₦airaland Forum

Why can't Nigerians carry out field researches themselves before coming on to Nairaland to display their ignorance? A simple phone call to one of your relatives who has  children in public schools in Lagos, will help you confirm if education at the secondary school level is really free in the state

I have discovered that hasty generalization is a disease

Cheers

@master2, you've spoken my mind. creativity is the key for all those who want to run their businesses in Nigeria. People keep waiting for bank loans before they start out. Why can't people start with what they have? There are a lot of business ideas that do not require much money to start out. I'm not talking about selling recharge cards or opening a barbing salon etc etc. I'm talking about starting a business that will add value to the lives of people. I'm talking about sharing skills with people for a fee. If you're good at website design, you can make money by teaching others. You can schedule visits to their homes and teach them. If you are a good dancer, you can set up a dancing school. All you'll need do is to hire a space or make use of a facility in your dad's house. How about spending some money to acquire catering skills and teaching it to others? If you can advertise your business through leaflets and flyers, you will start to grow. Cheers.

I wonder how this post made the front page? I'm pissed off

@poster, The English Premier League should not be blamed for the problems besieging African football.  Mates, I did not watch 95% of the matches of the just concluded African Nations Cup. I'm also disheartened that Egypt lifted the trophy once more So none of the six nations that will represent Africa at the World Cup could win the tournament? There is someting seriously wrong with African footie and the English Premier League should be left out of this. I'm going to be very specific, so I will talk about the sad state of Nigerian football.

The Age Factor: Most of our players are too old for comfort. I have always said that we need to go back to the drawing board to unearth very young talents and develop them for the future. The problem with Nigerian football is systemic. We have been fielding overaged players in our U-17 and U-20 squads for a long time. Has our deceitfulness really helped us? When these players get to Europe, they fizzle out after one or two seasons. Some of them manage to shine for a couple of years, but age soon catches up with them. Tell me, where are the likes of Peter Anosike [ prolific scorer at Japan 1993 ], Blessing Anyanwu [ Solid defender, Japan 1993 ], Gbenga Okunowo, Femi Opabunmi, Soga Sambo, Victor Brown, Temile Omonigho etc etc. We need to go back and relaunch the Principals Cup which draws footballing talent from our secondary schools. There are a lot of gifted players rotting away in our secondary schools. Our football clubs should also start recruiting players right from the secondary school. While I was in secondary school, I used to watch my school play against other secondary school football teams during the Aionian Games [ Schools like Abeokuta Grammar School, Remo Secondary School, Ibadan Grammar School, Victory College, Ikare, etc. ] and I saw a lot of talent on display. Why is it so hard for us to revive the principals cup and draw players from there for the U-17 and U-20 national teams?

Lack of commitment and Dedication on the part of our players: Most of the players in the present Super Chickens squad are not really committed to the cause of Nigeria. They value their clubs than playing for Nigeria. I will always single out Osaze Odemwingie for his absolute dedication when he's playing for Nigeria. Daniel Shittu is also dedicated to an extent. This present bunch of Eagles players lack the fighting spirit that we saw when the likes of Uche Okechukwu, Ben Iroha, Rasheed Yekini, Samson Siasia, Thomson Oliha, Friday Elahor, Moses Kpakor et al were playing for Nigeria. Then you'll see the likes of Ben Iroha coming from the defence to score goals. The 1994 Eagles Squad was also fitter and very technical. I've also observed that most of them have been quite very successful after ending their soccer careers.

Employing visionless and Technically Deficient Coaches: After Bonfrere Jo, we have not employed a coach or technical adviser that is worth talking about.  I know the blind guys at the Glass House in Abuja have a lot to contribute to this. Samson Siasia and Sunday Oliseh are two coaches that can achieve something if they coach the Super Eagles, but I know the NFF will not employ them because of their outspokeness and defiant stand on issues. The future of the Super Eagles looks very gloomy. We need to get a coach [ I feel we should emply a white coach who will do things his own way ] that will discover players from the grassroots and in the Nigerian league.  This coach will manage the Super Eagles and also act as a technical adviser to all the other National teams. I'm really thinking of Guus Hiddink or Jurgen Klinnsmann for this job.

Inept Nigerian Football Federation:  Seriously, I think we need to get rid of those guys at the Glass House. They are dragging Nigerian footie backwards all the time. We need to put people like Segun Odegabami, Mutiu Adepoju, Kojo Williams, Waidi Akanni, Mumuni Alao etc in charge of our football administration. There is too much corruption going on in the NFF and people are just there to make money. With what the former governor of Abia State [ Orji Uzor Kalu ] achieved with Enyimba FC of Aba, he should be on the board of the NFF He won't be going to the glass house to look for money because he's already made. Kalu just has a passion for football and he should be encouraged to fight for the chairmanship of the Nigerian Football Federation. We need to take drastic steps towards sanitizing the glass house. Cheers.

Tapping Into The Talent of The Nigerian Diaspora: We have a lot of teenagers in Europe and North America with Nigerian origin. They might not have been to Nigeria before but they've got Nigerian parents or one of their parents is Nigerian. Some of these youngsters are gifted and are being featured in the local newspapers daily. Some of them are still very young and are playing in the U -12, U-10 groups in the community leagues. Many of them will never play for the country of birth. We need to discover these talented kids and groom them for the Nigerian national team. One of them Stefano Chuka Okaka, who was born in Italy and has played for the Italian U-20 team has by signed by Fulham FC in the English Premiership. There are many like him in different parts of Europe who lie undiscovered. We need to find them and give them a chance to play for Nigeria.

We need practical solutions to move Nigerian footie forward and not mere talk. Cheers.

Well, I wish I was a woman with daughters as my children. My motto in life is '' Live and Lets Live''. I don't think I will have the time to stay with my married daughters for more than two days, except when they've just given birth to children and they need an extra hand around the home. I believe in people having their independence to make their own decisions. Besides, I will be managing my own company and will not have the time to meddle into the affairs of my daughters and their husbands. It is only a mother- in-law that has nothing doing that becomes a nuisance in her daughter or son's matrimonial home [ and there are many of such Mother-In-Laws in Nigeria ]. Not frequenting your children's matrimonial homes brings you a lot of respect. Cheers.

Ini Edo is okay. However, why can't Chivita produce the advert in Nigeria? There are a lot of amazing places in Nigeria with great scenery. Is this fruit Juice company not trying to appeal to the Nigerian market? Na wah o

Tom Saintfiet?? I will do some research on him right away. Hmn.

Stop all these arguments about which tribe is the most educated We are talking about gold being discovered in the South West. While we continue our tribalistic diatribes on Nairaland, some dodgy politicians and engineers will soon set up shop and start mining the gold for their selfish ends. How can we ensure that this discovery is registered officially in government records and the public is made to know how proceeds from the sale of the gold nuggets will be used for national development? That is what we should be talking about Cheers.

Why is it so difficult to make a 1st class in the Social Sciences and Arts Faculties? Why is it that the majority of 1st Class graduates always come from the Sciences and Technology Departments? At the University of Ibadan, you will hardly find 1st class graduates in the Arts Faculty, where I graduated from. 2:1 is the highest you can achieve, with only one or two miracle 1st class graduands once in a while. And this is not about lecturers marking people down Tell me, have you ever seen a first class graduate of History or philosophy from your uni? [ I want to know from nairalanders ]. It seems some courses require a lot of deep research and good presentation of ideas in essay format while some courses are like knowing the right formula and getting the high scores. Some courses are like computer programmes [ key in the right codes and get the results ], while some are highly vague with you working hard to find the right information that will make a good essay. Hmn. Just try and study History, Sociology, Political Science etc. You'll get my drift. Cheers.

Secrecy is the name of the game, mates. Gold and other rich mineral resources has been discovered in huge quantities in different parts of Nigeria in the past. It is just that some individuals in collaboration with government officials have been running illegal mines for their selfish ends. Minerals resources are being shipped out of Nigeria to Western nations in dodgy circumstances daily. Powerful cartels are making billions of naira yearly from illegal mining of resources and oil bunkering. Hmn.

@Afam

I stayed In Akure, Ondo State for a year and I must confess that the state is very hot. That is why it is called the ''Sunshine State''. I also saw how solar power was used to run a different kind of borehole project for some communities in the state. The solar panels trapped the heat from the sun during the day and used the converted energy at night to pump water. The water pumps were running till I left Akure. I believe BMG knows what they are up to. They might want to generate the solar power on a large scale. Cheers.

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.