₦airaland Forum

The current situation of the Nigerian economy has dampened the hearts of so many citizens and curtailed a number of their activities…especially travelling. Even those who normally would travel in luxury are now thinking twice about hitting the road. A vacation filled with private jets, luxury accommodations, champagne and fancy food, however, does not have to be a far-fetched fantasy. There are ways Nigerians can travel like a millionaire without having to sell their plots of land or sabotage your credit score. Jumia Travel shares four travel tips to add a little grandeur to your next getaway without breaking bank.

Travel in the off-season

A perfect way to travel like a millionaire is to stay in Luxury hotels or resorts off-season. Vacationers who visit during the off-season stand to save a lot at this idyllic locale. The views are the same, the accommodations are the same, but the prices are most usually slashed in half. From mid-January through April, are usually cheaper that mid-April through Dec. So, unless you are set on enjoying a particular celebration of holiday in Luxury, it makes sense to visit when rates are more affordable.

Consider countries where the dollar is worth more

Take a trip to exotic locations in South America, Africa, Asia or India rather than the U.S., Canada or Europe. These locations have food, attractions and accommodations that typically cost a lot less and the exchange rate falls will usually fall in your favor. The Luxury experience in these areas are not only superb as the environs are most usually picturesque, you get to experience opulence at very minimal costs.

Go for a resort apartment

Instead of booking a fancy luxury hotels where you will have to pay for room service, food, laundry, etc., rent an apartment. The process of finding and renting a resort apartment is not a tedious one, you can find a list of resort-hotels that offer this type of accommodation for the destination you have in mind online. You will also see lots of reasonable rates, as well as peak and off-peak deals. With a resort apartment, you can go shopping for groceries and cook your own favorite meals at a cheaper rate and if you must dine out, you will find numerous restaurants, coffee shops and around the area. You get to save a whole lot of money and enjoy the luxury of a resort.

Schedule your flights at the right times

The cost of transportation is a huge item on any traveler’s list as it is usually one of the most expensive parts of any trip, including luxury vacations. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize costs! Like your favorite high street store, airlines have periods when they do sales or kick up promos which are usually favorable to all range of customers from first class to economy, try and book your flight around those periods. Also, you will find that airlines drop their prices to destinations that are not very popular, you can decide to route your flights in such a way that you can take advantage of these variation in ticket price. Finally, going on a luxury trip does not imply that you must travel first-class. Instead, buy an economy ticket, save some money and spend it having much more fun on your luxury trip.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/4-ways-nigerians-can-take-luxury-trip-abroad-without-spending-fortune/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

In this day and age, even with the current economic situation, it is still very possible to build wealth. The knowledge of some of the best ways to build wealth can go a long way in helping you to successfully increase your net-worth and elevate your financial status. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 6 best ways to build wealth.

Consider Your Vehicle

One of the worst things a car buyer can do is to buy a car without doing some research first. It is extremely important for a car buyer not to rush into the process and get as much information as he/she can on the vehicle reliability, pricing and financing of the vehicle he/she intends to buy. This is mainly because there are many people currently spending a significant portion of their income and savings on car expenses and it’s almost like their vehicles are vacuums that suck up all their money. Various car payments can be normal but this ‘normal’ will definitely not help you build wealth in the long run, and it is best to do proper research before purchasing a vehicle so you don’t end up with a vehicle that constantly devastates your bank account.

Be Wary of ‘Little’ Expenses

The thing about little expenses is that they quickly add up into shockingly large expenses, so unless you need something, you really have no business buying it. Avoid buying crap that is not only useless, but eventually becomes a regretful waste of your money. Every ‘little’ expenses should pass the ‘is it useful?’ test, and if it doesn’t pass the test, then please save the money and be on your way to building wealth.

Save a Percentage of Your Income

There is no magical way to build wealth, it takes time that’s why it’s called ‘build’ wealth not ‘conjure’ wealth, and saving remains one of the best ways to build wealth. Yes people are fond of saying that it’s difficult to have a saving culture in our society because we simply don’t earn enough, but that really isn’t true. Consider Fridays and how much money is wasted by most of us in the name of ‘boys night out’ or ‘girls night out’; if a person decides to take N5000 or even N3000 out of that entertainment money and put in a saving account for a year, he/she would have saved at least N60,000 or N36,000. Though the money might be small, it is something, and if the person continues that way for half a decade, it would have increased to something very reasonable, alongside the interest that will be received on it. If the person is interested in building his/her money further, he/she can invest some in real estate or can decide to buy shares and let that money continue to multiply in these ventures. There are still other legal investments to consider that can be very good for you in helping to build wealth, you just need to do some research to find out about them.

Earn More

It is important to change that wallowing mindset of ‘Well, if my job is crappy and I don’t earn enough or if i’m not given salary increases, how on earth can I earn more?’ There is little than can get in the way of a determined man, and if you are able to work up enough grit to think of and actively look for ways to earn more money, you will. Life simply answers more to those who learn to take the bull by the horns and refuse to give in, give up or wallow. Some ways to earn more money include getting a side job (maybe a weekend job) whose income can contribute to that of your main job, invest in your education by getting more degrees or certifications that can qualify you for better paying jobs etc.

Consider Venturing into Entrepreneurship

If you have a knack for it, entrepreneurship can be a very effective way of building wealth. For most people, their wealth building journey really took off when they made the decision to venture into entrepreneurship. However, starting a business is no small feat and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. You are likely going to experience a lot of challenges and setbacks, and you will have to remain focused and resilient through it all. You also have to be prepared for the fact that as much as starting an entrepreneurial venture can help to jumpstart your wealth building journey, it can also really set you back financially. Nevertheless, like was said earlier, if you have a knack for it and genuinely believe you have what can set you apart from the rest and can succeed at it, then you can definitely consider venturing into entrepreneurship.

Consider Real Estate

Investing in real estate is not for everyone, but it has helped a significant amount of people build wealth. Real estate investments might not make you wealthy overnight, but it can significantly increase your net-worth in a shorter time-frame than many other traditional investments. If you invest in real estate correctly, wisely and responsibly, it can earn you significant windfalls that can eventually significantly elevate your financial status. Some real estate investment strategies include buying and selling undeveloped lands, renting out apartments, house flipping etc.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-best-ways-build-wealth/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Lagos is the centre of excellence. One thing about living in an urban and highly commercialised city like Lagos is how to deal with traffic every day. These types of drives can lead to frustration and road rage. Road rage can be triggered despite following all the traffic rules. In line with this, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares ways to deal with road rage.

Avoid doing things that will give you road rage

You can probably think of a handful of driving manoeuvres that consistently give you road rage when other motorists perform them. Avoid them.

Abandon your horn

One annoying thing about drivers is that they cannot get there hands off the horn whether it is an emergency or not. Know that a vehicle’s horn is there for emergencies, not just for making noise! If you do this, you are calling road rage.

Drive defensively

If you find yourself in heavy traffic, stop yourself from engaging in any aggressive actions that will get you in trouble. Some of the things include keeping your speed down, making sure you do not overtake indiscriminately and allow people pass when they.

Focus on the traffic instead of drivers

You will know if a motorist wants to activate your road rage. Do not give them that chance at all. If you do, you may be pushed to react which can make you angry. You begin by expressing various disapproving hand and face gestures! What you should do is to focus on traffic instead of the driver.

Give yourself time

If you’re running late, you will be more likely to suffer road rage at the simplest incidence of annoyance. The pressure of getting to work or school on time can stress us out when behind the wheel. To avoid higher levels of stress on the roads, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/five-tips-prevent-road-rage-lagos-driver/

cc: lalalsticlala mynd44

There is absolutely nothing wrong with desiring to end the day, especially since it is Friday, by downing several bottles of your preferred drink. The problem here is when you become attached to alcohol. This is called addiction. As such, here are some obvious signs you are drinking too much.

You need alcohol to feel confident

The truth is the higher the amount of alcohol you drink, the higher your self-confidence. Sadly, this intoxicated courage and confidence can be quickly replaced with the fear of the actions that show that you are under the influence.

You abandon your responsibilities to drink

One sure sign that your drinking is becoming a problem is when you begin to leave your responsibilities at work or home to drink. Additionally, you call in sick repeatedly because of a hangover. You may have a drinking problem.

You self-medicate

Your alcoholic problems can result in self-medication because your life is tied to the bottle. If you find yourself reaching for a drink when you start feeling down, it may be time to take a look at the causes behind your feelings instead of covering them up.

People close to you are concerned

When your relationship with those close to you gets affected because of your drinking, there is a problem. Those close to you may have commented about your drinking too much to the level that you begin to hide your drinking problems. This is a red flag.

You have accepted your alcoholism

If you have a problem with alcohol, you will become very comfortable with it, You no longer feel embarrassed with your drinking. As this tolerance increases, you will soon see alcohol as your solution for everything.

Your life is all about alcohol

If you always have the feeling that any activity you engage in must include alcohol, this could be a sign that you’have become dependent on alcohol. The more you drink, the more your blood pressure rises.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-indicators-drinking-much-alcohol/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Thanks to technology’s ‘ever-pervading permeation’ into every part of our lives and society, there are now ways to make money online, aside the traditional and conventional ways. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 effective ways to make money online.

Doing Freelance Work

You can pick up on some online freelance work to help you make money online, all you need to have is a skill to sell for freelance work. If you are writer, web designer or you have any other sellable skill, you can begin to sell your skill right away on social media platforms etc. If you don’t have a sellable skill, you can pick one up and develop on it till you become very good at it. Aside social media platforms, there are also many ‘freelance marketplaces’ online that you can take advantage of. These marketplaces are all designed with the aim of providing you with a place to sell your services and provide clients with a place to find good quality freelancers.

Blogging

This is a common way of making money online and basically involves setting up a blog, keeping it regularly updated with content relevant to your intended audience and sticking with it until you are able to gain a regular readership base. Once you are able to gain a regular readership base, you’ll be able to monetize the blog. One way of monetizing your blog includes the use Google Adsense for standard advert rates. Also, as your blog grows you are more likely to be approached by companies and brands looking to advertise their products or services and do publicity through your blog, and of course you are free to charge them for this. After a while, running your own blog will become financially beneficially to you and well worth your time.

Affiliate Marketing

Here you don’t need to have a product before you can earn because there are a lot of products already available for you to market or promote, and you get a commission for every sale made through your link. You can consider sites like clickbank.com or amazon.com to sell these products or services. There are of course other legitimate sites you can consider, you only need to do your research. In addition, if you can afford it, you can also buy a website, work on improving the SEO for the website and use it to promote thousands of products.

Sell Photos Online

If you’re into photography, and you have cache of nice photos, you can consider selling them through sites like Shutterstock and iStockPhoto, which are two of the biggest photo resources online. All of you need to do is proper research to find out the terms and conditions guiding the use of these sites, and also their terms of payment. The competition on these sites might be stiff, but if you believe your pictures are very good, then with creativity and persistence, you’ll eventually succeed with them.


source: http://www.opinions.ng/4-effective-ways-make-money-online/

DrayZee:
I don't think we need this.
Who receives physical mail these days anyway?

Millions. This is a great initiative, never mind the mindless people writing nonsense.

After landing Neymar for a record €222 million, PSG seem interested in landing unsettled Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez to complete a potential strike force of Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Alexis Sanchez.

The Parisian club is by no means satisfied in this current transfer window and whether the lure of Champions League football and Qatari megabucks is enough to lead Sanchez to move from London to Paris is yet to be seen.

The next few days will prove to be filled with anxiety for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal fans as they struggle to keep their best player at the moment.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/psg-want-arsenals-sanchez-signing-neymar/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Since 1960, agriculture has served as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, and yet there still remain endless opportunities for growth in agricultural value chains. Releaf is driving this growth by fostering trust among businesses in the Nigerian agricultural sector.

Launched by Nigerian Americans that have attended the likes of Yale, Duke, and MIT, Releaf connects Nigerian agribusinesses to customers they can trust.

The three founders Ikenna Nzewi, Uzoma Ayogu, and Isaiah Udotong are all Nigerian-Americans, with Engineering and Computer Science backgrounds. Prior to launching the company, the founders worked at Bain, GE, and Facebook, respectively.

The team has secured a $120,000 investment from YCombinator, the world’s most prestigious early startup investor, to scale its solution in Nigeria. Up until the investment, its founders were working on Releaf part-time while students.

Inspired to work in Nigerian agriculture by Former Minister of Agriculture and current AfDb President Akinwumi Adesina, the three founders spent the past several months, working to understand the challenges for businesses in Nigerian agriculture. Through hundreds of calls and several trips on-ground, the group continued to hear that one of the largest challenges these businesses face is obtaining buyers for their products. Despite existing B2B solutions crafted to connect businesses, that problem has been consistently the most frequently mentioned.

Co-founder Ikenna says, “Portals with millions of African businesses do not facilitate many true business connections, because most business originates through word of mouth. It became clear to us most of the business-to-business challenges result from a lack of trust.”

Unlike conventional B2B models where sellers post what they sell and wait for buyers, Releaf’s platform allows sellers to bid for active buyer contracts. Sellers with mutual contacts to the buyer are given preference.

Sellers register and indicate which commodities they are looking to sell. They are presented with a list verified buyer contracts for those commodities and they apply to fulfill them. Releaf verifies the seller and allows the buyer to decide if they would like to discuss the contract.

Instead of cold inquires being sent to buyers, contacting is directly facilitated by Releaf to ensure a 90% response rate from clients.

One of key benefits on the platform is when businesses provide more information about who they work with, they increase the likelihood of the platform informing them of a mutual connection shared with a buyer contract holder. If Chima Amechi has 5 business relationships and Ade Olutobi has 5 business relationships, their connection can result in each of them gaining 5 new business relationships.

Releaf’s business network is referral-driven. Companies with mutual ties are also recommended to connect with one another as done on Facebook. Sharing more trusted business contacts will increase the chance of finding a mutual connection with a buyer.. Having mutual contacts makes it 5x more likely to secure a contract.

This Fall, the team plans to relocate to Nigeria and scale the business on-ground. The company, operating in stealth thus far, has already verified over 600 agribusinesses and facilitated over 100 connections, but they are now publicly allowing agribusinesses to apply for verification. Releaf aims to map out Nigerian agriculture in its entirety over the next 12 months by registering 20,000 businesses.

Though currently focused on Nigerian Agriculture, the company aims to serve as a central platform that powers African trade in the future.

Isaiah Udotong, CEO of Releaf explains: “Our vision is to make doing business in Africa easier. For too long, reliable business has been restricted to few trusted partners and have not found success finding partners on B2B sites. At Releaf, we believe with a larger trusted business network, private sector growth can be stimulated across the African continent.”

source: http://www.opinions.ng/nigerian-startup-releaf-secures-investment/

cc; lalasticlala mynd44

If you have ever gone to bed a night before an early travel, the only thing that will be on your mind is how you are going to pack. If you are a lazy person, these following tips shared by Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency will make the boring parts of travel such as packing and organising easier on you.

Don’t unpack your suitcase

The important things you need whenever you travel should always stay in your suitcase when it’s at home. You can leave items such as neck pillow, adapter, and other travel essentials in the suitcase at all times. Doing this will give you fewer things to pack.

Be the last to get on and off the plane

To avoid stressing yourself, being the last one to board a plane and the last one to get off is an excellent lazy travel hack. You can relax somewhere, charging your phone or sending last-minute emails while everyone else queues while elbowing each other. This said, make sure you keep an eye on whatever is going on so that you don’t miss your flight.

Save a general packing list

You can create a list on your phone next time you are packing. It will feature everything you are bringing. This will also save you time.

Treat yourself to room service

One fact about room service is that the prices are almost always the same as those in the hotel restaurants. So, if you’re feeling too lazy to go for a meal at the restaurant, you may as well treat yourself to room service.

Book a resort

If the idea of laying on a beach and having unlimited food and drinks brought to you sounds more appealing; then go ahead and book yourself an all-inclusive for your next vacation. You do not have to worry about anything like where to eat, how to get places or organising activities, the resort will do it all for you. But remember, your pocket must be very deep to do this.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-travel-hacks-lazy-people/


cc: lalasticlala myn44

It’s so easy to waste money nowadays and there are many subtle and often overlooked ways that people do so. Being aware of these ways makes it easier for people to curb such wastes and gain better control over their finances. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 subtle ways people waste money while traveling.

Grocery Shopping When You’re Hungry

If you engage in grocery shopping when you’re hungry, you’ll tend to want to buy everything in sight because it all of a sudden becomes more appealing. As much as you can, avoid grocery shopping when you’re hungry because you’re more inclined to buy more food than you actually need and will most likely waste later. This is of course equivalent to an unnecessary waste of money.

Mainly Using Debit Cards for your Purchases

You are unlikely to be so liberal with your purchases if you have to be mindful of the limited cash you have in your wallet; you are therefore more likely to be responsible with your spending. You should try to avoid taking debit cards along with you everywhere you go, especially when on a boys or girls night out or during a vacation. Withdrawing a fix amount of cash is usually best because it compels you to watch your spending and not go overboard. When it comes to avoiding overspending, there is no greater motivation than knowing that if you spend all the cash you have, it’s pretty much ‘gbese’ for you.

Using Just Any ATM Machine

Try as much as possible to use the ATM machine for your bank when withdrawing money to avoid racking up displeasing fees. If you’re traveling or on vacation and are unfamiliar with the area, you can ask the locals for where your bank’s ATM machine is. If you must use the ATM machine of another bank, let it be as occasional as possible.

In-Game Purchases

This can be a hard habit to break especially for lovers of smartphone, Xbox or PlayStation games, but it just has to be done because your ‘little’ in-game purchases eventually adds up to stunning expenses. Eventually, you’ll end up reviewing your bank statements with shock, disbelief, a bit of shame and definitely regret. It advisable to remove your credit card info from sites or apps you play games, and ensure you don’t save your details on such sites for any reason. This way, it is easier for you to rethink your decision to buy that power-up or shining in-game weapon when you have to search for your credit card to put in the necessary info for the purchase. Of course, this doesn’t take the place of generally being responsible enough with your earnings not to spend it all on a game.

Not Taking Advantage of Sales or Discounts

There is no award given to you if you buy things for their full price, you should therefore take advantage of items that have discounts or are on-sales and buy them if they suit your needs. Think about it: why pay more for the exact same thing someone else is paying less for?

[b]source: [/b]http://www.opinions.ng/5-subtle-ways-people-waste-money/

Know anyone with a fear of flying? Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares the following 4 airplane facts that are sure to cure any fear of flying.

Air Travel is Actually the Safest Mood of Mass Transportation

You are actually more likely to be struck by lightning than die in a plane crash. The odds of dying in a plane crash are about one in 11,000,000. If you’re afraid of flying, then you might as well be afraid of pillows, kitchens, petrol or anything else that could kill you but most likely wouldn’t.

Commercial Aircrafts Undergo Extensive Testing Before Being Sold to Airlines

Aircrafts go through an unbelievably massive amount of testing before they can even get off the ground and they still go through a lot more testing after that. You can watch some of the extreme tests carried out on aircrafts on Youtube because perhaps if you see how much attention to detail is paid when building aircrafts, you’ll feel much more safer in an aircraft than you will feel in a car. Some of the tests done include: wing flexibility testing, ingestion testing, temperature and altitude testing, velocity minimum unstick testing, brake testing and other emergency testing like lightning strikes and low fuel scenarios. A lot of effort is put into ensuring that commercial aircrafts fly safely because producers want their aircrafts be extremely safe, if not nobody will buy them.

Planes Can Fly Safely With Just One Engine and Can Land Without Any

Surprising right? It might seem like the engines are the only things keeping a plane in the sky, but it’s not so. Engines help to provide thrust for the plane but a plane can fly quite normally with just one engine. All commercial aircrafts are actually designed to operate well with only one engine. Additionally, a plane with both engines out can actually perform what is called a ‘deadstick landing’ to land safely. Provided it has the height, a plane with both engines out can still glide to a safe landing. However, the engines of planes are extremely reliable and as long as they are well maintained, the chances of both engines going out on a twinjet plane are less than one in a billion flight hours.

Turbulence isn’t Dangerous

The best way to explain turbulence and its effect is to tell you to think of turbulence as you would bumps in the road on a long drive. Turbulence isn’t a safety concern and most pilots tend to avoid it because they consider it annoying and a nuisance, especially when they want to be able to chill in their seats, chow on some snacks and sip their tea or coffee without it spilling. If you still can’t get over the up and down motion that turbulence causes, you can reduce your chances of experiencing it by booking flights for early in the morning or close to sunset when there is a more stable atmosphere.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/4-airplane-facts-can-cure-fear-flying/

Being stranded is tough and no matter how careful you might be, it happens sometimes. Considering our society isn’t exactly friendly to strangers and those in need of help, you need to keep in mind some smart tips for helping yourself when stranded. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 smart things to do when accidentally stranded.

Be Calm

It’s only when you are able to remain calm and think, that you can successfully figure a way out of the situation. If you allow yourself lose your composure and start panicking, you might end up making mistakes that will aggravate the situation.

Call for Help

You should immediately call a reliable person you know for help. Explain your situation to them and where you are so they can help you out. If you are accidentally stranded and you don’t have a phone (maybe because your battery ran down, you don’t have airtime to call or you forgot your phone), you need to be a lot wiser about how you ask for help. Due to the nature of our society, there is a lot of distrust for strangers so you are unlikely to get help by just walking up to a random stranger; as a result of this, your discerning skills are going to have to be brought to fore. Assess the people around you and figure out the ones that are likely to actually help if you ask for it, because there are those who might use the opportunity to swindle you. Another option is to ask for the nearest police station or government office, and go to them for help.

Be Patient

After calling or asking for help, most people forget to be patient when stranded. If you called someone from the other side of town for help, you’re going to have to accept that you’ll be waiting a while for that person. Help is hardly immediate and though inconvenient, you are going to have to accept it and figure out how to keep yourself safe in the meantime.

Don’t Make Your Plight Obvious

One very helpful tip for keeping yourself safe when stranded is not to make it obvious to everyone around you that you are stranded or in need of help. Once you have called for help, you need to remember that help is already on the way and you should thus try to blend in and act as naturally as possible in the meantime. This is to avoid exposing yourself to swindlers and other shady characters that might want to take advantage of your situation.

source: www.opinions.ng/4-smart-things-stranded/

The question that many people ask themselves is where do their money go. Truthfully, you are the only one who can answer that question. But, we know that a reason why you are losing your money is because you are not tracking it. Well, it is time to stop losing your money and start tracking your cash. As such, we highlight some of the ways you can do this.

Use online management software

You do not need to go to the bank because you want to check your account. There are now online management tools and applications that allow you track your spending from your computer or smartphone real-time. In addition to this, you can also see your recent transactions.

Use online budgeting software

There are certain websites, apps, and software that you can directly link to your financial accounts. They automatically organise and categorise your spending by letting you compare your projected spending against your actual spending. It will even alert you when you are overspending.

Use ATMs

ATMs are connected with banks and it lets you check your balance, deposit and even transfer funds between accounts. Ultimately, ATMs are available anytime you need them. Hence, it is easily accessible to help you track your finance.

Activate account alerts

If you want to know about all your bank account transactions or activities as well as track how you spend your money, you should activate alerts. It will allow you get new alerts and let you know when your account is low. You will just be charged a token for this service.

Pay a visit to your local bank

Banks in Nigeria can offer you financial advice if you have challenges keeping track of your spending. They can help you with a solution.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-smart-ways-track-expenses/

The power of social media cannot be underestimated by any serious brand or organisation especially when it has to do with customer satisfaction and engagement. It has completely changed interaction with customers. So, how has social media revolutionised customer service? Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares the ways or how this is happening.

Public and open interaction with customers

Today, customers can have public and open interaction with any brand whether they have complaints or not. There is nothing that is hidden anymore.

Variety of options

Customers do not need to dial any number to reach customer service. With social media, they now have options to engage businesses. There is Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help resolve any issues. This is because many organisations now have social media presence.

Ruin a brand’s reputation

If you want to destroy or ruin a brand’s reputation, you should take to social media. You can do this when such an organisation is unresponsive and refuse to take action on your complaints. A tweet will prompt them to act because they want to protect their image.

Take advantage of influencers to build your brand

There are now social media influencers that can help you promote your brand or social media campaign. This can give you more traction and reach.

Provide instant help to customers

This is the ultimate way social media has changed customer service. It has made it easier to provide instant and immediate assistance to customers. It is presently possible for brands to quickly respond to inquiries, questions and complaints.

Announce policy changes

News organisations now follow the social media accounts of brands so that they will get firsthand information and announcements. So, no organisation needs to go through newspapers or television to announce policy changes. You can share a post on social media and the media will pick it up.

Deal with different customers at the same time

With social media, you can deal with different customers at the same time. This is why social media is a department under Public Relations in some organisations.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/7-ways-social-media-changed-customer-service/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Ogun state is a state in the southwestern region of Nigeria and is known as ‘the Gateway State’. The state has a high concentration of industrial estates and is considered as the major manufacturing hub in Nigeria. It’s an important state in Nigeria with a rich history and culture. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 6 important facts about Ogun State you probably didn’t know.

It’s Creation

Ogun state was created by the Murtala/Obasanjo administration on the 3rd of February, 1976 from the Old Western State. The state was named after the Ogun River, which runs right across the state from north to south. The state currently has a total of 20 local government areas.

Its Ethnic Groups

Ogun state has six major ethnic groups: the Egba, the Ijebu, the Remo, the Egbado, the Awori and the Egun. There are also sub-groups like the Ikale, Ketu, Ohori and Anago.

Its Tertiary Institutions

The state is recorded to have the highest number of registered (private) universities and higher institutions in Nigeria and it is the only state that runs two state-owned universities in the country. Ogun state is also the home of the first and only University of Education in Nigeria.

Its Political Track Record

Ogun state has produced the majority of Nigeria’s political leaders from the South-West region. All South-Westerners who were once the President or Head of State of the country (Obasanjo, Shonekan) all hail from Ogun State. Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier of the Western region, was also from Ogun state.

Its Indigines

The Ijebus in the state are known to be the first Yoruba-speaking people to have contact with the Europeans in the early 14th century. They are also believed to be the first Yorubas to invent money made from cowry shells called ‘Owo Eyo’, which was accepted throughout the Yorubaland before it was replaced by coins made from silver materials, when the Europeans came.

It’s Food Contributions

Ogun state contributes significantly to the production of poultry products in Nigeria. In addition, the popular Ofada rice is grown almost exclusively in Ogun state. The rice was actually named after the town Ofada – the town where it was successfully cultivated.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-important-facts-ogun-state-probably-didnt-know/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

By Theresa Brawner

When you visit basically any airport in the world, you always see a bunch of people sleeping everywhere – on the airport chairs, on the floor and even on their language – and while for some trying to curl up under a ton of florescent light besides a bunch of language doesn’t sound like a great idea, sleeping in a full airport doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Of course, you just have to put a little bit of effort in, and you’ll be sleeping like a baby in no time.

For starters, you need to completely relax. This means getting an eye mask, getting some noise-reducing earphones and putting your phone on pilot before you even take off. And if all of that doesn’t help you nod off, maybe you should try meditating – just download one of the many mediation apps out there and learn some new relaxation strategies on the go.

And here are a couple of things that could also help you have a couple of hours of relaxing sleep:

Airport Sleeping Tip #1

If you forget your phone in your lap when you put your sleep mask on, you might wake in a lot of trouble. You never know when an opportunistic thief could walk by and steal your phone, wallet or even jewelry. Therefore, make sure that you have everything stashed away before you close your eyes.

What’s more, you should also make sure to face the zippers on your bags toward you, because if you face it the other way, someone might come by and try to go through your belongings while you’re in deep sleep. Another option is to spend a little more cash and store you bags at the airport.

Airport Sleeping Tip #2

Who can sleep without a full stomach? Now, you should keep in mind that while some airports do have shops and kiosks that are open 24/7, you can’t count on it. So that sandwich you were banking on might not be available when you need it the most.

So make sure to do some homework before you even leave your house, and see if the airport you’re going to has any round-the-clock shops. Also, you should see if the food at the airport is any good or not, just in case. This will allow you to buy some extra food and make a sandwich at home.

Airport Sleeping Tip #3

These days, most airports offer single-entry options for their visitors. This means for a small one-time fee (it will probably be somewhere between 50 and 75 dollars) you can have access to unlimited food, drinks and most importantly, a secluded place to snooze for a while.

Most of these lounges are open 24 hours, and even with an economy class ticket, you can easily gain access to it. Also if you’re a heavy snorer and you’re worried about embarrassing yourself in public, don’t worry, you can simply get an oral anti-snoring device that will allow you to sleep.

Airport Sleeping Tip #4

This is especially important if you’re a heavy sleeper, because if you go to sleep without an alarm, you can easily end up missing your flight and arguing with the airport staff about replacing your ticket. Whatever the case may be, make sure to set your alarm for at least 30 minutes before your flight begins boarding.

This will of course enable you to grab a bite and freshen up before you grab your bags and head for the gate. Once again, if you have any problems waking up, simply download an alarm clock app – some of them will definitely help you wake up, seeing how they require you to do different tasks in order to shut them off…

Final Thoughts

Lastly, we should remind you that you should always try to have some fun. While sleeping in an airport is definitely budget travel, it can also be a unique adventure. So try to make most of the situation you’re in and try to enjoy it as much as possible.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/four-tips-sleeping-comfortably-airport/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

A car is just like our body. We do not really care about it until we have a headache or something happens. That is when we remember the doctor or hospital. This is not supposed to be the case but many of us do it. Perhaps we are scared of hospitals. It is the same with our cars. Some people just jump in their cars without checking or doing anything and zoom off. This is very risky. It is better to take precautions before you start your car so as to avoid stories that touch. Accordingly, we share the things you must check in your car before you turn on the ignition.

Check the brakes

Before you set out on your journey, make sure to check the brakes and see if they have the needed stopping power. If you feel the brakes are not effective enough, head immediately to your mechanic or add more brake oil.

Check your tyres

Tyres are a very important car accessory. Never joke with it because you do not want it bursting while driving. Hence, check if you have a flat tyre and also make sure that it contains the required pressure. Importantly, always carry a spare.

Your fluids level

You don’t need to check the fluid levels on a daily basis but do so once every 15 days or at least on a monthly basis. Some of the fluids include engine oil, brake oil, power steering oil. Do not forget the water level.

Adjust the rear view mirrors

Adjust the rear view mirrors to the point you would be able to see a small portion of the rear end of your car along with the lane next to it on your outside rear view mirrors (ORVM).

Adjust your seat

You should do this frequently if you are not the only driver. As a rule, do not commence your journey unless you are comfortable in the driver’s seat. You should be able to reach up to the pedals without having to stretch your legs.

Fasten your seatbelt

If your car has a reminder to fasten your seatbelt, it is good. But if it does not, make a habit. In fact, today you may be risking arrest in Lagos if you fail to fasten or use your seatbelt.

Check the gears

Do a check to see if the gears are working properly to know if they are getting stuck or jamming up. This could mean it needs servicing. Don’t forget to put the gear back in neutral before starting the car.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/7-things-every-day-start-car/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Over time studying abroad has actually become more accessible to students in a number of countries. You only need to do your research well enough to reveal these countries with good tertiary institutions and relatively easy visa procedures for international students, and take advantage of their offers. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 countries with the easiest visa procedures for international students.

Canada

Canada is considered as one of the top study destinations in the world because of its great universities, reasonable cost of living and beautiful environment and landscape. The country has quite an easy procedure for students to apply for study visas. The process basically requires the student to first apply for and gain entry into a Canadian university and then obtain a Canadian study permit, which is renewable for the length of the students study period. The best part of a Canadian study visa is that, not only can an individual study as an international student, he/she can also work as a student, obtain a post-graduation work permit, gain Canadian work experience and learn about pathways towards Canadian citizenship. Also, another great perk is that you can bring family members with you! You can learn more about studying in Canada by visiting the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship website.

Germany

What is better than a country that has abolished tuition and fees at public universities? Nothing! Germany is such a country and another great place for international students to consider. Aside having an easy visa procedure for international students, it has a reasonable cost of living and some of the world’s finest universities. Basically, the process of getting a German study visa is to first gain admission into a German University, then complete a visa application and attend an interview. A positive outcome sees you obtaining a German study visa that allows you to study and work in the country. In addition, if you want to go to Germany just learn their language, you can obtain a language-study visa that lasts for a good two years and be on your way to learning the awesome language.

New Zealand

This is another country with an easy visa procedure for international students. Basically, you start by checking out the types of study visas the country offers and then begin your application process. You can also contact the program or university that accepted you and ask for their help in your visa application process; they can provide you with valuable information.

Ireland

This country has such an easy visa procedure for international students that it can all be done online. Surprising right? Of course, you will need proof of your acceptance to a program of study and then the required paperwork. You can also contact the international students services office of the institution for assistance with the process, if you need it. An Irish study visa also gives you access to part-time employment depending on your program’s eligibility.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/4-countries-easiest-visa-procedures-international-students/

cc; Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Benin City is the stunning capital of Edo state. It’s the center of Nigeria’s rubber industry and processing palm nuts for oil is also an important traditional industry there. There many interesting things to explore in this historic and cultural city. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 interesting things about Benin City.

The Oba’s Palace

Really, what’s more interesting than a palace? In truth, no vacation or visit to Benin City is complete without a visit to this cultural and historical splendor. The Royal Oba’s Palace is at the heart of the city and a repository of Benin crafts. It’s really a cultural and historic ‘goldmine’ with interesting ancient adornments and ornaments that are sincerely a delight to explore.

The Benin Moat

You’ve probably heard this name once or twice and wondered what exactly it was. The Benin Moat also known as ‘Iya’ is one of the largest man made earthwork in the world. The Benin Moat was actually used as a defensive fortification for the Ancient Benin City and its archaeology is recognized as something that is indeed admirable. However, the monument has in recent times been described as a ‘neglected monument in search of a rescuer’. Nevertheless, it’s still a truly interesting feature of the city and a testament to the ingenuity and engineering acumen of the old Benin Kingdom.

Igun-Eronmwon Quarters

It’s also called Igun Street and is listed as a Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. The quarters is home to brass/bronze casting industries in Benin City and gives an opportunity to witness bronze casting in its various stages and buy any piece of your choice. It’s the home guild of Benin Bronze casters with various popular bronze works of kings, queens, other notable royalties and other artistic motif to explore.

Igue Festival

This is the most popular festival in the city and is where the Oba celebrates the history and culture of his people as he blesses the land and the people. The festival is typically celebrated at a time between Christmas and New year and it involves traditional dances, a mock battle and a procession to the palace to reaffirm loyalty to and respect for the Oba. The festival is typically an annual cycle of rituals and rites, and is used as a platform by the Edo people to display their rich culture and tradition.

Revelation Tourist Palazzo

A place with an interesting name indeed; the palazzo has been described as a place the history of Nigeria comes alive and for cultural enthusiasts is ‘the heartbeat of culture in Nigeria’. It’s a privately owned museum and tourist center put together by music maestro Prof. Victor Uwaifo. There are different exhibition points at this palazzo and each one extensively treats a specific subject, from music to culture, telling different sides of the Binis. It’s an educative and culturally enriching site to explore.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-interesting-things-benin-city/

You just bought a new smartphone, you can’t seem to control your excitement. However, few months down the line, your beloved smartphone becomes slow and unresponsive over time. There are many reasons why this happens. In line with this, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 5 of these reasons.

The OS Upgrades

If you bought your device a few years back, it may be running on Android KitKat or iOS 7. From time to time upgrades of these apps are released with a certain set of hardware specs which may not be compatible with your phone. This may affect the speed of your device.

Apps running in the background

Background apps can also cause your phone to slow down because the running apps are taking space. Hence, make it a habit to always close your apps if they are not in use.

Memory Degradation

Smartphones run on a flash memory. When the phone memory is full, your phone gets slower. Do not forget to intermittently clean your phone memory.

Higher expectations

Sometimes, after looking at several high-end smartphones, we expect our phones to perform better. You can’t compare Galaxy S3 with Galaxy S8. So, we should learn to manage our expectations or simply buy another device.

App updates

Apps can be transformed from lightweight to heavyweight over time due to updates. Developers are constantly releasing updates and every new update brings new features, which ends up taking most part of your RAM and CPU.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-reasons-smartphone-may-become-unresponsive/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

kingsvicks:
All this people wailing about the establishment of Nigeria peace corps, were you not here when the advertisements of the organization form was made. keep wailing when peace corps will be empowering the youth. Ndo anya ufu na obi ojor. the war is over cos the oppressors have been defeated

You mean the swindling of people that has been happening will gather more steam.

This is one of the bills that is unlikely to be assented to by the president or acting president.

By Kazeem Abolore

Many may not know that failure is sometimes a prerequisite to success; you may fail at some point before you succeed. The key question to answer is not ‘when do you fail?’ but ‘when do you start?’ Because it is when you start that you may fail and it is when you fail and remain persistent that you succeed. Your case is like a baby that does not crawl, when will he stand let alone walk? Your own crawling is when you start, your attempt at standing and stumbling is when you fail and finally when you walk is when you succeed.
Starting doesn’t have to be big; this has been said many times. Chances are that you have read it too, it just has to be done. Don’t be great to start, start so that you can be great. Here is an acronym I created for the word START.

S – See yourself doing it
T – Tell yourself you will do it
A – Act on it
R – Revisit your purpose and then
T – Things will get right in time.


I once wrote about 3 dangers of not starting now. Let me reiterate them here:
1. You may never start (do) it, the Law of Diminishing Intent will work against you. It says, “The longer you wait to do something you know you should do now, the greater the chances are you will never do it”.
2. You may start another activity, you may get motivated to do other things.
3. You might be pained when you see someone doing something similar to it.

When you have not started, when are you going to fail?

Here are some quotes that can help you get started.
“The longer you wait to do something you know you should do now, the greater the chances are you will never do it” – Law of Diminishing Intent
“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” ― Mark Twain
“Getting started is the most difficult thing to do; once you file it out, the rest of the journey is as soft as the straw. Be a good beginner.” ― Israelmore Ayivor, Shaping the dream
Do what you can, use what you have right now where you are.


source: http://www.opinions.ng/clear-explanation-failure-vital-success/


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There are various reasons that may prompt you to relocate. It may be an inter or intrastate relocation. Whatever the case may be, you should know that the culture will be different from what you are used to. Hence, you do not want to fall short of their way of life especially if you are relocating to a culturally and religiously sensitive location like Northern Nigeria. There are some actions that you can take to ensure that your cultural transition is as smooth as possible. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares some of them.

Learn the local language

One of the easiest ways to blend into a new culture is to learn how to speak the local language. Doing this will make it simple for you to network, conduct business and integrate yourself into your local community.

Join local expat communities

Once you have arrived at your new destination, you will most likely make new friends with the people that you come across along the way. It is better to join an expat community because you will receive reliable advice based on the experiences they have garnered living with the people.

Join the landlord association

Another way to settle into a new culture is by joining the landlord association. You can find friends as well as network. This said, ensure that you make them know that just moved into the community.

Seek out colleagues

If you are being relocated for work purposes, it is not out of place for you to request that your organisation put you in contact with employees who are already working at where you are relocating. Just make sure you contact the person before you move.

Do your research

Doing a bit of research is important before relocating to a new location, city or community. And, an essential part of this is understanding your new culture. Thus, research ahead of time and ensure that you are aware of things such as the local cuisine, festivals, holidays, dress codes, prevalent religions and spiritual beliefs.


source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-tips-blending-new-culture-relocate/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

This is what we call better wife. How would we describe this one here though? http://www.opinions.ng/ibukuns-sad-story-wrecked-marriage/

It’s important to have a checklist of things you must never forget before traveling, to help keep them in mind and avoid forgetting them. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 things you shouldn’t forget before traveling.

Copies of Important Documents

It is not enough to just have a copy of important documents when you travel, you should have copies of them. This can prove to be a ‘lifesaver’ for you if or when you find yourself in emergency situations. Also, if you know you’re the forgetful type, you’ll probably need a lot more than one copy of important documents so you don’t end up stranded or in a tight corner if you happen to forget or misplace it.

First Aid Kit

This is especially useful if you’re travelling to an unfamiliar state, country or area. Rather than wasting time trying to find a pharmacy, it is best to have a first aid kit with all the necessary pills and medicines you might need in case of an emergency. This is to save you from the stress of looking far and wide for a pharmacy in an area you are more or less a stranger in. Also, you should find out if any of the medicines you are taking along need a prescription in the area, state or country you are traveling to, so you can get the necessary prescriptions and save yourself from avoidable legal troubles.

Multiple Adapter Plugs

Much like with having a first aid kit, especially when you’re traveling overseas, you should try to ensure you have multiple adapter plugs with you for your smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras etc. Try to have the appropriate plug or adapter for the area of the world you are visiting because not having one can end up being a nightmare for you. You’ll eventually have to search here and there, in an unfamiliar area, for a shop to buy said plug or adapter and might most times end up paying more money for it.

Essential Travel Apps and Devices

Technological innovation has really made things much easier for travelers and the development of travel apps and devices are just two of such technological innovations. There are essential travel apps like maps, dictionaries etc., and even tracking devices that can help you keep track of the location of your luggage at all times. Depending on the country you’re visiting, you can find the right travel app or device that works and that can help maximize your travel experience.

Your Money Options

This is obvious enough but this is a list about the things that must not be forgotten before traveling so it has to be mentioned. Ensure you have several money options available to you before traveling and call your bank to inform them of your travel plans, so they can take the necessary actions. If you can, it is advisable to take more than one type of card with you. For example, rather than taking all Mastercard cards, try to include a VISA card too, just in case.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-things-shouldnt-forget-traveling/

Flight cancellations and delays are now a norm among Nigerian airlines. Without providing information, they simply announce that your flight has been canceled or delayed. You are shocked and angry not because of the cancellation but due to the lack of courtesy for you and other customers. A good example is Medview Airline that canceled its flight from Nigeria to London thereby leaving many passengers stranded at the airport in both Nigeria and London. They did not make any provision for these passengers. Anyway, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares ways you can deal with flight delays and cancellation.

Focus

Getting the news that your flight has been abruptly canceled can easily make you lose focus. This is because you already schedule your itinerant and not flying on that day can be costly. Think of the next thing you have to do. Is it for someone to pick you up at the airport? Call your boss? Or find a place to sleep?

Keep your cool

You will not be blamed if you lose your cool. You have all the right to go berzerk. There were reports of passengers beating up airline staff for flight cancellations and delays. You do not have to be counted among them. Be firm but polite with staff. Chances are that, it’s not their fault. Don’t just lose your cool.

Make friends/network

Making friends is always good especially when you are waiting to be airlifted. This is just one of the perks of your flight being canceled or delayed.

Entertain yourself

Always carry with you something that helps you kill time. The first thing that comes to mind is your phone. So ensure your phone is fully charged and do not forget your external charger.

Eat and drink

Eat and drink to help you keep your cool. Dehydration and hunger are obviously going to make you feel worse later on. So, if you have not eaten, visit a restaurant to quench your hunger.

Seek compensation

Don’t allow things to go just like that. God will not come down to change things because some Nigerians will say they should leave it in the hands of God. So, seek compensation from the airline for delaying your flight and if they do not respond, you should go to court (if you can).

Make a complaint

You can make a complaint to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Of course, you may think that they may not do anything but still, you should still make your complaint. The more the complaint about a particular airline, the more they will be prompted to do something.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/7-ways-deal-flight-cancellations-delays/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of work, skill, sacrifice, commitment and wisdom. However, there is something extra that one needs to become a better entrepreneur and increase their chances of entrepreneurial success. This is a knowledge of the mistakes to never make as an entrepreneur. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 costly mistakes entrepreneurs make in their entrepreneurial ventures.

Doing Search Engine Optimization on Your Own

SEO might seem pretty straightforward as it’s basically about finding and using the right keywords for Google to rank it near top searches; this is to increase the chances of your business being seen by potential customers. In theory, SEO is indeed simple and straightforward, however the practical implementation of it is a lot more complex. This is because the rules of SEO are constantly changing and after eventually figuring out the whole process, you still need to be careful to find a balance between doing too little SEO and too much SEO. SEO requires time and a lot of attention to be successful, and you just might fall short in this area while simultaneously trying to run the core of your business. You’ll need to hire a very good SEO consultant to take the reigns of this part of your business.

Trying To Do It All By Yourself

You should understand that you can’t do it all by yourself and there are those who are more skilled in certain areas than you are. You need to leverage on the strengths of these people and combine with your strength to make your entrepreneurial venture a success. Trying to do it all by yourself can lead to avoidable mistakes that can be detrimental to your entrepreneurial success.

Being Impatient

Taking risks is far different from looking for trouble, and that’s what an impatient entrepreneur would be doing. Rome wasn’t built in a day and everything needs time to develop, so an entrepreneur should avoid trying to rush his/her growth process with rushed and risky operations and investments. Entrepreneurs need to have a thorough understanding of their business and their business growth to help them better learn to be patient with their business.

Being Too Confident

Confidence is different from arrogance and recklessness. Entrepreneurs need to understand that there is a fine line between the two and tread carefully.

Not Being Adaptable

Today’s business climate is ever-changing and it is important for an entrepreneur to learn to be adaptable if he/she wants his/her business to survive. As much as you should go with what is working now, you also need to explore new options so that you can be ready to make changes in the future. In addition, entrepreneurs should not downplay the role of social media in helping to create visibility for their products. Social media is a cheap and effective tool for marketing your business to many customers online.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-costly-mistakes-entrepreneurs-make/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

By Usman Rayyanu Dabai

Walking back home after a tough disagreement with GT Bank officials this evening, I was not in the best of moods, I was denied access to my account because the name on my Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) is blurred.

I was close to Sabon gari Post office, here in Zaria, waiting to cross to the other side of the road. A girl, not more than 9 years old came close to me, holding the hand of a little boy of about 7. It is one of those days I didn’t want to be disturbed because of my mood.

Believing they came close only to request money from me, which is a common practice along that road, I was ready to ignore her even before she got a chance to make the request.

‘Please sir, we want to cross to the other side of the road, can you help us?’ She says in Hausa.

In silence for a moment, I was ashamed of myself. Two little children needed my help, but I wasn’t patient enough to listen to them, I was wrong in my judgement.

Although I ended up buying them goodies, it wasn’t enough to keep my mind at peace.

No matter how knowledgeable you are, always delay judgement. Give others the chance to explain themselves.

What you see may not be the reality, never conclude for others.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/story-not-quick-judge-others-appearance/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

There is nothing new under the sun, goes a popular saying. In fact, the more things seem to change, the more they appear the same. From time immemorial, some people have spoken evil of leadership, cast aspersions on them, and generally portrayed themselves as scum of the earth. No matter how a country loves its leader, there will naturally be those that the Good Book calls “filthy dreamers” who “despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” That is why as spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, I never respond to such people. Their type would always be around.

President Buhari has been indisposed since the beginning of the year. It is human, and presidents, despite their elevated status, remain human. If there is anybody who considers himself 100 percent healthy, or who bears what William Shakespeare calls “a charmed life,” let that person stand up to be identified. All mortals are doomed to sickness, they can recover, and they can die. That is the truth that has been internalized by millions of people praying for the recovery of our President. And that is where the shallowness, vacuousness, and hollowness of people who wish the President dead, and carry unfounded rumors, is on stark display. Filthy dreamers. They speak evil of dignities, and despise dominion. But we forgive them, for they know not what they do. When President Buhari returns (as God would make him do) where would they hide their faces? In shame.

Now, I started by saying we would always have scumbags around. It is inevitable. They are the descendants of Shimei, the son of Gera, whom I want to introduce to you now.

Who is Shimei? Well, I met him on the pages of the Good Book, and he bears striking similitude to some people in our country today. The evil wishers, the hate monger, and those who spend their days conjecturing tragedy for leadership.

Absalom, the son of King David, had led an insurrection against his father. And the king of Israel fled, with some of his supporters in tow. As David got to a place called Bahurim, the Holy Bible records that Shimei, the son of Gera, a man of the family of Saul, came out, and started cursing the fleeing king. You don’t kick a man that is down, goes a saying, but Shimei not only cursed David, he also threw dust and stones at him. It was a show of shame.

David had succeeded Saul as king of Israel. And Shimei was from the family of Saul (read, People’s Democratic Party, PDP). Shimei hadn’t forgotten the bloody nose the family of Saul got, when the kingship was taken away from them, and given to David. So when the latter got into a time of travail, no pity at all from people still smarting from bloody noses.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), inspired by Muhammadu Buhari, halted the 60-year pipe dream of PDP at the polls in 2015. Has the latter forgotten? No, they won’t forget till forever. But so much is the animus, the antipathy towards the President that they wish him dead. While millions of Nigerians are praying, some elements are rejoicing, and imagining evil. But they forget: man is not God, and Jehovah always has the final say. The descendants of Shimei need to learn vital lessons from their forebear.

As the base fellow assaulted the fleeing king, Abishai, one of David’s mighty men, said:”Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”(2 Samuel, 16:9). But David restrained him, saying if God had not permitted Shimei, he could not have done what he was doing.

President Buhari has tolerated people who have called him all sorts of names in the past two years. If he didn’t move against them directly, he could have allowed many Abishais to move against them, “and take off their heads.” But not our President, a reformed democrat, a pious man, who has resolved to leave the people suffused by hatred unto God. And will they get their just desserts one day? As night follows the day, they will. If not from man, they will get it from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He reaped what he sowed.

After some time, the rebellion led by Absalom was crushed by loyal troops, and David regained the throne. As he headed back into the city, who came to meet the king, with one thousand of his relatives, pleading for mercy? Shimei. The Yorubas say the same mouth that the snail used to abuse the gods, is what it uses to lick the dusts of the earth. Shimei had suddenly become gentle. And humble, too. He fell down before David, and said:”I have sinned. Have mercy on me. Don’t remember what I did against you on the day you went out of Jerusalem.”

Heh, on a certain day, some people would come to prostrate, begging for mercy, asking President Buhari to forgive and forget. What will the President do? What did David do? Abishai said again to King David:”Let me bring down the head of this man, who cursed, and threw stones at you?”

But David said to Shimei:”Thou shall not surely die.” And the king swore unto him.

But did Shimei live happily ever after? Old sins, they say, have long shadows. Before David died, he instructed Solomon his son, who succeeded him, not to forget to deal with Shimei. At least, David had kept his part of the bargain not to kill Shimei.

What did Solomon do? He restricted Shimei to Jerusalem, adding that any day he went out of the city would be his last on earth. Days, weeks, and months went by. Shimei remained gentle. But on a certain day, two servants belonging to him ran away to Gath, another city. Shimei saddled his horses, and led his men to bring back the servants. He had received mercy from David, but he couldn’t show mercy to the servants. Mercy begets mercy.

The story was told to Solomon. Shimei has left Jerusalem. He went to Gath, contrary to your instructions. It was time for judgment. Solomon commanded that what Abishai had long wanted to do should be done to Shimei. And his head was brought down.

Will the descendants of Shimei repent, turn a new leaf, and become human? Will they recognize their own mortality? He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. He that is overtaken by hate, let him remain hateful still. Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.

Let the descendants of Shimei who have ears to hear please hear. There is recompense for evil, and there is also recompense for good.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/must-read-pmb-descendants-shimei/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Assessment center is a recruitment testing method that uses multiple tools like interview, group discussion, group task, oral presentation, case study, role play etc to test candidates’ suitability for a role in an organization.
Three or more of the tools above are usually deployed by the recruiter to assess the candidates.
Many candidates struggle with passing Assessment Centers.
When next you find yourself in an assessment, here are 5 things you should never do:-

1, Domineering in group discussion: While you must be active in group discussions, you must exercise great care to avoid being domineering, i.e making the hole show about you alone. Don’t present yourself as the alpha as omega of the team. Give others opportunity to talk too. Help a lagging team member by even talking into his mouth.

2, Making sensitive political or religious points: AC gives you opportunity to express yourself as much as possible, especially the group discussion and oral presentation parts. Some topics can be tricky. Don’t lose too much guard and turn it to your Facebook or Nairaland rant, where you can insult anyone, any public personality. If the topic for discussion is about economic recession in Nigeria for example, don’t turn it into a PDP vs APC or Jonathan vs Buhari show, make professional points, don’t go saying some ministers under Jonathan looted Nigeria to recession or that Buhari’s government has been clueless in handling it. Be diplomatic. You never can tell the political or religious affiliation of your assessors.

3, Shouting down others: It is acceptable to disagree with another team member in a group discussion in an AC. In fact, it is good to bring fresh perspective to an issue. But do so respectfully and professionally. Don’t call anyone else’s opinion foolish; don’t shout down their opinion; don’t

4, Turning yourself into professional scribe: In group discussion part of most assessment centers, someone needs to take note. It is a good role to take as it provides you opportunity to have good grasp of the issues. But avoid turning yourself into professional scribe. Talk, participate in the discussions too. Just jot the key point, not writing every word uttered by the contributors. You are not applying for the role of secretary!

5, Not being time conscious: Each activity in an AC has an allotted time, stick to it. Don’t think your are smart and keep the activity going after the assessor’s “time-up” announcement. Work with time.


source: http://www.jarushub.com/top-5-donts-of-an-assessment-center/


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