₦airaland Forum

@ sagamite : I didn’t discredit any other profession in any way, and yes I guess the reason investment bankers are paid more is that they produce real returns ie. money as opposed to other professions which don’t produce tangible items eg. health.

Regarding bail outs for investment banks, yes they did receive TARP money from the Fed but it has been paid back (well for Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs) and so why should IB still be held for money they have already paid back

Regarding your point about taxpayers getting the best of them – that is in the power of the authorities who provided the TARP and I don’t think you can blame bankers for that.

I think there is a bit of confusion here – there is a big difference between an investment bank (Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs being the only two truly investment banks remaining and others like JP Morgan, Citigroup) and a retail bank (HSBC, Lloyds, RBS).

Investment banks are in the business of making money for their clients – their clients are not the normal person walking on the street – its institutional investors and people who have a net worth of at least £1m. These clients are well aware of the possibility of losing money.These are the banks whose business model involves stock market trading, etc  Retail banks are in the business of savings, mortgages, normal bank accounts, etc.  

Investment bankers deserve the high bonuses they get.  I work a 12 hour shift very often, and there are large amounts of money at stake – usually six figure sums and more and my job is extremely intense and intellectually demanding.

What I don’t agree with is retail banks diverting from their core business and starting to do business like investment banks.  These are the people who now need the taxpayers money, NOT INVESTMENT BANKS and I don’t think they deserve the huge bonuses as the taxpayer now has to pay for their greed.  Retail banks are not supposed to be trading on the stock market as their core business and this is what happened – contributing to the financial crisis.

So in summary, investment bankers do deserve the high bonuses, but retail bankers certainly don’t.

@ opmoore - whatever you said, I dont understand, Im not nigerian and i dont understand pidgin English. I dont think ur response is relevant anyway.

Thanks to all those who gave reasonable and appropriate responses. I am looking forward to visiting your beautiful country.

@ chaircover, please post me the details for your tailor and prices. Thank you.

If you need a visa, get a travel agent to do it for you and you don't have to go through the hassle of going to the embassy. I did mine through a company called DJB visas, sent my passport on Friday, passort came back with visa on Tuesday (today). They charge £50 for their services, worth the money- highly recommended. They only collect the funds when the passport is back so if you're tight for money, this works well. Obviously, not payment and you dont get your passport back. Hope this info helps someone.

Looking for a good tailor to make some dresses for me, preferably SE London. If there is a similar post, please provide me with the link. Thx.

Hi.  Im travelling to Nigeria for the first time and would want to know general prices of weaves in Lagos (as in the actual hair, not the labour).  100% human hair prices for 12/14/16 inches, any ideas?

@ Roforofo : Thanks for your very helpful reply. I won't need to buy petrol as I have a friend hosting me, so do you reckon £100/day is sufficient? Also, please give me an idea of how much a meal in a decent restaurant and a night out clubbing would cost? I know its quite hard to quantify but really looking for a general idea of prices. Many thanks.

Sometimes asking a question on nairaland is just a waste of time cause you get stupid responses from ignorant people. I asked a sensible question and someone gives a daft response asking if I have unlimited money, wat kind of ignorant response is that When you go to a shop and ask how much something is, does that imply that you have unlimited amounts of money. This is coming from a tourist coming to your country to see and thats the wisest response you can give, shame on you and the impression you create about your country.

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Hi, travelling to Nigeria (Lagos) for 6 days after Christmas into new year period. Please can I have an idea of how much to bring (in £) for my stay. This is just really money for entertainment only as my accomodation is covered and im not planning on doing any shopping. BTW, Im not an extravagant person so realistic answers only please.

Thanks

I am not Nigerian and just want to seek some clarification…, at what stage do a couple start referring to each other as fiancé? I have heard many couples who are not engaged, no ring, just been dating for a while and call each other fiancé!  Some of my boyfriends (Nigerian) friends have started referring to me as his fiancé which I find strange! From my knowledge, someone becomes a fiancé once you are engaged (in my culture in particular, once the dowry has been paid), please explain, am really perplexed.

@ chaircover : Thanks for your reply.  It's a little different - he came here to study and never intended to settle in the UK and this is something we had discussed and I was well aware of.  He wanted to be here for another 3/4 years (and I wouldnt mind going then) but it seems his relocation is happening sooner than anticipated because of his father's retirment.  I thought this was normal practice (taking over from the father) , esp for the first son

Thanks all for your replies, I guess the key thing here is communicate.

I am not desperate for him at all, trust me. Do I love him - yes? And am I afraid to lose him - yes. I dont think that can be misconstrued as being desperate.  Him finding another woman in Nigeria is absolutley nothing to do with my self esteem.  I dont believe in long distance relationships and dont want to mislead myself thinking he will wait for me there if he goes before me and i follow after - the fact that i am not Nigerian does not make this any simpler. I'd rather be realistic with myself but obviously this is worst case scenario.  His father has retired and wants to hand his businesses down to him as the first son (this is the reason for him wanting to go back to nigeria soon), which i completely understand but i believe there must be some compromise.

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated.

I am non-Nigerian and have been dating a Nigerian for 3 years in the UK. I’ll be going to Nigeria to meet his extended family (I already know his immediate family) and has indicated that he wants to relocate to Nigeria in 18 months and says he wants me to go with him. I’ve indicated to him that I can’t go with him unless there is some commitment (ie. Marriage/engagement) and he says its fine, that will be sorted and we have started briefly discussing marriage plans. The problem is that I am not yet ready to leave the UK as I am undertaking some studies which I would literally just have completed in 18 months, and would want to further my career in the UK before leaving. How do I bring this issue up with him and not come across as if I don’t want to commit to him? Also don’t want to be putting so many conditions on him that he will just give up because I know its very easy for him to find a wife when he gets to Nigeria if it gets too complicated. The issue is not that I don’t want to relocate to Nigeria, I[b] will happily do that but feel his timing is not right for me.[/b]

Hi,

I am a non-Nigerian dating a Yoruba man and he has asked me to go to Nigeria to meet his family which can only be a good sign.  I have learnt how to cook a number of Yourba dishes, and he has commended me but need to learn more (as they say the way to a man's heart is his stomach!)  He doesn’t mind so much now that my Nigerian culinary skills are limited but I would want to learn how to cook more of his food. Does anyone know anywhere in London that does Yourba cooking classes or anyone that can teach me?

Many thanks

The guy is a criminal, just like his father. How do u explain this
1) Both him and his brother are students and drive top of the range cars and have never worked in d UK
2) He has his OWN house, not his parents, HIS HOUSE which have heard has revamped for £70k
3) He gos to New York Every year with his Zimbabwean girlfriend and yet he has never earned a penny (no offence to d girl, i can marry her when he gets locked up!)
4) Goes to Italy at the start of every season to revamp his clothes
5) Hosts parties at the o2 with his friends very often and anyone who has been can attest the dude splashes the cash

The guy is GUILTY, i know him personally and know he has been involved in fraud in the past like most of his friends so wouldn't be surprised if that money is from fraud in addition to being addicted to marijuana - he is a disgrace and he deserves it.  He likes to act like a big boi but we all know its our money he is chopping. Let him go in for it, these are the people who bring naija down. Whether it be here or in naija, they should open the case of this rotten family again to investigate their finances.