₦airaland Forum

na wa o. . .na NL this kind thread dey wey me dey sell dodo for other sections?

lollipop someborri. . .meself don join you groupies o. . .twalle!

@Jarus

do you guys have any ERPs(energy risk professionals) in your org?

firestar: www.mangareader.net
Copy and paste this. Nairaland's spambots are getting antsy.

thanks. . .cant view it at work, will check it at home!

hey pple,

can anyone on the site mail me the last couple of mangas (say last 10). . .haven't been able to read them since mangastream went offline. . .I'm wayyyyyy behind. If I could get an FTP link to them it would also be fine. . .thanks.

AjanleKoko: Here is an irony:

All of the people featured by violent on this thread are Fortune 500 CEOs. That is a very apt example of what most of us value as success. We are institutionalized by the corporate ethos. I don't consider many of these people are inspirational or innovative. Most of them are privileged beneficiaries of some elitist dynasty. Some are heirs of success.

I'm surprised that people like Seth Godin, Oster Pistorius, Robert Kiyosaki, Haile Gebreselassie, and even Kim Dot Com are not featured here. Are they not successful people?

Haile Gebreselassie for one. NO disrespect to Nigerians intended, but our nation can never produce someone like him. No be curse. We just cannot. Even our sportsmen play sports because they want to be rich, no desire to achieve anything apart from money.

when I read this it struck me as being particularly true of myself. . .ouch!

violent:
I've been thinking for several hours on an appropriate way to begin this thread. None of my thoughts makes any sense. . . . I have no idea what i wanted to say or why i wanted to say it, but there's something that had to be said, i just, at the moment, couldn't figure it out.

Don't curse me yet!  As a matter of fact, this isn't the first time i find myself on this spot.  A few years ago, I was lying down on an empty bed in a hostel room, the event of my graduation was only a couple of days away. I had worked hard and spent 4 years obtaining a degree that i had absolutely no idea why i wanted it.  Half of the world wanted for me to be a surgeon--a dream I never had-- the other half couldn't care what the little rascal does with his life. . . .I on the other hand just wanted to make money, lots of it, and immediately too. . . .the nice part of that is that, i have no idea how!

At that moment on my bed, a few thousand thoughts came rushing through my mind:

. . ."maybe i'd submit job application to some banks".  I was sure i wouldn't have been the only one thinking this.  Popsy knows someone whose Uncle has a good family friend whose neighbor's cousin has a girlfriend whose momsy works as the head of operation at a well known Nigerian bank.  Yipeee! i can now go outside and drink with my mates and forget about the the frightful future saddled with loads of uncertainties. 

. . ."then, maybe I'd start a fish farm". . .****long story***. . . .

. . . "then, maybe I'd start an IT consulting firm and build clinical software database for hospitals." .  I figured since most hospitals make use of papers and files, this would be an easy market to penetrate.  The capital involved isn't massive, my dad is a surgeon, definitely my first client, he'd likely provide me access to the network of his peers and i could then sit back and watch my income grow.  Perfect plan eh?  well, the one problem i had then, similar to the one i'm having at the moment starting this topic, is that i have no idea how to begin. . .

. , "then maybe I'd be an Investment Analyst.".  This was probably the funniest and the wildest of my thoughts. I knew about stocks, because i had a few holdings in a few companies, and that was all i knew about finance.  The first time i read about bonds, i immediately remembered my mfm pastor's prayer against all forms of 'bondage' . . .and i became somewhat perplexed to think some people could actually spend valuable resources on something called "bond" 

Now many years down the line and some roller-coaster rides, i have since tried each and everything, many times laughing at my idiocy each step of the way.  In all of this, i was so young, so bold and so free to challenge my ultimate limits. 

Out there, there are people doing ordinary things extraordinarily for a purpose bigger than themselves. They can take the simplest act of moving their body and turn it into a show of art that lifts everyone’s spirits.  This thread is meant for these people.

1)  Tell us about your biggest career moves till date, and the unusual decisions you've taken towards achieving those moves

2)  If you are an entrepreneur, kindly tell us what has inspired you to start your business, and the biggest challenge you've faced or currently facing till date.

3)  If you have questions about everyday finance, financial intelligence, business funding, please feel free to put your questions across.

There's been an ongoing discussion with some very experienced people in business and finance who will be happy to provide some very useful insights into some of this questions and hopefully make this place a lot more interesting.

[size=3pt]now i finally know what i wanted to say[/size]

nice. . .I'll be watching this thread

I'm still on the first track. . .engineering, plan to move to engineering management soon. I don tire to dey climb like monkey and baff dust and grease er'day. . .lol

seriously speaking though, over time I began to slowly lose interest in core engineering and I've come to realize any tom, dick and harry can hold a spanner, but the more valuable dude is the one that tells the wrench-fellow where and what to do with the spanner.

tanimola22:
Okay, good. Those ones are not outside of your reach. Yeah, I graduated lag science after Ibidapo's home was set alight lol. The RA stuff should help you too. But, the four schools will attract nothing less than 350$$ in application fees, I would even advice that you widen your reach. 4 is too narrow.

the RA stuff wasn't me o, went to work right after school, no time to form RA for anyone. . .any Idea of schools I can check out? dont have a 2.1 so I cant apply to awon class A schools.

I hail o. . .you senior me no be small o, I still dey dub eeg assignment for dubbing center back in them days, was in year 2 then

tanimola22:
Your GRE scores are good. Well done. Which programs are you applying for?

Unless someone has a large mouth and goes about telling any and every school that he RAed with a senior lecturer in naija, no university will ever know.

Every university will assume that you RAed with a faculty. That is what is important. However, make sure the lecturer is very willing to write excellent letters of recommendation for you when you need them.

T22

I'm looking at NJIT, Wisconsin, northeastern, maybe LSU. . . electrical energy systems

_{I seem to remember reading somewhere that you went to lag?. . .what faculty/year?}

ndu_chucks:
I'd appreciate some clarification on this issue by those of you that can provide it, I really need to understand the issues here. What the OP posted seems a bit complex to me.

[list]
[li]States can now invest in distribution companies[/li]
[/list]


Blue Text:
[list]
[li]Is it possible to use assets of distribution companies (Poles, transformers, wire lines etc) which are located in a particular state for the benefit of the citizens of any other state? [/li]

yep. . .that's the way they were built, a grid is primarily meant to wheel power from place to place and it makes sense to have some level of redundancy.

[li]The assets thus acquired would become the property of the distribution company but how the company uses its own asset will be controlled by the government. Not sure I like this idea[/li]
[li]Wouldn't it be better to support already approved distribution companies with easy access to capital and even grants to enable them to manage their businesses without the intervention of state governments? Governments should not be running corporations, they will only introduce unnecessary inefficiencies.[/li]
[/list]

where would govt get the money to give them from? the FGN cant invest the money required to fix the power sector and at the same time deal with other areas of the economy(e.g. education, security, fuel subsidy et al), the state govts have been moaning that they were willing to provide power but the FGN was standing in the way but this policy is trying to provide a way for them to put their money where their mouths are.

Brown Text:
[list]
[li]What exactly does this mean, would someone break this down for me?[/li]
[/list]

it means the only money the state govt would get would be from selling the electricity they provide, if they are selling the electricity for a price lower than the production costs, they would be operating at a loss and the FGN would still not give them any money.

Why can't the federal government provide incentives to investors to partner with these distribution companies. If the issue is the capital, then the government should create the environment which would open up access to infrastructural capital. Give these companies low interest loans or outright grants and let them run the business and be profitable.

IMO, the federal and state governments should not own a single share of these distribution companies. We already know that governments do not do very well in running corporations. Was that not why these organizations were privatized in the first place? Government should allow these companies to make hefty profits so that it becomes very fashionable to operate a distribution company. Allow them to operate tax free for the next 10 years if possible. That will be a good way for the government to invest in the sector.

Am I being naive?

you're not being naive but what you described is easier said than done: how do you make it fashionable to run a distribution company without charging exhorbitant rates? electricity is not like telecoms where you could opt not patronize the service until it becomes available. The goal should be to balance a sensible ROI with affordable rates and proper service delivery.

Hey pple,

got my grade level harmonised with my JD yesterday. . .that means +1 for me (that ought to keep me calm and docile for about a week )

The boys are seriously bored o. . .work is mighty stressful, we've been jumping from one major issue to the other God dey o. . .

Cant wait till the days where the only engineering I do is paper/financial engineering. . .person don dey tire!

@ndu chuks
I'll reply you when I get home, them don block NL for my office and I no fit type long story for phone. . .

*long sigh*

what the council said isn't new in any way shape or form. . .It kinda gets boring when people get excited over things that are already in existence.

The issue with states generating electricity and distributing same will always be the distribution end of things, will the states build their own distribution networks?(there's something similar to this in jos with NESCO) or will they use the existing one?(<----much cheaper).

If the states plan to use the existing networks it will require them sharing the power with other parts of the grid (primarily because that's how the grid was built by it's owners), there's provision for creation of an island within the grid but the law(cant remember where it is, will ask around and paste it here) clearly states that for a state to disconnect itself from the grid, the state house of assembly has to pass a motion(supported by two-thirds) and the state will bear the cost of seperating it's distribution network from the grid. Few states would be willing to do this because of the risks. IMO Rivers state would have stood a chance but for our inability to produce enough gas, this means that at some point in the year, a situation always occurs where the hydro-stations are of prime importance and if Rivers were not able to get any MWs(no matter how small) from the hydro-stations then they would be up the creek without a paddle.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/28751-states-begin-power-distribution-jan-says-nerc.html

what the azinge fellow in this link^^ was getting at already exists(I dont know the degree of implementation), in the roadmap there's a portion that says that when captive generation comes up in a region, the freed up megawatts should be ploughed back into the grid in that same region. Practical example: where I work we built our own power plant so the power we would have been getting from PHCN is supposed to be given to the distribution company in our region(sadly PHCN was only able to supply us a fraction of our power needs so the gains are not earth-shattering)

That said, the state govs should know the procedure and if they are interested put their money where their mouths are instead of playing to the gallery. At work we have some free MWs(circa 40) and we(well they sha, since them no gree involve me in any of the talks) commissioned a study and after weighing the options decided to sell the excess power to the grid a(nd it's going to cost us a nice sum to put things in order before we can start to supply the power)

oh and lest I forget, our cost per kwh at work is more than double what I pay for electricity at home so our plans to sell to the grid will probably be contingent on the tariffs being scaled upwards (if it doesn't happen, we could go with selling the excess power to nearby industries)<-----I'm just guessing o, I'm still a boy-boy so I dont call any shots.


P.S. the rule of thumb is that it'll cost you 1- 1.5 million dollars per MW of electricity(we're talking fossil fuels o, not even renewable).

@thread

did GRE ealier this month, my estimates were 161-V and 161-Q,

still a bit worried though cos I faffed around in uni. . .

@moremi
I fell in love with it back in 99/00 when it was the in-thing. . .I've used blue jeans, CKone, burberry touch, encre noir(or som'n like that) by lalique(both black and white, used to tiff it from my younger bro  ) but cool water appeals to me the most (maybe it's just nostalgia, I'm razz like that). . .lol

@yorisb
Thanks for the tip, I'll look out for it when next I enter civilization(read lagos )

@CC
nice thread. . .cant answer the question yet though. . .

P.S.
there's only one reason I'm on this thread. . .to decide which perfume to buy for myself next o, I cant cling to cool water for ever. . .lol

you can also report him to the police, (your husband should accompany you to the station if you choose that option),
they'll help you set the man up(if they listen to you sha. . .),

isn't there another lecturer you can talk to about the issue? not necessarily in your dept, but someone who might know which buttons to push to make the guy 'act right' Like when I was in uni, there were some lecturers that you could talk to and would be willing to raise hell on your behalf as long as you were in the clear

I'm saying this because if you do anything 'heavy' other lecturers can now start forming voltron/sympathy with the animal you know some people can get "why didn't you talk to me first?", "you should have told me. . ." etc ati be be lo.

If you're going to talk to a lecturer make sure it's someone that is sharp o, (a mixture of sharp/SU would be ideal, someone with principles who knows how to go about things)

and of course, keep praying.

P.S.
if after everything the guy gives you wahala you can give us his name and as someone said, we'll occupy the guy. . .lol

ziyaun:
Mr Ajanlekoko, Very nice job you are doing in here man, more grease. please I am a fresh graduate electrical engineer(power). I am currently serving in Benin city of all places, where i have been posted to is just mental torture cos i have absolutely nothn to build on. please i want to ask if u know any reasonable courses i can do in the mean time to help improve not just my qualifications but abilities as an engineer. I was also thinking of going to phcn here in benin to volunteer for some months, dont know if they would accept me and if i would actually learn anything practical wise doing that. please what do you think

as per the bolded, cant you get yourself posted to PHCN? if you can, pick transmission, they have better engineers than distribution by far. . .if you're in PHCN you'll be given the chance to do anything you want to. . .in every station there are the layabouts and the hardworkers.

@tkb
nice one o, For the past couple of years meself don dey dream of getting involved in farming.

I think concentrating on rice for your initial project will make more sense. It'll be easier for you to carve out a niche for yourself that it would be if you were into plantain.

The dude with the negative post raised some points I think you shouldn't gloss over(I still think they shouldn't deter you though)

You need to sort out your labour (and community) issues early on, they can be a big headache.

If your farm was up north you'd have less community issues but more labour issues (your workers fit thief your fertilizer go use for their farm. . .lol)
If you're down south, you'll prolly have community issues as well as labour issues. You need to know the correct people to talk to if/when you have community issues down south.

you will also need to choose your partners carefully, influence (especially local influence) should be an important factor.

I'm with DK as per the scale sturvs, (remember you need to be small enough to react to issues really fast)

Plus, how do you plan to utilize technology? Have you identified the areas it could help and those it could constitute an unnecessary burden?


you don give me homework. . .make I go read up on rice farming. . .I dey come. . .lol

@kungiya
good stuff, now you guys can talk about the issue. . .

one thing though, dont over-use the moving out card, the second time you try it, he'll be a bit scared but the third time he wont be moved. I'm telling you this so if you ever have any issue(God forbid!) you know that telling him you plan to move out shouldn't be one of your major options.

@tkb
will do. . .of which say I dey beef you o, you just vamoosed like that. . .na so e be?

kai. . .stuff is happening in this world o.

Like everyone I agree the slap was bad and OP has no business apologising to him for any reason, but I think she's holding the cards in this situation, she has to find a way to get him to say what's on his mind. The guy needs a push and I'm not certain that push will come from inside him, it has to be from someone around him.

That she was pregnant makes matters worse sef, that guy has voilent tendencies, I'm with DK on this, the first slap is on the house, the second comes with packed bags.

@DK
why you no answer TOH now. . .she asked you one question like this after your first or second post on this thread

@all the females on this thread

make una no vex o, I just want to point out something, everyone here is talking about how childish the man is(well, almost everyone). . .from my unmarried point of view, all na herd mentality, you all are instinctively crucifying the fellow without a trial. Is it compulsory that the guy must always be the childish one in cases like this? so it is not possible for women to be irrational again ehn?

Only mutter considered the possibility of it being something other than the perennial childishness women like to attribute to men. . .*sigh*

Would your opinion change if you heard the argument was because the man said his wife's ex-boyfriend shouldn't be calling her after 10pm and she refused?
now it's convenient to blame it on the guy, but what about the idjit of a wife that is also forming 'rambo'. . .sebi she was the one that said "I can never beg him" or something equally stuuupid.

An apology is very different from begging o. . .sometimes the bigger person is the person that realizes that some stuff isn't worth fighting for. She will chase her husband to another woman's arms and will now come and be whining and blaming the devil. . .shior!

unless you'd be willing to break the journey into 2 days or something like that to avoid traffic,
if you dont, it could take you more than 12 hours to get to abuja by road. . . it's taken me more than 18 hours before(like 3-5 years ago)
the road is constantly changing sef so it's not like there's only one route. . .I agree with the people saying you should fly. . .

The fact that she's still cooking means she wants to make up. . .

the man knows this but is still holding on to something that happened, I agree they are both kids. . .

but if she's not holding a grudge as well, why wont she use the same emotions that are causing her to keep on cooking to talk to him. . .

davidylan:
like my friend would always say - having kids is a blessing, the problem is who you have them with.

dayum. . .deep sturvs. . .lol

@OP
pardon my asking, what's her excuse?. . .need to know before I decide how much blame to heap on your head

AjanleKoko:
@Topic,
Getting restless of late. Must be a combination of mid-life crisis, and the typical Nigerian syndrome of being generally fed up

me wey never reach midlife don and I don restless finish nko?

I've pasted this link elsewhere before, http://www.nigeriaelectricityprivatisation.com/

it has a timeline that shows how things should progress, anyone listening to what the journalists say is going to carry last, when it comes to power they are as ignorant as piss!

what manitoba and power grid are interested in is the management contract for the transmission company (5 years if I remember right), this has been ongoing since 2010 if I remember correctly, there was a third Irish company involved (cant remember their name now).

there are 18 successor companies, 6 generation, 1 transmission and 11 distribution.

transmission(and possibly some hydro stations) shouldn't be sold because they are more or less strategic.

P.S. nothing has been sold yet. . .it'll prolly be late this year before we reach the stage of talking about things being sold.

This is my final day at work before my leave begins

I spent the whole day harassing all and sundry, I had sent my out of office email before 9am this morning sef

sad thing is I'm going to have to break my leave, there's a training I need to come back to attend smack dab in the middle of my leave,

I wonder if I can get them to refund my return ticket. . .


good thing about this whole brouhaha is that I have 30 more days of leave left for this year. . .

^^^ what happened was that PHCN has officially ceased to exist, the 18 successor companies are now on their own This is in the EPSR 2005 and even in the roadmap. The companies will eventually be sold but there's a process that has to be followed, you wont wake up one morning and hear they have been sold just like that.

If you want up to date info about the privatisation process, you can go here, the information is readily available so it sort of irks me when people muddle issues up.

@debosky
we're still talking to the regulators o, we haven't yet done anything with the excess, we run only the engines we need per time. when we do decide it'll be between the grid and private industry nearby. . .

but it's enough to say our unit cost of producing electricity(with gas o, not even lpfo or hfo) is more than double what nigerians pay as unit cost. . .