₦airaland Forum

Hey Shawn,


You've already got it!

Please refer to your posting on page two of this thread.  You were one of the first people to crack the code.  There isn't anything new to give, sorry.

Indeed, I thought you'd been very busy preparing for the Consultany exams.  Looks like you haven't.



kiwi992.

Hi Ed,



Thanks for the comments.

Nice to know that you and I have probably got a common blood line.  However, please remember that I've been away from home for much too long and as such, might not quite be able to identify such family members, except those that I knew as a kid.

The late Dr C.I Berepiki wasn't just a relative of mine but indeed, my dad.  I'm a brother to Lolo, Otonye and Dagogo Berepiki who are also his sons.  I do know that ILO is my dad's youngest sister from his paternal family and she lived in Berepiki's compound.  I don't know if she's still alive or dead now.  I do remember the names of such cousins as Berembo, Ben, Bekinbo, Gloria and Lowell Berepiki.  However, I'm not quite sure I'd be able to recognise them if I saw them.  The rest, I just can't remember them. 

As kids, we lived in Iyalla's compound as opposed to Berepiki's.  My dad was the last son of Ine, daughter of Paramount Chief Iyalla (Pina Pina Inai).  Former Ambassador Joe Iyalla, Dr Ibiapuye Yellowe and Ngo Yellowe (to name but only a few) are my family members from Iyalla's compound.

You said:

From your account of the history of Kalabari and by extention BAKANA, u missed little or nothing from from what i know and was told. From your account of Bakana history, it was obvious from which of the divide in Bakana u are from, i.e between Braide and Iyalla.

I would want to bring to your knowledge that   the version of history of BAKANA our brothers from braide compound have is slightly different from what u know, which is the basis of most acrimony between these two MAJOR GROUPS of the Town.

Tell you the truth, I don't know what's going on in Bakana at the moment.  I really don't want to know either or be drawn into such politics 'cos it's got nothing whatsoever to do with me.  All I know is that Bakana was a peaceful town when I left home.

I'd rather steer clear of such sensitive subjects, if you don't mind.  How could I belong to a so-called 'divide' when I've never been home to Bakana (or indeed Nigeria) since 1974?  Perhaps you were wrong in your presumption.  I do NOT belong to any faction or indeed, interested in belonging to one either.  Life's much too short for such trivial politics as to who founded Bakana and who didn't.  I wish people there would get a bloody life instead of fighting each other over such things.  silly!     

My mum was from LongJohn and Sokunoma polo, so, it'd be totally wrong of me to take sides, if ever I'm that daft - indeed, this is something that I'll never, ever do.  I think I've learnt more than enough to know what it means to live peacefully with my neighbours, regardless of their nationality, let alone my townsfolk in Bakana, were I to go back there. 

Most of all, I've got better things to do with my life, other than sticking my neck out, partaking in the silly politics of Bakana.  Anyway, what has anything got to do with me?  What do I know about Bakana and its politics eh?  Why should I be dragged into it or indeed, care about what's going on there?

They can fight as much as they like and raze the whole town to the ground for all I care.  The sad thing being that with such people around and wreaking havoc in the town, people with good intentions for Bakana would never rear their heads.

Instead of fighting each other, why can't those people find something better to do with their time?  Eh?  Why can't they?  Get a job or something or indeed, set up a fishing co-operative and become professional fishermen.  Nothing wrong with that, if you ask me. 

I can but only recall the history of the founding of Bakana as narrated to me as a kid by the elders in Iyalla's compound.  The fact that Bakana was founded by Paramount Chief Iyalla (Pina Pina Inai), who handed over the ruling of the town to his cousin Chief Braide, as he was the elder of the two.  That was what I was told and that's what I'm sticking to, period.

The oil wells in Bakana are located in Iyalla's compound (outside St Andrew's Church) but that doesn't mean that the revenue should only go to Iyalla's compound.  Far from it - it should be given to the entire Bakana Town (including Ifoko), and used to improve the town's infrastructure, build hospitals, schools, develop industries and so on, to create jobs for the people.  That's my take on it, never mind the greedy chiefs and their subjects who want everything for themselves, thereby causing so much unrest in the town.

Sorry but I don't quite seem to recall your grandma's name - been away too long, sorry.  Hope you understand.



kiwi992.

Hi Mort,


You said:

Igbos may hate you, definitely not because of the above reason you stated.  We HATE YOU because of your betrayal during the Nigerian Civil War.  Unfortunately, you are paying dearly for your sins now. The Ijaws will remain slaves of the Nigerian state until Jesus comes!

You shouldn't be hating.  Hatred gets nobody anywhere.

This is a Kalabari thread and I really wouldn't wish to discuss anything relating to the Nigerian Civil War.  That said, you stated that you IBOS hate us because we, the peoples of the Niger Delta betrayed you during the civil war.  Well, cool and so be it.  It's within your rights to feel the way you do about us and I've got no qualms whatsoever, about that.

Can I just say that I saw the sad events leading up to the Nigerian Civil War, right in front of my eyes as a kid, as I was being driven home to Ikoyi, at the foot of the Carter Bridge, Lagos, close to Ebute Meta market.  I'm sure, that market exists 'til today.

During the carnage, I can tell you that it wasn't only the Ibos that were being slaughtered by the Hausa soldiers.  All Easterners were, and that included the Efiks, Ibibios, Ijaws and so on, as long as you were from the former Eastern Region.  A lot more Ibos were killed because you guys are in the majority in that part of Nigeria.

If you were an Easterner, then you were a 'nyamiri' as far as the Hausa soldiers were concerned, and fit for slaughter.  Many of my dad's Ibo friends and colleagues were killed.  We just mananged to escape to Ibadan and then to Port Harcourt before going home to Bakana.

The Yorubas were kind-enough to provide a safe haven for many people from the East, the Ibos included, believe it or not.  Bless them!  Please remember this whenever you wish to bash them in this Forum and elsewhere. 

Considering all that went on, (and the fact that ALL Easterners suffered the same fate in the hands of the marauding, gun-wielding, trigger-happy Hausa soldiers of then), you guys, the IBOS, decided to secede from Nigeria, to form the Republic of Biafra. 

I don't blame you for it - who wouldn't, under the circumstances?  I would have, 'cos there's no way that I would have wanted to remain in a country that didn't want me.

That said, you, the Ibos, made a fundamental mistake as regards the way you went about conducting the Biafran War.

In short, how could you have expected us to support your war efforts when:

1.  We, the peoples of the Niger Delta were NEVER consulted before you seceded to form Biafra - a sovereign 'nation' that was supposed to encompass all of the former Eastern Nigeria, of which we also were.  Remember, we all suffered the same fate in the hands of the Hausa soldiers.  Did we not?

2.  You (the Biafrans) in your perceived wisdom or otherwise, EVACUATED Bakana Town, dispersing the whole populace to the Ibo hinterland, causing the deaths of thousands.  You then made Bakana a garrison town, to wage war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ever wondered as to why your soldiers were dying like flies as well as drowning in the shallowest of waters, whilst occupying Bakana?  That was the Kalabari goddess, Awomine Akaso, wreaking havoc on your troops! Remember the un-explained nightly goings-on in the ghost town?

By the way, had it not been for the kind-hearted Ikwerres that gave shelter to some of my townsfolk, Bakana would have been wiped off the face of this earth, thanks to you Biafrans!

How do you think the citizens of Bakana (and indeed, other Kalabaris) felt?  Sit on their arses and do nothing about it?

This ill-thought-out strategic move on your part (the Biafrans), was the last straw for my people and perceived as an open invitation to guide the Third Marine Commandoes, under the leadership of the very capable Scorpion, Major General Adekunle, through the creeks of the Niger Delta, all the way from Lagos to Bakana, inorder to mount a ferocious attack on you rebels.  Bakana fell, then Port Harcourt, Aba, and so on.

If the act of steering the Federal troops through the creeks of the Niger Delta inorder to liberate Bakana was seen as an act of betrayal by you Biafrans, so bloody well be it.  You should have thought about it most carefully before evacuating the town.

3.  When it was clearly OBVIOUS that you were fighting for yourselves and yourselves alone.  You were shouting 'Ibo kwenu' in all of your rhethoric.  I presume this was because you saw Biafra purely as an Ibo country, right?  Can't be too far wrong on that.   

4.  You were openly making all sorts of THREATS against the peoples of the Niger Delta, saying that you'd deal with us once the war with Nigeria was over.  Saying such things as - 'we would take over your towns and islands and drive you away into the Atlantic Ocean' or even worse.  What does that signify?  Bloody selfish, if you ask me.  Perhaps you guys forgot that there is such a thing as self-preservation. 

Saying things like 'nde mba mmiri' (the riverine people) 'only had sense when the tide had risen and no sense when the tide ebbed'.  Such mis-construed, stupid generalisations, simply because we wouldn't support you.

You can not force a people to support you.  Rather, you earn the people's support and in the eyes of the peoples of the Niger Delta, you Ibos never earned it.  You were fighting a selfish war to create a nation purely for the Ibos and no-one else.  The greater goal being to get your hands on the massive oil wealth.  Sorry, that's the truth and the truth is always bitter.

I think that we, the peoples of the Niger Delta, through this Forum and elsewhere, have more than demonstrated that we are a great force to be reckoned with, when it comes to intelligence, academics or military strategy.  How can a people that eat fish on a daily basis right from childhood lack intelligence, to warrant your people saying that we only had sense when the tide had blah, blah, blah?  Perhaps you don't know how good fish is, for your brain.

I put it to you that your long-standing hatred of the peoples of the Niger Delta stems from our role during the slave trade, not as you seem to put it, by saying that it's because we betrayed you during the Nigerian Civil War.

Having said all that, my personal opinion is that the peoples of the Niger Delta would rather be 'slaves' to the Nigerian nation as opposed to being 'slaves' to the Ibos.  At least we are fighting our own little corner, for our rights, whilst remaining within Nigeria because we believe that there is strength (and indeed, SAFETY) in numbers.



kiwi992.

NB:
I do apologise, if I've offended anybody here with my views.  I just had to speak my mind and the truth as I see it.

Anuli Onyeabo, my childhood sweetheart (partly from Onitsha and Bakana), and my childhood Ibo friends in Lagos (particularly John Oti of Ibom Village in Arochukwu) and other Ibo friends in the UK and elsewhere, I'm not being disloyal to you.  Hope you understand.

Hi All,


Hmmm - a very interesting posting.

If there is any accuracy to the contents of the above-mentioned letter, there's just one important question that I'd like to ask.  How can a king of the Kalabari Kingdom be enthroned due to the efforts of just one person?  How come? 

Is it not the case that whenever a Kalabari king is to be enthroned, ALL the chiefs of Kalabari Kingdom would meet up in Buguma (our capitial) and crown the one that meets all the criteria, in accordance with our time-old tradition?  I didn't think that anybody could be 'interested' in becoming a Kalabari king, other than being enthroned, through a consensus of all the Kalabari chiefs, sitting in that meeting.

There are two sides to every story, so, I'm going to take this letter solely on its face value - two cousins having a squabble or trying to settle an old score.  Indeed, these two gentlemen are contemporaries of my late father - Dr C. I. Berepiki, as well as uncle, ex-Ambassador Joe Iyalla.

Tell you the truth, I don't wanna get involved in something about which I don't know the true facts.  Even if I did, I wouldn't wish to get involved in such things 'cos life's much too short to be embroiled in other people's affairs.  Moreover, I'm too miniscule a fish in the big Kalabari ocean to give an opinion on matters such as this.  This is a domain of the Kalabari chiefs, most definitely not yours or mine.  That said, however, I do know for certain that a Kalabari king can, but, only be crowned by a consensus of ALL the Kalabari chiefs. 

Anyway, why should it be that only chiefs from Buguma could be privy to the Kalabari kingship?  Why not someone from the other towns or villages - say Abonnema, Bakana, Tombia, Bile, Ke, Kula, Obuama, and so on?  Why not?  What's wrong with that?

As I said, I'd rather not get involved in this, as it's too sensitive a subject.  What do I know eh?  I only live in a foreign country, so there!  The last thing that I wish to do is to tread on someone's toes.




kiwi992.

Hi,


A very good question that can not be answered by many so-called Managers.

Surely, there are other ways to motivate staff.  Money is most definitely NOT the only thing that motivates people in the workplace.

One of the key factors that motivates a person (in the workplace) is the one's heirarchy of needs.  The higher-up the hierarchy the one is, the less the one would be motivated by money.  Such factors as participation in the decision-making process thus becomes far more important to the one than mere money, especially, if the one has reached the point of self-actualisation.

Other factors such as the manager's leadership style, group processes and team spirit, significantly lead to how motivated a workforce is, in the organisation.

Please pick up a good book on 'Human Behaviour In the Workplace' and ensure you understand:

1.  The Hierarchy of Needs - Maslow
2.  Theory X and Theory Y - McGregor
3.  Dual Factor Theory - Hertzberg
4.  AAP Theory - McClelland

Whilst there, please pay particular attention to leadership styles, since this does greatly affect how the manager motives his or her staff.  Such things as the leadership continium, team building, group processes and motivation theory are crucial.

Once you've managed to grasp these theories, you'd be better able to manage your staff, thus bringing about a highly motivated workforce and reducing staff turnover.

I can assure you that these theories do work 'cos I'd successfully used them whilst managing seventeen members of staff in my previous role as Company Accountant.

However, I must stress that managing staff is one of the most difficult things to do, as I found out early, in my career.  It was then that I decided to treat each individual member of staff differently.  You simply can not apply a blanket theory to everybody.  You mustn't.  You should understand that all your members of staff are not the same, neither are they on the same level in the heirarchy of needs.  

Most especially, take a good look at your leadership style - are you supportive, autocratic or laisez faire?  What would you do if a member of staff comes late to work - once, twice or thrice?  What you do depends on your leadership style.  What if the one has personal problems?  What would you do?  Similar issues abound.    

Please don't forget all of the above if you want your workforce to be motivated and perform for you towards achieving the grand corporate strategy. 

Oh yeah, I never, ever used to mess around with my female staff either.  I had all the opportunities in the world but never, ever fell for any of them 'cos I knew the effect of it on the organisation.  In short, if you do that, it would lead to a de-motivated workforce, higher staff turnover (not just for more money but because they've got sick of your messing around with the female staff), and indeed, spell your downfall.

Hope this helps.



kiwi992.
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

Hi,


Having a degree in Banking and Finance should have got you a job in a Nigerian bank.  I'm surprised that you didn't pursue that avenue, considering that every Nigerian wishes to work in a bank!

Still, let's not dwell on that for now.  You've been doing finance and admin for the past five years, in your current job.  You said you hadn't made any progress either.  Now, you wish to train into pure Administration.  Why?  Why would you want to go into boring Admin again, why?  Would you rather be sitting in some desolate office, twidling your thumb all day, wasting the next five years again or what?  You'll be bored out of your mind, I can tell you now. 

Why not capitalise on your academic qualification by seeking employment in a bank (everybody in Nigeria does) and train for the professional exams of the Institute of Bankers or perhaps Accountancy - e.g. ICAN, ACCA or CIMA. 

All the best to you.



kiwi992.

Hi,


Maths hands down, anytime, anywhere. 

Sod the Economics!  Look at the state of the global economy.  What have the Economists done to save us, except to theorise.  Oh yeah, try this, try that and see which macro-economic tool works.  Quantitative easing 'an all.  What a bloody joke! 

Maths - in UK and Nigeria for me.  More opportunities would be open to you with a degree in Maths.  Oh yeah, also add the PGCE to it once you've graduated 'cos you never know, you might not quite like it in Nigeria and would be wanting to go back to the UK where teachers in such disciplines are in high demand.  Turn on your TV and you'll see what I mean.

Ensure you make a 1 or 2.1



kiwi992.

Hi,


As you've been told, a degree in Physics is very good.  Kinda rare breed.

After graduation, you could possibly do research towards a PhD, PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education - so as to teach Physics), work for a scientific organisation and so on.  The world is your oyster.  Better still, if you live in the West, which I know you don't.

Please steer well-clear of IT-related qualifications such as CCNA, MCSE, CISSP, and so on.  They are all CRAP!  I've got them all and I can tell you that they are rubbish.  Just a means of lining up the pockets of the IT vendors such as Cisco, Microsoft and so on.  CISSP is a bloody theoretical qualification.  You don't need any of them.  Worst still, you'd be required to update your qualification by re-certifying every two or three years.  The days when these qualifications were in high demand have long since gone.  Don't even bother!

You should seriously consider going into Aviation after graduating - e.g. Avionics, Aerodynamics, Engines, and such.  I don't mean pure flying but the technical stuff.  I'm sure you'd like that, with a Physics degree.

I believe Nigeria desperately needs Aircraft Engineers 'cos all their aircraft are falling to bits or being sent off abroad for maintenance when Nigerians should have been trained to do the job at home, thus saving the country a fortune in terms of foreign exchange.

Hope this helps.



kiwi992.

Hi Na2day,


Good point. 

I do think that the chiefs and elders at home should stress the importance of upholding the one's culture and tradition, especially by speaking the lingo, as opposed to speaking English.  Perhaps they are trying to create a mis-conceived impression on others.  How so daft.

It's bad enough having to add bits of English, here and there, whilst speaking the one's native language, let alone abandoning it in place of English, when the English themselves don't take much pride in their own language.  Colloquial English aside, they (the English) speak the most grammatically incorrect English, you won't ever believe it.

On a personal note, it's a bit hard for me particularly because I have to think very hard about the Kalabari words before speaking the language.  I'm ashamed to say that I now speak my native language like a foreigner, whereas I don't think about any word whilst speaking English.  Still, I do try, even though it gets me irritable as I constantly have to stop and remember the words, hence my sentences in Kalabari no longer flow as much as they should do.

What?  A Bakana citizen - the best Kalabari speakers - speaking incorrect Kalabari grammar?  What a bloody shame!  It's the price you pay for living in a foreign land, I might add.

That said, I do know that the only way to hang on to the one's culture and tradition, especially living abroad, is by making a conscious effort to speak the one's language, no matter what.  Failing that, the one definitely feels lost in the foreign land.

On a side note, I do know that Asian kids do speak both languages fluently - English and their parents' native language such as Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi or whatever.  Good on them.



kiwi992

Iyimbere Killayut,


Nice write-up, I must say! 

I'm lost for words in terms of what to say 'cos it seems you do know a lot about Kalabari history, much better than I do.  I guess you live at home, so it's only expected.

That said, you failed to quote your sources to substantiate the argument you are putting forward.  As you know, it's one thing to say something, and another to backup it up with verifiable facts.  Ha ha - gotcha!  Still, my respects to you for your extensive knowledge of our history.

Do I throw in the towel at this juncture or what?  Na-a, I need to have sight of your sources or hear from some other Kalabari before doing so.  Altogether, a very good account, if I may say so.

Good to know that you are from Berepiki's compound as well.  What a small world eh?  Here was I, coming to Nairaland to try and have a feel for what's happening at home, with a view to visiting Nigeria at some point, after thirty four years abroad, and we bump into each other, discussing our people.  How cool is that?

Actually, I thought you were an Ijaw hence had been banging on about the Ijaws.  Anyway, as you know, any Kalabari would tell you that we are NOT Ijaws.  Sorry!  Just go to any Kalabari town or village and tell people that we are Ijaws (wa mine Ijaw na apu) and you'd hear what their answer would be.  That doesn't mean that your argument doesn't hold any water, mind.  It's just the way it is with us as Kalabari people.  Hope you understand.



kiwi992.

Hi All,



SUPERBOI

Yes, I'm saying that it's a lot, lot cheaper to train in the States than it is to train in South Africa.  It used to cost peanuts an hour to train in the US, years ago.  Still, it's much cheaper to train there even now.  So is Canada.  Lots of Brits go to the States to train.

The flying schools would do everything to get your business, especially in these days of economic downturn.  Most of them have got a well-maintained fleet of aircraft - Cessnas, Pipers, Beech Duchesses, Robinsons and so on, in addition to a good ground school. 

Whatever you do, please do NOT pay the fees up-front.  You pay as you go along 'cos you never know what could happen to the flying school.


WHAM

Thanks.  I honestly wish it were easier for our people to get into flying.

Flying is my number one passion in life and nothing else comes close to it.  I fly at every opportunity, weather permitting.  It's so much fun.  Sod everything else, flying is what I love best and I know that I'll most probably die up there doing what I love doing - and what a befitting way it would be to depart this earth. 



kiwi992.

Hi Scorp,


Well done mate, very well done. 

Listen - just persevere and keep looking.  You'll definitely get your foot in the doorway, no matter what. 

You mustn't forget to network with others in Nigeria, including your lecturer at uni who taught you SAP.  I'm sure he or she must know of some openings somewhere.  Just go and ask.  Oh yeah, get yourself a professional-looking CV as well. 

Personally, I'd advice you to get in touch with the SAP consulting firms or indeed, the oil companies (or the other 50 or so companies) which I understand have got SAP implemented.

Please do not forget to certify in the module of your choice, other than what you've achieved at the moment.  Do it as soon as possible, if you can.  It's always good to strike whilst the iron is hot.

All the best.



kiwi992.

Hi All,



FELIX

There is NO misconception here, whatsoever.  Impossible!

Can I say that working for SAP does not mean that the one understands SAP's technologies or product offering better than anybody who doesn't work for SAP AG.  It ain't a big deal working for SAP either, if I may add.  It's just a luck of the draw as to where you find yourself working.  Most SAP professionals work as Independent Consultants.

You said:

I need to correct a couple of misconceptions I have read about here,

Enterprise portal is NOT SAP BASIS, actually we now  call SAP BASIS , SAP NETWEAVER.This is a dual stack system,i.e JAVA AND ABAP.
Enterprise portal is pure Java,managing this software is through our  java tools, or the solution manager diagnostics which has the wiley tool

SAP is always evolving with new technologies in line with market demand.  This means that older products are either dropped, re-packaged or new ones added to the existing 1012 modules.  In its new guise:

1.  ABAP (SAP's programming language) is now called NetWeaver 

'SAP NetWeaver includes a comprehensive set of components and tools'

http://www.sap.com/platform/netweaver/components/index.epx

Note:

Inorder to pass the NetWeaver exams, the one needs to be competent in the following technologies, when learning from the official TADM courseware:

ABAP/Java
Oracle/BRTools


2.  SAP BASIS is now called Enterprise Portal

SAP Enterprise Portal solution is part of the NetWeaver platform but most definitely NOT NetWeaver.  A part of it, yes, but not it.

'SAP® Enterprise Portal is a key component of the SAP NetWeaver™ platform. SAP Enterprise Portal is the industry’s most comprehensive portal solution, providing a complete portal infrastructure along with bundled knowledge management and collaboration capabilities. It provides people-centric integration of all types of enterprise information, including SAP and third-party applications, structured and unstructured data, and Web content. It is based on open standards such as Web services and supports both Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) and Microsoft .NET technology'.

http://www.sap.com/search/index.epx?q1=Enterprise%20Portal

Quote:

I also read someone mention APO, this is now called SCM and that comprises of a couple of modules,i.e

Demand planning --this uses infocubes so it's  used with BW/BI
SNP  -supply network planning, planning across a whole network
PP/DS -production planning, planning for each plant
SPP -spare parts planning, this is a new module,
etc

Correction:

APO (Advanced Planning and Optimisation) is NOT the same thing as SCM (Supply Chain Management).  These are two different things.  Neither is CRM (Customer Relationship Management) the same thing as SCM.

APO is a tool that's used in SAP.  It is used for example, in PP - Production Planning, amongst others.

Oracle and SAP are very much together,most of the implementations of SAP is on Oracle and we at SAP actually have an Oracle competence center,yes,it is true that you can
use SAPDB, WHICH IS NOW CALLED MaxDB,or MSSQL.ORACLE is still the preferred database,

Correction:

Oracle and SAP can NEVER be 'very much together', considering that Oracle accused SAP of stealing its intellectual property rights.  SAP AG admitted to it and the whole industry knows about it.  The last time I read about it, Oracle was going to sue SAP AG for serious damages.

You have an Oracle Competence Centre because most of the global SAP implementations (at least before the big scandal) had Oracle database as a backbone.  These clients need supporting and SAP BASIS Consultants need to be trained in Oracle database administration as part of their SAP implementation work as well as day-to-day duties.

I doubt it very much as to whether Oracle database would still be the preferred choice for new implementations, in view of the scandal.  Put it this way, the relationship between Oracle and SAP have been badly strained.

The role of a modern day basis administrator is alot deeper than my friend described. First you need to know Unix and Windows,at least one database management system,Java---at least know how the garbage collector works,know what a Java instance is made up.Know software logistics,RFCs,ABAP DEBUGGING.And performance tuning

I totally disagree:

You do NOT need to know UNIX except where it's used as the platform to implement SAP.  As an example, I never knew anything about UNIX or Oracle before implementing the SAP R/3 4.6C IDES (4.7D kernel) on my PC at home.  Why on earth would anybody need to know UNIX if the one were implementing the product on a Windows platform?  Neither do you need to know Java or ABAP and all what you've mentioned above.  Indeed, I only had to read up on Oracle database administration just enough to enable me administer the database after implementing the product - such things as database sizing, tablespace re-organisation, optimisation, and so on.  

Our people MUST be encouraged to get certified instead of being discouraged or frightened-off by such statements. 

I don't come from a database or programming background, yet I'm able to administer my own SAP R/3 IDES 4.6C system, including the database.  By the way, I'm self-trained and FI/CO certified.

actually one of the best modules to learn is BI/BW,there is always work in this area and i know SHELL in Nigeria uses this module.

I'm not so sure:

My advice as always is that prospective SAP Consultants should ONLY train into a module that best matches their professional or academic background.  It doesn't matter how lucrative a module is, the key thing is relevance to the one's background, full stop.   

Now that we've cleared the air and given far less importance to terminology, I'd like to ask you this important question:

WHAT HELP CAN YOU OFFER YOUR FELLOW-NIGERIANS SO THAT THEY COULD GET QUALIFIED AND GET EMPLOYED IN THIS LUCRATIVE FIELD?

Is it the case that you'd rather keep it all to yourself because you don't want anybody to make as much money as you are?

Personally, I've done my best for my fellow country-men and women.  The evidence is all here for everyone to see.


COLA

You're welcome.  Good luck to you.


AIIJAY

No probs.  Just keep asking and somebody would be willing to help you.


SCORP

All the best with exams.

Just remember that you'd need to certify in a specific module, as you know that what you are studying at the moment is just the SAP basics.



kiwi992.

Hi All,


SCORPIO

You're alright man.  You're alright, no worries.


RAHEEM

Glad to know that you are getting the crucially important hands-on skills.

Please work extremely hard 'cos it would pay off in the end, when you qualify.  Do see what help you could render to Aiijay.  She does need to get started as well.


COLA

Mo ti shey fu en.  Sho ogbo?  Yuu fo dey luuk inside yua domot fo Internet.


MOVES

I think SAP AG does offer an INDUSTRY SOLUTION for the Telecoms industry. Please look into it.   

Maybe your mate could come in here to tell us precisely what he wants.  In saying that, I'm not quite sure as to where his skills in Software Testing would fit in with SAP.  Still, it would be much better if he comes here to talk to us.


AIIJAY

Please don't worry.  You'll get there in the end.

What you need is the IDES ECC 6.0 on your PC.  Maybe you should get someone to install it for you more than anything else.  All the better if you could implement it yourself.

I'm sure Raheem would be more than happy to liaise with you on that front, so are the others who have already started.  Just keep badgering them but in a nice way.

Whatever happens, please don't despair even though you are very keen to get started.



kiwi992.
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

Hi All,



PUV


You're alright. 

The link gives you the various material from source.  If you wanted, you could also become a paid-up member and you wouldn't have the need to look elsewhere, e-Bay included.

Actually, I think you should become a paid-up member and avail yourself of all the extra goodies there, being that you live in Finland and so could use PayPal.  Sadly, our brothers and sisters in Nigeria couldn't because their credit cards are not accepted by the payment system in that link, neither can they use PayPal - thanks to the low life Nigerian 419 scammers.  If I were you, I certainly wouldn't trust anybody with my credit card.  Phew! that would be feasting them. 

At this stage, it's most important for you guys to remain focussed by using the academy training material.  Anything else wouldn't do - take it from me.  If you don't, then you'd be wasting your time reading stuff that's not going to help you pass the Consultancy exams.

Yeah, you could always do general reading but the focus should be on training with the academy material.     

All the best.


NNAIAH

Many thanks for your thoughts.  I'm flatttered. 

Glad to know that you are having the crucially important hands-on skills.  Never rush the training, just take your time to perform all the practical exercises in the academy training material.  Please do NOT cut corners.  Practise, practise and practise until the hands-on skills become second nature to you.      

If you train as you are doing at the moment, I can not see as to why you wouldn't succeed.

Good luck.


RAHEEM


You're most welcome.

That said, I feel a bit concerned about the way you are conducting your training.  I say this because you've mentioned 'reading' in a few of your postings, without mentioning 'hands-on' training.

As I've always maintained, it is crucially important to have the hands-on practise using the IDES ECC 6.0.  It would be nigh impossible to pass the exams and perform on the job without the practical skills.

Please ensure that you are getting the hands-on skills.  I can not stress this enough.  If you aren't, PLEASE forget about using the Nigerian 'sense of imagination' in place of the hands-on practise because this wouldn't work with SAP being that it is an entirely practically-oriented training.  I wouldn't even advice anybody to use sims (simulators) becuase you need to feel the real thing.  Know what I mean?

I say this because I've tried all forms of SAP training and nothing works except having the IDES on the one's PC at home (or at the training organisation), and practising the hands-on skills on a daily basis. 
   
You've got access to the source material - especially the academy training material.  Please use them and remain focussed at all times.  Don't be distracted!

All the best to you.       


LUCHI

You're most welcome.  Good luck to you.



kiwi992.
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

Hi All,


So what's happening with your flying dreams?

I hope you guys are not thinking of giving up on the dream because flying is the best thing that you could ever do in your life.  Take it from me!  Once you've caught the flying bug, you'll forever be looking up at the skies and wanting to be up there.  Please keep the dream alive.

Just to give you an idea of the cost of learning how to fly in some countries:

India = very cheap
Russia = cheap
Ukraine = cheap
Czech Republic = cheap
Slovakia = cheap
Poland = cheap
Indonesia = cheap
USA = cheap
Canada = cheap
Malaysia = expensive
Singapore = expensive
South Africa = expensive
Australia = very expensive
New Zealand = very expensive
UK = very expensive

Most (if not all) of these countries are members of ICAO, so really, you shouldn't have problems with the validy of their licences in Nigeria, other than a check ride.  Just research into it.  All you need is your cash in your pocket, arrival at the flying school in the country of your choice and voila, you're on!  You're on your first flying lesson towards the PPL without too much headache.   

Failing that, you could always fly for leisure, just like me.  Get the Private Pilot's Licence and you're off in the air fulfilling your flying dreams, before you know it.

Indeed, there are many types of affordable aircraft to own and fly e.g. gyroplane, microlight, PPC, paratrike, foot-launched powered hang glider, paramotor, paraglider, and so on.  Flying is flying, as long as you get up in the air.  You mustn't feel hopeless about it or wait for the airlines or oil companies to train you.  You should rely on yourselves to get trained somehow, but train, you MUST!

Lastly, you could pull your resources together and build a two-seater aircraft and train in it, or indeed, build a small helicopter from kit.  The possibilities are endless.

I hope this would get you guys thinking because of all the things that I have done in my life, flying is what I like doing best.  You can't beat the adrenalin rush, the take-off, the serenity in the air, the closeness to nature, flying like a bird, and the pure joy of it all. 



kiwi992.

Listen You Lot,


There's something fundamental that you guys are forgetting - just like you do in your everyday lives.  It's called 'freedom of speech'.  Ever heard of it?

I don't bloody have to reply to your questions or do I?  How so typical of you - we don't like him not answering us so he must be gagged!  Perhaps you should ask those posters to do their research properly about Ijaw names before posting.

Why the interest in Ijaw names, anyway?  If you are that interested, just take a trip down there.  Drive down, go on the train or coach to Port Harcourt and catch a boat to any of the Kalabari towns, Okrika, Opobo, Bonny, Nembe, Yenagoa or wherever.

You must learn to respect others' wishes.  It isn't by force or is it?   



kiwi992.

Hi All,



PUV, LUCHI and MOVES

A don dooam fo ona.  Mkae ona dey luuk inside ona domot fo Internet.

Moves, e be like sey yoo no enta yuua address propa propa.  A korekt am small.  De leta wey a send yuu neva come bak so e be like sey e don go reech yuu.  A go chek again.


GOBI

A still dey wait fo yuu.  Man dey luuk yuua face.  No vex bot a fo like mkae yuu nak yuua native grama plos broken fo mee, propa, propa.  A onli fit helep yuu eef yuu na awa broda abi sista.  Just nak yuua native grama and speek de brokin like dem dey nak am fo 9ja.


UCHE

You should know by now that I do NOT live in Nigeria (and haven't done so for the past 34 years), so, don't know what's happening in Lagos or our country for that matter.  Please do a search for SAP in Nigeria as I heard there is an office in Abuja.

In terms of your academic and professional background:


MICROBIOLOGY

SAP AG does offer an industry solution for the pharmaceutical industry.  You might need to look into that.

CCNA

I happen to have that qualification as well.  Routing, switching, inter-networking to be precise.  There is SAP Router but not that great - I mean, not much to it, if you see what I mean and it isn't certifiable.  Personally, I'd look into BASIS (Enterprise Portal) on account of this qualification.

AUTOCAD

This is a very good qualification for engineering, architecture and similar.  You really ought to get a good job working with that qualification 'cos I did have a friend over here - an Architect.  He is English but could never get a job as an Architect, after spending seven (7) years at uni, until he did the AutoCad course.  He is now sorted and doing very well, thank you very much.

As regards its relevance in your future SAP studies, I think you should look into PM - Plant Maintenance.

You must make your choice solely based on where your strengths lie (and demand), but definitely not for the money.


SCORPIO

I don't quite understand you!

I did sponsor you some days ago - as per page seven (7) of this thread.  Sadly, you never even bothered to reply to my e-mail to acknowledge it or indeed, come here to show your appreciation by saying a simple 'thank you' as everybody else does.  I think anybody would consider that as being ungrateful, wouldn't you?  

You are now back here asking for some software with which to practise.  Mate, you need to make good use of the link that I gave to you and go through it judiciously.  You'll get all what you want there, okay?



kiwi992.
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

Hi All,



GOBI

Yoo no sey a no get time fo pipu wey no be 9ja.

E be like sey e take yuu long time to reepli.  De wey wey yoo take nak the broken sef dey make me dey wonder.  No vex, mkae yuu nak yuua native 9ja grama heea e.g. Edo, a beg!  A just wan mkae suo sey yuu bee awa country man.

No wori a go dooam fo yuu wen a no propa, propa sey yuu na 9ja.  Jost nak de native grama plos brokin heea.


PUV

A tank yuu again.  A beg, mee a no bi anybodi compared wit oga kpata kpata Wole Soyinka.  Still tank yuu-o.

Wen me a dey nak oyibo a no dey tink buut wen a wan tri nak mai native grama - Kalabari, a dey tink befo a tok.  Dat meen sey a don lost fo oyibo man him country.  Hmm, na wa!  Mke God helep man.

A go dooam fo yuu.  A juust dey wait fo Gobi.  


BRIZ


Nice to see you back.

You know how it is - people do change their minds and I thought it was better for me to give out the link, as so many couldn't decode it.

It's always a very good thing to help our people 'cos if you don't look after your own, then nobody would.  Right now, I'll be interested in knowing how our people are getting on with their SAP studies, more than anything else.  

All the best.



kiwi992.

Hi Puv,


Thanks for the compliments. Glad to know that you're learning from these postings.

As a tok befo, u no sey na awa pipu wey a wan helep.  Eef yoo bee 9ja, a beg mkae yuu dey nak de ile grama mkae a take no sey yuu na awa omo.  A beg no vex.




kiwi992.

4Tunate,


Please read through the whole thread.  However, I'll summarise it for you. 

Choose a module that fits in well with either your:

1.  Professional background
2.  Academic background
3.  Current job role
     - even if it's the wrong type of job in terms of your professional or academic background, as long as you really enjoy doing that job and have acquired experience doing it.

By the way, it's good that you are taking steps to implement it on your computer.  That is the best way to train.  I tried all the other training routes and none of them worked for me except the self-training route.

SAP Academy - it's very expensive and the 4-week training is much too short to learn anything significant.  You are rushed off your feet to cover the huge syllabus and you'd probably go back home with nothing in your head, just like me, when I attended NIIT to do the MCSE, many years ago.  In the end, I had to start all over again to teach myself at home. 

IDES Access - you pay to access the IDES online, but at what price and for how long?  You only have access to your specific module, for a stipulated number of months - say two.  The more months that you book, the more money that you'd have to pay for the access. 

Using the above-mentioned training routes, one can never be au fait with the product, as compared with the one who manages to implement the product at home, and literally 'plays' with it on a daily basis, without having to fork out so much money.  This alone would give the one so much confidence, the one wouldn't believe it.  One learns so, so, so much by following this route.

Needless to say, if the one is not very familiar with the product, then the one would never have the confidence to do the job.  It's all about being able to perform on the job.  Can the one do the job?  Better still, CAN YOU DO THE JOB?  This is the big question. 

On the other hand, if the one had implemented the SAP IDES ECC 6.0 on the one's PC at home, 'played' with it on a daily basis, prepared for the Consultancy exams (over a period of nine to twelve months), and passed the rigorous exams, then it stands to reason that the one would have acquired the necessary skills (and experience with the product), as well as built up the confidence, to justify being appointed as a Junior SAP Consultant.  The one would most definitely be able to do the job when faced with the same product at work, without being scared, in the knowledge that the product with which the one trained long-term at home, is exactly what the one is using in the workplace.  How fab is that eh?  Going to work thus becomes far less stressful because you are going from home to home (or so to say), as far as the tool you'd be using at work (SAP R/3) is concerned.   

Remember that if the one can not do the job, then the one would be fired.  End of!  This is why it is crucially important for everyone to think carefully about the one's chosen training route.  Personally, I can not see the point in rushing to pass the Consultancy exams.  What's the point in qualifying if the one can not do the job? 

Indeed, there are many senior SAP Consultants out there that are not certified but are extremely good at the job because they've got a solid hands-on experience with using the product.  These guys earn a bucket-load of dosh.  You better believe it 'cos they do, simply on account of their SAP project implementation experience.

Finally, do you think that I would have had the confidence and experience to discuss SAP with you guys in such depth, the way I have been doing on this thread, had I not trained myself at home?  You go figure.

Be rest assured that I can train most of those so-called SAP Academy trainers, let alone the cowboy trainers out there.  Yes, moi, a Nairalander!

A word is enough for the wise.   



kiwi992.
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

Hey Guys,


Great news!  

Great news indeed and an icing on the cake for you SAP aspirants.  My prediction about Nigeria being in line to see the next wave of SAP implementations has been confirmed by this great news for our country. 

Double your efforts and get in there.  Please be quick and get certified.



kiwi992.
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

NB:

EJEH

Mate, please read through the whole thread.  You will find the answers to your questions.  You just need to take your time to read all what I have written.  I can not repeat myself.  Sorry!

Hi All,


No probs.  Ona welcome.  Make ona dey try.


RAHEEM

Christ man!  Where the heck have you been?  I thought you had disappeared from the face of the earth.  Hope your SAP studies are going well and that you are getting there slowly but surely.

All the best.  Easy now!



kiwi992.

Hi All,


Bobo don dooam pa ona.  Ona fur luuk ona domot wey de na Internet.


kiwi992.

Hi All,



MALAM

Sanu dey zua.  Mkae yuu no wori.  A go dooam fur yuu.


EJEH

Me a don tok sey man fur nak him 9ja grama befo man feet helep him broda.  A beg mkae yuu sef dey doo so.


BODE


What I have posted here about SAP is all relevant information.  It doesn't matter when I posted them - fact is fact.  Indeed there are at least two highly experienced Nigerian SAP Consultants here who can attest to that fact.  Please take your time to read through the whole thread.  All the information you want is in this thread.  I really can not repeat myself.  Hope you understand.

E ma wori.  Ma shey fu en.  Shey oti gbo? 


AIIJAY


Nwan nne.  Kedu ka odi?

You're alright.

We are one - One Nigeria and that's all that matters to me.  Nigerians must never lose out on this highly desirable technological skill.

If other nationals are smart enough to qualify as SAP Consultants, then we Nigerians are ten times smarter to do so.  We are too clever to be left behind.  Far too smart, if you ask me and the whole world knows about it.  Oh yes, they do!

Why must Nigerians be deprived of the SAP skills when the ill-trained, ill-experienced foreigners are flocking into the country to take the lucrative jobs from our people?  Surely it can not be a preserve of the Westerners, or can it?  

Sod the Westerners, sod economic globalisation.  Nigerians MUST come first in the Nigerian job market.  



kiwi992
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

Hey Guys,


As you may well appreciate, I have done my absolute best to put you on the right track.  Please research on it and send an e-mail to the appropriate training organisation.  That would be the best way to find out.

Indeed, I have made several postings here that one could also read.


kiwi992.

NB:

AGNELA

Why are you flapping?

Is it because Aiijay has caught you out parading here as someone else when you really are VAISHALLI from Genovate?  I can't seem to see the bit in Aiijay's posting that sounds like a joke to me.  Can anyone? 

Oh yeah, you speak a language here that no Nigerian ever understands.  Hindi, maybe?  Pai, nein nein kalitum!!  Now that's a crack for you.

As I said before, you need to get your hairy arse out of here and stop impersonating.

Hi All,



Thanks for asking.

Tell you the truth, I really can't be bothered.  Not much to contribute on this thread, in addition to the fact that it's too much aggro having to start correcting what others have mentioned as Ijaw names.



kiwi992.

Hi All,



SAP TRAINING IN INDIA


There are many academies out there in India that would train you towards the SAP Consultancy Certification.  However, there are a lot of important issues that you need to take into consideration.

As always, I would strongly advice you only to train with an official SAP Academy and none other.

This is NOT my preferred training methodology simply because the four weeks are never enough to acquire the necessary skills.  It would be one mad rush to complete the course, I can tell you now.  I prefer self-training over a longer period of time.  The longer it takes you to train, the more proficient you would become at the module of your choice.  That way, you become very confident in your abilities, knowing fully-well that you can do the job.     

If you must undergo the 4-week SAP Academy training, please ensure that:


1.  THE TRAINER 

Has got SAP PROJECT EXPERIENCE.

You really need to verify this because there's no point in training with somebody who hasn't got any SAP project experience in the real world.  At least four or five SAP projects under the one's belt.  This is so, so crucial.  Some of the academies merely employ their ex-students to train others without having had any field experience. 

Additionally, please ensure that your trainer is a fully qualified SAP Certified Consultant.  He or she MUST be certified, not qualified by experience (no dis-respect to those who are).  I mean verify that the one has passed the SAP Certified Consultant's exams in the module that the one is teaching.  That way, you know that the one really knows what the certification training entails and could train you to successfully pass the exams.


2.  PROJECT PLACEMENT AS A JUNIOR SAP CONSULTANT

Is the academy going to send you to an SAP site as a Junior Consultant (once you've passed the Consultancy exams), inorder to gain real-world SAP project experience?  Some of them do, others don't.  You really need to be sure about this because this would form the basis of your first SAP project experience and shown as such on your CV.  Ensure that the academy is genuine in its claims about offering SAP project experience to its successful trainees.
 

3.  NUMBER OF ATTENDEES IN A CLASS

The maximum number should be between eight and ten students and no more.  Each one of you MUST be given a PC for the configuration or customisation exercises.  Two attendees must never share a PC.  It should be pure hands-on from day one, in a dimly lit, airconditioned classroom. 


4.  SAP IDES ECC 6.0

Whatever you do, remember that if you are pursuing a FUNCTIONAL module, you should have the SAP IDES ECC 6.0 already installed on your PC inorder for you to practise the crucially important hands-on skills.

However, if you are pursuing a TECHNICAL module, then you would have to install the product by yourself, under the guidance of your trainer.  Remember this.

You should also be given your own copies of the ECC 6.0 CDs and DVDs, nicely packaged by SAP AG as part of the training package.   


5.  SAP ACADEMY MATERIAL

You need to make sure that the academy uses the official SAP Academy training material to train its students.  Not copies, but originals as sent to them by SAP AG for each student on the official course.  Those are yours to take home after the training.  Remember, NOT copies but originals.

   
6.  PASS RATE

This is extremely important for you to verify from past students as well as the academy.

What is the pass rate?  Is it high or are you merely going there to waste your hard-earned cash?  Research on this and get an un-biased opinion from third parties.  Learning SAP is not like a walk in the park.  Be prepared to work extremely hard, instead of merely seeing your trip to India as fun in the sun.


7.  THE CONSULTANCY EXAMS

Ensure you can take the exams on the last day of the course. 

This is why it is crucially important for you to do a pre-course reading inorder to familiarise yourself with what you are going to learn on the course.

The exams should be taken immediately on completion of the SAP Projects involving a fictitious company (Bike International) that's about to implement SAP for the first time.  The project team is comprised of trainees drawn up from the different modules, just like in a real-life SAP project implementstion. 


8.  LASTLY

I would take it with a pinch of salt, if an employee of a training organisation (such as Genovate) tells me that his or her academy is the best, merely based on its size.  It's not how big the organisation is but the quality of instruction, student pass rate, SAP project placements and such key factors.

I remember when Genevote started out as a non-SAP Academy training organisation, very competitive in terms of the fees they charged for the courses.  However, I know the reputation that it had as regards the pass rate of its students.  I honestly don't think it has changed that much.

SAP is German, so is Siemens.  They've got the biggest global presence if you ask me.  That said, it's all about the quality of instruction, SAP project experience that attendees get as Junior Consultants, and so on. 

New Delhi or Bangalore it would be for me and nowhere else, when it comes to IT training.  As a matter fact, Bangalore is the IT capital of India, although pretty far away in the south of the country.

All the best with your quest for SAP Consultancy Certification.  It would be worth it in the end for you.



kiwi992. 
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

NB

You need to watch the trainers 'cos most of them would resort to speaking Hindi, mixed up with English and you wouldn't understand what they are saying.

Ensure that you don't get fobbed off when you ask a question in class because the incompetent trainers would say to you 'I'll check up on that' and never get back to you. 


GOBI

A don tok u sey mkae u dey nak yuar grama mkae omo no sey yuu bi 9ja.

Hi All,



TALIBAN

Mo ti shey fu en!


AGNELA

I wish I could understand what you are saying.  I hope you're not swearing at me, LOL!!  Hey who cares!  Hopefully, you've managed to find the information you're looking for, on SAP.  As I said, it's all in here.

By the way, if you are thinking of going to India to do the SAP course, don't bother going to Genovate.  There are better SAP Academies with which to train in that country.  Siemens, for example but definitely NOT Genovate.

Just look at their write-up about SAP in this Forum, considering that they are supposed to be an official SAP Academy.  So sketchy and full of inaccuracies for such a heavyweight erp product as SAP.  I could train their own so-called trainers. Oh yes!!!!!




kiwi992.
_{Nigerian jobs for Nigerians}

Hi All,



SCORPIO and AIIJAY

A don dooam pa una.


TALIBAN

Yoo sef.  A fear fur dis youa oruko.  A beg make man no enta for ijogbon becos of dis youa name.  A go dooam fur yoo.  Mke u no wori.



kiwi992.

Hi All,



NNAIAH

A tank yoo.  Make we dey tank God, no be me.  E gud sey yoo sef yoo wan helep awa pipu.  A hope sey oda pipu dem sef go doo de same 4 awa 9ija pipu. 


DAYO

Mo ti reepli e.  De bukuru wey u wan e boku dere.  U sef, e be lik sey u no dey luuk propa propa.


AWON OMO 9JA

Bobo don doo am pa ona.  Mke ona dey luuk ona domot foor Internet.


TALIBAN

Ef yoo be 9ija, a beg mke yoo dey nak yuur language wey go mkae mee a helep yoo.


AIIJAY

A stil dey luuk yuur face.  A stil dey wayt pa yoo.  A bi yoo don vex comot na heea?  U for no by now sey de tribe wey pikin comot e no mata to me as long as yoo be 9ija.  U no for ask weda me ano wan helep him sista.  A stil dey wayt for yoo.  Wea yoo dey?



kiwi992.

NB

Ef dem pipu wey dey na dat place send ona leta sey make ona download am, make ona no open am.  Make ona tro way de leta.  Ona don heea?