₦airaland Forum

Stress is a normal part of life because many changes in your environment cause your body to react and adjust in response. However, it’s important to avoid overstressing your body. Sometimes when your body is overstressed you might not even feel it, but it masks itself under certain symptoms. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 signs your body is overstressed.

Your Body is in Pain

It is important you do not ignore pains of any kind in your body, especially if they are prolonged and consistent. Under high stress, your body starts to break down and you are likely to experience stomach issues like diarrhea or ulcer, tense muscles, chest pains, palpitations, body aches and even headaches.

Not Sleeping Well

High stress is another likely cause of fluctuations in sleep patterns, either sleeping too much from exhaustion or insomnia. Daily events tend to be played out in our subconscious and if we stress and worry all day, it’ll eventually affect our sleep patterns. Stress impedes a peaceful state of mind and when there is a high stress your sleep is one of the first things that will be affected.

Difficulty Resting and Inability to Sit Still

Stress stimulates the body and having difficulty getting your body to settle after about 20 minutes or so after physical exertion, is often a sign your body is becoming overly stressed. Also, if anxiety seems to be constant feature in your life and you can’t seem to relax and sit still, that’s a very likely sign you are over stressed. You should immediately attempt to address whatever is making you avoid being still because the things we avoid tend to get pushed further and further down until we start to feel it in other areas of our body.

Craving Raw Sugar Foods and Junk Food

Stress tends to drain the body’s energy resources quite quickly, and if you find yourself constantly craving raw sugar foods and junk food for a boost of energy then this may be a sign your body is overstressed.

You Experience Major Mood Swings

Mental health gets affected when stress levels rise. Too much stress tends to affect your hormones and have you feeling elated one moment and enraged the next. At this point it is important to practice stress management techniques or talk to someone about the issues causing your stress. If care is not taken, stress can also enhance anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, addictions and other mental health issues, as well compromising and hurting your relationships with others.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-signs-body-overstressed/

By Tijjani Abdulsalam




Up until recent times not many African countries could boast of any kind of political stability and order with respect to change of government. The squabble for power and control plagued many states, and newly independent states, lacking any previous experience of democracy or self-rule were worst hit. Also, with sit-tight leadership being the fashion in those days, opponents of a regime have had to resort to the use of force and violence to oust unpopular or unwanted dictators. Over the decades past, quite a number of African leaders have been taken off power violently. This piece attempts to capture the most notable of such events, selected based on historical significance and aftermath events, and listed in reverse chronology.

1. Patrice Lumumba (DR Congo, 1961)

For many Congolese, the assassination of their First Prime Minister in 1961 marked the beginning of the end of what was supposed to be a new era of freedom, peace and prosperity following independence in 1960. Following elections, Patrice Lumumba was announced Prime Minister in June 1961 at the age of 34. He endured a tumultuous tenure plagued by the Congo Crisis, which comprised of mutiny in the Army, secession of important mineral-rich regions-Katanga and South Kasai-with Belgian support, rebellion in some parts of the country, and inter-ethnic fights.

After failing to get the support of the US and the UN in fighting the secession, Lumumba turned to the Soviets-a cardinal sin in the era of the cold war. This led to division within his own government and his subsequent deposition by Army Chief, Joseph Mobutu (a.k.a Mobutu Sese Seko).

Patrice Emery Lumumba was executed by firing squad on January 17 1961. According to Wikipedia, his body was dug up and ‘dissolved in sulfuric acid while the bones were ground and scattered’.

2. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigeria, 1966)

The Assassination of Nigeria’s first and last Prime Minister, in 1966 amongst other political figures sparked off a series of sad events that culminated in a very brutal three-year civil war, which in itself, is a subject for another time. As with many leaders of new African states, Balewa had a tumultuous reign as Prime Minister with regional factionalism (especially from the ‘wild, wild west’), electoral violence, political and ethnic unrest giving his government a hard time. When on 15 January 1966, a group of officers struck against the political class assassinating amongst prominent politicians, Sir Balewa was top of the hit list.

Nicknamed the ‘Golden Voice of Africa’ due to his oratory, Balewa spoke impeccable (and Hausa accent spiced) English. His decent education, oratory, humility, Spartan lifestyle and little regard for the goodies of office makes him revered by many, till this day.

The exact manner of Balews’s death remains uncertain. What is certain, however, is that he was abducted from his official residence on 15 January 1966 and was missing for days. Many historical accounts hold that his body was found days later on the outskirts of Lagos, bullet-ridden and at an advanced stage of decomposition. His remains was laid to rest in Bauchi.

3. Muhammad Anwar al-Sadaat (Egypt, 1981)

Egypt’s ‘Hero of War and Peace’ and ‘Master of the Dramatic’ assumed power in 1970 following the death of Popular Arab leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser to whom he was a Vice-President. Born on Christmas day in 1918, Sadaat was that little son of a peasant farmer who would become one of the most charismatic leaders of his era.

As a young soldier, he was part of the ‘Free Officers’, a clique in the Egyptian Army instrumental to the overthrow of the Monarchy of King Farouk. As president, Sadaat is best known for his surprise 1973 ‘October War’ with Israel which weakened Israeli control over the Sinai Peninsular-a part of Egypt it had captured in the 1967 war, his unprecedented trip to Israel to ‘talk peace’ in November 1977 and his eventual peace deal with the State of Israel-the Camp David accords of 1979, which saw Egypt reclaim the Sinai Peninsula.

Sadaat was a man of oratory, charm, style and swagger with a knack for risk taking even with the possibilities of potential political cost. Muhammad Anwar al-Sadaat was assassinated at a Military parade in 1981 by a group of officers who were discontent about the Peace deal with Israel, worsening economy, imprisonment of opposition figures, among other things.

4. Samuel Doe (Liberia, 1990)

Samuel Doe’s assassination was gruesomely remarkable. It was not your regular sniper-take-down or firing squad assassination. It was arguably the first time that the world would watch a sitting head-of-state stripped down to his underpants, interrogated and humiliated before being dispatched to the great beyond in pieces.

Then Master-Sergeant Doe took power as a 28-year old Army officer also murdering incumbent, William Tolbert. Days later, members of Tolbert’s cabinet (except, among a few others, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-Current President- who luckily escaped) were summarily and publicly executed at a beach in Monrovia. Doe ruled from April 1980 to September 1990 when he was captured by forces loyal to rebel leader, Prince Johnson. He died after hours of torture at the hands of Johnsons men.

Considering the circumstances of his ascension to power, not a few disagreed that he didn’t deserve his eventual fate.

5. Juvenal Habyarimana/Cyprian Ntaryamira (Rwanda/Burundi, 1994)



On the evening of 6 April 1994, a Dassault Falcon 50 airplane was shot down as it approached Kigali International Airport for a stopover enroute Bujumbura, Burundi. In the flight were Rwandan President, Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundian President, Cyprian Ntaryamira. Habyarimana’s death escalated already heated up Hutu/Tutsi ethnic tensions in a country where tribal identity and allegiance meant everything and could solely determine one’s chances of survival. This sparked off the Rwandan genocide of 1994 which saw almost a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus massacred to death within a space of four months.

Habyarimana’s death is still a subject of controversy in Rwanda. One version-the official version-has it that the plane was taken down by Hutu extremists desperate for an excuse to wipe out Tutsis, another version holds Tutsi fighters (allegedly led or ordered by Paul Kagame-current President) responsible.

Habyarimana, a Hutu, served from 1973 to 1994.

6. Thomas Isidore Noel Sankara (Burkina Faso, 1987)



It is said that ‘your best friend could be your worst enemy’, and that was the fate of young, vibrant, charismatic and straight-talking Thomas Sankara. After taking power in 1983 through a coup, Sankara became widely popular for his progressive ideals and for the zeal with which he sought to attain them. He put his country on the path of self-reliance and real economic independence and pursued reforms that encouraged local production and less reliance on foreign aid. His reforms impacted the lives of the citizenry and instilled in them the spirits of patriotism and hope which he demonstrated in his words and actions.

Sankara was assassinated in a coup in 1987, which many believed to be backed by the same Western imperialists Sankara sought to turn away from. The coup leader was a certain Blaise Campaore, Sankara’s ‘right hand man’, childhood friend, academy course mate and Army colleague.

Perhaps, you should take the popular expression, “watch your back” more seriously.

7. Muammar Ghaddafi (Libya, 2011)

When in 2009, the Brotherly Leader of the Libyan people marked his 40th year in office, few had reasons to believe he won’t be around for much longer. Ghaddafi overthrew King Idris, Libya’s last monarch, in 1969 to establish a modern Libyan state which he would preside over for the next four decades plus. A most eccentric, stylish and controversial figure, Colonel Ghaddafi transformed Libya from a traditional monarchy and one of Africa’s poorest states, to a truly modern state with the highest human development indices ratings on the continent in terms of Per Capita Income, Life expectancy and Literacy rate and Girl-child education.

Like many African leaders however, he had strong dictatorial tendencies. Press freedom and democratic structures were practically non-existent with reports of human-right abuses.When the Arab spring of 2010-2011 flowed into Libya, clashes between government and opposition forces led to a NATO intervention in favour of the latter. After months of bitter fighting, rebel forces eventually took control of Tripoli, the capital, effectively ending Ghaddafi’s 42- year reign.

As Ghaddafi fleed Libya, a satellite call made from his convoy was intercepted by NATO forces, resulting in air strikes. Colonel Ghaddafi was subsequently captured and killed (possibly by rebel forces).

source: http://www.opinions.ng/notable-assassinations-african-leaders/

No doubt, GTBank is strong but the competition is getting better rapidly.

Foremost African financial institution; Guaranty Trust Bank plc reaffirmed its position as a leading global brand with its recent recognition as ‘Nigeria’s Best Bank & Africa’s Best Bank for SMEs’ during the 2017 Euromoney Awards which held in London on Thursday, July 06, 2017 at the prestigious Tower of London.

Now in its 26th year, the Euromoney Awards for Excellence covers more than 20 global product categories, best-in-class awards and the best Banks in over 100 countries around the world by recognizing institutions that have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and momentum in the markets they operate. In selecting its recipients, Euromoney combines quantitative and qualitative data to honor institutions that have brought the highest levels of service, innovation and expertise to their customers.

According to Mr. Clive Horwood, Euromoney Magazine’s Editor, “Nigeria went through a difficult year, as low oil prices and capital flight continued to hurt the country’s economy. Many banks struggled as a result of this but GTBank remained strong, recording significant and enviable financial and non-financial performance. According to him, the bank’s digital transformation drive has been very successful as it has enabled the bank to deepen financial inclusion across Africa with its array of tailor-made digital solutions that has made banking simpler and more accessible.

Commenting on the award, Segun Agbaje, Managing Director/CEO of GTBank said: “We are honored to win the Best Bank in Nigeria award a record eight times and to be recognized as Africa’s Best Bank for SMEs. These awards reflect our progress in building strong, value adding relationships with our customers whilst positioning the bank as the financial institution for Small and Medium Enterprises through our creation of free business platforms that are geared towards promoting enterprise in key economic sectors.”

We remain committed to maximizing shareholders’ value and delivering superior and sustainable return, guided by our founding values of hard work, discipline and integrity.

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The GTBank brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/gtbank-gets-double-honors-euromoney-awards/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YUZR6c7Itk

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Have you seen a President being part of the WWE before?

The overall impression of Warri, a popular city in the southern part of Nigeria, is that it is the most aggressive city in Nigeria, as it is dangerous and crime ridden and its inhabitants are mostly belligerent. According to the Vanguard Newspaper, ‘…that the oil city of Warri, Delta State is perhaps the most hazardous metropolis in Southern Nigeria, is doubtless’. Some travel sites have even flagged the destination as a red zone as numerous travelers have complained and narrated cases of robbery and rip-offs.

While the city might indeed have some security issues, it certainly is a wonderful place to visit and explore as it offers business opportunities as well as many sights for tourists, including the Delta Ports, Nana Living History Museum and Red Mangrove swamp. If you find you have to visit this destination and you are worried about being a victim of any of the many travel risks elaborated all over the internet, Jumia Travel offers 7 helpful ways to avoid travel rip-offs while visiting Warri.

Ensure you have pre-arranged airport pick-up

The airport is usually crammed with taxi cabs looking to drive you from the airport to your destination. The cabs, usually, are not metered and the taxi drivers charge you on their discretion. Most of them charge exorbitant prices if they look at you and feel you have no clue as to what the rates should be or you are dressed expensively. Again, some of the cab drivers are peddlers who pose as cab guys, and many people have been duped of money and belonging in this fashion. Always make arrangements for pickup before you arrive; there are a number of cab companies you can patronize online and most hotels will have their own cab services to offer. Alternatively, you can avoid being ripped off at the airport by taking public transport or asking a friend or family member for a ride.

Do not indulge helpers at the airport

Usually, when you arrive at the airport, a lot of people rush to offer some form of assistance either to carry your luggage or assist you with information. Most times, their offers are exceedingly cheap or enticing. Beware of these ‘helpers’ as they could be culprits looking to rip you off. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Also, exchange all your money, if you need to, within the airport as there is a higher chance of being conned outside the airport.

Lookout for tourist trap restaurants

While visiting the city, you certainly will have certain iconic tourist destination in mind that you want to visit. If you are visiting a restaurant or attraction that has an online presence, try your best to Google it to see what the locals or past visitors have had to say about it. Again, you can check to see if there are coupons or discounts that could benefit you such as getting free breakfast or 15% off the total bill for doing a review on the hotel or restaurants, etc. Generally, the reviews will let you know if visiting the location would be a good idea or you would just be wasting your money.


Avoid Organized Tours

There are a number of fantastic tourist destinations in Warri and nearly every tourist agent or site will offer some sort of packages that bundle in several sites to be seen for a fee. These tours may not seem like a bad deal but a lot of times, they actually are. Many of the sites will have free entry but by paying for the ‘package deal’, you have now paid to get in. Again, while it may seem like these organized tours are providing you with cheap transport to these different tourist locations, a little research would reveal that transporting yourself is a cheaper option and might even be much more comfortable.

Do not show off money and expensive jewelry

Showing off money and expensive jewelry makes you a target for rip-off basically as it presents you as someone who has more than he/she needs. Any vendor who eyeballs you counting large sums of money or wearing very expensive jewelry will automatically offer their items or services at exaggerated prices. Unless you are a celebrity who has an assistant running errands for you, try your best to stay conservative.

Review all bills carefully

Most visitors to Warri often make the mistake of failing to go over their bills, especially the restaurant, and hotel bills when they get it, and they end up paying for a lot of stuff that they did not use or buy. Look through and ensure you remain accountable and not swindled in any form. In a case where you have reviewed the bill and found mistakes, though, ensure that you politely ask the staff to fix it. A polite request will go much further than an aggressive accusation in Warri.

Be mindful of the hotel Wi-Fi.

Most hotels in Warri do not come with complimentary Wifi, so you find that most hotels charge as much as NGN500 to NGN2000 per day for in-room Wi-Fi. These rates are a little pricey, considering you can easily just set up your own personal hotspot on your smartphone and use your cellular service to access Wi-Fi on other non-cellular devices. Doing this reduces the chance of you being ripped off in any way.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/7-ways-avoid-travel-rip-offs-warri/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

The game of chess is often described as problem solving at its finest. It’s a game that requires strategic thinking, creativity, determination and even the ability to properly analyze body language. It’s a game that exercises the mind and is highly beneficial to mental and intellectual development. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 surprising benefits of playing chess.

It Exercises Both Sides of the Brain

Studies have shown that playing chess involves the use of the brain’s left hemisphere (which deals with object recognition) and the brain’s right hemisphere (which deals with pattern recognition). Mainly because of the rules and techniques of the chess game, you end up effectively exercising and developing both sides of your brain over time.

Improves Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

Especially in children, learning and playing chess helps to significantly improve thinking, problem-solving and reading skills. The game’s complexity and the fact that problem-solving is foundational for tackling this complexity and winning the game, eventually helps to improve and develop the brain’s capacity and capability for thinking and problem solving overtime.

Improves the Brain’s Performance

Learning and playing a game like chess actually helps to stimulate the growth of dendrites (an extension of a nerve cell that conducts signals from the neuron cells in your brain to the neuron they are attached to). The growth of these dendrites in turn helps increase the speed and improves the quality of neural communications throughout the brain. This increased processing power ultimately improves the brain’s performance.

It Helps Creativity

Mainly because playing chess exercises the right side of brain, it helps to enhance creativity and originality. The game greatly enhances creative abilities as it makes the player consider, analyze and prioritize a wide variety of possibilities. Playing chess contributes significantly to growth and development in creative thinking.

It Improves Memory

The rules of the game that have to be remembered, alongside the memory recall needed to avoid mistakes and remember the specific opponent’s playing style, contribute to the memory improvement and optimization that playing chess offers. Playing chess largely helps to enhance memory performance and recall.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-benefits-playing-chess/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

To make the best of your travel experience and save some money on travel costs, there are certain tips you should know, so you can take advantage of them to maximize your travel experience. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 tips for getting the best travel prices.

Book Early

Airline prices especially, tend to go up in the last few days before flying and during peak periods, so if you want to get the best travel price and save some money, it’s best to make your travel bookings earlier on. For international travels, it is also best to make your bookings much earlier.

Check Around

Avoid using only one airline website or travel booking portal to get travel prices. You should browse around and check with other airline websites or travel booking portals to get the best prices. Never book the first travel fare you see, because the chances are you will find better. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel booking portal, is known to have the best and lowest travel prices. While you’re browsing around, also check to see if there are promotions or sales you can also take advantage of.

Take Advantage of First Flights

Usually the first flight of the morning are the cheapest, so you can take advantage of that to reduce some of your travel costs.

Consider Connecting Flights

This might surprise you, but connecting flights can save you more money than round trips. Just try to ensure you are prompt with everything so you have enough time to make the connecting flight, in case the first flight arrive late.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/4-tips-getting-best-travel-prices/

cc: lalasticlala

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has named Jumia Group (formerly Africa Internet Group) in the list of MIT’s 50 smartest companies – 2017 for the second consecutive year. Each year, MIT identifies top 50 global companies, both established and startups that are creating new opportunities using ingenious technologies to meet the needs of a demanding market worldwide.

This year, Jumia ranks at position 44 as compared to 47 on the 2016 list, standing out as a company working to overcome the challenges of e-commerce in Africa. These include clogged roadways, skeptical consumers, and lack of internet penetration in some markets with a regional rate of only 27% among others.

“Jumia Group is once more proud for the recognition of our persistence in fully harnessing Africa’s untapped digital potential. We believe that through technological innovations, we drive our commitment to inject feasible solutions into Africa’s economy,” says Jumia Group’s co-founder Sacha Poignonnec.

The MIT Technology Review recognized Jumia as the continent’s first “unicorn” startup, valued at over USD1 billion. Now operating various consumer web services including Africa’s biggest online shopping mall ‘Jumia Mall’, as well as ‘Jumia Travel’ the leading travel agency in the continent, the group aims at unlocking the spending potential of an expanding middle class which accounts for every 1 out of 3 Africans. Other ventures under the group also continue to lead in their respective sectors such as food delivery, real estate, logistics, and cars among others.

Kushal Dutta, the MD of Jumia Travel Nigeria expressed his excitement towards the recognition saying, “it is an assurance of our devotion to make the impossibilities in Africa, such as providing affordable travel now possible through technology.”

First published in 2010, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Smartest Companies list of 2017 features other giant companies including Amazon, Alibaba, Facebook, Microsoft, SpaceX, and Kenya’s off-grid solar operator M-Kopa.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/jumia-mit-top-50-smartest-companies-2017/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

President of the United States, Donald Trump is known as a billionaire with different interest including real estate, hospitality, entertainment. However, his recent tweet of a spoof of real footage of him tackling World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Chairman, Vince McMahon has stirred-up huge controversy. The video was edited in the spoof and had the CNN logo replacing Mr. McMahon indicating Trump’s battle with the media in general and CNN in particular.

But did you know that Donald Trump had short career at the WWE? Watch this video from the New York Times to learn more.

click http://www.opinions.ng/video-donald-trumps-career-wwe/ to watch.

opinions.ng

It’s too easy to make costly mistakes with business investments, especially when you are not armed with the right information and knowledge to guide you. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 costly mistakes people make with business investments.

Investing Money They’ll Need Soon

Avoid these kinds of investments that are just based on speculation and market timing. If you are setting money aside for a goal, the money shouldn’t be considered or used for sudden and unplanned investments, especially those that are likely to keep your money on lockdown for a long period of time. You can easily end up regretting it when important and time-sensitive expenses come up.

Not Doing Their Homework

Before investing in any business, it is extremely important to do your homework and research to know the ‘ins and outs of the underlying business’. It is important to understand how the business grows, makes profits and basically, the rubrics of the business. Before engaging in any business investment, you should always remember Peter Lynch’s investment maxim, which states clearly that you should ‘Invest in what you know’.

Neglecting Legal Counse[/b]l

Neglecting legal counsel on business investments is a highly risky, and it can result in damaging consequences. A lot of first-time investors believe that lawyers are just out to get their money, and while that might be partly true, the legal counsel from these lawyers are also very valuable and vital in protecting your interests and resources in any business investment, especially if things unexpectedly go wrong. For example, consider the case of a designer that unknowingly signed a contract that gave her handbag company the trademark to her name. When investors eventually came in, her company name belonged to them, and she was pained by the fact that she could no longer use her own company name. She wished she had gotten a lawyer to give her proper legal counsel. Therefore, it is very necessary to get the right attorney who understands your business goals and can protect your interests well.

[b]Being Emotional With Investments

Mixing emotions with business or money can be very costly, you need to remain as focused, logical and rational as possible. Don’t be an investor that invests without tangible information or evidence, and don’t be an investor that invests based on a hope or desire that things will pull through or get better. Think well and be logical and rational about investments. The two most important emotions you should guard against in making business investments is fear and false hope. According to Aol Finance, basic signs of an emotional investor include: holding on to a failing stock thinking it will come back at some point; selling a stock at the first sign of a loss; and being glued to the financial news cycle.

Procrastinating Investments

Try to avoid not investing early enough because all it really results in is losing good opportunities to grow your money. Stop with the excuses that make you postpone investments, and just do it.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/costly-mistakes-business-investments/

Being unable to get a job is not the end of the world. It’s important to keep pushing and not let frustration consume you. There a number of things you can do to survive and eventually overcome a period of unemployment. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 6 things to do when you can’t get a job.

Consider Unpaid Internships or Volunteer Work

It might be difficult, but if you find that you can’t get a paid full-time job, you can apply to firms for unpaid internships or NGOs for volunteer work. Companies and NGOs will most likely yield to this and offer you an internship position which can help you gain some experience rather than just sitting idle. The experience gained can then qualify you for a higher level position when you decide to end the internship and return to the job market to continue your search. In some cases, for unpaid internships, if the company is impressed with your work as an intern, they can offer you a paid and more permanent position in the firm. Internships and volunteer work are great ways to get your foot in the door at a company or firm and learn some new skills, as well as gain some experience in the process.

Consider Selling Crafts or Offering Your Services

If you’re a crafty person (you like to make and invent things), you can try to sell some of your crafts. There are many online platforms, as well local craft fairs, that support this and if the patronage is good, you can actually turn it into a business. The same thing also applies to services. You can try to find work doing various tasks that you are either skilled at or passionate about. If the reception is also good and patronage is reasonably high, you can begin to advertise your services and make it a business. If the business continues to do well, you can also consider searching for entrepreneurial development initiatives and apply to them to help fund and grow your business in the long run. Bank loans are also another alternative, if you prefer.

Network

Networking can be a bit difficult, but thankfully it can be learned and can be very useful in helping secure a job. So, do the best you can to attend events that offer networking opportunities. Work on selling yourself appropriately at these events because networking remains one of the best ways to meet new people and get new leads. Also, be sure to ‘spruce’ your online presence and ensure it is up-to-date, professional and easily accessible to recruiters and other individuals that are or could be vital to your job search.

Consider Other Industries

If you’ve tried and failed to find a job in the industry that you’re interested in, consider looking for jobs in other industries. It might not be exactly what you want, but it’s better than wallowing in frustration. Besides, you just might realize you actually enjoy this new career field and grow exponentially in it. You’ll never know until you give it a shot.

Review Your Resume

You might have made a mistake on your resume that turns recruiters off when they go through it. So, if you’re finding it hard to get a job, try reviewing your resume again. Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling, emphasize the results you achieved in your previous jobs, not just the activities you carried out, and write better cover letters. In addition, when you are eventually called in for an interview, learn to practice interviewing, research well about the company and be prepared to answer any question. Find ways to project confidence during interviews and to properly deal with instances where you might not know the answer to a question asked. Finally, just be positive, don’t let your frustrations come through and don’t undersell yourself – boldly state your accomplishment regardless of how small you think they are and give them good reasons why you’re the best fit for the job.

Don’t Stop Applying For Jobs

It might be frustrating but once you have reviewed your resume and you’re good to go, you should continue with your job applications. The best thing you can do to survive a period of unemployment is to apply for as many jobs as you can, and apply for them as well as you can. You can also consider applying for lower paying jobs in the meantime, just to get some money to help put food on your table until you have a breakthrough with the caliber of jobs you desire.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-things-cant-get-job/

By Kazeem Abolore

So I was coming from the engineer I took my phone to some months ago. He had told me to come for the phone two days later to collect it. I was still in the imagination of what I could do on the phone and things I would miss doing, when I got to the car park. A fair young lady who should be in mid twenties was sitting at the front sit, capped her head with a red face cap and adorned her body with an “armless” top. I approached her and asked if someone had taken the sit beside her and she responded in negative thus I took the sit. She ordered for suya from the hawking Mallam. Not to bore you with details of what transpired between us but worthy to know is that we both ate the suya she bought, she briefly read the book I was holding and before I alighted, I used her phone to call home.

In asking her about the vacancy of the seat, longing to join her in eating the “Suya” and requesting to use her phone, there was one act I kept doing –smiling. This act, even though is a no-brainer and a common act, I learnt to use and its importance in Dale Carnagie’s book: How To Win Friends And Influence People. To summarize it, he says regarding smiling:

“The impression that one wears on one’s face is far more important than the clothes one wears on one’s back.”

You see, I have used my charming smile to get things which ordinarily I would not. I have used it to win negotiations to my side. I have used it to win hearts. I have used it to get a good first impression in people’s mind. I hardly meet people, either first time or customary without a big smile.

If you ask me what is my greatest weapon to keep things cool when it ought to be hot, I will tell you it is my genuine and unconditional smile.

The ancient Chinese were a wise lot – wise in the ways of the world; and they had a proverb that you and I ought to cut out and paste inside our hearts. It goes like this:

“A man without a smiling face must not open a shop”

If puppies do it, babies do it, why don’t you do it?

Smile, it makes you beautiful.



Kazeem Abolore S (KAS) is an innovative teacher, wreative Writer, personal effectiveness strategist and Creator/Initiator 30 Days Writing Challenge.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/resaon-smile-time/

By Kunle Bello

As many people know, the major elements of the National Youth Service Scheme such as camping, place of primary assignment, community development service also known as core assignment and passing out, must be duly completed before a corp member is entitled to the award of NYSC certificate.

As corp members are striving towards completing these cardinal programs, effort should also made within the service year for self-development. It is quite unfortunate that many corp members idle away the service year and at the end, they join the popular chorus saying: ‘the service year is a huge waste of time’.

The common strategy during the service year is for corp members to save a paltry sum out of their monthly allowance in order to meet up with their daily upkeep or to sustain themselves after the service year pending the time they secure a dream job in the labour market.

However, experience has shown that most of the money saved during the service year ends-up being exhausted within few weeks/months after leaving service while such corp members are still searching for jobs which keeps them living from hand-to-mouth, especially if such graduates do not have a well-to-do family to cater for their immediate needs.

This ugly trend can be curtailed if corp members can save a certain part of their monthly allowance strictly for self-investment which will go a long way to make them stand out in the labour market or equip them to start their own business.

Self-investment can be defined as steps taking to better oneself, such as learning new skills or overcoming bad habits. It offers individuals an opportunity to gain some perspectives about their life so that they may begin planning for the future.

Self-investment during the service year can take diverse forms but the most visible is for corp members to enroll in a professional course that is relevant to their discipline in government recognised and accredited centers or obtain any certification that can make them stand tall among their peers jostling for scarcely available jobs in the labour market.

Corp members can also opt to attend skill acquisition training or entrepreneurship program, which can make them self-reliant after the service year.

Self-investment during the service year if duly pursued in the right way and right manner with determination and discipline can make it worthwhile and fulfilling without jeopardising aforementioned major elements of the National Youth Service scheme.

source:http://www.opinions.ng/corpers-nysc-self-investment/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

sixtus3606:
Baba...you have done well sir!

BTW...make i kukuma budget 100k. Because, i'd prefer chicken and rice to puff puff and 7up!

Not a bad idea, share me in the goodies too.

Kazeem Abolore S (KAS) is an innovative teacher, wreative Writer, personal effectiveness strategist and Creator/Initiator 30 Days Writing Challenge.

You can read some more of his writing here http://www.opinions.ng/?s=Kazeem+Abolore

By Kazeem Abolore

The word ‘worry’ as defined by Oxford Dictionary means ‘to allow one’s mind to dwell on troubles; is a thing that causes anxiety; a disturbed state of mind’.

Some years ago, I used to get worried over little things, things that are ordinarily ‘worryless’. I realized later that the more I dwell on these needless matters, the higher my blood pressure becomes, the uglier I become and the more worried I become. Then I decided not to be worried over them anymore. But how could I live a worry-free life? I chose to do or/and not to do these 3 things I am sharing with you. Here they are:

Say “I am sorry” When You Are Wrong

One act that has become a part of me is to apologize. As a matter of fact, I did that to a junior friend about an hour ago. I say it to my colleagues, at work, to my friends to my neighbors and even to my students. The moment I find I am wrong, I say sorry without taking long or thinking twice. The other day, I had a poor encounter with a young lady and after realizing it, i went to her house and told her I was sorry for my misdeed and it was all over. She even appreciated it because she was surprised. If I had not done that, I would still be carrying that luggage around and invariably giving myself a heavy heart. So, say sorry whenever you are wrong. It takes nothing away from you.

“If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically”- Dale Carnegie

Never Expect “Thank You” or Anything from Anyone

It’s time to confess this. I was a long time landlord in the Expectancy Estate, always looking forward to hear a beneficiary say, ‘thank you’ to me. I lived in that estate so much that I built a mansion there. But thank goodness for self-development that made me realize this: The more you expect things from anyone and you don’t get it, the more worried and disturbed you become. Thus, lower your expectations from people or if possible, expect nothing from them. That was my saving grace. Today, instead of expecting a ‘thank you’ from anyone, I am the first to say it first. And when he thanks me first, I reply with this phrase, “Thank you for thanking me”. In essence, never expect thanks from anyone because if you expect it and don’t get it, it infuriates you.

“Blessed are those who do not expect anything for they will not be disappointed” – Anonymous

Inform One Who Offends You

If you want your life to be full of worry, always keep grudges in your mind. Somebody, to paraphrase said that: the world would be a better place if we talk to each other instead of talking about each other. This is very true, walk-up to anyone that offended you, nicely, calmly and responsibly tell him how he wronged you. Except you did it wrongly (or that the person is a serial wrongdoer) he would appreciate it. It he’s an elderly person or a boss, what can you do? I don’t know but for me, I do tell a mate and that gets if off my head and mind and I become free!

“Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should and let go of what you cannot change” – Anonymous.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/3-simple-ways-live-life-without-worry-hakuna-matata/

cc: Lalasticlala Mynd44

Networking becomes significantly easier when you understand what it entails and what it takes to succeed at it. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 6 valuable tips for networking.

Begin Networking Before You Need It

Desperation has an aura that can easily be discerned, as a result it might be counter-productive to begin zealous networking efforts at the hour of your greatest need. You can end up putting people off because people can sense when someone is only out to use them and help himself/herself. Networking when you aren’t desperate and have no immediate ulterior motives, can help you build better relationships and a good reputation for being friendly and generous rather than desperate and self-serving.

Plan Before Hand

This is a very important tip, especially if networking isn’t exactly your strong suite. Laying down clear details of the talents, strengths, skill sets and connections that you have and can take advantage of to enhance your networking efforts can make networking much easier for you. You should be sure of the things you can talk about with people at the event, and prepare for a case where you might be taken by surprise and have to comment on things you might not initially have prepared for. In addition, consider how you can also be of help to these people, don’t only consider how you can get them to help you.

Avoid Arriving Late

When you arrive early to a networking event, it’s calmer and quieter at the beginning. People have not yet settled into groups so it’s easier to mingle with everyone and find conversation partners.

Let Your Personal Agenda Take a Back Seat

The fact that you are networking for self-serving purposes doesn’t mean you should be blatant about it. Let your personal agenda take a back seat to building actual relationships with people. Be open, friendly and honest; make connections with people that will make it easier for them to remember you and want to help you, without you even asking directly.

Follow Up

If you promise to do something for someone at a networking event, do it. Follow up and follow through with it. People will value you for this and you’ll unknowingly begin to build a reputation for consistency and reliability. So, if you told someone you’ll call, call the person. If you promised to introduce someone to the person, take the time to do it.

Understand the Value of Networking

The true value of networking comes in being able to help others as much as you want to be helped. If you understand this and practise it well, networking will become a more than valuable business tool for you. Keep this at the back of your mind every time you make a networking effort.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-valuable-tips-succeed-networking/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

By Sawoni Chowdhury

A great conference bestows on your business a number of boons. It becomes the centre stage for fresh ideas, ground-breaking strategies and innovative trends which are capable of offering a new direction to your business.
But one of the primary prerequisites of a successful conference is making the attendees feel welcome and comfortable. It has been revealed through research that staying in a cramped place with lots of noise for over six hours can make people grouchy leading to despair and irritability.
It is for this reason that it is necessary to give the attendees the most quality experience by reducing the amount and severity of the physical discomfort, that are under your control. Written below are some common mistakes that attendees have experienced while a conference is being hosted and how to mitigate them.

• Excessive Noise – Extreme background noise is considered to be a recurring impediment for the participants in hearing what’s going on in the background. For this reason, playing house music is considered more of a distraction during an ongoing conference. What’s more, in case of the traditional conferences, most of the networking occurs when the sessions are not going on. Unwanted noise is an unwanted disruption and it is so heightened, at times, that it becomes the reason for leaving the premises for the attendees. Another thing that should be avoided in the conferences is arranging multiple small groups in the same place, one after the other. They are all provided with acoustics and therefore the laughter, applause, discussions of the neighbouring groups are a major form of interruption. So you should try to avoid the above so that your attendees do not feel any level of discomfort because of the excessive noise issue.

• Controlling the Room Temperature – This is another one of the common problems that many people complain about, at the time of attending a conference. Though it is true that there is no such thing as the perfect temperature for a room, but the fluctuations are, most of the time, too palpable. The sweltering or freezing rooms serve as a hurdle for attendees to concentrate on what is going on in the session. That is why, it is best if the room occupants are given the power to control the temperature. They should be provided with the accessibility to the thermostats so that you do not have to call the staff every time you want to change the temperature.

• Seating Arrangement – This is one of the significant aspects of any conference. The attendees have to spend long hours by seating through sessions. That is why it is an imperative that comfortable chairs, couches etc. are arranged for. Otherwise even if the event became a success the participants would leave with a sour taste in their mouth.
The above are certain things that you must keep in mind in order to host a successful conference that can contribute to your business in a positive way. If you find it to be challenging to take time out from your busy schedule to do this, it is best to appoint the top event agency that you know for organising the event. This way you can rest assured that all the nitty-gritties will be taken care of and the chance of the conference being a success will be enhanced fourfold.



source: http://www.opinions.ng/3-tips-make-attendees-comfortable-next-conference/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

JeffreyJamez:
Poverty mentality

Don't go broke trying to impress? Getting married is the objective not to get into debt.

By Adeniyi Emmanuel Bamgboye

Do you know you can spend just N20,000 on your wedding and still retain your champion as a perfect gentleman and in-law? Don’t worry, I am an accountant, I will give you a succinct breakdown.

Registry fee is within N12,000 – N14000 depending on the local government you wish to use. Let’s pick the upper range which is N14,000

Don’t go and buy egg roll. One is now N80. You know you cannot afford this; the best is to go for Ghanaian buns. One is N20 , you can buy it loju (at) dozen for discount sake. Buy 2 dozen because of the impromptu and accidental guests. That’s approximately N450. It could be lesser, if you can bargain well.

Buy a crate of 7up, not coke or Fanta. That’s N1,400
Budget N1,500 for cab transport. Uber is cheap. It’s your wedding day. You can’t afford to be a “trekkist” on that glorious day.

You don’t need a photographer. Use the camera on your phone. If you don’t have a camera phone, you can use your friend’s own.

To achieve all these, you have to make your wedding an alupaida (mystical) event. The one where your blurry wedding pictures will just surface magically online without you giving any of your friends prior notice. Some of them may be angry with you. Beg them well. They will understand.

Don’t bother about new clothes; wear what you have at home.

For your refreshment to be sufficient, make sure your guest list includes both parents (yours and hers), two of your friends who will also sign and act as witnesses and cameramen respectively.

In total, you have 10 guests including you and your wife. With this, the Ghanaian buns and 7up are likely to go round. You would even have more than sufficient for the court staff who are fond of doing “Atenu”

Back to my analysis. N14,000 + N450 + N1,400 + N1,500 equals N17,350.

With this, you will have N2, 650 as change. Use it to cook honeymoon Soup. Enjoy your life to the fullest with your wife.

Implement this religiously and thank me later.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/plan-nigerian-wedding-n20000-less/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

BiafraBushBoy:
If I feel unsecured, I get a security man

LOL, psychological insecurity not physical one. How would a security guard help with that?

Feeling insecure sucks, and the worst part is that it makes you beat yourself up and question your confidence. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 things to tell yourself when feeling insecure.

It’s Ok

This might be hard for many to believe, but it’s okay to feel insecure sometimes. Don’t magnify the fact that you are feeling insecure and let it overwhelm you. Being insecure sometimes, just makes you human. Accepting this will be more productive to you than beating yourself up and making yourself feel like trash for feeling a perfectly normal human emotion.

Everyone Has One

Even the most confident people have insecurities too, there is no one that’s free of it. Please avoid berating yourself for sometimes feeling insecure, there is no human on earth that is immune to insecurity, so get over it and deal with it. Knowing everyone has one insecurity or the other might not get rid of your feeling of insecurity, but it sure can help prevent you from beating yourself up for something that you really don’t need to beat yourself up about.

I Feel Insecure and Be Confident

Feeling insecure about something is like having an achilles heel. Achilles was a great warrior whose weakness was his heel (hence the name Achilles heel). Now, the fact that achilles had that weakness didn’t negate the fact that he was a brave and great warrior. Do you understand now? Having certain insecurities or feeling insecure doesn’t negate your confidence. What negates your confidence is refusing to deal with the insecurities and letting them either overwhelm you or dictate your actions.

Deal With It

You know feelings can be tricky, and sometimes if you find yourself feeling insecure about things that are just plain silly to you, you can actually ignore the fact that you feel insecure, dismiss it for the irrelevance that it is and move on. It’s honestly as simple as that. On the other hand, if your feelings of insecurity are founded and there is actually a reason for it, then proceed to deal with it. Understand why the insecurities exist, dispel the lies beneath them and make a decision to stand up to them. You can also try to avoid the triggers of your insecurities, if you can.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/4-things-tell-feeling-insecure/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

For Nigerians who fly regularly, there is no argument that you are already used to the routine. However, whenever you fly, there are some terrible mistakes you must have been making that you are probably unaware of. These mistakes can significantly ruin your flight, especially for business travelers. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares some of the terrible sins or mistakes you can make when flying.

Trusting your flight will have Wi-Fi

There are some flights that you book and you will be told that there is WiFi available. Do not trust them as you may be shocked that there is nothing like WiFi on board. Hence, make arrangements for your own internet especially if you have some jobs to do.

Wearing uncomfortable shoes

If it is a long flight, try as much as possible to wear comfortable shoes because this can lead to leg bumps. So, if you do not want to start running helter-skelter in search of shoes at a destination you are unfamiliar with, always wear comfortable shoes. In fact, carry extra shoes.

Assuming you will get food on the plane

Depending on the ticket you bought, you may be offered food. But to be on the safe side, eat before you fly so that you will not be disappointed.

Overpacking

This is one of the greatest sins that a business traveler must avoid. There is no need to overpack. Pack only the essential items you need so that you can easily get it back when you get to your destination.

Dressing down

A business traveler should not dress down whenever he flies. Dress formally in such a way that you can leave the airport for any business meeting. You can return later for your luggage especially if you do not get it after you arrive at the airport.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-terrible-sins-business-travelers-can-make-flying/

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

The internet is accessible to anybody and everybody. Is this really true when you consider the existence of the dark web? Dark web is an entire internet that can’t be viewed through traditional browsers and requires special software to access. Consequently, it can be used to do all sorts of activities both legal and illegal. Therefore, it is important to know some truths about the dark web due to the unlimited stories that have been told about it. In line with this, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 truths about the dark web.

Access what others cannot

Due to the fact that dark web is masked and veiled with the help of software, people perform all sorts of illicit things. You can access anything you so desire notwithstanding if it is good or bad. This is why the government are always after them but they are very sophisticated.

It is penetrable

With the right software, you can access the dark web. Law enforcement agencies have arrested hundreds of dark web criminals. But be careful simply because the dark web is accessible doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Home for Hackers

When hackers invade your system and you cannot find any trace or the source of the hack, it may have come from the dark web. So, you need to enhance the security of your systems and network.

It is not safe

The dark web is not safe. Except you are looking to do some nefarious things, you do not need to go there. For the layman or novice, all your information can be stolen and your system hacked if you are careless.

It is not 100% anonymous

The anonymity on the dark web is not 100%. Your cover can be blown, again, with the use of the right program. A good example of this is the Silk Road founder, Ross Ulbricht who left several digital artifacts, including his Gmail address, on clearnet forums related to his Dark Web activity. Ulbricht’s digital breadcrumb trails helped the FBI uncover his IRL identity and he was arrested and sentenced to life in jail. Silk Road is a marketplace for buying drugs.

cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/top-5-truths-dark-web/

Life sometimes throws sudden and unexpected situations at us, therefore, it’s important to have some basic knowledge at hand to help deal with these situations. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 life saving facts you should know.

The Limits of the Human Body Tend to Follow a “Rule of 3”

This means people can generally go three minutes without air, three hours without shelter in extreme weather conditions, three days without water and three weeks without food. However, this can change from person to person depending on one’s body. Nevertheless, it’s important to know these vital limits of the human body because you never know when you might need it.

If Cooking Oil Catches Fire, Turn off The Burner and Cover the Pot

Never be so careless with cooking oil that it reaches the point of catching fire, nevertheless if it does happen, you shouldn’t use water to put off grease fires. The water molecules will sink to the bottom of the hot pan, evaporate instantly and shoot the flames even higher. Therefore, the best way to put out an oil fire is cut the heat (by turning off the burner) and taking away the oxygen (by covering the pot).

If You Get Hurt in a Public Place, Single Out One Person for Help

This is to avoid the by-stander effect, which is a psychological phenomenon in which crowds of people fail to help somebody because they think someone else will intervene. Therefore, if you ever get hurt in public and can call out for help, pick one person (many times, this will be the nearest person) and direct your immediate pleas to them. If you can’t speak, then approach the person and try to let him/her see where you are hurt so they know something is wrong with you. You’ll be more likely to get the help you need.

To Save a Person From Electrocution, Hit the Person With a Big Stick

This might sound funny, but if you see someone else being electrocuted and you’re unable to shut off the source of electricity, try hitting the person hard with a non-conductive object, like a big stick. This can help prevent the person from being fatally electrocuted. The firm whack that you gave the person with the stick can help break the circuit of electricity, and help protect you from being electrocuted in your attempt to save the person

Never Use Water Alone to Put Out an Electrical Fire

This is because water conducts electricity and you can be badly shocked in the process. Try to first cut off the electricity supply to whatever it is that is on fire and use a class C fire extinguisher to help put out the fire or at least keep it under control before the emergency response team arrives. This is why you must always have a functional fire extinguisher in your home. Considering how useful a fire extinguisher will be to you in the event of a fire, you should never forfeit having this item in your home for any reason whatsoever.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-life-saving-facts-know/

update for GTbank principal cup final

http://www.opinions.ng/grand-finale-gtbank-masters-cup/

There are two types of ages: the physical and emotional age. A childish aduItis basically a person whose physical age is that of an adult, but whose emotional age is that of a child. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 signs of a childish adult.

Looking for Who to Blame

When an aduIthardly takes responsibility for his/her actions, and constantly looks for who to blame, that’s might be a sign of emotional immaturity in an adult. Typically, when things go wrong children look for who to blame, while adults take responsibility and try to figure out how to fix the problem.

Poor Impulse Control

Children tend to be impulsive when they are hurt or mad – they speak recklessly or take impulsive action without pausing to think about the consequences. AduIts that mimic such behavior when reacting to issues show signs of emotional immaturity. AduIts are typically better at self-control and understand themselves enough to calm themselves and resist the impulse to act before they think in a given situation. This is not to say that adults don’t occasional have ‘slips’, but this happen less with an aduItthan a child.

Immature Defense Mechanisms

One primitive defense mechanism is denial: ‘I didn’t say that!’; ‘I never did that!’, when the individual actually said so. These are immature defense mechanisms used by a child to protect himself/herself or escape tight corners. Another primitive defense mechanism, is attacking or being hostile to anyone who says something different or has a different view from yours. AduIts that have such immature defense mechanisms can to a large extent be considered childish adults. They still have a lot of growing up to do in this aspect.

Need to be Center of Attention

This point speaks for itself. It’s safe to say that an aduItwhose priority is to always be the center of attention still has some growing up to do.

Lack of an ‘Observing Ego’

Emotionally mature adults have outbursts, but what’s different about them is that after their outburst, they soon after realize, with their ‘observing ego’, that their outburst was inappropriate. They can see with hindsight and admit that such behavior was against their value system. On the other hand, children have not yet been able to internalize guidelines for respectful behavior and develop a value system. As a result, they don’t have the ability to judge when their actions are out of line and thus blame others. AduIts whose behaviors are in line with this child like response can be considered childish adults.

source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-signs-childish-adult/