₦airaland Forum

People now have access to mobile phones and the internet in Nigeria [ we might not be there yet concerning the speed of the internet ], so I wonder why everyone is rushing to live in Lagos. We have Starcomms, MTN, GLO, Zain [ can't remember the new name of this chameleonic coy ] and internet service providers. Entrepreneurs can live in any part of Nigeria and still be able to do business with their customers. If someone is a publisher, he can have his office in Akure and have his writers, artists and photographers living in different parts of the country. With his mobile phone and the internet, he can get photographs, articles and artwork from his crew wherever they are located. His printer can even be based in Abuja. Files can be sent through the internet to the printer's office and the graphic designer will get to work This applies to many kinds of businesses in Nigeria, you know. And we have a Post Office with services that are grossly underutilized

Nigerians, we have all we need to start out. Other amenities will soon become functional as honest politicians start to come out of their shells. Cheers

I feel it is a good move by the Fashola Administration Leaders should strive to make things easy for the citizens. However, I have this advice for Nairalanders: If you are not working for someone or a company, or you're an entrepreneur, I suggest you consider living in cities outside lagos especially Ibadan, Abeokuta and Akure where accomodation is cheaper to secure. I know people that work in Lagos and live in Ibadan and Abeokuta. These people have their own cars [ it makes them get to the office in Lagos easily without relying on Public transport ] and they've become used to driving to and fro from Lagos daily. Some bankers have even chosen to settle in Sagamu and Odogbolu to save costs. It is all about saving money in the long run.

I believe the new housing and land laws being made by the Fashola Administration will help in reducing the number of people living in Lagos State, thereby freeing up space for public amenities. It is the way it is done in advanced nations. Cheers.

@ paddy lo

Thanks for the information. God bless you. Cheers.

I'm following Governor Mimiko's progress. It seems the guy is serious about turning around the fortunes of Ondo State. He has been making a lot of good moves recently. He also seems to be an intellectual and has a lot of support from his people. Ondo State has the potential to develop rapidly in the hands of a focused governor. I'm watching Mimiko.

Nigeria's most worrisome problem is the mentality of the citizenry [ both the leaders and the led ]. Until we change our psyche, things will not change in Nigeria. In our little spheres of influence, what have we done to make our country better? The little cash that has been entrusted in our care, what have we done with the money? In a country where corruption has been discovered among Corpers [ during the 3 weeks orientation camp ], where is the hope for the future when youths are embezzling the thousands they've been entrusted with? Won't they do more damage when they are entrusted with billions? The thinking of Nigerians has to be worked on. That is our most worrisome problem. Hmn.

I would like to live in Canada for sometime. I love the country. However, Ibadan [ Oyo State ] is my ideal place to live in Nigeria. I have reasons for saying this.

Nigeria is treading on dangerous grounds

Sacking Amodu could lead to deeper problems.

Oh my God!! Not again

I agree with daviddylan's  arguments absolutely. Haiti has been governed by despots over the years. Haitian rulers lived flamboyantly while citizens of the country suffered. It seems the black man is averse to development. While I'm not against people giving money and other forms of assistance to Haiti, I feel it is high time the black race starts sorting  its problems out. The Asians have started asserting themselves industrially and are beginning to get the respect of the Western nations. Peeps should try and read Matthew Ashimolowo's book about the black race. What is really wrong with us? A good example of how it seems we blacks are averse to development is the case of the IITA [ International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ] in Ibadan, Oyo State. While Ibadan is still much undeveloped, this institute is becoming an advanced community in the Oyo State capital. Everything is working at IITA and you'll be forced to believe you're in Europe when you walk into IITA. The place was developed and maintained by whites. Outside the walls of IITA, there is chaos, filth, poverty and craas underdevelopment. God help us.

Well, I'm not going to respond to those who make comments without really knowing what obtains in advanced nations. What I'm going to say is this: No matter how hard you work and how hard you strive to succeed in the so called professional jobs, you'll not make it like those who've embraced entrepreneurship. No wonder guys like Alexander Amosu and Dayo Olomu are doing well in the United Kingdom. I have taken my time to study the lives of successful Nigerians in the diaspora, and I've found out that most of them are entrepreneurs or are gifted people like musicians, actors, actresses, artists, Film makers etc. The system in the western world is designed in such a way that its difficult for the black man to get to the top unless he does his thing and looks inward [ It hardly matters if the black person was born there]. I'm outta this thread. Cheers.

@kvolander, I don't need a visa to live and work in the UK. I hope that satisfies your curiousity. I hope you read my post properly Infact, I'm only working because I'm still perfecting plans on starting my media business. When my biz associate is ready, I'll tender my resignation letter. I have eyes on the world, not on Britain alone. And please don't start asking me if I'm British or have gotten leave to remain. Don't like flaunting my stuff on Nairaland. I'm very special to the British authorities. That's all I can tell you.

What I'm trying to say is that you can't put a finger to what people are really earning in Britain. I know the system. Cheers.

The funny thing about Britain is that your destiny lies in your hands I'm not into the white collar industry i.e Banking, Engineering, IT and the other type of jobs that requires me to be suited up with well polished shoes.  I'm a free spirit and those kinds of jobs will only make me restless. So I got a job in the hospitality industry and also do some creative things besides my job. Now I'm not married yet and I'm happy with my kind of job which makes me have access to 3 Square meals daily. And the food is top notch Like I said earlier on, information is key to living well here. I have not bought food for a long time. My company also lets workers have discounts in selected stores and countryside holiday cottages with vouchers attached to our payslips. Honestly speaking, my take home pay is good.

In Britain, you'll come across professionals that are earning lower than than Rubbish removals people . I've seen security workers earning more than those people working the tills @ ASDA, MORRISONS, TESCO and SAINSBURY. I know of a certain council that pays its care workers, cleaners and Kitchen Assistants up to £10 an hour. I know of cleaners who work at private schools and institutes who are earning £30,000 plus yearly. Britain's labour market is very complex and no one can really beat his or chest that they are better than the next worker in wages.  What I won't advise peeps [ especially Naija guys] to do is to marry white girls for papers [ especially when they don't love these white ladies ]. It could turn out to be a curse in the end.

What about all those guys and girls who work as promotions operatives who make between £250-£300 pounds per night if they bring loads of  people into night clubs? It is happening in London o

Information is the key, mates. Cheers.

Access to good information is the key to living well in Europe and North America. Many Nigerians are not informed and this leads them into making bad decisions.  I know of people who've been in Britain for up to 3 years but they can't use the internet and community newspapers to locate jobs. Some cannot fill job application forms properly and do not know how to conduct themselves when they go for interviews. Meanwhile, there are sites online that provides them with all the information they need to make progress in life. There are even home study courses you can take that will get you updated in your area of specialization.

The same pair of shoes you bought at the high street shop for £30 can be bought for £15 if you know where to look for bargains Phone contracts, TV license, travel cards etc also eat deep into the pockets of peeps here. If you're not smart and cut your coat to your size in Britain, you might end up frustrated Money is everything in Britain these days. Just use your money intelligently and be wise. Information is the key  to making progress in organized societies like Britain

Hmn, the debt issue in England is something else.  I'm very lucky in the sense that I don't use credit cards and I chose to rent my place instead of a mortgage. I know where to get good bargains when I'm purchasing household items and I don't spend my money buying too many clothes. I even buy clothes through ebay sometimes. I wish Nigerians back home could have a magic mirror where they can see how their 'rich' friends are living in Europe and America. Though I'm not saying there are Nigerians that are not living fine and prospering in Britain and the United States , a lot of peeps are not telling their friends what they are really facing here. Cheers.

I'm getting tired of these kind of threads on Nairaland. Even mad people in Nigeria know that living abroad has many advantages if one has the right papers and the favour of God. I have not seen anyone who has stayed in Europe, North America or Australia/New Zealand for 1-2 years and did not come back to Nigeria a changed person.  Your thinking and approach to life will suddenly change unless you're doomed as a human being.

@Poster, if you've been denied a British visa six times, I think you should stop dreaming of going abroad and find something to do in Nigeria. If you cannot satisfy the Entrance Clearance Officers at the British High Commision, I don't think you'll be able to obtain visas to the USA, Canada, Germany, sweden, Italy etc etc. It is easier to get a British visa than many other countries.

Nigeria is a virgin land for solid business ideas and dogged entrepreneurs. Nigeria has opportunities for those who are willing to explore them.  I believe in Nigeria and things will get better as Nigerians have started demanding for change. There is nowhere like home!!

Can someone give me a link to the match, please? Where can I watch it online? I've been searching the web desperately. Pls help me out, mates. Cheers.

@wilife

Thank you for contributing to this thread. God bless you. Cheers.

@Ajanlekoko, You've spoken well. God bless you. My elder brother works for a big courier company in Nigeria. He is a top guy there, but he runs an agricultural business besides his job. He's even planning to float a solid Agriculture Newspaper in Nigeria [ I'm doing the consulting and research process for him ]. My brother makes more money from his farm than from his courier job. The way I'm seeing it, he might leave his job soon and face his business squarely. I know of some guys who after their NYSC went into the breeding of chickens immediately. They are my brother's friends and they had farms in the iju area of Lagos. I saw these guys making money from breeding Cockrels for sale. The Agric sector in Nigeria has vast potentials. Only if Nigerian youths can see these opportunities. It might be tough in the beginning but success comes after some time in the wilderness . Thanks.

@ Yashika, look at what you love doing most and make money from it. Do some research on the internet. Look at what people living around you need and satisfy their need. Cheers.

Happy Birthday, mate. That means you're an Aquarian like me. I wish you the best in life. Cheers.

God bless the initiator of this thread There is nothing like being an entrepreneur or starting out on your own. Entrepreneurs are the ones that spur the growth of economies all over the world. President Barack Obama of the United States has created a special department to encourage entrepreneurship and innovators in a bid to stem the recession. Obama believes entrepreneurs can revive the American economy. In the United States, Canada and Europe, entrepreneurs are encouraged by the Government and local councils with financial grants, business advice, solid information and efficient monitoring by mentors who are already successful entrepreneurs.

In Nigeria, entrepreneurs are not supported by the authorities. However, Nigerians trudge on and achieve something for themselves. We need more entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Nairalanders. Please don't be afraid of starting your own company. Don't be afraid of starting small. Great things start from small beginnings. If you have a good business idea, the sky is your limit. The problem is many Nigerians want to do the same thing and there is so much copying from other people. I know a young man that left a popular news Magazine in Nigeria to start his own Magazine. He did not have much money but he had ideas. His area of coverage was the South-South area of Nigeria. He came from that part of Nigeria and knew the terrain well. I saw this man struggle and at a stage he could not pay his small group of writers [ I was one of them ]. Things were tough and he got ejected from the office space he rented. However, this guy was determined. He knew he had a niche market to cater for. He wrote to many companies and solicited for adverts from them. His secretary stood by him. They got a few adverts and the Magazine started to grow. I left the Magazine and moved to Europe. When I came home for a visit, I dropped by at his new office and I was surprised at the posh place he had moved into. Today, our young man is made  He is doing well now. He's not too happy I did not stay with him, but I told him God has plans for me. I was only meant to help him start the Magazine

Nigeria is a land of opportunity despite all the problems we have. I've been to Europe and I can confidently say the grass is not always greener on the other side. If you're abroad and you're thinking of coming back to Nigeria, please don't hesitate to come back. Come back and start your company. Start small and don't worry too much about the inconveniences of PHCN and the water corporation. Use all the exposure and ideas you've garnered abroad to your advantage. I spoke to my mum yesterday and she's about to float her ice block business in Nigeria. She has held the dream to her chest for years. She's gotten the freezers and shop space [ at our home, though ]. She will be employing two workers to help her out [ creating jobs ].  I will also advice Nigerian youths to start making intelligent use of the internet to get business ideas and solid information that can change their lives. There is a lot to gain from being an entrepreneur. Read Richard Branson's story. Cheers.

Congrats, Mr Kehinde Adeyemi. There are a lot of Nigerians doing amazing things to put Nigeria on the world map positively. I'm happy that Kehinde schooled in Nigeria. I'm also a graduate of the Nigerian University system and I know my worth and what I'm doing and what I can do People should stop condemning the Nigerian Educational System. Yeah, the system is not good enough but we should be careful about generalizing. I have come across Nigerians who studied in British and American Universities, and when we hold conversations, I discover that a good number of them don't really know what they want to do with their lives. They just want to get a decent job and fit in with the system in the country they live in. They're not innovative or entrepreneurial in thought and action.

Guys and gals like Kehinde Adeyemi ought to placed on the front pages or centre spread of our newspapers. As an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, I noticed that a lot of students were not making 100% use of books and educational materials at the Univeristy's main, faculty and departmental libraries.  UI's libraries are updated from time to time. I saw a lot of current journals at the main library on almost every course offered in the University. It was painful to note that many of the students just relied on lecturers notes or on glorified handouts [ Hastily compiled handouts which are printed as books ]. They made no effort to carry out their own personal research using the books in the library or good stuff on the web. Nigerian students, Undergraduate and Post Graduate students have to share part of the blame when they come out half-baked from our higher institutions.  Personal Development counts if one wants to be successful in life.  We also need to visit our schools personally to see what is going on there, before coming to hasty conclusions on this thread. Cheers.

I remember going through the early issues of OVATION, back when the guy started out. The Magazine was very intellectual then and focused on celebrating Nigerians and Africans of integrity. Though the Magazine was not printed in gloss, it made delightful reading. The likes of Sonala Olumhense and Sunmi Smart Cole identified with OVATION's mission statement, until Bob Dee went down the wrong path All the brilliant heads departed from the OVATION stables and I stopped reading the Magazine. It is now a photo album and hardly carries stories that stimulates my thinking. However, I won't crucify Dele Momodu on this thread. I have not achieved a quarter of what he has achieved. I'm not his admirer and I hope to do better than him. Cheers.

Governor Fashola deserves the award because he's a dynamic leader. It should also be noted that the owner of The Guardian Newspapers is Alex Uruemu Ibru [ The other Ibru brothers have their own businesses ]. The paper's proprietress is his wife, Maiden Ibru [ nee Stephanopolous ]. Alex Ibru does not influence the paper's editorial direction. He hardly visits The Guardian's premises. So the Editors of the paper have the creative freedom to report stories as they want, even those involving the Ibru Family. Alex Ibru is a man of strong convictions and integrity. Congrats to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola

Happy New Year, Nairalanders. May all your wishes for 2010 come to pass. Amen.

I have this belief that it is never too late for anything to be done if the right steps are taken. However, it is better for a man to marry before age 35. There are a lot of factors that stop people from settling down at an early age, especially in a country like Nigeria where Material Possessions are given a lot of consideration. The main reason why guys marry late in Nigeria is their desire to acquire some wealth and possessions, so as not to be despised by the bride's family. We have this tendency to measure the worth of a man by his possessions in Nigeria.  Many ladies are making the mistake of rejecting men because they don't have enough money or are not handsome, tall and charming. Some ladies also watch their potential man pass by because they think he is not spiritual enough or is not a regular church goer. At the end of the day, the committed '' Christian '' brother turns out to be a chameleon . What I'm trying to say is that there is no perfect man or woman. Marriage is like a building under construction. The couple should continue working on it until the rough edges are straightened out. A lot of marriages in Nigeria today are failing because the couples involved expect too much from each other without taking time to work on each other's weaknesses. Cheers.

This marriage issue sef From what I've seen couples go through in Nigeria, Marraige is not easy o. Anyway, I'm in tandem with God concerning my future partner. I just can't get married to anybody like that. She has to share my vision and dreams. And I wonder why that pastor is harrasing me concerning marriage God knows what I'm up to, Pastor. Cheers.

Thank God One more problem is being solved in Nigeria. Nigeria needs a working Railways system. It might not be as sophisticated as that of the Western world, but the main thing is that it should be up to an acceptable standard. I just like the progress Fashola has made with Lagos State so far. We need dynamic Governors in the other states. Cheers.

Mate, the internet is not going to stop the Newspaper and Magazine industry. Don't develop cold feet, please. It all has to do with your niche market. There is nothing like holding a Newspaper or Magazine in your hand. The way journalism is practised in Nigeria is what makes sales low in the Print media. How many newspapers are published in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and our other languages? What do we report on? Specialized publications are going to be the in thing very soon. I've also observed that publishers in Nigeria are not very innovative when marketing their Media products. It does not end with dumping the Media Products with vendors . It is much more than that. Content is key and this is where many publishers get it wrong Do your own research on publishing. It is a profitable but slippery business. Cheers.

Anyway, lets see what the Eagles will do against Greece next year Cheers.

@honeric01

Any team that qualifies for the World Cup is not a weak team. The Greek team of 1994 just had stronger opponents to contend with in the group stages. Franktolk was just trying to disparage the formidable Super Eagles Squad of 1994 by saying they played 'weak' teams like Bulgaria and Greece. The same Bulgaria he said was weak got to the Semi-finals while the Eagles lost to Italy in the 2nd round. People should make cooments without ill feelings. Cheers.

@honeric01

I don't know much about the 2009 Greece Squad. I will have to carry out some reseach concerning that. However, they won't be easy to beat in South Africa next year with the crop of players we have. Greek footie has improved since the 90's mate. Cheers.

@Honeric01

The Greek squad of 1994 was not a bad team. It is just that Greece was unlucky to be placed in a very tough group that had the African Champions [ Nigeria ], Argentina [ a football powerhouse ] and Bulgaria [ Bulgaria prevented France from qualifying for USA 94 and went on to reach the Semi-finals of the tourney, though the team lost to Nigeria in their opening match ]. The 2004 Greece Squad was very technical and organized. The team did not have too many skillful players, but it was a team that that attacked sporadically and was very tight defensively. I just finished watching clips of the Eagles at USA 94. That team is just too gifted

@franktolk

Be frank with yourself, mate. So Greece and Bulgaria were weak teams? Bulgaria that had Kostadinov and Stoickhov, and it was this same Bulgaria that denied France from qualifying for the 1994 world cup. Greece was not a weak team at the World Cup. This same Greece stunned Europe 10 years later by winning the Euro 2004 hosted by Portugal. The 1994 Super Eagles faced tougher opponents than the Eagles of today. The Zambian team they defeated to lift the Nations Cup trophy in Tunisia was very good and highly technical. They faced a lot of tough opponents in their qualifying matches for USA 1994. Once again, be frank with yourself. Cheers.