₦airaland Forum

There is nothing wrong in Africans carrying their babies on their backs abroad as long as Health and Safety rules are followed. We have to stop denigrating our culture and traditions wherever we find ourselves on this planet. Our self loathing is what has stopped us from competing with the Asians in Britain, Canada and the United States. The Bangladeshi and Indian communities in Britain have certain traditions and ways of doing things that they flaunt in the public. They don't care if anyone thinks their mode of dressing is primitive. Besides, I've observed that white people are gradually becoming more open to other cultures. They have started looking into our clothing materials, beads, pottery etc in a bid to make them more popular in the Western world. How about Suzanne Wenger [ Adunni Olorisa ] who came down to Nigeria and became the priestess of the Osun Grove? She spent all her adult life taking care of a deity that was not hers because she saw that the yoruba culture is unique. And why are there no African Festivals that are celebrated in a big way in Britain? Food for thought


www.vibes-extra..com

The German team is really organized. The team plays without any respect for the opposition. Just look at the faces of Ozil, Podolski, Lahm, Boateng, Schwasteinger etc. They have this '' We are going to win look''. The Germans were not under any pressure and I love their style. Joachim Low, the current German coach, was the assistant of Jurgen Klinsmann at the last World Cup. Low is even proving to be technically stronger than Jurgen Klinsmann. I'm not surprised with the intelligent football being played by Germany at this World Cup. Except the unexpected happens, Germany will be the world champions come July 11, 2010. Nigeria needs to start believing in youth players and we need to give Samson Siasia a chance again. His Beijing 2008 Olympics Squad played like the German team @ South Africa 2010. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

@Mariory, thanks for the links you've posted on this thread. If FIFA is truly an organisation that likes fair play and supports football development in Nigeria, Sepp Blatter has to support the Presidency in its quest to restructure the administration of football in the country. For those who are asking whether there is a blueprint on ground after Sani Lulu and his Gang of looters have left office, I want to let you know that gifted administrators know what to do as soon as they get into office. I know I can run the NFF myself, mates. If you've been in one leadership position or the other in the past, you will know what to do when you're given a higher responsibility. The cabal in the NFF has to be demystified. So how did the late Emeka Omeruah run the NFA when he was the association's chairman? I knew how I ran a press club at the University of Ibadan when I was the club's Editor-In-Chief. What I'm trying to say is that it is not that difficult to run the NFF. Greed, lack of vision and utter corruption has been the bane of Nigeria's footie development. My 65 year old dad is even fed up of Sani Lulu and Bolaji Ojo-Oba. Shior!!!


www.vibes-extra..com

Guys and Gals, we need to get Sani Lulu and his bunch of inept officials out of the Glass House. I believe the Presidency is using the ban to frustrate the current set of NFF officials out and bring in focused people. I believe in change and Nigeria is a country where government officials refuse to resign when they perform badly. I want the Nigerian Government to stand up to FIFA for once. Running a Football Federation is not rocket science!!! We are in a situation where the future of our football depends on getting the right set of administrators into the Glass House. The Presidency spends a lot of money on Football in the country, so it is natural that Goodluck Jonathan wants a change in the NFF's leadership. Nigerian Football is in tatters anyway, So FIFA's threat of a ban should not make us have sleepless nights. We need to restructure our footie and heads have to roll at the Glass House. I know the Presidency will lift the ban as soon as Sani Lulu, Bolaji Ojo-Oba and the set of failures resign their positions. This is the time for media houses in Nigeria to start a campaign for the change of leadership in the NFF. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

@Honeric01, I'm not saying Oshiomhole has not done well. I just want the Edo State Government to focus more on making the state a productive one. The living standards of the people need to be raised. It is not so good for a city to be looking good, while its residents can barely afford to eat three square meals. I've gone through the press releases you've published on this thread. Press Releases are documnets, you know. It does not mean that the projects have been completed or even embarked on at all. Nairaland is gradually becoming a place where State Governors are celebrated or vilified.

Besides, I will be happy if anyone with a digital camera in Benin can snap pictures of other developed areas of Edo State and post them on this thread. Nairalanders and the world want to see pictures of renovated schools, hospitals, functional cottage industries [ We need to know what is being done with Internally Generated Revenue ], refurbished roads in other parts of Edo State [ Not Benin City ] etc. Common guys and gals, there must be someone with a digital camera out there in Edo State . By the way, I'm of Edo Origin and our family house is on Sapele Road. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

If the ban will result in Sani Lulu and his fellow looters of the round table leaving the Glass House, I support it. FIFA is insincere concerning this issue. Sepp Blatter knows that the Nigerian Government spends a lot of money on the NFF, and this gives the Presidency the right to ask for a change in the NFF's leadership. Sani Lulu and his executive committee have failed to develop Nigerian football to satisfactory standards. The NFF does not even have a database of young players in the country. The Federation did not even have a website until recently   Sani Lulu should be ashamed of himself. He is now trying to contest [ Lulu will be brought in for a second term as NFF President through the usual dirty politicking ] for a second term as NFF's leader under Blatter's protection. Damn him

Segun Odegbami has also let his supporters down. I thought the guy was incorruptible. I feel Goodluck Jonathan should send a powerful delegation to FIFA with documented evidence of the corruption going on at the Glass House. FIFA should be made to understand that the ban is just a way of getting corrupt executives out of the NFF, with promises that as soon as a solid management team is strung together to manage the Federation, the ban will be lifted. Mr Jonathan, it is time to play some purposeful politicking Invite important FIFA officials to Nigeria, let them have a good time, explain your decision to them and make them happy with ''gifts''. FIFA threats of a counter-ban will become history . Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

Ghana threw away the opportunity to be the first African country in the Semi Finals of the World Cup. Asamoah Gyan should have scored the penalty during the extra time. It is a painful loss for me. I have Ghanaian friends so I was really thinking I would celebrate with them tomorrow  Suarez is a big cheat. If he had not used his hand to stop the ball from going into the net, Ghana would have won the Match. Uruguay should be fined for Suarez's behaviour. I wish African teams the best at the next World Cup. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

While I commend the Edo State Government for the beautification of the Ring Road Area of Benin City, I feel Adams Oshiomhole should pay more attention into raising the living standards of people residing in the state. He can do this by setting up cottage industries or small scale recycling centres in different Local Government Areas of Edo State. I have observed that many Nigerian Governors are not really trying to work on the manufacturing potentials of the states they administer. Edo State can go into the recycling of household waste produced by other states. Recycling is big business in the world today. Waste products and what we consider to be 'rubbish' can be sorted and recycled for our local companies to reuse as raw materials. The Edo State Government can also partner with Recycling Companies all over the world so that the converted waste can be sold abroad. How about Edo State developing an entrepreneurial scheme where people with good business ideas that will benefit their local communities are supported financially? Oshiomhole has done well, but our Governors need to start empowering the people. When the living standards of the people improve, they will even start beautifying their environments themselves. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

The Ghanaians should watch out for Suarez. He is capable of scoring unexpectedly in this extra time period. The game has been thrown open because of the the equalizer scored by Diego Forlan.  I hope our football administrators are watching this game. They should bury their heads in shame. Senegal and Ghana qualified for the World Cup for the first time years after we featured at USA 1994. Yet, the two countries have surpassed our 2nd round showing in the States. We have been retrogressing since 1996 [ Atlanta 96 ]. I support Goodluck Jonathan's ban. We need to go back to the basics. Hmn.


www.vibes-extra..com

I don't like how the uruguayans are falling down without much contact from Ghanaian players. These South Americans I really want Ghana to win this match. This is what happens when a country is organized and the politicians are striving to improve the living standards of the people. Ghana's giant strides in growing their economy is reflecting in the performances of the Black Stars. Ghana won the U-20 FIFA World Cup in Egypt last year. This is a tournament that Nigeria has never won. And some players from that Ghanaian team are playing at the World Cup against Uruguay tonight. Nigeria sucks big time


www.vibes-extra..com

Adams Oshiomhole has made a good move with the kick off of the Edo State ID Project. However, we need to know the nitty-gritty of the registration exercise. The Edo State Government has to come up with a list of documents that will be needed by participants of the scheme to prove that they are from Edo State or Edo State Residents. Since Nigeria is not good at document keeping, how can someone prove that he or she is from Edo State? One might be tempted to say that the name or surname of someone will can be used to know his Edo origins So how about those that have Yoruba surnames like Ogunkoya, Sonola, Ogedengbe et al and are from Edo state [ Akoko Edo, etc ]. And how about those that were born in Lagos but have Edo parents? I was born in Lagos and I've got a Lagos State Birth Certificate, but my dad has always told me and my siblings that we are from Edo State. I have always claimed Edo as my state in all my forms [ Common Entrance Exams, JAMB, WAEC, NYSC et al] So what will be done about the Edo Lagosians?

I hope that Oshiomhole and the Commisioners of his round table have done their homework properly. Any attempt to offer bursaries and welfare assistance to Edo State indigenes will result in large numbers of Nigerians claiming to be from Edo State. God help you, Adamsco.


www.vibes-extra..com

People can be really heartless
@Poster, you really have to pray to God to give you the strength to forgive your sister. She has inflicted a deep wound on your psyche. What has happened to you can happen to anybody. We are living in a world where many people no longer have the fear of God in them. Your experience is really painful. However, I feel there are some things that have not been revealed to you by the people around you. They must have noticed that your sister and your ex-lover were getting too close, and someone could actually have seen them somewhere together in an intimate mood. I know it is hard to forgive, but please forgive your sister. After you've forgiven her, try not to get her involved in your personal affairs. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

This match is really interesting. I'm behind Germany all the way. I want the young German lads to win this game. They're playing very well and England's defence has been rubbish so far. Go on, Germany.


www.vibes-extra..com

I really want the Germans to win though I've got affiliations with England. This German squad is a team of the future but I think they can defeat England today. I love the different ethnicities that make up the German squad- Polish [ Klose and Podolski] Turkish [ Ozil and Khedira ], Ghanaian [ Jerome Boateng ], Nigerian [ Dennis Aogo ], Brazilian [ Cauca ] etc. The World needs to watch out for Germany in Brazil 2014 and Euro 2012. England needs to start fielding players from the different immigrant groups in the country. It should not matter if they've got Muslim or African names.

I will be supporting the Germans and I hope they'll win. I love Ozil


www.vibes-extra..com

I don't really like AIT and 98% of the NTA Stations suck big time. My worst Television station has to be the Edo State Broadcasting Service Television Station. Arrrrghhh!! Many of the presenters working at the station have no business being there

My best Television Station in Naija remains Channels Television All thanks to John Momoh. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

Well, the present coalition government in Britain is taking the right steps in addressing the country's immigration problem. Britain, especially England, is full of people. You need to take into account what is going on when you take the tube these days. The London Underground trains are packed to the brim with passengers and it is easy to get suffocated However, care should be taken to ensure that gifted immigrants are not denied the opportunity of coming to live and work in Britain. Personally, I will advise Nigerians who are seeking greener pastures to head to Canada and the United States. Though Canada needs people, the country's immigration process is tough and well regulated. I know people who were in Britain for years [ some were illegal ] who crossed over to Canada. They put the money they had earned in Britain [ By working really hard and juggling jobs ] to good use and applied to study in Canada. After getting to Canada, they changed their status after completing their studies [ Provincial nominee program ].

With the sad situation of things in Nigeria, I won't discourage Nigerians from travelling. Let them stay away from Britain and look towards Canada and the USA. Above all, I just hope Nigerian leaders will start thinking of the people they govern. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

@proproman. I agree with you concerning Mario Balotelli's bad attitude and the need for more Italian players to feature for the country's top clubs. However, I also have some points to thrash out. The Major Football Leagues in Europe are being run by Mafia-like organisations. Due to huge amount of football talent available in South America and Africa, many European clubs are cashing in on the opportunity to make money through deals and player transfers. The European soccer Mafia and cabals are interested in entertaining spectators with quality football matches. To achieve their aims, they realized they had to bring in players from all over the world. They are just emulating the Roman Emperors who organised battles between gangs of gladiators at the numerous coliseums for the people's pleasure. The English Premiership, The Serie A and B, The Spanish La Liga, The French Ligue 1 and The Bundesliga are run by cabals who masquerade as Football Associations and Club owners. It is really about the money. The feelings of the people of Europe are not taken into consideration

My man, have you noticed how Billionaires from the Middle East and Eastern Europe are snapping up clubs in England in the last 5 years? Running football clubs is now big business, mate. Roman Abramovich only pops into Stamford Bridge once in a while for important games. He's more interested in the financial aspects of Chelsea FC. Big Business is mainly interested in profit. Big business does not care if a country's young players are developing. The English Premiership is big business with lots of money being made for every match. Different parties including betting companies, The Media, Catering and Hospitality outfits etc have stakes in the Major Leagues of Europe.

The fans at the stadiums in Europe want to watch exciting matches and see great stars at work. The football clubs buy players cheaply from Africa and South America. After 1-3 seasons, these African and South American players become stars and get sold off to other clubs for huge sums of money. It is really about the money. The development of European youths in football matters is being sabotaged by Europe's football Mafia. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

The Azurri's were just not good enough at this year's World Cup This Minister is just being racist with his comments. He should go and confront the Mafia that runs the Serie A. Some Italians are making a lot of money by bringing immigrants to play for their football clubs. Hundreds of millions of dollars is made from player transfers and match attendance [ Season tickets ]. The soccer Cabals are also active in England, Spain and France. All these right wingers in Europe need to realize that is their own people that are ripping them off. It is all about the money Italy also has players that are Italian by birth but have foreign parents. Why did Marcello Lippi refuse to give a look in to Mario Balotelli et al?

Yeah, I agree that more Italian players should be lacing boots for Italy's football clubs, but the country's woes should not be blamed on immigrants. Blame the Mafia groups running football in Europe. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

Kanu has done well for Nigeria. It is good that he is retiring at this moment. He remains one of Nigeria's best players in history. I really respect him and I'll never forget those classic goals he scored against Brazil at the Olympics in 1996. Though he has lost form in recent years, he still retains his good heart. Nigerians owe him a lot for the patriotism he has displayed during his career. I feel the Federal Government should honour him by hosting him to a dinner and naming a stadium after him. Thank you, Papillo


www.vibes-extra..com

I have been looking for this kind of thread on Nairaland. The main reason why we don't have Venture Capitalists in Nigeria is that we don't really trust each other. The legal system in Nigeria is still fragile, and it is not easy to get your money back if an entrepreneur you're working with suddenly becomes dodgy. Then we don't have a solid data system in the country. How can you verify easily if someone is living where they claim to live? NIPOST which is supposed to manage our Postcode system is a sleeping giant and the Police lack the tools to go after defaulters. There are people who have invested in small businesses in the past but they got their hands burnt . I believe Nigerian Banks can really foster entrepreneurship in the country. The banks only need to be courageous and proactive in this regard. Graduates with solid business plans who can provide references from important people should get a look in from the banks. The banks do not have to invest millions in businesses. It could be as little as 50,000-500,000 Naira.

All the Banks will be doing is to monitor the businesses they've invested in and make sure the entrepreneurs open bank accounts with them. This will enable the financial advisors to know how the money is being spent and how much money from profits is being deposited in the accounts. However, we need to tackle the greed that runs in the system of most Nigerians first. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

www.amebor.com

Fellow Nairalanders, I feel we are not getting some things right. It is true that we have the right to be angry with the woeful display of the Eagles in South Africa However, we need to ask questions concerning the structure of Nigerian Football. How much has the Federal Government spent in upgrading sporting facilities all over the country? I'm not talking about Stadiums that were renovated when we hosted some FIFA tournaments. What I'm trying to say is this: How much money is being used to upgrade Football pitches in our secondary schools? Do our Secondary Schools receive Sporting grants from State Governments and Local councils? That is why I feel Sani Lulu, Bolaji Ojo-Oba and the rest of the guys in the Glass House are colossal failures. I doubt if the Nigerian Football Federation [NFF] has plans to develop Football in Primary and Secondary Schools all over the country.

We don't plan for the future in Nigeria. After the disappointing display of Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup and the pain of not qualifying for Germany 2006, is it not a shame that we are still in the same rot in 2010? I'm so sure a report will be drawn up as usual after this World Cup. A lot of blames will be apportioned and a new coach will be employed. However, will the root problems of Nigerian Football be tackled? Will the Nigerian Football become well organized that players from all over Africa will be playing for Nigerian Football Clubs? Will attempts be made to revive the Principal's Cup in our secondary schools in a bid to ensure that we field very young players for FIFA U-17 and U-20 tournaments? I feel these are the issues we should be discussing on this forum. Cheers.


www.amebor.com

Personally, I think both Amodu Shuaibu and Lars Lagerback are bad coaches. The difference between them is that one is more exposed than the other. Lagerback is from Sweden and he grew up in an environment where things work. He has been exposed to all kinds of Grade A facilities and worked with a well organized Swedish Football Federation. Amodu on the other hand grew up in a country where things do not work [ Nigeria ] and where good sporting facilities are hard to come by. He has also been unfortunate to have worked with a Nigerian Football Federation that has been consistently run by incompetent administrators for some time.

The problem with Nigerian Football is Systematic. No foreign coach [ Not even Jose Mourinho ] will succeed as Nigeria's Coach when the country's football has no structure. The Nigerian Football League is not developing and can't be compared to the 90's when our league flourished. Nigerian Football is being run by Charlatans and Mafia-like groups. It is all about the money now and the parasites running Nigerian Football do not care about putting infrastructure in place.  Without a vibrant football League, Nigerian Football will remain in the abyss of failure. Come to think of it, is it not from the Nigerian Premier League that Clemens Westerhof discovered George Finidi, Sunday Oliseh, Isaac Semitoje, Moses Kpakor etc? None of the current Super Eagles defenders can match Isaac Semitoje when he was playing for the Super Eagles. We need to develop grassroots football with the Government investing substantial sums of money in the league. A blueprint should be drawn up with the aim of making Nigeria's Premier League the best in Africa. We also need to tackle the issue of fielding over-aged players for FIFA'S U-17 and U-20 tournaments. This means we need to revive football in our secondary schools with the return of the Principals Cup all over the country. When the structures are put in place, it will be easy for a Foreign Coach to succeed in Nigeria. He will have a large pool of home based players to choose from and our Europe based players will sit up.

Lagerback should not be totally blamed for our woeful perfomances in South Africa. We failed because our football has no structure. Thanks.


www.amebor.com

I am not buying into Joseph Yobo's attempt to pacify angry Nigerian Football Fans with promises and strong vows. I don't see the Super Eagles beating South Korea. The Koreans will want to win the match or at least get a draw to boost their chances of qualifying. If Argentina beats Greece, South Korea will qualify for the second round. Nigeria is really in a bad position right now. Greece will also be aiming to beat Argentina or pull a draw with Maradona's boys. Yobo should bury his head in shame. The battle is already lost and nothing can remedy the situation. I'm not being pessimistic but we don't deserve to be in the 2nd round. Nigerian Football needs to undergo a major surgery with the guys in the Glass House being flushed out- I'm talking about the likes of Sani Lulu, Bolaji Ojo-Oba et al.

As for Lagerback, I am really disappointed in him. I thought he was going to make a lot of difference as Nigeria's coach. He needs to go. Let us give a Samson Siasia a chance to build a new Super Eagles Team for Nigeria. Cheers.


www.amebor.com

Yet another thread on tithing Well, I've not been paying tithes for some time now and I don't think God is angry with me or will refuse to accept me as his son because I'm not paying tithes. I have paid tithes in the past and I won't say paying tithes is wrong. What I am most concerned about is making Heaven at the end of the day. It will be a grave disaster for anyone who is a regular tithe payer and churchgoer to miss the rapture and go to hell There are lots of conflicting doctrines in the church today and one needs to be careful of Pastors who are wolves in sheep's clothing. Is it not Pastor Enoch Adeboye [ I respect him and his Ministry ] that told a gathering of thousands of Area Pastors, Deacons and Workers that God told him if the rapture should take place at the moment he was speaking to them, only about 3-5 people would make heaven? The story still makes me shudder in fear and trembling as I type this post.

Most Christian gatherings today are becoming jamborees God help us all. Hmn.


www.amebor.com

Minister Aganga must be high on something

Hmn

I still maintain that we have to improve on data collection and management before launching out on a scheme like this. Nothing concrete will be achieved if we cannot work out the number of unemployed graduates and youths in Nigeria. Managing data is not a joke and it needs serious financial investment. We need to develop databases that are linked to each other in Nigeria. In a country where Government officials find it difficult to give the masses the exact figures of the amount of money being made yearly from trade and Internally Generated Revenue, I wonder why we think running the benefits system will be smooth like gravy. Too much money is being wasted [ and also stashed in secret bank accounts ] currently because of our almost non-existent data systems.

For the benefits scheme to work, all the levels of Government and the Private Sector need to work hand in hand. Our universities will have to update their graduation records so that it would be easy to verify if Graduates attended a particular school. The NYSC would also have to take all their records online to authenticate Youth Service claims. We need to be very organized in Nigeria. Since the ID Cards project has failed [ ID Cards cannot effectively guarantee a person's identity by the way  ], we can make use of Passports, School ID cards, Driving licences and Company ID cards for the collection of the 15,000 Naira. The painful thing is that Government Departments in Nigeria have not been taking data capture and management seriously. I wonder if the birth of children in Nigeria can be verified easily in a matter of minutes It won't take ages for the Federal Government to build databases on Nigerians for economic and social welfare purposes.

With our penchant for not wanting to do things properly, the 15,000 Naira benefits system for unemployed graduates will be abused on a large scale. Without a solid verification system, a dodgy guy can claim the money in 10 States  [ 150,000 Naira ] without being detected. Bring  Energy and the databases on first, and other things will follow. Cheers.


www.amebor.com

This thread is getting more interesting by the minute Giving money to unemployed graduates in Nigeria will result in a lot of fresh problems arising. Suddenly, the Oluwole Forgery Syndicate will start to blossom again [ It has been curtailed a bit by the activities of the EFCC and the thorough document verification methods used by the Embassies in Nigeria ] and fraudsters will start collecting cash that they are not entitled to  Innovation and industriousness will also be hampered as many Nigerian youths will just be waiting to collect their 15k at the end of the month. They might not think of using their talents and gifts to earn a living, and will be dependent on Government handouts.

Nigeria is not good at record keeping and data management. Is it easy to prove that someone is unemployed in Nigeria? We don't have NI or social security numbers like the UK or the US. In the UK, it is easy to track your employment history through your NI number. The UK authorities can find out if you're unemployed through your NI number. The Nigerian Government does not have database centres where information about people can be accessed. I see a situation where well paid Nigerian graduates [ Who are obviously working ] will be claiming the 15,000 Naira benefit  Some Nigerians might also become ingenious by collecting the monthly 15k under different names and in different sates. One person can be banking 150,000 Naira montly without being caught.

We will also be seeing a rise in irresponsibility and careless living among Nigerian youths. Personally, I've seen some of the negative effects of the benefits system in Britain. The UK Government is hiding some statistics and information from the people. The immigrants are the ones paying 45-55% of the money given out as benefits to people through taxes and NI contributions. In Britain, some families have not worked for generations and solely survive on all forms of benefits. Cancelling the benefits system will lead to a civil war in Britain. People have become so dependent on the state that they will become vicious if their benefits are taken away. Do we want to go the same way in Nigeria? Even with the databases in Britain, people are still playing the system

Nigerians are naturally enterprising by nature. Let the Government fix the problems bedevilling the nation like lack of adequate electricity and solid healthcare, the bad educational system, bad roads etc first. It is after they've done this that they can start thinking of setting up a social system. Cheers.


www.amebor.com