₦airaland Forum

p.guyokec:
Hmm sorry you sed wot I was banging my girlfriend

You're just disgusting. How can you read a story like this and make such a comment? Get a brain!

Our client is an independently owned television production company, specializing in all forms of non-scripted Programs for TV. As a result the company has created and produced several hours of very diverse television shows for cable, syndicated and network television. If you want to be part of a team of outstanding individuals fiercely committed to translating creativity, positive energy, and ideas into shows that carry life-changing impact, we’ll love to talk to you.

Job Title – Executive Assistant (EA)

Job Summary

The EA provides professional, thorough and effective administrative assistance to the CEO. This individual must be highly motivated, a quick thinker, and have the ability to complete tasks and projects quickly with little or no guidance and react with appropriate urgency to situations that require a quick turnaround. The EA will be handling high-level confidential information, so he/she must show discretion with all company information.

Key Responsibilities
Manage the CEO’s dairy.
Review the Executive emails, prioritize and communicate important emails, and respond on behalf of the Executive’s office as permitted and assigned.
Lead and communicate board/corporate/company updates and update CEO on important information.
Assist with personal business and reconcile business expenses.
Must have flexibility with work hours, and on-call with email monitoring during the evening and weekends.
Schedule CEO meetings and travel plans.
Assisting CEO in all possible works likes in meetings, preparing documents and presentations.
Conducting market research and in turn help CEO make important business decisions.
Updating executive about appointments with various clients.
Make sure all the reports and data files are arranged in a perfect manner so as to avoid any inconvenience in business matters.
Ensure client’s satisfaction with company services is one of the main responsibilities of an executive assistant.

Required Skills and Competencies

The successful candidate will have to demonstrate the following skills:
Strong organizational and diary management skills.
Ability to prioritize conflicting timelines and multi task.
Strong IT skills – Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to speak to large groups, media outlets, and high profile clients.
Use critical thinking to make decisions and solve problems.
Ability to multi-task, work with minimal supervision.

Qualifications & Experience
HND/Degree in Communication, Business or other relevant degrees.
At least 2 years experience managing a high level Executive.

Person Profile
Organized
Detailed
Result Oriented
Proactive

Reports To
MD/CEO

Mode of Application
Send your Resume (With References) and your cover letter to: tohrfactory@gmail.com (Email subject: EA Job Application)

Additional Information
Remuneration: N600,000 – N700,000 per annum with other benefits.
Work at the company is result-oriented and location free. Presence at the office will be driven by need per time.
This advert is urgent, valid for one week after date of posting and where possible, immediate resumption will be preferred.

http://hrfactorynigeria./2013/09/18/executive-assistant-ea/

Our client is an independently owned television production company, specializing in all forms of non-scripted Programs for TV. As a result the company has created and produced several hours of very diverse television shows for cable, syndicated and network television. If you want to be part of a team of outstanding individuals fiercely committed to translating creativity, positive energy, and ideas into shows that carry life-changing impact, we’ll love to talk to you.

Job Title – Manager, Finance & Administration (MFA)

Job Summary

The Finance and Administration Manager shall be responsible for overseeing the administrative, financial management and accountability requirements of the company. This position must assure the contractual integrity of all agreements entered into by the office, managing the procurement process and looking out for the interests of the organization. The Manager will provide technical assistance to staff in implementing and complying with financial and administrative procedures to ensure prudence and compliance with company policies and other relevant regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting/Finance
Ensure compliance and consistency with company policies and procedures, as well as compliance with the terms and conditions of any sponsorship or partnership agreements.
Record and accounts for daily transactions, ensuring accuracy and completeness of required files and supporting documentation serving as evidence of transactions.
Ensure sound cash management of local bank accounts and maintains petty cash fund.
Process cash disbursements in accordance with financial management policies and established approval levels.
Process payroll, remits tax and other government contributions and reports to local agencies where necessary.
Responsible for full accounts payable function from procurement through payment of invoices.
Process employee expense reimbursements.
Ensure timely payment to all company payees and maintains sufficient and complete payee files.
Prepare monthly/Quarterly financial reports for the company, containing budget to actual expenditure information.
Perform month-end closing and year-end duties such as reconciliations, inventory lists, etc.
Responsible for procurement activities in accordance with company procurement policy.
Prepare and submits reports and filings in compliance with local government laws.
Provide assistance to program staff and project budget preparation.

Office Operations/Administration
Responsible for all matters related to administration.
Ensure registration requirements are kept current at all times and files statutory returns and renewals.
Manage leases to make sure they are current and amendments are processed as required.
Oversee administration of human resources, including but not limited to, maintaining personnel files, purchasing and maintaining health, insurance and other relevant policies.
Manage local information technology contract ensuring infrastructure needs are met, including properly functioning IT equipment, routine maintenance, security over IT (anti-virus software and regular backups).
Maintain finance and administration files.
Carry out any other tasks as assigned by the COO and MD/CEO.

Required Skills and Competencies
Knowledge of Peachtree/QuickBooks multi-currency accounting software (field based accounting).
Experience with computerized accounting and strong organizational and leadership skills.
Use critical thinking to make decisions and solve problems.
Must possess a deep understanding of traditional and innovative marketing strategies and a proven track record of working with teams to create campaigns and initiatives that drive and increase revenue.
Ability to multi-task, work with minimal supervision and manage people and resources.
Computer literate and intermediate use of office productivity tools (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.)

Qualifications & Experience
Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and 2-3 years of relevant managerial experience.
Experience providing administrative support to an international organization, including dealing with good procurement, contracts management, and HR related matters.
Must possess relevant certifications and belong to relevant professional associations.

Person Profile
Self Motivated
Thorough
Integrity
Result Oriented

Reports To
COO and MD/CEO

Mode of Application
Send your Resume (With References) and your cover letter to: tohrfactory@gmail.com (Email subject: MFA Job Application)

Additional Information
Remuneration: N900,000.00 – N1,300,000.00 per annum plus other benefits.
Work at the company is result-oriented and location free. Presence at the office will be driven by need per time.
This advert is urgent, valid for one week after date of posting and where possible, immediate resumption will be preferred.

http://hrfactorynigeria./2013/09/18/manager-finance-administration-mfa/

Our client is an independently owned television production company, specializing in all forms of non-scripted Programs for TV. As a result the company has created and produced several hours of very diverse television shows for cable, syndicated and network television. If you want to be part of a team of outstanding individuals fiercely committed to translating creativity, positive energy, and ideas into shows that carry life-changing impact, we’ll love to talk to you.

Job Title – Business Development Manager (BDM)

Job Summary

The primary role of the BDM is one that requires detailed planning, extensive networking and the ability to transform relationships into value-add. The BDM will drive client recruitment and retention, develop and implement marketing strategy, proposals, and manage client relationships.

Roles & Responsibilities

Develop and implement innovative marketing ideas to drive business growth.
Gather information and generate insight on new businesses, products and services to meet the needs of existing/potential clients and markets.
Develop critical prospective clients list and detailed breakdown of plans for new business drive.
Generate, nurture and close new business deals by coordinating requirements; developing and negotiating contracts; and integrating contract requirements with business operations.
Present the company to potential clients through direct communication in face-to-face meetings, telephone calls and emails, pitches and proposal presentations.
Formal proposal and presentation management and writing.
Regular feedback/liaison with client/agencies / suppliers and in-house team.
Professional presentations to clients, accurate minutes of meetings with clients.
Ongoing and effective monitoring and nurturing of client relationships.
Trend spotting and collecting competitor intelligence.
Analyze client trends and information, and categories to help identify new services to introduce as future sources of growth and income.
A thorough understanding of clients marketing objectives including their Return On Investment (ROI) objectives.
Ability to speak to large groups, media outlets, and high profile clients.

Skills and Competencies:
Strong negotiation, client management skills and ability to keep promises.
Capable of hands on problem solving, with ability to generate ideas and solutions.
A positive and determined approach to researching and analyzing new business opportunities.
Ability to use own initiative and pay close attention to detail.
Ability to cope with competing demands and to prioritize tasks.
Excellent communication skills in all forms including written, oral, email, telephone, and presentation.
Capable of working independently, and having responsibility as an individual.
Solution selling (selling to customer needs).
Knowledge of industry, market, competition and economy.
Computer literate and intermediate use of office productivity tools (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.)

Reports To
MD/CEO

Person Profile
Confident
Proactive
Detailed
Proactive
Result oriented

Qualifications & Experience
HND/BSC/BA in Communications, Business Administration or other related courses.
Minimum of 3 years in a similar role at a management level.
Use critical thinking to make decisions and solve problems.
Ability to multi-task, work with minimal supervision.

Mode of Application
Send your Resume (With References) and your cover letter to: tohrfactory@gmail.com (Email subject: BDM Job Application)

Additional Information
Remuneration: N900, 000.00 – N1, 300,000.00 per annum.
Work at the company is result-oriented and location free. Presence at the office will be driven by need per time.
This advert is urgent, valid for one week after date of posting and where possible, immediate resumption will be preferred.
http://hrfactorynigeria./2013/09/18/business-development-manager-bdm/

I noticed the much dreaded lump or what seemed like it during a self exam. With all the warnings from breast cancer campaigns fresh in my mind, I rushed to the hospital to see a doctor a friend had called. After examining me, she sent me for a mammogram. I was directed to the office of the head of Radiology (HoR).

He read the notes on my file and casually said, “remove your bra”. I was mortified to say the least but did as he said. He examined me right where I sat after which he advised me to go for both an ultrasound and a mammogram.

The queue stretched as far as my eyes could see. After a wait that seemed like forever, I was called in. Heaving a sigh of relief I went in, only to see 8-10 guys and a lady in white lab coats surrounding an examination bed - the one I was supposed to lie on.

Some unsmiling goon whom I shall henceforth call The Gang Leader casually said 'Remove your top and bra and lie on the bed.

If I was mortified at the HoR’s office, imagine how I felt at that moment…

Confused I asked, 'So, are you all going to be here for the ultrasound?

They looked at themselves and then at me, incredulously.

And The Gang Leader spat “If you're not ready please call the next patient on your way out”

Embarrassed, I stormed the office of the HoR and told him I wasn't comfortable undressing in front of so many men. He understood and went out to have a word with The Gang Leader. To my surprise, it was a face off. The Gang Leader insisted the other doctors stay; it was the only way they were going to learn…
I couldn't help but wonder, "so what am I, a guinea pig?"
He insisted they all stay or they all leave. The HoR asked the lady in the room if she would do it. She gave me ‘the look’, hissed and said no.

After about 1o minutes of back and forth, The Gang Leader agreed to do it, but I had to join the queue from the beginning. Feeling already worn out, I did without complaining.

After about an hour, it was my turn again. I went in and saw half the initial number of doctors.
At that point I almost broke down.
“Are they going to leave or what?” I asked the doctor.
And he attacked me. Jeez, it was vicious! What was it I thought I was carrying that he hadn't seen? I'm not the first to UnCloth and I won't be the last. He has a wife like me bla bla bla. He had enough time to tell me the story of a woman who died because she was stupid enough to insist on seeing a female doctor.
I turned and went back to the HoR.

The HoR followed me back and again the face off began. He had to practically order the doctors out before they left. After they did, I undressed and lay on the examination bed.

At that point, everything just became a bit too much for me - The doctor scowling as he ran the machine over my body, the female doctor I felt could have been a bit more understanding, the fear in my gut that I may not like the test results; the unnecessary drama. Na so I start to cry o, lol.

The Gang Leader finished, rolled up some tissue, tossed it on my chest and walked out.

I felt numb as I cleaned up and moved to the mammogram machine. Having a mammogram remains one of the most painful things I've ever experienced. It felt like being slammed with the door of a refrigerator.

The HoR looked at the results and said I was clean. Nice human being, that man. He apologized profusely for the attitude of the doctors and complained bitterly about the difficulty of effecting change in the system.
8 hours later, drained, hungry, humiliated but grateful, I walked out the gates of the hospital and swore never to go back.

P.s - A few years ago my dad was involved in an accident. They rushed him to the theatre where the doctors proceeded to stitch him without anesthesia. He said when he cried; they told him to stop behaving like a Yoruba man and bear the pain. Imagine!

If you are a doctor or medical personnel reading this, show a little more sensitivity to the plight of those you care for. It's tough enough being in a hospital and dealing with all the uncertainty and mental/emotional stress; don't be one of the things we get to worry about while we’re at it. It's the least you can do.
http://naomilucas..com/2013/08/once-upon-mammogram.html

Our client is a multi-faceted, dynamic real estate company with business interests in REAL ESTATE development, Investment, Publishing, Training/Consultancy and Marketing Syndication. Committed to helping tenants become landlords, provide real estate professionals with relevant and timely information and promote viable real estate investment options, it partners with reputable industry players to deliver pocket friendly solutions to its target audience.

Key Role
To lead the marketing, sale, agency and management of properties and estates of the company with the highest standards in professionalism and ethics.

Responsibilities
Responsible for the marketing/sales/relationship management budget of the company year on year
Develops appropriate business/marketing/sales strategies for the department/units and ensures effective implementation
Implement and supervise facilities, properties and estates management.
Markets properties (management, letting/sales) and sources for briefs
Conducts inspection of properties where necessary and organizes/attends client meetings
Monitors and reports on market and competitors activities and provides relevant reports, information and intelligence
Communicates, liaises with and negotiates internally and externally to facilitate the development of profitable business and sustainable relationship
Carries out other duties as assigned by superior officer

Reports To
MD/CEO

Person Profile
Articulate
Confident
Proactive
Detailed
Intrapreneurial
Integrity
Team player

Skills and Competencies
Knowledge of the real estate industry
Must have good presentation skills
Proven leadership ability
Good spoken and written English
Must be adaptable
Must be able to work in a Team
People Management

Qualifications & Experience
BSc/HND in Estate Management
Membership of Nigeria Institution of Surveyors & Valuers
MBA/M.Sc. Housing, Building Technology (will be an added advantage)
A minimum of 4-5 years working experience in Property Sales, Property Management, Facility Management and Agency.
Must have occupied a Middle Management position
Must possess a valid driver’s license and good knowledge of Lagos routes and its environs
Must be ready to work stretch hours/weekends when necessary

Mode of Application
Submit a cover letter detailing why you want to work with us and how your qualification and experience ties into the position (Max. 500 words)
Send your Resume (With References) and your cover letter to: tohrfactory@gmail.com (Email subject: HEM Job Application)

Additional Information
The successful candidate will work from the company’s Ikeja office.
All applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive.
This advert is valid for one week after date of posting.

johnstar: First
So na me dey lead una 2day ...(Captain johnstar ) B*tchs I'm ur leader

You're just a dunce. Did you even read the story? Mtchew

Our client is a Marketing Company strategically positioned to take leadership within the REAL ESTATE Multi-Level Marketing Industry and committed to the success of its Business Consultants. Our client offers a computerized direct selling business suite designed and deployed for existing and potential Real Estate Professionals who desire to engage in multi-level marketing activities to explore the opportunity to Learn and Earn from the Real Estate Industry. To effectively oversee its marketing drive, our client is looking for an experienced, goal-oriented individual with responsibility for strategy and marketing of its products and overall management of its business development initiatives.

Job Title - Head, Marketing & Strategy (HMS)

Job Summary
The primary role of the HMS is one that requires extensive networking and the ability to transform relationships into value-add. The HMS will drive client recruitment and retention, develop and implement marketing strategies and ensure overall profitability of our Multi-Level Marketing business. The ideal candidate must display an understanding of marketing management, business development, product development, branding, brand marketing, lead generation, client servicing and relationship management.

Key Responsibilities

Planning & Business Strategy:
Shared responsibility for areas such as sales management, distribution channel management, marketing communications (including advertising and promotions), pricing, market research, product development and customer service, facilitating growth, sales and marketing strategy, revenue generation, cost reduction, or risk mitigation.
Identify marketing opportunities and develop success strategies to leverage them.
Apply modern theories of leadership, management and negotiation to real-world challenges.
Mobilize the Company’s communications to get sales off the ground with efficiency and flexibility measuring results and adjusting the plan to reach aggressive goals quickly.
Pioneer and implement measurable strategies that will drive revenue goals and increases awareness at the national and global level.
Gather information and generate insight on new businesses, products and services to identify existing or expected gaps to meet the needs of existing or potential clients
Drive awareness and participation from real estate stakeholders, critics, potential buyers and enthusiasts via direct selling and use of digital media.
Develop and implement marketing strategies and innovative marketing ideas to drive business growth.


Business Development, Sales & Marketing:
Develop realistic fiscal plan, critical prospective clients list and detailed breakdown of new business drive for client recruitment and retention.
Actively and successfully manage the multi-level sales process.
Presenting our Client to potential customers through direct communication in face-to-face meetings, telephone calls and emails, pitches and proposal presentations.
Formal proposal and presentation management and writing. Ongoing and effective monitoring and nurturing of client relationships.

Research & Insight:
Identify trendsetter ideas by researching industry and related events, publications, and announcements; tracking individual contributors and their accomplishments.
Analyze client trends and information, and categories to help identify new services to introduce as future sources of growth and income.
Help conduct analysis and periodical reviews of the brand and trends to enhance the brand’s equity and marketplace performance.

Required Skills and Competencies
Leadership and the power of influence.
Use analytical/critical thinking to make decisions and solve problems.
An expert at product launches and ability to get buy-in from networkers (multi-level marketers)
Must possess a deep understanding of multi-level marketing strategies and a proven track record of creating campaigns and initiatives that drive and increase revenue.
Must understand the importance of aligning the organization internally around the brand and marketing objectives.
Ability to write and speak clearly and effectively.
Ability to multi-task, work with minimal supervision and manage people and resources.
Computer literate and intermediate use of office productivity tools (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.)

Qualifications & Experience
First degree and MBA is a requirement in any relevant discipline.
Minimum of 5 years experience of which 2 must have been in a management capacity in a Multi-Level Marketing Company.

Person Profile
Self Starter
Driven
Intrapreneurial
Integrity
Smart
Enthusiastic

Reports To
MD & Board of Directors

Mode of Application
Submit a cover letter (Max. 250 words)
Send your Resume (With References) and your cover letter to: tohrfactory@gmail.com (Email subject: HMS Job Application)

Additional Information
Remuneration and other benefits are competitive and negotiable.
The successful candidate will work from the company’s Ikeja office.
All applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive.
This advert is valid for one week after date of posting.

Source: http://hrfactorynigeria./2013/08/13/head-marketing-and-strategy-vacancy/

It was in a dimly lit room.
I sat at one end, you sat at the other and said ‘tell me the truth’
I asked, ‘Sir, do you want to hear the truth or what is politically correct’
You looked at me with sad, vulnerable eyes and said ‘I want the truth’
I looked at you for a long time, wondering where to begin…
And then I woke up.
***

Mr. President,

Please accept my sincere condolences on the death of your mother-in-law. May the good lord comfort you and yours at this time.

It’s 2.42am in the morning and I can’t sleep. I’m awake, wondering how you do it. How do you carry the weight of 160 million people and retain your ability to function? How do you deal with 43 years of anger and disappointment? How do you manage 250 Ethnic groups that speak over 500 languages? Yours is one of the most complex jobs on earth; I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes in a million years.

I didn’t vote for you, sorry. I wasn’t sold on your Fresh Air tagline. My dad was ill at the time and I needed a good hospital, not Fresh Air.
It’s been an interesting time with you as President and though you have been vilified and your administration second-guessed more than any other I know, I have to commend you for the restraint you have shown and for the progress you have made thus far; achieving 8 of the 14 points articulated in your transformation agenda is no mean feat. Congratulations Mr. President.

Even though it took a while for you to get round to it, your decision on Boko Haram was a good call Mr. President. I sighed in relief and I’m sure a lot of Nigerians did too. I know the battle is far from over but I believe majority of Nigerians support your decision to contain the threat. Maiduguri, a hotbed of the insurgents, now boasts a ‘civilian JTF’, spirited young men who have found courage to defend their city because of your decision to send in the troops.

We may not have the best of Africa’s rail network or infrastructure yet but the resuscitation of rail transportation; one of Nigeria’s most crucial transport systems after decades of neglect is highly commendable.

Thanks to the activities of the Trade and Investment ministry, Nigeria has become the highest investment destination in Africa with over $7 billion foreign direct investment in 2012 alone. To achieve this despite Boko Haram and the constant negative reportage from international media is nothing short of extraordinary.
I also have to acknowledge your spirited effort to create employment for the teeming population of young Nigerians. Igniting the spirit of Enterprise via the YouWin platform and facilitating graduate placement is encouraging.

Bold steps you have taken. Bold steps you are taking Mr. President. I understand you are going back in time to fix decades of disrupted development; problems you didn’t create. In spite of all these and so much more I’m sure you are doing, despite your very best efforts, its inadequate and the average Nigerian is angry. Still.

Our distrust, cynicism, apathy and sarcasm are all rooted in anger. I was at a unisex salon when you came on air. You know what a barber did? He hissed, picked up the remote and changed the channel. And everyone laughed. Even I was shocked by how strongly he felt. Like a jilted lover he has personalized the disappointment of Nigerians who feel cheated and used and taken for granted. And please don’t get it twisted, we have. We feel betrayed by the system and you Mr. President; bear the brunt of our condensed, deep-seated anger.

My father died you know? And to make matters worse, the General Hospital in my local government where his body was deposited didn’t have electricity. We were nicely told by the Mortician to ‘do the needful’ if we wanted a fresh corpse for burial. So we did the needful. Having to come to terms with such a loss and worry about the freshness of a corpse is something I don’t wish for anyone. Twice I have been failed by the Nigerian healthcare system. The first time my mother died. The second time my father died. Both deaths were needless. But hey, I can’t complain. It will be unfair to the millions who have had it worse than me. This is the plight of the average Nigerian and we bear it with uncanny, enduring dignity.

We don’t want much Mr. President. All we want is a country that works. If you really want to make that happen, concentrate your energy on:
The Fight Against Corruption and The Recovery of Stolen Monies: Corruption is the most pervasive disease in this country. It has eaten into the soul of every Nigerian. From Government to the Private Sector, from the gateman to the CEO, from the bit reporter to the editor, everyone demands a cut, something for the boys. Everyone has a price, well, almost everyone. Corruption is the cause of Nigeria’s insecurity. it is the reason why the power sector, in spite of all the investments, has refused resuscitation. Corruption has crippled Nigeria’s health sector; it’s the reason why the refineries don’t work. It has rendered our public institutions ineffective and eroded the standards of Nigeria’s educational system. Corruption has made politics attractive and swallowed those with lofty intentions for this country. Corruption Mr. President has singlehandedly brought Nigeria to its knees.

We are being stolen blind with impunity and brazenness as I have never seen anywhere else and nothing is being done, Mr. President. Not one thief has been brought to book. They walk freely amongst us and oppress the decent with their ill-gotten wealth. This country should be made unbearable for those who have stolen from this country, from those whose sweat and blood produced what they looted. Since independence, over $400 Billion (That we know of) has been stolen by Nigerian leaders, $31 Billion during your tenure alone. Nigeria cannot afford corruption. Recover what has been stolen and Nigeria will lend to nations. Don’t try to fight corruption Mr. President. Fight it!

Power: This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you Mr. President. Lack of electricity is the number one vexation of every Nigerian. Fix power, you fix everything, or almost everything. Our industries will thrive, new ones will spring up, investors will troop in, businesses will prosper, cost of living will reduce, standard of living will skyrocket, there will be jobs for our teeming youths, we will be a less aggressive, more productive people, the environment will be quieter, greener and more eco-friendly. Fix power and you fix the bane of Nigerian’s economic development.

Education: It has been said that to predict a country’s future, assess its present educational system and forecast 25 years. If this saying is true Mr. President, we are a doomed nation. The current rate of WAEC failure stands at 65%. 1599 teachers from Kaduna state were given tests meant for primary four pupils recently. 1300 of them failed. 1300 Mr. President! Nigeria’s tertiary institutions churn out graduates nobody wants and yet we dedicate just 8% of our budget to Education. Compare that to Ghana’s 31% and tell me Mr. President, are we really serious about fixing the problem?

Tackle these three issues and everything else will fall into place. Create an enabling environment and a system that functions and see Nigerians work magic. We are a business-minded, resilient and hardworking bunch. Despite the perpetual frustration that life in Nigeria is, we have survived. From music to business, we have created opportunity in a country that constantly truncates one’s efforts at enterprise.

I’m of the opinion that leadership isn’t rocket science. It is not the preserve of a chosen few. All over the world, ordinary, everyday people have turned out to be extraordinary, visionary leaders. Your No Shoe Campaign may have been an underhanded attempt to connect with the ordinary Nigerian or it may have been genuine. Irrespective of either, the fact remains that you weren’t borne into privilege and therein Mr. President lies your greatest strength. You have lacked; you have suffered. You know how it feels. You understand.

What were the things you wished for as a little boy? Well guess what? Its what the ordinary Nigerian wants too. Nothing has changed. Leadership isn’t some abstract, it’s staying true to who you are. It is remembering how far you have come. It’s reliving the constraint, the absence of opportunity, the bleakness and then using that as a springboard to create the desired change.

As commendable as your current efforts are Mr. president, it’s like washing the dirt off the leaves of a diseased tree. Nigeria is one hell of a sick country; it will take more than your transformation agenda to create sustainable change. If we keep fixing symptoms and not root causes, it’s only a matter of time before it all comes crashing down.

There’s grace available to you by virtue of your responsibility as President. Reach out and receive it. No one expects you to be perfect but we have to see that you are giving it your all. No excuses, no blaming APC. It doesn’t matter what you were handed down. What matters is what you do with it. It is said that history makes the heroes and the villains and like pawns on a chessboard, we are just players. I disagree. You are more than just a player Mr. President. You have the pen and you have the paper, you are writing history at this very moment. Every policy, every appointment, every decision is a letter, a word, a paragraph; an entry carved into the annals of time.

It’s been so long since we were inspired Mr. President. You can make that happen. Forget the apathy and cynicism and drama, deep down we love this country. We want it to work. It’s all we talk about from market to beer parlour, from workplace to salon. We wouldn’t if we didn’t care. We need you to go back to the drawing board and map out a future for this country. Your agenda is good but what happens after 5 years when the next president is sworn in? Focus changes and we keep going round this mountain, 43 years now and counting.

Enough Mr. President. It’s time to move with purpose. Africa needs Nigeria to act like the grown up that it is. Nigerians need Nigeria to behave like the grown up that it is. We need our pride as a nation restored; we have held our side of the bargain, we have not killed ourselves in spite of our glaring incompatibility, keep yours. We want to travel with our green passport and see people turn green with envy, no pun intended. We want to sing the national anthem and feel tears well up in our eyes. We want to be faced with death and wish we had done more for this country. We want to stop relocating to other countries out of frustration. Some of us in diaspora want to come home. We want to give 101% knowing reward will be based on merit. We want to bequeath a better country to those coming after us and we want all these more desperately than we let on.

There you have it Mr. President. The truth like you requested in the strangest of dreams I’ve ever had. Since I couldn’t very well show up at the Villa and tell them I dreamt about you, my writing would have to do. I hope you put it to good use. It cost me hours of well-deserved sleep after a really exhausting day.

As you prepare for the burial of your mother-in-law, may we all be reminded of the urgency of the change that must occur, the realness of our mortality and the frailty of our collective existence. May it teach us to number our days and apply our hearts to wisdom, so that posterity may remember us with fondness.

One last thing Mr. President, don’t you think you should come out more? Come out some more, we’d love to engage you, I mean; it’s our future you’re planning right? Take a trip to Gwagalada and hang out with the students. Not now though, after the strike. Come to Lagos and have a Town Hall like you used to. You seem walled in, out of reach, cordoned off; like a crime scene under investigation.

Remember, beyond the whispers from those who surround you is a real world. Beyond the brown envelopes that sometimes change hands and the stories that subsequently jostle for space in the media, there’s a real world. Beyond the slimy, ruthless world of politics and power there’s a real world out there and the only way to keep from becoming conceited, from assuming you know where it hurts, is to maintain your connection with it.

You should come out some more Mr. President, for your sake. Because even you are beginning to look like you could do with some Fresh Air.

With kindest regards,
©Naomi Lucas
http://naomilucas..com/2013/08/mr-president.html

Front page mods!

I blame no one but the neighbours. To notice such inhumanity and turn a blind eye shows their hearts are darker than Madam Agnes's.

“Difficult adjustments were inevitable and there were comic, even absurd results. Several pig farmers could not bear to part with their pigs and reared them in their high-rise apartments. Some were seen coaxing their pigs up the stairs! One family, a couple with 12 children moving from a hut to a new HDB apartment at Old Airport Road, brought a dozen chickens and ducks to rear in the kitchen. The mother built a wooden gate at the entrance to stop them from entering the living room. In the evening, the children would look for earthworms and insects at the grass patches outdoors for feed. They did this for 10 years until they moved into another apartment.

The Malays preferred to be closer to the ground. They planted vegetables around the high-rise as they used to do in their Kampongs. For a long while, many Chinese, Malays and Indians walked up the stairs instead of taking the elevators, not because they wanted the exercise but because they were afraid of the elevators. There were people who continued to use Kerosene lamps instead of electric bulbs. Others carried on their old businesses as before, selling cigarettes, sweets and sundry goods from their front rooms on the ground floor. They all suffered from culture shock.” ** Lee Kwan Yew

A friend said, even if we got the #ChildNotBride campaign wrong, at least Nigerians were engaged. I agree. We put aside our differences, joined forces and brought the plight of the girl-child to the front burner of national discourse. That in itself is an achievement. I’ve read a couple of articles and arguments for and against the topic under discussion. Inspite of all that has been said, some people still feel as strongly as they did from the very beginning. Some others now believe the furore was misinformed and unnecessary. Irrespective of where your allegiance lies, irrespective of whether the contentious Subsection is removed or not, I’m of the opinion that the reality of the girl-child on the street won’t change much. So what can be done? A friend asked.

After thinking about that question for a bit I remembered Lee Kwan Yew’s story as quoted above. The spirit of the #ChildNotBride Campaign is right and that’s an important fact we shouldn’t lose sight of. What’s questionable however, is the approach. The change we seek has to come from a place of understanding, first, before anything else. Sadly, most of those screaming from the rooftops do not seem to understand the needed context to make informed decisions. I noticed that controversial Senator Ahmed Yerima, used religion as a basis for pushing for the re-vote. Anchoring his argument on morality and the need to protect young girls vulnerable to the whims of their flesh, he got a sizeable number of the Senators on his side. A pervasive culture steeped in unshakable religious sanctimony; if there’s a more dangerous combination, I haven’t found it yet.

But as narrow-minded and backward as we may think Yerima’s submissions are, it’s imperative to understand how the minds of the Yerimas of this world work. If we don’t we’ll be like flies in a corked bottle, screaming and flaying wildly while he looks on, honestly puzzled as to why we all seem so agitated.

What is Yerima afraid of? What will the eradication of the culture he is so protective of do to his society? Is there a sound basis for his continued belief? Is there any logic in his argument? Can it be faulted? On what basis? Is there a superior argument that can make sense to people of his ilk asides the black or white, right or wrong stance we seem to have taken? We might find it hard to understand his seemingly twisted thinking because we believe he should know better. I’d rather we err on the side of caution by never assuming someone, anyone should know better. It’s too risky and it sets us up for epic disappointment.

Some people believe we are a product of our environment, others believe the opposite. Data isn’t subjective so I’ll use it to illustrate my point. Research has shown that abused children most likely end up abusers themselves. Children whose parents are junkies are at high risk of going down the same route. There’s something about being continually exposed to a particular situation that dulls its ability to shock, excite or move us and induces eventual acceptance of such as normal. If this is so, then suffice it to say that Yerima’s problem isn’t so much his pedophilic tendencies, it is hinged on the fact that he grew up in a society where early marriages are prevalent, normal and promoted. He argues so vehemently because that is the reality he was born into and grew up in. He doesn’t know better. He’s suffering from culture shock. You want to take away the familiar and like a drowning man, he’s fighting with every muscle in his body.

The prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) buttresses this point perfectly. Nigeria has the highest number of FGM cases in the world, accounting for about one-quarter of the estimated 115–130 million circumcised women worldwide. A whooping 41% of all adult Nigerian women are victims of FGM.

One would think this is a dire situation that needs urgent attention but hear this, only 37% of circumcised women believe the practice should be stopped. What happened to the remaining 63%? They anchored the need for continued mutilation on the same reasons as Yerima’s - morality and the need to preserve chastity and purification, among other reasons. The culture is so engrained in the societies that practice them that some learned health care personnel offer mutilation services.

Whatever! So the rest of us should just sit and watch such barbarity continue? Absolutely not! However, understanding the issues from the perspective of those who feel very strongly about them is imperative. Any change that happens without the buy-in of critical stakeholders needed to drive it at all levels is change that won’t last.

Hajia Mairo Bello Garko understands this. She understands that people like Yerima need to be taught how to use the elevator. They need to understand that pig farms don't belong in high-rise buildings. Working with institutional figures and key decision-makers; using the most superior, rational and empirical arguments available (i.e the devastating health, social and economic implications of early marriage) she’s been fighting for the protection of the girl-child quietly for years. She has managed to do this without insulting the sensibilities of those whose support is critical to the success of her crusade; sadly, some of those people fall within the same category as Yerima.

If you are serious about being a catalyst for true, enduring change for the girl-child in Nigeria, if this isn't just another social media campaign to you, then borrow a leaf from Hajia Mairo; join forces with Hajia Mairo. Until perpetrators and victims of early marriages understand why change is necessary, until they drive the process themselves, support for the practice, like FGM, will remain prevalent and like the pig farmers in Lee Kwan Yew’s story, we’ll find the stench contaminating our liberal, progressive minds. Angered, we’ll yell and post on Facebook and tweet and upload YouTube videos and sign petitions and stage protests but like flies in a corked bottle they won’t hear us, they won’t understand. And as they herd their stinking pigs up the stairs of our forward thinking ideology, one pig farmer will stop and ask the other a very honest question, ‘Pray thee tell, what upsets them so?

** Lee Kwan Yew (From his book: From Third World To First)

©Naomi Lucas

- See more at: http://naomilucas..com/2013/07/finally-if-you-truly-care-about-girl.html#sthash.PUTISyXY.dpuf

Last week
Nigeria’s Senate Constitution Review Committee proposed the deletion of Section 29, Subsection 4b of our Constitution.
79 out of 109 Senators voted in favour of the deletion.
Senator Ahmed Yerima then proposed a re-vote citing some part of the Constitution as justification.
David Mark, the Senate President agreed.
35 Senators voted against the proposed deletion.
Activists, Civil Rights Groups, Development Agencies, Bloggers and ordinary Nigerians have all come together, clamoring for the right of the girl-child in what has become one of the most passionate cause campaigns I’ve seen in recent times.

The Facts
The section in dispute is section 29 of the Constitution, which says:
Full age means the age of eighteen years and above;
Any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.
Section 29 as captured above, has been in the Constitution since 1999.
Interestingly, Section 29 is listed under Chapter III in the Constitution, a chapter dealing mainly with the issue of renunciation of Nigerian Citizenship.
The sub-section specifies which categories of citizens are eligible to renounce their citizenship i.e anyone 18 years or older and any married woman irrespective of age.
As is, this means any married woman under 18 who wants to renounce her Nigerian citizenship has been given additional rights to do so by virtue of her status as a married woman.

In Context
I’ve been sent all sorts of petitions, broadcast messages, I’ve been asked to volunteer for the cause; I’ve read posts, tweets,arguments and pleas to save the girl-child. As has become the case with Nigeria, the discussions have derailed into North versus South, ethnic and religious attacks; understandably so as over 90% of the Senators who voted are from the North and Muslim too. I see people have pitched tents with either the gender or the morality crew. Everyone has become a social crusader; good.

But I can’t help but wonder; how many of those writing, rebroadcasting BB messages, re-tweeting, arguing, signing petitions,distributing petitions, calling for Nigeria’s disintegration, how many of you actually understand what you fight for? And if you understand, do you honestly believe Subsection B is all that is needed to save the Nigerian girl-child, especially when Nigeria as a Sovereign nation cannot even decide what the word ‘child’ or‘minor’ means?

A child/minor according to The Nigerian Constitutionand Child Rights Act is anyone below 18. The Immigration Act deems anyone under 16 a minor, The Nigerian Marriage Act, which in my opinion is a more relevant anchor for the #ChildNotBride campaign doesn’t even mention age; it states the need for parental consent but even if none is given, the marriage still remains valid. The Matrimonial Causes Act states that for a marriage to be valid the child must be of ‘marriageable’ age but again, there is no age specification.

So…
Really, our laws are not collectively exhaustive; they provide ample loopholes for any serious minded pedophile or ‘girl-child marrier‘ bent on having his way. The most comprehensive laws protecting the girl-child are contained in the Child Rights Act, 2003, a Federal Convention for the protection of children’s’ rights and as we speak, only 24 out of Nigeria’s 36 states have passed it into state law. Most of the states in the North with the exception of Jigawa have rejected the entire convention because they perceive some aspects to be unislamic. Incidentally, it is in these states that early marriage is most prevalent.

There you have it. While we scream at the Senate until we are blue in the face about a Subsection that in my opinion has no relation whatsoever as to whether a girl-child can be married off as a minor or not, the state Governors sleep with ease because we’ve taken our battle to the wrong door. The real fight is with the Governors who have refused to approve an exhaustive convention that prohibits child marriages, child betrothal and promotion of child marriages; and further specifies a fine and/or imprisonmentof up to 5 years for defaulters.

Campaigning for the rights of the girl-child is commendable. I love that we can get together and use our voices to champion a good cause. The #ChildNotBride campaign over Subsection B is a quibbling over semantics which has no real bearing on the wellbeing of the Nigerian girl-child. Anchoring the success of the campaign to its passage is superfluous, ineffective and misdirected. It displays a worrying lack of understanding of the issues and the collective steps we need to take to address them.

©Naomi Lucas
http://naomilucas..com/2013/07/whats-all-this-noise-about-girl-child.html

A friend of mine was having her bridal shower somewhere on the island. I arrived the venue with another mutual friend of ours; said hello to the other ladies already seated and sat down.

And time went by. And went by…and went by… The quiet in the restaurant struck me as strange. 10-15 ladies unknown to one another seated at a roundtable with zero conversation going on. Every single person had their eyes fixed on their smartphones with different expressions splashed on their faces.

Being the usual fly on the wall,
I people-watched a while longer then asked rhetorically ‘I wonder what we all would have been doing now if there were no mobile phones’ They all burst out laughing and stopped momentarily to look at the others seated around the table.

So I went on, ‘Hi, my name is Naomi, you are…’ I said to the lady across the table. And that was how conversation was ignited – Everyone introduced themselves, what they did or were looking to do, how they got to know the bride… bla bla. One or two people shared some hilarious memories of growing up with the bride; we laughed so hard some of us had tears on our eyelids. By the time the bride arrived, we were so well acquainted a passerby would’ve thought we were having a family dinner.

Sadly, the story doesn’t end like this at most gatherings where our sense of ‘aloneness’ is heightened even though we are surrounded by people. This has become a pandemic of sorts. There’s such a widespread social awkwardness I see around these days that I sincerely wonder just how much technology is safe to consume. The most active and vocal social media users feel inadequate when interaction turns physical and will rather ping everyone in their network than have a conversation with a real person.

At the heart of this anti-social behaviour I think, is an unnecessary self-consciousness; a deficiency technology readily provides an escape for. For some of us, myself inclusive, our smartphones and tablets are lifesavers in gatherings where we don’t know people. Instead of exercising our social muscles, we just tune out the rest of the world. We attend events but can’t give an honest account of what happened while we were there. We meet no one, miss the few we might have reconnected with if only our faces weren’t pressed to the screens of whatever device we use, and never experience the sheer joy of being in the presence of other human beings.

Technology isolates us in the same way it connects us and how much of the former or latter we experience depends on how we use it. A lot of us have become over dependent, addicted even; and only time will tell what the consequences of this over dependency will be.

As with everything in life there has to be balance. There’s stuff going on around you, places to go, new people to meet, new friendships to enjoy. You’ll never experience these if half the time your face is stuck on the screen of a smart device.

I think I should stop; this is actually beginning to read like a note-to-self

http://naomilucas..com/2013/07/look-up-there-goes-human.html

©Naomi Lucas
@msmaikasuwa

Please mail me the document. I didn’t get it’ - A chat message from a friend that came 3 days after I sent the document.

‘Well...hello to you too. I’m doing great thanks for asking’, I respond with a smiley.

‘Sorry jare…good morning! You know how it is now?’ He responds.

Er… I don’t know how it is. I’m not even sure what the phrase means. I just know that if I haven’t engaged in a conversation with anyone for 10 minutes or more, a hi before anything else is in order.

I'm finding it difficult to comprehend this I’m-so-busy-there’s-no-time-for-anything-but-work syndrome we exhibit these days. Common courtesies are becoming rare in everyday conversation. Emails with no greeting, no closing, just one-liners with requests or orders. Chat messages that begin smack in the middle of the conversation and hangouts plagued by prolonged bouts of bb chatting, emailing and responding to work related phone calls.

By far the most annoying for me is ‘blanking out’ – you’re talking to someone whose mind is caught up in another conversation with someone who is not present and the only sign you are being heard is an occasional grunt.

This I’m-so-busy-I’m-about-to-drop-dead issue is especially prevalent amongst the ladies: upwardly mobile, fiercely independent, super-intelligent, great personalities but crazy busy, very single, zero social lives; and they keep asking, ‘Where have all the cool guys gone?’ Babes, they are where all the other ladies find themselves good, decent company, not at work in front of your computer or in your bed where you crash from exhaustion after working 8-10pm Monday to Friday.

In a way, I blame technology for at least half the problem. There was a time when general info wasn't as readily available as it is today. Then came Google and other social media platforms and now life as we know it will never be the same again. From How To Be A Parent to Becoming A Witch: Tips & Tricks, you can find practically everything you want online.

This is good news right? Well, not necessarily. With all this information is an unnecessary overload of information and those who overindulge in no time begin to show symptoms of addiction: Attention-deficit, restlessness, disorganization, anti-social behaviour; anxiety, hoarding (You are a hoarder if you have tons of PDF docs, every audio/e-book or podcast you can get your hands on; and though your laptop is slow and takes forever to open a 4kb word document, you can’t find anything to delete or send to the recycle bin)

The problem isn’t so much the info that is available out there as it is how we consume it. The obligation for everyone who lives in this age, especially if you want to retain your sanity is learning how to learn, knowing what to know, and possessing the wisdom to be able to sieve the wheat from chaff.

Todd Duncan in his book Time Traps said how we use technology will determine if it keeps us on top of things or things on top of us. I can’t agree more. When I passed a lady at Barcelos with 3 Blackberries and a Samsung tablet, I felt pity. As in, why now?

I remember being assigned a colleague who came in from the UK to oversee some in-house training at a place I worked previously. I was taking her back to her hotel room when she squealed in delight ‘See!’

I looked in the direction she pointed. It was a crescent moon with a star perched close by.

‘Isn’t that cute?’

‘It is’ I replied with a fake grin plastered on my face. I felt ashamed I hadn’t noticed but worried too ‘cos I knew that in a million years I may never have if she hadn’t pointed it out.

I get that we are busy and sometimes forget courtesy and simple etiquette back home as we rush out the door but I think its time to slow down and get organized. If we can use technology more efficiently, then we can have more time to do non-work related things and connect with real people outside of the workplace.

I’m not saying do less, I’m saying give your 100% and know when to stop. Maybe then there’ll be time and a greater opportunity to meet really cool guys people, see great places, smell the flowers and if nothing else, give our minds time to rejuvenate.

I hope I’m not beginning to sound like an old woman?

©Naomi Lucas
http://naomilucas..com/2013/07/mind-your-busyness.html

Nice one JEG!

Ladies marry upwards; guys tend to do the exact opposite although there are exceptions to the rule. Marrying downwards is fueled by the man’s innate desire to provide and his cultural need for respect, dominance and control, at least to some extent. When he has more money and has achieved some level of financial stability, is better educated and intellectually superior, it’s natural for him to earn and keep a woman’s respect. The 21st century has however, turned this model on its head.

The dynamics are rapidly changing and traditional roles are losing relevance. These days we have stay-at-home dads and women who are breadwinners. Women are increasingly advancing in the corporate world and marketplace, earning more and proving the glass ceiling is just what it is, a myth.

This scenario presents a unique challenge to the upwardly mobile, career oriented, urban dwelling single lady. Having more earning power means greater financial independence, which also translates to abstracts like increased self-confidence, self-awareness and assertiveness.

By virtue of this success, the lady is no longer within reach or becomes unaffordable to the average Joe. As a result, ladies who are innately wired to marry upwards are beginning to look below their radar for Mr. Right and by doing so they have to contend with what I’ve termed The Class Distinction. When I say class distinction for clarity sake, I mean a situation where the guy is obviously not in your category. This distinction could be intellectual, financial or social or a combination of all. For example:

You’re more educated, went to better schools - He finished technical school and has a printing business; you finished from Imperial College and paid your tuition upfront. You may also have better elocution and appear better groomed by virtue of the kind of life and learning environment you were exposed to.

You come from a wealthy home - This is a very big deal not just because you had access to everything money could buy but also because coming from a wealthy home, you’re bound by a certain even if unspoken code of conduct: The kind of people you hang out with and places you go to, what you wear, what you drive etcetera. What I’m trying to say is, at every point in time; you’ll be dealing with societal, parental and/or personal expectations.

You have more money; way more than he does - Your parents may have given it to you or you may have made it yourself, the source is irrelevant to this discussion. Having more money simply translates to having better purchasing power and access to the finer things in life compared to him.

You’re more intelligent - You couldn’t have helped this bit, technically. It shows in the way you talk, carry yourself, express your opinions, proffer solutions and hold conversations.

You grew up and still live in a better neighborhood - The advantage of this is the quality of the people you’re surrounded by and the opportunities having access to them can provide. And with Nigeria being a very ‘Perception’ driven country, your social standing can improve dramatically just by moving to a better part town.

You’re more exposed - He thinks everyone in the North is Hausa, maybe ‘cos his travelling hasn’t gone beyond the southwest of Nigeria. You’ve covered 40 countries across 4 continents and can speak 4 foreign languages.

Before I am accused of posting a long article, continue reading: http://naomilucas..com/2013/05/when-lady-has-more.html#more

©Naomi Lucas

I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I ma not this skin
I am a soul that lives within - India Arie

I admire ladies who carry their natural hair and can cope with the styling nightmare it is. I know 'cos I carried it throughout my childhood and cried most times my hair was made. I admire dreadlock-wearing ladies and the amount of time they invest in keeping it locked. Not for me; too boring.

Sometimes I see some really cool hair extensions and wish I could wear them but I know I can't cope with the hours of pruning and preening. My definition of styling is packing my braids with a rubber band and jumping right into the day

In my usual way of discovering stuff late, I stumbled on a documentary about the Indian hair industry and it got me thinking; how far is too far, really?
I remember the story a friend told of a lady in a salon where she was making her hair. The lady had bought some brazilian hair and lace wig on credit and had been dodging the seller she bought it from for a while. The seller got wind of her whereabout and came down to the salon. Within minutes, buttons popped out and various colours of underwear were revealed. The story ended with the weave buyer on her knees, begging for time to sell her Blackberry Torch to pay back some of the money.


I also read a true life narrative of a lady who got herself some indian hair, fixed it and started having nightmares. Nothing too life threatening, just a hysterical indian woman chasing her about asking to have her hair back. Seriously

There's no need to talk about the media and the way popular culture has fuelled fickleness especially among young people; we all know these things. Or how in keeping up with the Jones' we equate status and self worth with possessing anything 'the cool kids' have.

Though I wear hair extensions I never use them more than once so I know paying so much for them won't make sense. But even when I think, 'Oh this really looks nice, maybe I should...' I cant help but remember the 10.3 million northern kids currently out of school. Call me penny-pinching but in the light of that very depressing statistics, it seems almost wicked to be carrying the school fees of 10 children on my head.

If you like go kinky, or wear them dreads, or buy Lolita and all those Noble hair products that shine like a bunch of new kitchen knives. It's not in my place to prescribe or benchmark. But maybe you should watch the video (Here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=21SoSN1GiWg) and really ask yourself: at what cost must you look beautiful?

©Naomi Lucas
http://naomilucas..com/2013/04/i-am-not-my-hair.html

We are a fast growing online retailer dedicated to making life easier for our customers every day. We are looking for highly motivated, detail oriented, and forward thinking problem solvers to join our dynamic team. We value creativity, intelligence and a healthy sense of fun. We seek to fill the following postion:
• Customer Relationship Manager
These positions require a relentless passion for results, a strong customer focus and an attitude that ‘anything is possible’. Only individuals with a “customer first” mindset, exceptional people skills, outstanding work ethics and strong verifiable references need apply.
The Customer Relationship Manager’s #1 priority at all times is the customer. The Customer Relationship Manager is responsible for building meaningful relationships, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and customer acquisition and retention across a broad range of online and off line channels, with a focus on customer care and social media.

The ideal candidate should be an avid user of social media with a passion for people, writing, trends and high attention to detail.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
• Build customer loyalty by creating a positive experience for all customers.
• Process all customer orders (phone & online) in a courteous efficient and timely manner.
• Respond promptly to customer questions, complaints and concerns immediately, and facilitate satisfactory resolution.
• Keep records of customer interactions and transactions, recording details of orders, inquires, comments and complaints as well as actions taken.
• Provide feedback to management and recommend improvements in products, packaging, delivery, service or billing methods and procedures in order to improve the customer experience.
• Understand customer’s needs, so as to make meaningful suggestions for additional purchases.
• Report all product and service related trends to the Retail Manager.
• Work with all levels of employees to develop and implement picking, replenishment, shipping and receiving schedules to ensure efficient operation of day-to-day functions

SOCIAL MEDIA RELATIONSHIPS
• Assist in developing intensive social media and promotional campaigns that build awareness, increases and engage fans/followers and aligns with brand and business goals.
• Manage and grow Buyology’s online presence through Facebook, twitter, blogs and other strategically relevant online properties, with an emphasis on identifying and engaging online advocates and influencers.
• Increase viral presence, fan base and engagement level on social networks, drawing attention to culture, key brand collaborations, events and promotions.
• Creating engaging content for social media and promotions.
• Manage social media postings and develop content schedule.
• Monitor and interpret social media trends and conversations, and generate metrics and reporting.
• Build and oversee relationships with third party social media communities, brands and individuals.
• Ensure all communications channels are functional and up to date.

SKILLS & ABILITIES
• An ability to work autonomously in a highly demanding and often ambiguous environment with outstanding attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills.
• Exceptional people skills and a ‘customer first’ mind set.
• Through understanding of social media platforms and industry.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to write creative and engaging content.
• Outgoing, proactive, patient and willing to work with tight deadlines.
• Relaxed and confident in liaising with individuals at all levels.

DESIRABLE TRAITS
• Commitment to excellence.
• Patient, enthusiastic, flexible.
• Affinity for online social media.
• Passion for learning and building relationships.
• Great sense of humor!

QUALIFICATIONS
• First degree in marketing or related field preferred.
• Fully proficient in MS Word, Excel, Power Point and Access.
• Experience in building online communities and increasing engagement across a variety of social media platforms is a plus.
• Knowledge of SEO and SMO is a plus.
• Previous experience in retail is an added advantage.
• Applicants with lower educational qualifications and marketing experience will be considered.

If you meet the criteria and would like to pursue this exciting opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter (telling us about yourself and why this job should be yours) to yeye@buyology.biz Only resumes that include a cover letter will be considered. It’s a big plus if you write, “I want this exciting job” in the email subject of your application. We will only respond to those we wish to contact for an interview. Thank you for your interest.

Visit http://www.redarkprojects.com/omoalata/ for more info.

You don't have to work everyday and commission very attractive.

Interested candidates should send their CV to kbadaru@omoalata.com

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." — Abraham Lincoln

Some years ago, I was sitting in front of a bus all alone while the driver loaded passengers going to a location I cannot particularly remember right now. And then he showed up; my friend, the Policeman, dressed in his full regalia complete with an AK 47. He opened the door with more force than was necessary, not minding my arm that was resting on it.
‘Ow’ I winced.
Tilting his head to the side, he said calmly ‘move inside!’
‘Sorry?’ I muttered, sincerely confused.
‘I said move inside. Wetin you no understand?’
My mouth was open. I refused to understand.
Beside the driver were two seats, I was sitting on one, the other was actually the engine with a plank on it. The Policeman actually wanted me to sit on the hot engine move inside and thought bullying me into submission was the way to do it. I didn’t move an inch. I’m still alive. Fill in the blanks

I had just arrived the gate of the filling station when he began to shut the gate; the fuel attendant that is. The only way for me to get back on track was to pass through the filling station and join the traffic back to my house, a drive of less than 5 minutes or drive all the way down the road and climb the bridge, a journey of about 30 minutes with the kind of traffic I saw ahead. My tank was on E and I didn't think the car would make it back home so I asked the attendant, very politely if I might add, to allow me drive through so I could take the shorter route. I could have been talking to a brick wall. Looking at me like I was part of the culvert, he rolled the gate and slowly passed the chain through the bars, shut it, put the key in his pocket and walked away with such swagger he looked like Johnny Bravo from behind. I was pained. What would it have taken this guy to let me pass through? What? It took me another 30 minutes to cover the same distance I would’ve covered in less than 5 minutes; thankfully, the car made it.

We parked at an adjacent car park owned by the firm where we had a meeting. My friend did the driving. Meeting over, we entered the car and made to drive out, then the security man showed up. He stood by the driver’s window; unyielding. We knew what he wanted. My friend told him she wasn’t going to give him anything especially because of the shoddy way we were treated before we eventually found parking. With a brazen sense of entitlement he asked her ‘Must I tell you before you know what to do?’
Pissed, she drove off. I heard him muttering something about a next time…

I was invited for an event at one of the embassies. I was asked to declare the contents in my bag. I did. I had some contraband- lip gloss, pressed powder etc. you know, stuff you’ll find in a lady’s handbag.
'So what do we do?' I asked the security lady.
She asked if I got an invite beforehand and whether they mentioned prohibited items. I told her I did, and the letter didn’t mention those items. She looked at it, nodded in agreement and collected the items from me, gave me a tag and kept the items under her desk, where I noticed similar items. As I walked through the screening door, a lady walked in.
‘Why you no tell your guest wetin to bring now?’ the security lady asked her.
‘What do you mean?’ She inquired, an unnecessary frown creasing her forehead.
Me and my long mouth, I quickly chipped in ‘She meant prohibited items; they weren’t expressly stated in the letter. I think you should make it clearer in future, just saying’.
My goodness! You should have seen her face. She looked like she had just been slapped.
‘Where is the letter? She demanded. I handed it to her. She glanced through it and pointed out a paragraph with some technical terms scribbled all over.
‘How can you say it wasn’t listed? Here it is. And by the way the descriptions used were approved by the embassy!’
Ok. Ok... I thought. No problem, right?
Wrong.
Triumphant, she turned to the security lady and spat ‘She is not my guest, it’s a public event, so if she is not clean, do whatever you want with her’.
Ha!
She shoved the letter into my hands, gave me ‘The Look’, hissed, arranged her jacket and stormed into the embassy.
‘Madam please return the tag and step outside’
Shit! (Pronounced ‘Shet’) I muttered under my breath.

I can fill a higher education notebook with similar experiences I've had, trust me. It's so commonplace I'm now jaded. Everyday we talk about our leaders; how they’ve gone bonkers, act stupid and completely lost touch with reality. How they lack commonsense and can't even make simple decisions to positively impact the common man. How they grovel for votes but erect impenetrable fences around themselves once voted. How they abuse their office and take the citizenry for a ride and that’s fine. Arm chair critics perpetually whining about the state of the nation and how governance isn't rocket science; that's fine too, afterall, the best footballers are usually found in viewing centres. But you see, all the time I see everyday people who by virtue of what they do, find themselves in some position of influence or authority and gradually turn into creatures that are unfit to live amongst mortals.

Leaders don’t drop from the sky. They are people like you and me who collide with time and chance. Authority, Influence, Power, Leadership magnifies what is already resident within; our strength of character or lack thereof, so virtue isn't learnt when we find ourselves in the spotlight. I see the way some people carry on and the thought of those same people in power sends chills down my spine.

Sprinkled in our everyday existence are opportunities to learn, show and harness traits that will ensure we function effectively when opportunity knocks, sadly for some of us, its an opportunity to oppress others and exert half hearted obedience or respect.

Overcoming our innately selfish and insensitive nature is a battle every human fights on a daily basis but the new week presents a perfect opportunity to strive towards greater, nobler ideals.

The definitive word is STRIVE! It's the least we can do.
©Naomi Lucas

http://naomilucas..com/2013/04/power-and-average-nigerian.html

kay9: Ahah! Now u backtracking.

Copyrighting is a good practice, but u can't cry foul if u've been breaking the rule yourself.

Alright, i've derailed enough.

whew. Thanks ma'am abi Sir

...and to answer your question, I got permission

kay9: Fair enough. Just curious here, did you get the permission of this family before writing (and copywriting) this?

I don jam lawyer

kay9: Then the father of those kids oughta have his head examined, while the mum needs to take this serious and ensure that that animal of a relative doesn't go scot-free. A r@pist and liar of this calibre is clearly a sociopath; he deserves to spend a sizable chunk of his life behind bars, cos no family is safe where he walks.

And one thing else; parents (especially mothers) need to learn to how to prevent their emotions from clouding their arguments when presenting a case to a third party. I'm sure that that snake wouldn't have been able to convince the silly gullible husband and relatives if the mom had been a bit more coherent.


Ok, one last thing; OP, if this story is real as you say, why are you copyrighting it?

I agree with you.

I wonder how anyone can contain their emotions after that kind of discovery, especially women...

Copyright is to prevent unauthorized duplication under a different name. Credit must be given to the writer, irrespective of the media through which the story is shared

pompori king: This niccur needs to get his priorities straight?so ur wife and kids aren't family abi or your children who have been traumatised for life now are not ur daughter.
They better go seek professional advice so those kids can get help,cos if they grow up like this don't be surprised if they na po*no dem go do

God forbid...

pompori king: This niccur needs to get his priorities straight?so ur wife and kids aren't family abi or your children who have been traumatised for life now are not ur daughter.
They better go seek professional advice so those kids can get help,cos if they grow up like this don't be surprised if they na po*no dem go do

Professional advice from who? Wo don't have therapists in this part of the world do we?

Winneygirl: Truth is, most pple say nothing.
It's now dat we are adults, U hear it slip out. But whn it happens, most kids don't tell.

I am yet to understand why. U cant tell me dat kids cant report dis 2 parents.

I guess, as parents, U just have 2be observant. Very observant. Because no matter how close 2 U Ur kids are, there's d likelihood dat they will not open up if faced wt dis.

The fear of the accused keeps them quiet...

fresh_dude: This guy deserves to have his balls yanked off, not cut, YANKED.

lol. Sorry I had to laugh, it's not funny I know

byvan: .....And all the man of the house could do is send him back to the village??some men are not worthy of their manhood,you can't ruin my kids innocence and go scott free.This offense is to die for!!

Besides,I can't trust anyone with my kids in the first place.Mothers should be more sensitive to this awful possibilities please.

You know, that was the real tragedy

yuzedo: Read this earlier on facebook and her blog, omo, i just cold like deadi-body. MAD STUFF I TELLYA!

My prediction: This should be on Front Page in less than 4hrs. I give it 4hrs.

Shout out to the author, Naomi Lucas... Your biggest fan.

Thanks yuzedo

mysticgal: this brings a sour memory,if i was to be in this position,i will kill the the accused go to the police and report myself,or better still......

Aw...

Eze Promoe: [color=crimson]This is a lesson to parents. TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN YOURSELVES! Bringing in a Nanny isn't always the best solution. [/color]

But the nanny didn't molest the children na?