ought to think about all these options before jumping ship. 

As an Environmental Lawyer, you could always be called upon to take the oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to court, or indeed, defend them (defend the oil companies?  - may God help you - because you would be in my black book!).  Indeed, you could go to the Niger Delta and canvass the different towns for that type of work, especially for the environmental pollution.  One advice from me about this - never be greedy because you'll shoot yourself in the foot.  Having said that, Personal Injury Law is big out here in the UK and USA.   

3.  How about privately coaching students for the various UK law degrees?  They'll surely pay you if they need to be taught well to pass their LLB Laws exams.  I'm sure they would, wouldn't they?  This could be an extra source of income for you.

4.  If you really want to abandon the legal profession, try and network in this Forum and other places.  Tell your friends in industry about your plight.  Never be shy because if you don't say it, nobody would know about your situation.  Ask them to please put you in touch with friends of their friends and to be on the look-out for you.  Tell them that you are desperate to change jobs and that you would be most grateful if they could help you.  Talk to your mates from school, college or uni.  Friends of your father's, uncles, cousins, ex-girlfriends and so on.  Never be shy about it because anybody could find themselves in similar situation.  This is called social networking.  It's not what you know but who you know, so, you MUST network at all times and never ever isolate yourself from others.  If you see what I mean.  It happens even over here in the UK.     

5.  Lastly, do remember that if you go into a different profession, you'll be starting afresh - from the bottom of the ladder, so to speak.  Are you prepared for that?  You'll be the general dog's body, purely and simply because you are a newbie.  That could be really hard for you to swallow, I'm sure that you know it.

Just to say that personally, I wouldn't let anybody put me under pressure because afterall, it's my life and not anybody's.  Please think carefully before you make that life-changing career move.

All the best.




kiwi992.

Oke,


Thanks but I only acquired the technical expertise because I happened to implement SAP R/3 4.6C IDES on my purpose-built PC at home.  Simply by regularly practising the hands-on skills in course of my preparation for the SAP Financials Consultancy certification, I became adept at the product, especially on the BASIS and FI/CO modules.  You just need to 'play' with such a complex product as SAP R/3 in the comfort of your own home, in order to get a good grasp of it.  There is no other way, in my own view.      

There are industry solutions that are available from SAP for various industries such as Oil, Gas, Chemicals and so on.  Please enquire with SAP or visit their website. 

Coming from a Production Engineering background, I would suggest you take a good look at the Production Planning (PP) module.  I'm sure that would suit you to the ground.  There might be other suitable modules as well.

Assuming that I understood your question right, PMP hasn't got anything to do with SAP.  It's a generalist project management certification.  However, the SAP Projects module is specifically geared towards SAP implementation. 

Here's an example:

A few years ago, I strongly argued with a PMP professional at SAP Discussion Forum as to why it stands to reason that an SAP Projects Consultant is unquestionably, the ideal person to manage an SAP project, as opposed to such a project being managed by a PMP.  I gave him the scenario whereby a Mercedes Benz SLK Kompressor Convertible owner would prefer to take his car to a Mercedes Benz-trained mechanic for servicing, as opposed to taking it to a general mechanic who could service most cars but without the specialist knowledge required to service such high-value cars.  I hope you see my point.

Sorry but I do not live in Nigeria, so, my answer is that I'm not sure as to whether such training is offered in Nigeria or not.  Please ask SAP.  I hear they've got an office in Abuja or better still, visit their website.



kiwi992.

Capuchi,


I think you should look towards INDIA for the training.

As a matter of fact, right now, India is the biggest market for SAP implementation in the whole world.  This is so because the market for SAP in the West has peaked, in view of the fact that the wave for SAP R/3 started in the early 90's.

Next is the Middle East - Bahrain, Saudi and Dubai in particular.  Big, massive SAP implementation projects going on there right now.   

In the not-too-distant future, I believe Nigeria would see the next big wave of SAP implementation.  South Africa has had its fair share.  China is just kicking-off but you need to be able to speak Mandarin or Cantonese.  There's practically no room for foreigners there.  Australia and New Zealand - don't even bother.  The Aussies are damn racists.  The kiwi's are better.  I'm convinced that Nigeria would be next, in view of the big companies operating in the country.   

In India, places like New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore spring to mind for the training.  All these cities have official SAP Academies.  Bangalore is the IT capital of India so, that would most definitely be the best place to go.

Indeed whilst in New Delhi, I did come across some Nigerians who spoke excellent Hindi!  Surprise, surprise!! 

The cost of training in India (in an official SAP Academy) is something like twenty five to thirty thousand rupees.  Their money is just as cheap as the naira, so don't let that frighten you.  You would definitely pay a lot less in a training organisation that teaches SAP.  However, just remember that these are NOT official SAP Academies.  There's a big difference, if you see what I mean.   

It is the OFFICIAL SAP Academies out there that usually send their attendees to SAP sites to work.  Some of them even offer them employment as Junior SAP Consultants in their area of expertise, as long as the one passes the Consultancy examinations.  Just do your research.

Pakistan is also another country where the cost of training is cheaper as well.  Malaysia and Singapore to some extent.  However, training in those two countries is nowhere as expensive as it is in Japan, Germany, UK or USA.  In the UK, it costs thousands of pounds - too bloody expensive if you ask me.

Materials Management (MM) and Plant Maintenance (PM) - which one is more in demand, you asked.  My answer is to look at the job ads for SAP Consultants in those modules.  That would give you a much better idea than my telling you as to which one I consider to be better. 

Having said that, you should ensure that you train into a module that's consistent with your professional or academic background.  Please don't forget.


DisGuy:

I can understand what you are saying but what can the one do if an employer is not willing to invest large sums of money on an employee?  Chances are that the employee would leave the organisation as soon as the one gets those highly sought-after skills. 

Just to say that ICAN, ACCA and CIMA are excellent professional accountancy qualifications.  I can most definitely vouch for that because I used to work as a Company Accountant here in the UK, even though a CIMA Finalist.  However, I can tell you that the earnings that an SAP Certified Consultant makes is a lot higher than that from the above three professional qualifications put together!  I don't know much about PMP but I understand it is a good qualification as well.



kiwi992.

Ulo,


First of all, you mustn't let anyone scare you off from studying the module that interests you the most.  Let's take a close look at your background:


1.  Civil Engineering

The suitable module for this has got to be one of the industry solutions that SAP offers.  Another one that I feel might be suitable for you is Plant Maintenance (PM).  Now, this is a very worthwhile module and highly in demand over here in the West.  Advanced Planning and Optimisation (APO) - using infocubes. 
 

2.  MBA

Strategic Enterprise Management (SEM), Treasury (TR), Materials Management (MM), Production Planning (PP), Sales and Distribution (SD), Human Resources (HR).  All of these seem to fit well with your background.


3.  PMP/Prince2

SAP Projects without a doubt.

Being that you already are PMP/Prince2 qualified, I would assume that you have the necessary PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE in Project Management.  If you have such real-life experience, I can't see any problem with your getting hired as a Junior SAP Projects Consultant, once you've passed the consultancy exams.

The sad thing about Nigeria is that a lot of our people are employed in jobs that have got nothing whatsoever to do with their academic or professional skills.  In view of this, they lack the real-life experience that's most crucial for the advancement of their careers.  It's the classic 'fitting a square peg in a round hole' scenario.  Then again, people need jobs so they tend to take any that comes up, inorder to feed their families.  What a waste of talent.  Sad really!   

That said, the SAP R/3 software costs several million pounds and as such, any implementation would be extremely time-critical and within budget.  A lot of these experienced SAP Projects Consultants have been fortunate-enough to have had five or six SAP projects under their belt.  I'm not quite sure as to what it would be like, for a newly-qualified. 

Just to give you an example, my friend, Junaid, who attended NIIT with me in India, fell into an SAP job, being that he was the Network Engineer at the time his organisation was implementing SAP R/3.  Luckily for him, he was at the right place at the right time.  Best part was that I had mentioned SAP to him during our training so he knew what it was all about and seized the opportunity as soon as it arose.  Needless to say, he abandoned being a network engineer and now goes all over the world, implementing SAP - as a BASIS Consultant.  He's currently in Australia.     

Having said all that, I feel you should really assess where your strengths lie the most.  Is it in Civil Engineering, Project Management or business (being an MBA)?  You should also take your work experience into consideration.  What do you really like doing the most?  I mean what you like doing without having to struggle on it.  See what I mean?  You really ought to search your soul.

The money that you would make, being an SAP Certified Consultant shouldn't be the driving factor.  It's all about enjoying the work that you do.  The rest come second.

Hope this helps.




kiwi992.

NB:

Some of the global SAP Academy partners actually send their trainees to work on SAP sites as long as the student passes the Consultancy exams, thereby giving them the field experience that they require.  This is the key reason as to why participants in the SAP Academy courses do a CASE STUDY, by drawing upon course-participants from the different modules, exactly as in a real-life SAP implementation.  Just enquire about it with the SAP Academy, if there is any in Nigeria.

Ensure that they are genuine, before committing your hard-earned cash.  Please avoid all the cowboy trainers.  I hear there are many in Nigeria.

Ulo,


Sorry pal, I do NOT get in touch with anybody privately.

This is a public forum and I would prefer fellow Nigerians to benefit from the info as well, not just one person.  I would assume that you've got enough pointers from me to get you started if you are interested in SAP.

If you've got any question to ask me, just fire away here.



kiwi992.

Mate,


Yes, of course!

I am a CIMA finalist, Cisco Security Expert, CCNA and MCSE with hardware skills (building computers) as well as a Private Pilot (PPL), having learnt to fly in a Cessna 150, 172 and Piper Arrow PA-28 fixed wing aeroplanes.

The essence of it all for me is a keen interest in systems accounting, computers, inter-networking and flying.  I can't see anything wrong with cross-training for the challenge of it, as well as the varied opportunities, added to a great sense of adventure and fun. 

Surely, lots and lots of people make a career out of IT by acquiring the necessary certification and practical experience.  Look around and you'll find zillions of examples all over the world.   



kiwi992.

Friend,


Yes, the SAP Consultancy exams are, indeed, very hard.

Think about it - they've got to be extremely hard because SAP is not like your typical run-of-the-mill software.  The software costs millions of pounds to purchase - around fifteen to twenty million pounds, in addition to the army of Consultants needed to implement the product.  This is why it is most essential that the Consultant must be highly skilled to configure or customise the SAP R/3 software.  Needless to say, the rewards are far-reaching once the one qualifies as an SAP Certified Consultant.  The world is your oyster in the true meaning of the word.  Globe trotting and making supa dupa money.

I can tell anyone interested in this certification that the trick to passing the exams is nothing but having lots and lots of hands-on experience with the SAP R/3 software.  There's no getting away from this fact.  This is a must!  The SAP Consultancy exams are not to be sniffed at - it is the mother of all certifications and the most rewarding, without any doubt whatsoever.

One simply can not substitute the so-called Nigerian 'sense of imagination' in place of the crucially important practical experience.  Once the one has acquired the necessary hands-on skills and can confidently customize the IMG or configure a specific module, I would say that the exams are definitely NOT insurmountable.  It all depends on the one's training methodology as mentioned in my initial post on this thread. 

SAP being an enterprise resource planning system, needs to have a database running as a back-end, inorder to provide it with the necessary information that it needs to function.  The installation of a database (for example SAPDB, SQL or Oracle) is therefore a pre-requisite to implementing the SAP R/3 software.

Majority of the global SAP implementations have Oracle database running as a back-end.  The installation of the database only takes about thirty (30) minutes, if that.  However, the actual implementation of the SAP R/3 4.6C IDES with the 4.6D kernel took me nearly twenty four (24) hours on my landscape.  This was only a sandbox, yet, it took me such a long time to implement it.  Now compare the time it would take to implement a full production system comprising a multiple instance with failover, in a disk-array, spanning several servers.  The worst part of it being that you simply would not be allowed to proceed with the implementation if an error occured at any stage of this phase, unless and until the error has been corrected with reference to the error logs.   

The only bearing that your friend's Oracle skill has on an SAP R/3 implementation is in the areas of Oracle database administration, tablespace re-organisation, sizing, optimisation and troubleshooting but nothing more (sorry!).  However, this function is normally performed by SAP BASIS Consultants who specialise in the implementation of SAP R/3 and its administration.  The rest of the work is pure SAP.  As an example, although I am not an Oracle database guy, I was able to perform those functions on my SAP R/3 implementation whilst preparing for the SAP Financials Consultancy exams. 

As previously indicated, there are other databases that can also be run at the back-end of SAP R/3, such as SAPDB and SQL.  I believe that a lot of the future implementations of SAP would most probably utilise those two types of databases as opposed to Oracle, in view of the recent issues that SAP had with Oracle.  That's just my speculation but I don't think I'll be far too wrong on that. 

As far as its suitability to an IT professional goes, I can tell you that SAP is suited to everybody, as long as the one trains on the module that's relevant to the one's academic or professional background.  Relevancy is the operative word here.  My professional and technical background in IT (Cisco Security Expert, CCNA, MCSE and building computers) coupled with reading up on SAP Projects and Oracle database management, helped me a great deal, during the pre-implementation, implementation and post-implementation phases as well as customising the IMG.  My background in professional accountancy (CIMA finalist) helped me in understanding the business processes as well as being able to configure the SAP FI/CO (financials and controlling) modules.  So, you can see that the one's background is highly important.

Maybe you could pass on this information to your friend and good luck to him/her next time.




kiwi992.

Guys,


Hacking is illegal, so is war-driving.  You WILL get locked up for it, if caught.  Examples abound over here in the UK.  Please don't do it - it's not worth the risk. 

My advice to the original poster would be to:

a).  find out if your mobile phone service provider sells a wireless dongle.  Most of them sell it over here.

b).  if they do, buy it and connect it to the USB socket of your PC or laptop and off you go.

c).  failing that, find other legit ways of connecting but please steer well-clear of hacking.



kiwi992.

Hi,


My advice is nothing but SAGE.  It's a very good product and does not cost a fortune.  Very popular in the UK.

Sage Financial Controller, to be precise.  You can also get the Payroll add-on.



kiwi992.

Hi All,


Talking about SAP, yes, the explanation given is correct.  I just need to elaborate on what's already been said.

I have a solid hands-on experience in using the SAP R/3 4.6C software, as well as implementing the SAP R/3 4.6C IDES software on my desktop (at home), whilst preparing for the SAP Financials Consultancy course, a few years ago, before I was involved in a serious motorbike accident. 

SAP is a German enterprise resource planning (ERP) product.  The company is based in Waldorf.  It is a world-class product, to say the least.  A great but very complex product with well over one thousand and twelve (1012) modules in it.  These modules span from BASIS, Financials, Logistics, APO, Business Warehouse, SAP Projects, Sales and Distribution (SD), Materials Management (MM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and so on, as as well as various industry solutions such as Gas, Oil, Chemicals to name but only a few.  You name it and SAP has got it.  Newer products are constantly being added whilst others have been dropped, due to the emergence of new technology.  

Back in 2004, I did a write-up about RFID at SAP's Discussion Forum, as the technology was new then (even though old in origin).  I would say that I was, at that time, considered to be the RFID guru (but not anymore), as the technology is getting mature.

As I said, I have solid hands-on experience in implementing SAP R/3 4.6C IDES on my PC, in preparation for the mySAP Financials Consultancy training. 

In my own opinion, the SAP Consultancy course as run by SAP Academy is far too short to enable the participant acquire the necessary skills to pass such a demanding examination.  You can definitely pass the exams if you take your time to train for it at home.  However, just remember that you would need to acquire the all-important hands-on skills before you can even dream of passing it.  So, here's what I suggest that you do.

You MUST:

1.  Acquire the necessary HANDS-ON SKILLS by using the IDES ECC 6. 

This is a training software as used by the SAP Academies worldwide, to enable course participants acquire the necessary hands-on skills.  It is an actual SAP software but already pre-loaded with live data.  Without this, you will NOT pass the exams!  Be warned that this is not a theoretical exam that you can blag your way through.  You need to have the practical experience of using the SAP R/3 software.  Take it from me because I know.  All the better, if you have access to SAP at your place of work.   The exams are very hard but you will pass if you adopt the right training methodology.

This is not a course (or exams) for the faint-hearted!!  The rewards are massive when you qualify.  I have a friend that comes to the UK from Malaysia and works as an SAP Consultant and makes mega bucks.  She's here every three months or so.

2.  Use the official SAP Academy training material.

You must beg, borrow or steal them (literally), if you really mean business about training for this certification.  It's always better to learn from the source.  The SAP academy training material are the official course manuals from SAP AG, Germany.

3.  Relevant background

Ensure that you only train on a module that is consistent with your professional or academic background, else you would be wasting your time.

4.  Strong computer skills

This is essential because you'll be customising the IMG - a core element of the SAP R/3 software.

5.  Understanding of business processes

Again, without a solid knowledge and understanding of business processes, you will definitely struggle with SAP R/3.   

Please take note of all what I've said here because I have a first-hand experience of this global product.  SAP Consultants are in high demand all over the world, albeit that the demand for such Consultants has somewhat peaked in view of the fact that many western countries are upgrading now, instead of a fresh implementation of the product.  That said, Nigeria would most definitely need SAP Certified Consultants to implement the product in those big industries.

I often used to wonder as to why no-one here ever showed an interest in SAP (or indeed, really mentioned it before now).  SAP Certified Consultants are the money men and women of this world.  It is really a worthwhile qualification - far better than any out there.

In the name of Nairaland.




kiwi992.


NB:

The name SAP is pronounced as 'es-ay-pee' (but not 'sap'), if you see what I mean.

Friend,


These controllers are motherboard utilities.  They usually come built-in with your mobo.

If you are a System Builder, you would find that the box containing the motherboard also has a CD-ROM with the necessary utilities which you are required to install inorder to have a working PC/laptop, once the system has been fully built.

What you need do is try and find out the make and model of the motherboard on your PC or laptop.  Go to the manufacturer's website, then download and install the latest update to your motherboard.

This should solve your problems.



kiwi992.

Terryboob,


You are most welcome.  It's all in the name of Nairaland.



kiwi992.


NB:

Just to say that you could, instead of connecting the three routers directly to the first router (as described above), also connect the:

a.  second router to the switch which is connected to the first router
b.  third router to the switch which is connected to the second router
c.  fourth router to the switch which is connected to the third router.

The rest instructions are exactly the same.

Mate,


You asked the question :

What relationship does ICAN have with the Queen?

The answer is quite simple.  Just check-out the origins of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and you would find that:

1.  The founding members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) were Nigerian Accountants who originally qualified with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of  England and Wales (ICAEW) as well as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (and possibly the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland).

These guys came to the UK to train for those qualifications whilst working with chartered accountancy firms such as Spicer and Pegler, Price Waterhouse, Peat Marwick, Delloites, Arthur Andersen, and so on.   

The ICAEW and ICA of Scotland were granted Royal Charter circa 1880's by the King or Queen of England at that time.  The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) had their Royal Charter granted by the Queen in the eighties, if I'm not mistaken.

2.  In the end, these UK-qualified Chartered Accountants of Nigerian origin returned home and decided to form their own accountancy body - by calling it 'The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria' (ICAN).  This was exactly the same thing as done in India and Pakistan, all ex-British colonies.

Having formed their own accountancy body, they then sought to conduct their own exams as well, giving it the local Nigerian content in the subject areas of Taxation and Company Law (in particular).  In addition to this, they also sought to conduct their own full-fledged accountancy training and examination, as done by the UK bodies.

3.  Desirous of having a single national chartered accountnacy body in Nigeria, the ICAN then stipulated that every Accountant who was qualified with a recognised UK accountancy body such as the ICAEW, ICA, ACCA and the ICMA (now CIMA), was required to sit and pass the local content of the exams, i.e. Taxation and Company Law specifically relating to Nigeria, before the one would be granted membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, inorder to engage in public practice.

Those that stayed in Nigeria to pursue the full ICAN exams had to undergo the stipulated training as laid down.  I guess a fully-qualified CPA and CMA of America also gets the same exemption as granted to those who are fully-qualified with a recognised UK accountnacy body.   

Remember though, that CIMA's are not allowed to practise as public reporting accountants although they could set up shop as Management Consultants, as their domain is primarily in industry as opposed to pure auditing and taxation work.

4. The rest is history as far as the ICAN goes.

I hope you can now see the link between the ICAN and the Royal Charter as granted by the Queen of England.

My questions to the pretenders to the crown still stand - I mean the so-called 'Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria' and the 'Chartered Financial Analysts'.  Who granted you lot the Royal Charter that you are claiming?



kiwi992.

Friend,


Who granted your organisation the Royal Charter?  The Queen of England or some made up name simply because it sounds prestigious in the eyes of the un-initiated?

If so, could you please refer us to the source of the Royal Charter so we may verify it.  If not, how come you address yourselves as the 'Institute of Chartered Economists'?  Are you trying to mis-lead the education-hungry Nigerians or what? 

Same question goes to the so-called 'Chartered Financial Analysts' (CFA) body, which I believe originates from Hong Kong or similar.



kiwi992.

Mate,


Very sorry to disappoint you but you never served in that organisation long enough, to sue for unfair dismissal.  I believe a minimum of two years' service is what's required.  However, I'm not quite sure about Nigeria.

Ask a Solicitor that specialises in Employment Law.



kiwi992.

Ebonyi,


You said:

@Kiwi992,

Why all the hatred, I bet if you were offered the same job you would not think twice before accepting it!

Well, I don't hate because I have no need to.

By the way, which bit of my posting portrays hatred?  The fact that Bakana was evacuated by the rebel Biafrans or that the Niger Delta has had a raw deal considering it's the bread basket of Nigeria?  

Tell you what, I was merely stating the facts exactly as they are, like it or not.  As you know, the truth is always bitter.  Is it not?

Would I accept that kind of pay for a job in the oil industry in the Niger Delta?  Definitely NOT.  Why?, because I would rather it were shared out amongst ten others, thereby creating the highly needed employment in that part of Nigeria.  Now, you may believe me or not but I don't give a toss.


Anivara, you said:

@ kiwi992

Finally, I just have to add this point, ,  in my opinion trying to say that those ex-pats working in Nigeria's Niger-Delta 'wont survive' if they return to their own country is non-starter.

The credit crunch is global, yet multi billion doller deals are still being done, the UK manufacturing industry has been in decline for the last 20 years, but with the current economic climate the pound has weakened, meaning other UK exports are more affordable keeping the economy ticking over,  (China and Indian economies have slowed) but are still growing ,  and where do they get the fuel for growth Europe !

So by all means plan to wring their necks for the sufferings they have brought unto your people but rest assured the sun will still rise in the UK and 'our people' will still line up at their embassy tring to get a visa to 'check out'

peace !

Mate, credit crunch or not, I've lived in the UK far too long, to know that the so-called expatriates that work in the oil industry in the Niger Delta have no hell of a chance of getting another job, if they ever dared to come back.

UK exports doing better, eh?  That's a joke mate.  What, with all the rising fuel prices, utilities, and all what not?  You seem to forget that when fuel prices go up, production costs go up as well and so industries have no choice but to pass on the higher costs to their customers by way of price increases, in order to maintain a reasonable profit margin or indeed, to break-even. 

When domestic prices go up, for example, in the shops and at the fuel pumps (as they currently are), this gives rise to workers asking for more wages in order to maintain their standard of living.  Higher wages inevitably goes on to increase the cost of production which MUST be passsed on to consumers by way of higher prices.

Result?  Higher domestic prices leads to higher export prices.  Thus, any favourable exchange rate is lost simply because the cost of UK domestic goods and services have gone up.  I don't think anybody needs a PhD in Economics to work this out for themselves.

Oh yeah, if you think that the UK is getting its fuel for growth from Europe, well, friend, you better get ready for what's coming to us, in view of the pipeline war currently raging in Georgia.  Russia has got a stranglehold on the supply of gas and crude oil in Europe, in case you didn't know, through GasProm.  The port of Poti has been completely destroyed so it would be a long time before we start seeing oil from the Caspian Sea. 

Under the current political developments, where do you expect the European countries to turn to, for their insatiable demand for oil?  Iraq or the Niger Delta?  You tell me. 

That said, you must search your conscience before venturing into the Niger Delta for your so-called cushy job.  You've been told.



kiwi992.

Jideosik,


Thank you.  

I'm glad that someone else can see my point and put selfishness and greed aside by being able to relate to the sufferings of the peoples of the Niger Delta.

Just to make the point clear to everyone working in the oil installations in the Niger Delta.  Please do not make the mistake of thinking that your lives are safe merely because of the private militia being operated by the cowboy oil companies.

Be rest-assured that the people of the Niger Delta know every nook and corner of that part of Nigeria - the rivers, creeks, streams and so on.  No-one should have the false illusion that his or her life would be safe working in the oil installations because it wouldn't. 

The peoples of the Niger Delta are very angry because they have been down-trodden over the decades.  Such injustices can never be allowed to carry on forever.  Never!  No right-minded person would allow such blatant oppression to carry on, the way that they have been, for decades and decades.  People being robbed of their natural resources, having no fair share in it, yet more and more states are being created in Nigeria as a result of the oil wealth that emanates from the Niger Delta.   

If anyone thinks that the private militia would protect them, then the one is living in a cloud cuckoo land and needs to have their heads examined.  You can, but only push someone up to a point and the one would definitely fight back, like a wounded lion, despite the opponent's might and size.  Examples abound all over the world.    

Here's a bit of history for everyone:  

During the Nigerian civil war, the rebel Biafrans evacuated the people of Bakana from their town.  Rebel soldiers then occupied it, making it a garrison town.  The island of Bakana is about five nautical miles from Port Harcourt.

Needless to say, hundreds of Bakana citizens lost their lives as a result of being dispersed to the Ibo hinterland.  Bakana became a ghost town occupied by the rebels who didn't have a clue about the topology of the Niger Delta, let alone, know how to swim in those massive rivers.

The rebels wanted to teach us a 'lesson' for supporting the Federal Government, so, occupied the town in the hope that they would, one day, start producing oil in order to become self-sufficient, having 'seceded' from Nigeria.  Little did they know that the rivers and creeks belonged to us, or, maybe, they conveniently forgot about it.

My people knew how to navigate their way around the Niger Delta.  The end result being that they paddled their way through the creeks, got to Lagos and steered Major General Adekunle and his Third Marine Commandoes to the New Calabar River in Bakana, from where a sustained attack was mounted from behind enemy lines.  Soon, Bakana fell, followed by other Rivers towns and villages, then Port Harcourt, Aba and so on.  Eventually, the war came to an end.

Make what you like of this real-life scenario and never under-estimate the peoples of the Niger Delta.  Give us our fair share of the oil wealth that comes from our land that's just what my people are asking for.  Is that too much to ask?

No violence, no kidnappings, no war or threats of secession.  Just play fair with the peoples of the Niger Delta and everything would be fine.  Afterall, we are all Nigerians, aren't we?

A word is enough for the wise.




kiwi992.


NB:

All those Europeans working in the Niger Delta, why don't you buggers jack your jobs and come back to your rundown cities and see how long you would survive?  Your UK jobs are all being eroded.  The country is in a mess - with the credit crunch.  You'll never survive one day over here.  Your pubs are getting closed down so you'll never be able to socialise and plot to rob the Niger Delta of its oil.  Shame on you bloody pigs!  Wait until I see you in the Niger Delta and I'll wring your necks for the sufferings that you have brought unto my people.