₦airaland Forum

I have bought a few of these SAP books in the past, whiles they are quite useful, these days their relevance is waning, SAP is moving more into business process rather than pure configuration, the only good thing about these books is the menu path for configuration, i.e setting up an enterprise structure, assigning, general config type work so i guess it could be used as a guide, i think they need to write more books discussing different business scenarios, for example 3rd party flow, P2P, make to stock, made to order

well am still not certified, guess i have not had the opportunity to take the exams, maybe one day i will, what i do have is plenty of experience, been working with SAP since 1998 right from the SAP version 3.1, 4.0,4.5B,4.6, 4.7, ECC5 and now ECC6, started off as an end user with my economics degree and basically worked my way up to consulting, big implementations, multiple lifecycles, worked for big companies, have considerable knowledge in FI,CO,SD,MM, bit of HR, travel management module and now PP, this experience, dont think any certification can buy, but i do agree these days, the SAP market is becoming saturated, so certification for entry level becomes a prerequisite

Think we should all forget about the bickering, this forum was started to inform Nigerians and others who were interested in seeking a career within SAP, it has been a good source of information so far, I am sure many have taken the professional certifications and started a career based on information in here, i have received a lot of emails from users asking about SAP, though i dont mind, i rather prefer sharing the information in here, some users have added me to msn messenger, once again i dont mind, but when users start asking to meet up, that i mind a bit, i dont have to meet anyone i dont know, dont think anyone should take offence, If we happen to meet working for the same client, all the best, the internet is so wide, everyone has to be assured of their safety, i like to believe everyone has good intentions in here but at the same time a user has the right point blank to refuse to meet someone they meet on these type web forums, end of the day, its a web forum!!! I am sure the likes of Sappiel was receiving too much invitations, a hint been, she said she was so busy with her project, that should be enough for the wise to show she rather keep the SAP forum strictly professional, I am sure the other fellow had no ill intentions, but she made it clear, she was not interested in meeting people she hardly knew!!! i just felt the person went on and on when it was clear, i think a personal mail to her inbox could have done the trick, but still she has reserves the right to say No!!! well no offence intended to anyone, that is my thought about this whole drama!! i think Sappiel should stay in this forum, she amongst others have helped to kick start someone SAP career, lets put it down to a misunderstanding and move on from there,at the same time, let us be clear, this thread is ''strictly professional'' and we should leave it that way, linkedin is a good way or professional linking up with people with the same careers!!

Hi Bordeaux, welcome here if you new, well if you read the 24 pages of this thread, you will know where your skills fits in the SAP environment, if you have an IT background, i will automatically say SAP basis is what you could consider

14 Nov 2008 : new EU blacklist is now online
by LX-LGX » 06 Nov 2008, 01:48

edited on 14th Nov : title has been changed from 6th into 14th Nov


The European Commission will publish a new no-fly list on Thursday 06 Nov 2008.

The list will be available some time on Thursday through this link:
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/

A few carriers who have been in BRU in the past are banned this time. Don't know yet however if they are totally banned, or just banned for some specific aircraft:

Added on 14th November by LX-LGX:
"on 5th November, VRT - Flemish television - announced that the following carriers will be banned:"

Onur Air
Hellenic Imperial Airways
Luzair
Bravo Airlines (yep, the Congo-related carrier)

Please wait with in-dept comments on the above bans till the list has been published.Last edited by LX-LGX on 14 Nov 2008, 19:45, edited 3 times in total. LX-LGX

Posts: 2006
Joined: 20 Jan 2004, 01:00
Location: ANRTop
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Re: 06 Nov 2008 : new EU blacklist
by Sikiri » 06 Nov 2008, 12:49

Luzair? Is this the first time that a european airline is being banned?
I hope they will have time to solve whatever there problem is, and that they survive this, I always loved the L-1011 Tristar.

Not suprised anyway, i just did a quick search online, pls someone should pass on this information to the presidency in Nigeria, those frigging illiterates are toying with peoples lives!!!

sounds good, very good experience being an SD team lead, always leads to the next big role, guess your power users/ super users will support the end users once you go live, was once a team lead myself for a travel management implementation back in days, damn i have forgotten these TM skills!!

Sappiel, what is your role in the implementation? are you the SD developer? are you working with any other SD developers, how do they perform the implementation projects in Nigeria?? do they use Solution manager? is it your typical Europe / US implemention template?? you working with Indians, i hear they dominate the SAP project landscape in Nigeria

I guess if the item price is not reflected in the sales order, condition record set up?? assign pricing procedure in the IMG?? just kidding, these are things you already know but like i said, Config questions are all answered in the SAP SDN website i mentioned though, found that website useful or the SAP community network, at least 90% of my config issues have been resolved in there, another good site is sap.ittoolbox, so many websites these days, google will be my first choice though, gives you direct answers from websites

Sappiel, answer to your question about a forum where SAP error messages can be resolved, SAP official website has a help forum, also there is what used to be called OSS, now SAPNET where you can type in the error message code, you will see similar issues and how to resolve including an OSS fix, there also the SAP SDN website, also there is google!! very useful tool these days, just type in the error code and it will show you links to different SAP forum with answers how to resolve these issues, i dont think there is any need to start a new forum how to fix SAP issues, there are loads out there, sometimes some SAP errors give you answers how to fix including taking you into the IMG where the settings have to be changed or new entries made, also you can make use of transaction SE16N, especially if you are an SD consultant, tables like VBAK, VBAP, use that to check old entries, check if settings have been changed

thats good, just finished some SCM training in London last week, got another one in 2 weeks, trying to stay relevant in the SAP game haha!! seems they are trying to evolve SD into supply chain management, order fufillment, planning, manufacturing, thats seems to be where SD is heading, even logistics as well, yes i have never implemented SAP all-in-one solution, i guess since its pre-configured, the project should not take a long time to implement, had a friend who did an SAP contract in Nigeria a few years back for Shell i think, do you think more companies in Nigeria will start using SAP?? more companies in Europe, Asia are purchaisng SAP licenses, i am currently in the middle of a re-implementation in my company, we plan to go-live in December, so far we are still at the business requirement stage, my first full time role since 2004, had to leave the consulting market after the financial crisis last year, at least i am gaining more experience, now adding the PP module into my skill set, hopefully i should be an expert within the next 1 year, well goodluck anyway and i hope you enjoy your stay in Nigeria!!!

whats up sappiel, hows the SD contract?? any good, are the rates good as well, what version of SAP are you implementing, what is it like working in a SAP project in Nigeria compared to the UK or Europe

been quiet last couple of weeks, just started a manufacturing and planning training at SAP head office in London clockhouse tower, SCM130 and SCM 240 in 2 weeks, the course has been intense must say, it runs for 5 days and they try and pass as much information as possible, we do a lot of lessons as well, finish this training course tomorrow and back there in 2 weeks, met loads of SAP consultants, you could almost feel the richness in the air haha, too many high value cars parked outside, seems some consultants are doing fairly well it seems, noticed a few Nigerians there as well, the official SAP courses are quite expensive though and all depending where you from, you have to stay in the local hotels on Bath road around heathrow, luckily my company are paying for my course as they want to me look after the manufacturing module PP, seems like the latest talk is more companies are purchasing SAP licenses, this is really good news as there will be a need for consultants, well so far so good, so happy i choose this career!!!

Guess this is just the start, IBB better be ready for more humiliation, this time his money will not buy votes, always insist in a free and fair elections, IBB will only win one state, Niger, right now it seems any politician trying to latch on to him is spelling political suicide!!!!

all your questions as to where you fit in have been gladly answered i this thread, pls take some time and read all the pages, good luck!

Hi all,

I am very interested in SAP certification.

I need advice on which area to do, I am currently considering FICO, MM & HR. I was lucky to meet a Nigerian who is a SAP consultant who advised me that these are the hot modules. I would have preferred the FICO module but I dont have any backkground in accounting. I have a degree in Electrical Engineering and have worked in a bank for almost five years. I would like to know from those who know if this wont pose a big problem to me.

I was planning to do my academy programme in India where it is much cheaper but the SAP consultant I met advised me against that and instead recommended South Africa. SA is over half a million naira more expensive than India, so I am now looking at Dubai where the programme costs a little over a million. Kindly advise if Dubai will be OK.

With a degree in engineering, how did you end up working in a bank?? seems you did not follow your career path, your friend that advised you about the hot SAP modules will not do your prospective SAP career any justice, are you interested in SAP because of the money?? with a background in Banking, i will assume the FICO module or the SAP solution for the banking industry will be a logical path, maybe you need to go through all the threads in the SAP forum, i pointed out there seems to be a throwback to the 90s where everyone wanted to jump into IT because it was lucrative, well i hope this is not your intentions, it has taken experienced SAP consultants like myself and a few others in here at least 8-10 plus continuous hard work and training to stay on top, this is friendly advice, dont be put off, do a lot of research before you throw away your hard earned money!!

Ribadu said that he checked the shareholders of Globalcom and he saw an address in Kaduna which was owned by IBB son, now what type of job does IBB son do except play polo?? has he any meanful employment to own up to 25% shares?? when he was arrested, am sure a deal was done so he was not prosecuted, thats why IBB did not contest the election in 2007, another reason was all candidates were to be screened about their assets and what not, his son was released without charge, its all online, please educate yourself, do a simple google search before you attack me, its all in black and white, Globalcom is probably worth over 500 million dollars, meaning the 25% shares will likely to be worth over 100 million, this is linked to a man does has never done a paid job in his life and people are asking me if the money is mine, jealousy and what not, haha, well thats why IBB is coming back to kill you lot for good!!!

thats why your country is so poor and wretched because people cant see past his celebrity status, people who should be in jail suddenly become rich, they cant account for the fundings of their business, so he employes 10,000 Nigerians, its all good, sometimes i think the black mind is a terrible thing!!! called money laundering!!!

I do have money and its very clean entirely from hardwork and dedication!!! thank you!!! they dont prosecute criminals in Nigeria thats why he likes can get away with murder!!!

Its pretty obvious no-one seems to care how he got the finance for Globalcom

Equatorial Trust Bank Plc (ETB)

Otumba Mike Adenuga is the Chairman of this bank and it was the second bank, where $I65million PTDF funds were fixed at various times. The first placement was on June 25, 2002 in the sum of USD50million transferred from its account in UBA Plc, New York, US. After the deposit, Mr. Mike Adenuga, an associate of the VP, paid the sum of $20million sometime in 2002 as part payment for Globacom's license. Some few months after the receipt of the $50million, Mike Adenuga, through one of his accounts called Deep Sea Ltd, gave Marine Float Ltd the sum of N300million (on 27/11/02). Deep Sea Ltd is an internal account in ETB funded by another related account, Yuletide Ventures, whose source of funds was unauthorized overdrafts granted by the bank. Another N22 million was also given to Marine Float on 06/03/03 by same Mike Adenuga through Deep Sea Ltd. These funds were transferred from Lagos to Messrs Akinyera and Ajibade in Abuja but drafts were raised in favour of Marine Float Limited. These payments showed direct benefit of the VP in ETB. There was another ETB draft of N21million issued in favour of Alhaji Umar Pariya, an aide to the VP around the same time the $50million deposit was made. Messrs Akinyera and Ajibade are close aides of Otumba Mike Adenuga just as Alhaji Umar Pariya is a close aide of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The trio of VP, ES of PTDF (Alhaji Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar) and Otumba Mike Adenuga met in the office/residence of the VP to discuss the placement of the USD115million in ETB by PTDF. It was at this meeting that Hamisu Yusuf Abubakar was introduced to Otumba Mike Adenuga as the chairman of ETB. Immediately after the meeting, the placement of the $115million by the PTDF in ETB followed and Mike Adenuga rolled out his Globacom Network in the country.

A scrutiny of Globacom revealed its ownership structure as follow; Conpetro Limited-51%; Alhaji G. Subair-24%; Prince Babatunde Akinyera-12.5% and Festus Okechukwu Igbomor-12.5%. This is contrary to Otumba Mike Adenuga's statement of being the sole owner of the company. The given address of Alhaji G. Subair of 2/3, Dawaki Road, Kaduna, was found to be a property belonging to Mohammed Badamasi Babangida. When the other addresses of the shareholders were checked, they were found to be non-existent.

Mr. Jeffrey Tesler, a business associate and friend of both Ibrahim B. Babangida and Mike Adenuga facilitated the payment of $180milion for Globacom license. Jeffrey Tesler also facilitated the granting of a loan of $700million to Con Oil, a company owned and controlled by Otunba Mike Adenuga.

The ES was rewarded with a so called loan in excess of N200million by ETB after the placements of the $165million in the bank, for transportation/dealership business with Conoil, a company belonging to Otumba Mike Adenuga. The duos are now fugitive from justice.

The business of banks is basically to mobilize funds (deposits) and advancing them as loans to their customers, among others, but not as unsecured and unauthorized loans that was distributed to companies, relations and politicians. It is clear that these monies were paid to companies and individuals contrary to the original intention of the so called loans

Whether he employs 20,000 Nigerians, the man is a crook, robbing the people blind and making them pay for a service!!!

Equatorial Trust Bank Plc (ETB)

Otumba Mike Adenuga is the Chairman of this bank and it was the second bank, where $I65million PTDF funds were fixed at various times. The first placement was on June 25, 2002 in the sum of USD50million transferred from its account in UBA Plc, New York, US. After the deposit, Mr. Mike Adenuga, an associate of the VP, paid the sum of $20million sometime in 2002 as part payment for Globacom's license. Some few months after the receipt of the $50million, Mike Adenuga, through one of his accounts called Deep Sea Ltd, gave Marine Float Ltd the sum of N300million (on 27/11/02). Deep Sea Ltd is an internal account in ETB funded by another related account, Yuletide Ventures, whose source of funds was unauthorized overdrafts granted by the bank. Another N22 million was also given to Marine Float on 06/03/03 by same Mike Adenuga through Deep Sea Ltd. These funds were transferred from Lagos to Messrs Akinyera and Ajibade in Abuja but drafts were raised in favour of Marine Float Limited. These payments showed direct benefit of the VP in ETB. There was another ETB draft of N21million issued in favour of Alhaji Umar Pariya, an aide to the VP around the same time the $50million deposit was made. Messrs Akinyera and Ajibade are close aides of Otumba Mike Adenuga just as Alhaji Umar Pariya is a close aide of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The trio of VP, ES of PTDF (Alhaji Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar) and Otumba Mike Adenuga met in the office/residence of the VP to discuss the placement of the USD115million in ETB by PTDF. It was at this meeting that Hamisu Yusuf Abubakar was introduced to Otumba Mike Adenuga as the chairman of ETB. Immediately after the meeting, the placement of the $115million by the PTDF in ETB followed and Mike Adenuga rolled out his Globacom Network in the country.

A scrutiny of Globacom revealed its ownership structure as follow; Conpetro Limited-51%; Alhaji G. Subair-24%; Prince Babatunde Akinyera-12.5% and Festus Okechukwu Igbomor-12.5%. This is contrary to Otumba Mike Adenuga's statement of being the sole owner of the company. The given address of Alhaji G. Subair of 2/3, Dawaki Road, Kaduna, was found to be a property belonging to Mohammed Badamasi Babangida. When the other addresses of the shareholders were checked, they were found to be non-existent.

Mr. Jeffrey Tesler, a business associate and friend of both Ibrahim B. Babangida and Mike Adenuga facilitated the payment of $180milion for Globacom license. Jeffrey Tesler also facilitated the granting of a loan of $700million to Con Oil, a company owned and controlled by Otunba Mike Adenuga.

The ES was rewarded with a so called loan in excess of N200million by ETB after the placements of the $165million in the bank, for transportation/dealership business with Conoil, a company belonging to Otumba Mike Adenuga. The duos are now fugitive from justice.

The business of banks is basically to mobilize funds (deposits) and advancing them as loans to their customers, among others, but not as unsecured and unauthorized loans that was distributed to companies, relations and politicians. It is clear that these monies were paid to companies and individuals contrary to the original intention of the so called loans

iGate Inc. US (iGate)

iGate is a US based technology company that is into communication technology. Sometimes in June 2003, while in Nigeria, Congressman Jefferson introduced the officials of NDTV (Otumba Fashawe, Dumebi Kachikwu and Ahmed Vanderpuije) to Vernon Jackson, the Chief Executive of iGate Inc. Through various negotiations, NDTV ultimately entered into a Distributor Agreement with iGate whereby NDTV agreed to pay iGate $44,943,400 for the rights to iGate's technology and to distribute its products in Nigeria. By January 2004 and in accordance with the agreement, NDTV paid approximately 15% or $6.5million to iGate as an advance for the right. $1.5million was initially remitted to iGate and the balance of $5million was later wired to iGate being the balance of the 15% with the remaining 85% or $38.4million expected to be financed by US EXIM bank.

Business relationship between NDTV and iGate became strained towards the end of 2003 and ultimately broke off in 2004. Consequently, NDTV hired legal representative, Jean Micheal Malek, in the US to seek the refund of the $6.5million it paid iGate. The sum of $5000 was paid to the lawyer as his fee to facilitate the refund to NDTV.

iGate agreed to return $4million after negotiation but only $1.7million had been refunded to NDTV through TIB, leaving a balance of $2.3million unpaid. It was at this stage that Congressman Jefferson wrote to the President in defense to an alleged petition sent to the president by Otumba Fasawe. Jefferson wrote that Mr. Vernon Jackson had told him that before the payments to iGate, the MD of NDTV, Ahmed Vanderpuije, informed him that they were expecting funds from PTDF which would be used for the payments for the contract between NDTV and iGate.

After the business relationships between NDTV and iGate soured, Congressman Jefferson continued to look for an investor in telecommunication venture that would utilize iGate's technology and products. This effort yielded fruits with the agreement between Rosecom. Net, an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and iGate Inc. for the use of iGate technology to provide internet services in Nigeria over Nitel's copper wire infrastructure (Co-location). However, Nitel refused to allow the co-location agreement to subsist because it had already entered into another agreement with a Chinese based company for the same purpose.

As a result of Nitel refusal, Congressman Jefferson decided to enlist the cooperation of the VP, first, for assistance in extinguishing the $2million debt to NDTV relating to the previous NDTV procurement of the right to use iGate technology in Nigeria and secondly, for assistance in gaining Nitel's cooperation for the co-collocation of iGate technology at Nitel's facilities.

It is pertinent to note that on May 3, 2006, Mr. Jackson pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to bribe and bribery in the US. He claimed to have bribed Jefferson with more than $400,000 in cash, company stock and shares in iGate technology business ventures in Nigeria and other African countries.

7. The VP, Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar is the Vice President of Nigeria and he was the one overseeing the activities of PTDF. He inaugurated the Interim Management Committee of the Fund in September 2000.

He played prominent roles in the approvals for release of PTDF funds and their placements in two banks. The VP had an outstanding interest in the placement of the PTDF funds in these two banks. For one, even the $125million for the implantation of some specific projects was not utilized for that purpose, rather caused their diversion to their placements in the two banks (TIB & ETB). Prior to the placements of the PTDF funds, the VP held several meetings with either the ES alone and sometime the ES and Mike Adenuga to discuss modalities regarding the placement of the funds either in TIB or ETB. The placements were done at the detriment of the Fund as they were made at interest rates below the average CBN Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) even when he was strongly advised against that.

The request for the release of the $20million, was predicated on the issue of the ongoing projects being executed by the Fund, whereas it was not so. The funds were released again by the VP and were sent straight to the same placement in TIB. This second release was done without the knowledge and approval of the Presidential Adviser on Petroleum and Energy, Mr. President and the FEC. As these funds were hitting the two preferred banks, "loans" were packaged by TIB, even without adequate collateral, for his long time friend and business associate, Otumba Oluwole Johnson Haliru Fashawe through NDTV and Mofas. In Mofas, one of the directors is Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, a son of the VP. Though the VP's name was not stated as a director of Marine Float, evidence abounds that the account is controlled by him. First, the VP admitted he paid N30million for the property from that account; secondly, most of the beneficiaries from the account are his friends, associates.

Similarly, as the funds were hitting ETB, Otumba Mike Adenuga made $20million deposit for Globacom license, the second national carrier. A little scrutiny of the equity ownership structure of the company revealed that Otunba Mike Adenuga lied about the ownership of the company. When the transfer of the $50million by PTDF from its account in UBA Plc New York was made in ETB, Mike Adenuga gave the VP the sum of N322million (i.e N300m on 27/11/02 & N22m on 06/03/03) through his Marine Float account domiciled in Bank PHB Plc through his aides - Akinyera and Ajibade. The sum of N21m was paid to the VP through a draft raised in the name of Umar Pariya, his Personal Assistant.

The VP held several meetings with the US Congressman Williams J. Jefferson both in Nigeria and abroad in relation to business ventures which included NDTV and Rosecom.Net, an ISP. When the business relationship between NDTV and iGate collapsed, his assistance was sought to extinguish the outstanding approximately $2million already paid by NDTV. Even though he denied assistance on extinguishing the amount, he accepted conveying a letter from US Congressman Jefferson to the Honourable Minister of Communication, Chief Cornelious Adebayo in relation with iGate and Rosecom.Net business venture.

The VP's business interest in NDTV was confirmed when he made an initial deposit of N30million on January 7, 2003 from his Marine Float account in Bank PHB Plc for the purchase of the N200million property being used as NDTV Head Office. His interest also influenced the placement of PTDF funds in TIB from where Otunba Fashawe obtained 'loan' and completed the payment of N170million for the property at Wuse. The VP's interest in NDTV is further buttressed by the fact that he even acted as a referee to Otumba Fashawe for the sourcing of the licensing of NDTV in Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). Ref. Appendix AB. Investigation also revealed that the VP severally met contractors of NDTV at Jada, his hometown on his interest in the company.

Distinguished Senators, this is submitted for your necessary action.

Thank you very much.


NUHU RIBADU
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

bit strange if you ask me?? I will presume the Nigerians salary should be on par with the Indians if not cheaper so why are these roles been outsourced?? does not sound right, unless they want these roles to be handled by the Indians

Hi all, just back from a mini-vacation in Miami, had a really good time over there!!, good to see many Nigerians taking up SAP as a career, there is still room for more consultants, many big businesses continue to purchase SAP licenses so that effectively means more job opportunities, all you need is the certification and hopefully job experience, remember SAP is a career that can take you round the world, its taken me to places far beyound my imagination,just happy i fell into SAP by accident in 1998 and have not looked back since!! dont think i can change my career at this stage and am only 36! haha, SAP continues to evolve, new emerging technologies has been added to its portfolio, they have solutions for every industry, although still in its infacy in Africa, i will suggest this is a growing market, especially Nigeria, if the country can get its act right, you will probably see more companies using this ERP software, who knows, i might even take up a contract in Nigeria, well am sure all the experienced consultants in here can answer more questions but i think if one takes their time and go through all the pages, any information, where they fit into the SAP landscape, career, salaries amongst other things will be answered

Some recent posts in here makes me believe there is a huge rush for certifications, just hope there are no ''hidden money motivations'' we all know SAP probably pays the highest salaries in IT these days, I think having a rewarding career is more important than the money,again, experienced consultants that are used to earning over the region of 500 pounds a day or more, they will get used to such amounts, so there has to be a passion for the job in order to achieve and learn new processes everyday.Seems to be another wave of the early 90s SAP boom, i just get this feeling because i read so many threads, people with Physics background wanting to take up SAP HR where the co-relation between physics and HR? or some with IT networking background suddenly wants to try their hands at FICO??

Just hope i am not mistaken but such people are setting themselves up for a huge fall even with an SAP certification, a popular SAP blog, they talk about certification amongst other things, whiles certification is nice to have, other important aspects like business process experts is probably an important skill and certification to achieve, end of the day your configuration skills will be geared towards giving your client the best possible solution for their business, skills like, order to cash, third party flow, inter-company billing, travel management solution, for example, if you implement an inter-company billing solution, you will have to involve SD or what is known as SCM, finance, logistics and controlling so when you post an inter-company sales document or inter-company purchase order for example, you will create entries in SD, MM, FI and even controlling ( cost centre or profit centre) if the company uses EDI to automatically post the AP document, then you will need EDI experts

The worst scenario will be ending up with a certification you can hardly use, there is no harm in performing a thorough research where your background fits the SAP landscape


http://www.erpgenie.com/podcasts-consultantcorner/jon-reed-interviews-kevin-wilson-on-sapem

Some recent posts in here makes me believe there is a huge rush for certifications, just hope there are no ''hidden money motivations'' we all know SAP probably pays the highest salaries in IT these days, I think having a rewarding career is more important then the money, seems this is a throwback to the early 90s SAP boom, i just get this feeling because i read so many threads, people with Physics background wanting to take up SAP HR whats the co-relation between physics and HR? or some with IT networking background suddenly wants to try their hands at FICO??

Just hope i am not mistaken but such people are setting themselves up for a huge fall even with an SAP certification, a popular SAP blog, they talk about certification amongst other things, whiles certification is nice to have, other important aspects like business process experts is probably an important skill and certification to achieve, end of the day your configuration skills will be geared towards giving your client the best possible solution for their business, skills like, order to cash, third party flow, inter-company billing, travel management solution, for example, if you implement an inter-company billing solution, you will have to involve SD or what is known as SCM, finance, logistics and controlling so when you post an inter-company sales document or inter-company purchase order for example, you will create entries in SD, MM, FI and even controlling ( cost centre or profit centre) if the company uses EDI to automatically post the AP document, then you will need EDI experts

The worst scenario will be ending up with a certification you can hardly use, there is no harm in performing a thorough research where your background fits the SAP landscape


http://www.erpgenie.com/podcasts-consultantcorner/jon-reed-interviews-kevin-wilson-on-sapem

Latest SAP average rates in the UK, these are market, based on experience and lifecycle implementations, but they are a fair reflection of daly rates

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/contracts/uk/sap.do

SAP live roles in Nigeria, not sure the accuracy of these job adverts, you can verify if they are indeed live roles

http://www.careerjet.hk/wsearch/jobs?s=sap&l=Nigeria&lid=113795

Congratulations to those that passed the certification!! no doubt you are only a step away from starting a career in SAP, all you need now is experience, for those in the UK, try square one resources, they are quite good at placing candidates, also register in linkedin, thats a good way to build networks, i believe they even have a nigerian SAP users group in there, i believe SAp wil make inroads in the Africa market this year, the big players will have to implement SAP as their business software sooner or later, your skills might be needed, all you need is lifecycle experience under your belt, definitely not impossible

To Alutta, the new certified consultant with petroleum experience, you are probably sitting on a goldmine, you should consider IS oil experience, you already have the background well suited to the oil & gas market, all you need is that extra SAP IS oil solution, getting training is quite limited though, even SAP head offcie in the UK only offer interactive training sessions and will still knock you back 500-2000 pounds

Can imagine the NNPC project must  run into millons of dollars for licensing and project resources, i imagine they will need SAP consultants with IS oil skills, my company has just paid over 4500 pounds for me to attend 2 manufacturing courses, 2 different SCM courses that only runs for 2 weeks at the clocktower head office near heathrow airport, these figures are so high!!! SAP charges loads for official courses, they must be making a killing in that aspect, most SAP consultants around Europe go to either London / ireland or Belgium to receive SAP training, I will be interesting to know their year end figures with regards to education, they have kept the same rates for the past 10 years, even more expensive if you want training for certification, you will be looking at 12,000 pounds

well i definitely will network with other consultants, always pays to take your business card as you never know who you could meet!!!

http://www.cwlgroup.com/index.php?com=etr&view=article&id=49

http://www.twintechservices.com/mcm/tts/tts-ng.aspx?articleid=34&zoneid=7

SAP e-training in Lagos

In an ideal world, dont really know much about the Nigerian market, i guess as you pointed out, you have to revert to IDES if SAP experience is lacking, it does help understand the concept but am afraid without practical real life experience, one will always struggle in SAP, these days SAP is moving into more business process orientation, SAP has evolved from the old R/3 days to enterprise core components, i.e supply chain management, CRM, financials, SRM, HR, BI

well it seems the African market, espcially the Nigerian market has been touted as the next focus of growth in the ERP market, i will expect the big multinationals in the local market to purchase SAP license, so there will be potential jobs for the nigerian aspiring SAP consultants

networking skills must be very good to get a foot in so i guess the certification is one step