₦airaland Forum

"One mans meat is another mans poison" Anon

So I can't tell you to stay in Nigeria and do business with the monies you intend to use to improve yourself abroad as others advised(Nigeria and doing business in Nigeria is not going anywhere) as long as you poised your question my advise is as follows:-


Whilst at Uni,add a professional qualification not synonymous to your impending qualification however a field you have an interest in(so you show a degree of versatility), add a language you can learn to intermediate level(versatility+edge), mix with your fellow students and Pali your lecturers(versatility+edge+cravat).

Most importantly improve your mind set(point of view)so you can adapt quickly in other to recognise opportunities when they present themselves or create opportunities for yourself. Your goal should be to improve yourself; be proactive.

It's your life and yours alone.

Add all these to your repertoire: you wouldn't bother yourself with staying or leaving the UK after your studies. The best option for you will present itself.

The very first step is choosing a very good Uni for your subject of study...your university we'll be an excellent spring board.

Good Luck

Countryman93: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela; the iconic manual of life's struggles, colossal star of the 20th century, the INVICTUS rests @ 95. This indeed is the end of an era. May God raise men of outstanding courage like him in our time. Men who will stand tall in the face of horrible setbacks for the noble course of humanity! This momentous day and the rush of unfathomable feelings will remain evergreen in my heart! You were the inspiration for my professional calling! You remain a lifetime inspiration for the advancement of mankind! A shining example of humility, doggedness, perseverance and forgiveness! Your profound standard of leadership remains incontestable! Words have failed me! Goodnight MADIBA!

Countryman93, permit me to further extend your write up. I think the poem INVICTUS Latin for UNCONQUERED will suffice.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1903)

RIP INVICTUS MADIBA (1918 - 2013)

Hello everyone, justwise well done for always being sensible and thorough with your questions and inputs. I'm a silent fan of yours.

A lot of people have given very sound advise here already...I would like to add mine however brief advise from experience.

My 1kobo advise for everyone intending to study in the Uk(I suppose those currently studying can benefit as well)..The UK isn't as easy as it used to be up till 2005ish part time jobs are harder to find. People have given very good advice about learning a trade before coming, that will help you go a long way. Plus you find that it is only hard for Nigerians with one mind set I.e. no skills at all, how would you find a job? When you will be competing for the same jobs with other fellow students in that environment.

Please choose your school wisely: you know your budget, cut your coat accordingly. Research the city or town(s)standard of living before you make your choice (look at job sites for part time jobs availability, google flatshare or houseshare prices in the area,ask people who have or are studying there. I see some people putting very unrealistic rent prices up, you will fall into that bracket if you don't plan your place of study well.

A clever argument will be; what if only that university offers my program? I would answer; in this present day for every expensive university that offer special programs there are at least 3 universities that will offer you a very similar program at a reduced cost, it does not in anyway mean you will not succeed in your chosen career, it just means you MIGHT and NOT necessarily! Go a slightly longer route e.g. I wanted to study Bsc Aviation Management (which by the way at the time I was choosing my university in 1999 only Cranfield Uni was the only renowned institution in the UK for aviation management) it was out of reach for me as the fees was very high then, I ended up doing a BA in Business Management at Edinburgh business school,in 2005 I did a topup BSc (Hons) Aviation Management degree at Loughborough Uni, meanwhile between 2003 to 2005 With my business management degree i still worked with a private jet and helicopter hire firm on two Caribbean island,that was purely from networking, the interpersonal skills I was compelled to acquired at Uni because Edinburgh Uni had very few african students then I had to blend in and boy! did I enjoy every minute of it...Treat every experience as a learning curve that's the only way you will enjoy and learn from them.

Today, there are at least 8 universities that offer the program, the UK is ever evolving.

There are loads of Universities in the UK, most very good,some average. Nothing good comes without effort in life someway somehow you pay the price. Your success depends 100% on You. UK universities give you a platform to set yourself up for life, you have to be proactive to reap the rewards:

Be interpersonal, people skills is probably the most important skill you need to learn, try and make friends (african,european,english,caribbean etc)..Join your student union or an extra curricula group there will be loads to choose from......your lecturers will be extremely important to you if you want to succeed in your studies and also if you want advise on which career path way to go, most of them are ex industry expats, they can help you later on. Go out of your way to pally them up, it's very simple, they are there for you and willing to help.

Understand yourself: most Nigerians have learning difficulties because of the linear learning approach we had/have at school(s); all UK universities have learning style test (its free) which will help discover the best way you learn. The universities have so many resources available if you choose to go the extra mile (go for classes,seminars,field trips,study groups, career weeks:mock interview to help learn how to come across well in an interview and build confidence etc. Like I mentioned earlier the university have a pool of resources for students to seek help, someone mentioned hardship fund, True! there is that.There is also guidance counselling for students struggling with their academics. IT,Maths,presentation help seminars etc..

I might sound like a broken record but your success as a student in the UK depends on how proactive you really are with your School. I know a very good number of people that went to cheap universities (cheap in relative terms to so called Top universities) most of these peopleo are offered the best paying jobs both contract jobs, permanent roles and even graduated placements with sound establishments in the Uk, Europe,Africa etc. Theses people worked at it added value to themselves whilst at Uni, they utilised their UK education well by using the resources available to them at their so called cheap universities.

I think if you are really struggling to learn a certain degree or masters then that program isn't for you because the UK education system is built in such a way that you actually understand what you learn very quickly.

Most of us Nigerians start by not even knowing ourselves we have been brain washes with tons of notions of what we can or can't do, instead of trying to criticise each other with limits, lets improve ourselves, you will actually shock yourself, become in awe of yourself then begin to respect and love yourself better.

That's my 1kobo advise. Thank you.


Ps: Try Scottish Universities, quality standard of living in Scotland at relatively low cost...anyone that went to school or live and work in Scotland can confirm that.