₦airaland Forum

Ok.
I use to think the ussd code for dialing the function locks it permanently. I thought locking it from the phone setting was just a temporary lock.

Jakarta:
You can lock your SIM and the lock will be triggered as soon as the SIM is removed from ur phone, even if you insert the SIM on another phone u must provide the unlock pin for it to be unlocked. It is working perfectly and flawlessly on my MTN and Airtel lines.

Though if you enter the wrong pin 3 times, the SIM is permanently locked, you can only unlock it with the sim's PUK or visit the nearest service provider office.

This is how I do it.

Setting > password & security > Advanced options > SIM card lock toggle the Require PIN to use phone option shikena.

When it came to authentication at MOF, the treatment didn't regard this question.

OkanlawonB:
Where is it stated that laminating a document invalidates it?

Will a document that has become unreadable or damaged will serve better?

I used to be convinced that laminating my documents was a must—I did it for years, even when I was preparing for NYSC. But someone advised me to reconsider, and it completely shifted my perspective. When I went to authenticate my NYSC certificate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I saw how they treated laminated documents—like a red flag. It was honestly traumatic. Even though I eventually managed to salvage my situation by carefully undoing the lamination in a kind of way, it was a huge stress. And I know I'm not alone—so many people just don’t share these experiences. I want to know—have you gone through something similar? Did laminating your documents ever create a hurdle for you? And if this can help someone rethink it, maybe we can spread awareness—because sometimes, that "safe" step actually becomes a risk

Just do DOV. Finish at the MOF and ask them for DOV. Don't waste money

kiiiingggggg99:
They accept both anyone you can get basically, I do have the original waec from waec website but it’s just soft copy but the paper gon gon I don’t have yet. Does cimea need someone to verify in MOE and MFA before using there authentication service?

No essence of doing cimea because the Italian embassy will still want you to authenticate your document. Cimea might without stress but they won't acceppt it. Watch my videos on Ministry of education.

Get the Dov done and you're good to go

fwallex4truth:
I don't know about CIMEA but DOV does. You can authenticate the WAEC you already have at the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bytheway, how do I reach you?

They accept both anyone you can get basically, I do have the original waec from waec website but it’s just soft copy but the paper gon gon I don’t have yet. Does cimea need someone to verify in MOE and MFA before using there authentication service?

I suggest you go for a course that has the language for the first year. And you try study here before leaving for the school. I'm not sure they would grant you just for learning the language.

DigitB:
Hello everyone.

I want to apply to a language school in Italy.

The school told me that the Italian consulate in my country might not issue me the Type D visa if I have no knowledge of the Italian language above beginner level.

They suggested that I contact the Italian consulate in Lagos in order to know whether they require a certificate of Italian knowledge before they could issue me a visa.

But, omo!, these guys don't ever reply emails. I've sent them many emails but no response. Even the TLSContact don't respond to messages.

Please is there anyone here who has moved to Italy via language studies?

What are the visa requirements for a language study that will last more than 90 days, Type D visa?

It's easy to authenticate and get since it's only waec

cletz991:
WAEC is what am authenticating

If you have 9mobile issues, you would want to use that option.

Onetechnews:
This is one of the most shocking pieces of news to ever come out of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and if you haven't heard about it yet, you need to sit down because this one affects every single Nigerian with a bank account.

The CBN has just declared that changing your phone number on your BVN (Bank Verification Number) is now a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Yes, you read that right. Once. In. Your. Lifetime. No more swapping numbers anytime you feel like it. No more "I lost my SIM, let me just update my BVN." You get one shot, and that's it. This new update starts on the 1st of May, 2026.

So What Does This Even Mean?

Think of your BVN like your financial fingerprint. It is the one number that ties your identity to every bank account you own in Nigeria. Your phone number is connected to it so that banks can verify it's really you doing transactions, receiving alerts, and accessing your accounts.

What the CBN is now saying is simple: that phone number attached to your BVN? Guard it with your life, because you can only change it once. Once that one change is used, it's gone. You don't get another chance.

But Why Do People Even Change Their BVN phone numbers in the First Place?

This is a fair question. People change their BVN phone numbers for all kinds of reasons, and most of them are completely genuine:

Lost or stolen SIM card: This happens to so many Nigerians. Your phone gets snatched, or your SIM gets lost, and suddenly you can't access your bank account.

Network switch: Maybe you moved from MTN to Glo or Airtel because of better service in your area. Naturally, you'd want your BVN updated.

Old number forgotten or abandoned: Some people registered their BVN years ago with a number they no longer use or remember.

Relocation: Moving to a new state or even abroad sometimes means getting a new number entirely.

These are real, everyday situations. But unfortunately, fraudsters have also been taking advantage of this same process to hijack people's accounts and that is exactly the problem the CBN is trying to solve.

Why Is CBN Doing This?

To be realistic, Nigeria's banking system has been dealing with a serious fraud problem. Criminals have figured out that if they can just change the phone number on your BVN, they can take over your entire financial life, your accounts, your loans, your everything.

The CBN's amendment is aimed at strengthening financial system stability and tightening identity management in the banking sector. In plain language, they want to make it harder for bad guys to steal your financial identity.

By limiting the phone number change to just once, the CBN is essentially saying, "We are going to make this process so restricted that fraudsters can't easily manipulate it anymore."

What Are the New Rules for Banks?

Under the new provisions, financial institutions are now required to do a lot more than just accept your request to change a number. Banks must now:

Verify your identity more thoroughly before approving any BVN phone number change

Keep detailed records of the one change you're allowed to make

Flag and investigate any suspicious requests to change BVN details

Ensure the person making the change is truly the account owner, not someone pretending to be you

This means the process of changing your number is about to become much more serious and heavily documented. It won't be a quick counter visit anymore.

What Does This Mean for Ordinary Nigerians?

Now here is where it gets real for the everyday person. The benefits of this policy are actually quite significant:

1. Your money is safer. Fraudsters will now find it almost impossible to take over your account through a phone number swap. That one trick they've been using? The CBN just blocked it.

2. Your identity is more protected Your BVN is your financial identity. Restricting changes to it means nobody can easily tamper with who you are in the banking system.

3. More accountability in the system. Banks will now be more careful and deliberate about identity changes. This brings more order and seriousness to how our financial data is managed.

The One Concern Nigerians Should Keep in Mind

While the benefits are clear, there is one very important thing every Nigerian needs to do right now: make sure the phone number currently on your BVN is one you can keep for a very long time. If you've been meaning to update it, now is the time to do so before this rule fully kicks in.

The CBN means business with this one, and honestly, in a country where financial fraud has been a major headache, this policy might just be the strong medicine the system needs. What do you think? Is this a win for Nigerians, or is it too restrictive? Drop your thoughts.

I ask this question because, nowadays, I just see people saying you can lock your phone’s SIM through your Android or iPhone. You simply go into your phone’s settings, and you lock the SIM from there. That’s pretty easy and convenient in the moment. But what if that SIM card is moved to another phone? In that case, the lock feature is gone—it simply opens freely, as if it were never locked. I’ve personally experienced this when I locked my SIM on one phone, then moved it, and it didn’t require any PIN at all. So, when I see YouTubers just showing quick steps to lock a SIM on a phone, I feel like this is only a temporary solution. It used to be a kind of universal code that MTN would provide for anyone wanting a permanent lock, but I can’t find that code anymore. There really needs to be a way for someone to lock their SIM at the network level, so that even if the SIM is moved to another device, it can never be accessed again. What do you guys think?

Opening a Stripe account in Nigeria hasn't been easy—most of us need a registered company like a limited liability company to even get started. And I heard some tech gurus bypassing those restrictions even without a registered company. If you’ve gone through this, let me know your experience or if you have a better suggestion. Thankyou

Yea I saw that selection as well but it's still in naira. Their own exchange rate is a little higher, which is the main reason I started seeking for a virtual dollar card like grey.

Adexvivacity:
We now pay with Opay so I dont think anybody is running after virtual card anymore, plus some Nigerian banks cards now work as well.

I've been shopping on AliExpress a lot, but the exchange rates were really high. After doing some research—thanks to some tech gurus—I found a virtual dollar card that’s been a total game changer! I got it for free, and since then, AliExpress payments have been smooth, with a much better rate. The only thing I’ve been careful about is security—I keep an eye on my balance so no unauthorized charges happen. Has anyone else tried a better option? I’d love to know your suggestions—thanks!

That's good to go

ademola0508:
Degree Msc Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity... Career Cybersecurity.

Yea, I got an update on this yesterday. It's impressive how things have improved since december. I also saw the tweet about it from Ministry of education.

fwallex4truth:
Even the Ministry of Education nowadays, you don't have to book appointment. Just upload your credentials, generate remita and you queue for the authentication. That's all.

Some years ago, I was trying to get my own transcript from my school in Nigeria. I went to the records department, and this officer there was so rude; I didn’t even know where to start. He kept saying he doesn't know anything of sending transcripts to MOE, and I had no idea if he was serious or not. But i discerned the hate after that day. It was due to my background. That was bothering though. I had to go back and forth to that place with my mom at least five times. I remember being so exhausted—no one wanted to help. The only help was "don't give him any money o"_coming from his predecessor. Finally, this successor told me I needed to write a formal letter to the vice chancellor..wow !. But mind you, that was not the process. After payment, I was to come later to collect it. So when I did that wrote the letter, things started to shift. I kept the letter format; I still have it.

I remember all the payments I made to the bursary, even the mistakes I avoided in the process of paying. I went back to that school over and over again with my mom, and some officers even worsened the situation...hold on...must one be your tribe to look human to you?...terrible!!. Eventually, I paid him again, even after the official transcript fee, straight to his personal account.

Then, a day later he called and said there was a strike, and I had to pay even more, using this fake excuse. In total, I spent so much—it was a huge trauma. I got my transcript in the end. I don’t want others to go through the same struggle and I don't wish it.

First, go to your school records department, fill the form, pay the fee, and return it to the records department. After that, you get a confirmation. If the school delays, explain it to them that you need it for your job or your office, and if it still doesn’t work, let it be sent to the Ministry of Education, which of course should be your first request when you have such a school. I explained all these steps in detail, so if you’ve had a similar experience, please share how you got through it—I’d love to hear your story.

Yes, it's important you use your hardcopy

Lilyyyy:
Hi guys, please i have a question, I uploaded the scanned copy of my transcript but i do not have the hard copy, can i just print out the scanned copy of the transcript or it is important that i present the original hard copy at the embassy?

I know a lot of people struggle with getting their official transcripts in Nigeria—whether it’s for education, job evaluations, or international moves. I actually broke down all the steps you need in my post on NairaLand, so if you’re trying to figure out how to get it done, check that out for a full guide

Ashaniade:
Please let me knowif ypu find help I'mliterallydown becauseofthis

SINP is very strict with education matching a career. Since you said it matches your degree, you can go with the application. But just for asking sake, what is your degree and what's the career path?

ademola0508:
Hi everyone,

My first degree does not match my occupation but my masters degree does match it. Will SINP allow this.

You have to book appointment for the ministry of education on their website.

Ministry of foreign affairs need no booking.

I talked about all of this in my videos.

chinelo87:
[Any one been able to get appointment on Ministry of Education website,?
Haven't been able to create an account to book appointment and upload my documents because they don't send the verification mail to verify email.

Please anyone have a way around


quote author=Ruqqey post=135598772]I have been trying to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to book an Appointment for Authentication of my document but the contact on their page is not working and they are not responding to emails, please is there anyone that can help? Or can I go without any appointment?

I think you should thoroughly explain it in your personal statement as a mistake.

KASZYLIEZ:
Please i recently got ITA, meanwhile in my expired profile i had 3 different work history, same as my new profile in which i got ITA from
But the issue is, one of the work history expired profile carried a wrong date (had work start in feb 2020 and ended feb 2022, and on my new profile, the work history is corrected to start 2018 and end 2019)
Please what should i do as regards this?

Go ahead

Geoawesome:
Good evening Everyone, and thanks for the help you provide here. Please i have been admitted for Fall 2026 intake and my question is will it be too late to apply for visa by June am asking because i am self-sponsoring myself and i am still saving up money for my program. Though I can pay my first year tuition fee now by June i would have saved up enough money for my living expenses and transportation costs. I have already started gathering the necessary documents with hopes to be able to submit my visa application beginning of June, 2026.

FunnyDude:
You cannot directly convert a WES U.S. report to a WES Canada report, but you can transfer your previously submitted documents to "a new application".
Create a new WES Canada account,
submit a new application (typically for IRCC),
pay the fee,
and provide your WES US reference number to customer service to transfer records

Thanks responding. But why do you insist that method is typically for IRCC?

Canada has an educational pilot program. i think it's part of the atlantic provinces.

Ykolags:
Hello everyone,

I am about to begin my PR journey and would sincerely appreciate guidance from experienced members here.

I am 37 years old, single

B.Sc in Building Construction
Close to 5 years of total experience in the construction field
Over 1-year active internship
About 2 years of solid post-graduation experience (excluding NYSC)
NYSC at Lagos State Ministry of Works,
Registered my own construction company during NYSC (one-man business, handled projects independently)
Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering (completed in Poland). Currently partnering with a startup in the UK on waste management sustainability. (Freelance)
I currently work as a data centre technician here in Poland.
IELTS 7 (overall)

My concerns:
• I am currently living in Poland, my current job does not count as I don't have a degree in computer science
• My NYSC experience was at the Lagos state Ministry of Works — not sure if this counts for skill assessment.
• My self-employed experience has no payslips or tax documents. And I am outside Nigeria, not sure I can work that out
• My master’s in Environmental Engineering, not sure if my freelancing with this startup company in the uk counts

No. But it can be used since it is up to a year.

Has anyone successfully transferred their WES evaluation from the US to Canada? I'm wondering if there's a way to save time and avoid the process.

When I went through it, I realized you can request a direct transfer, and here's what I learned.

WES canada allows you request a direct credential transfer, which can save you a ton of time. Instead of reapplying and going back to your school for verification process, you just hit up the help bot and submit the some documentation-so its more streamlined.

If anyone else has gone through this process of found any other tips, I'd love to hear your experience.