₦airaland Forum

We are worried to hear about the plan by the Federal Government to privatize law schools in the country. Some Lawyers of the Nigerian Bar Association have already condemned the plan. They said Law students would be adversely affected by the move; and that these might also reduce the quality of education given to the students.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/14/law-school-privatization-good-governance-in-jeopardy/

Director-General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Mr. Segun Osinowo, said until Nigeria addresses the basic issue of her political reform that focuses on devolution of power, resource control and fiscal federalism, we will not be able to realize the full potentials of whatever economic policies we are thinking of.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/14/nigeria-needs-reform-to-attain-full-economic-potential-power/

In Delta state, Olomoro community in Isoko South Local Government Area, Over 200 members of Awhakia family group came to plead at Olomoro Flow Station operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, requesting that the oil company implement the terms of agreement reached with them.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/14/shell-please-redeem-your-pledge-in-olomoro-community-awhakia/http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/14/shell-please-redeem-your-pledge-in-olomoro-community-awhakia/

The 2011 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship have selected 10 companies to go through to the final round of the competition, which will hold in Nairobi on December 6 before an elite panel of judges. Three of the Nigerian brands were able to make this list.

With US$ 400,000 in prize funds to be won, the award is one of the continent’s most prestigious business awards.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/12/3-nigerian-brands-qualify-for-%e2%80%98top-10%e2%80%99-africa-entrepreneurship-awards/

A structured financing product which allows UBA to grant its account holders credit facilities to purchase travel products is now offered by Wakanow. Also, customer could save up between 50 and 80 per cent on actual travel fares by booking early.

Wakanow.com, an online travel company, has signed a partnership with United Bank of Nigeria Plc to boost travel finance in Nigeria.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/12/%e2%80%9ctravel-now-pay-later%e2%80%9d-opportunities-provided-by-wakanow-uba/

Over the last few years, I have had lots of contact with quite a number of manufacturing companies in Nigeria and I always had the impression that the future seems to be bright. When I hear people complain about the decline of the manufacturing sector, I just smile patronizingly and ask myself why Nigerians like to complain so much.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/12/nigeria%e2%80%99s-manufacturing-sector-the-big-picture/

Let me start this article by saying that I am not one of those people who believe that the college or university drop outs stand a better chance of becoming successful in life. I think it is rather naïve to think that every drop out will end up becoming like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or (to use an example our young people will find easier to identify with) Whizz Kid.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/12/nigerian-steve-jobs-out-there/

TOTAL Nigeria Plc emerges the best marketing innovator in the petroleum industry by OTI African downstream petroleum. The event was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on November 3, 2011.

The award, in recognition of the company’s outstanding establishment of the Total Card, was organized by OTI African downstream petroleum, which recognised excellence and commitment in the downstream petroleum business in Africa.
full story :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/11/total-emerges-the-best-marketing-innovator/

Mr. Aigboje – Aig- Imoukhuede , The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank has emerged winner of this year’s “2011 Ernst & Young West Africa Entrepreneur of The Year” award at the inaugural awards in West Africa.

“Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year” is a business awards program that recognises visionary and inspiring leaders who are shrewd and capable to seize opportunities.
full story :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/11/access-bank-md-is-pronounced-the-west-africa-entrepreneur-of-the-year/

Sim Shagaya is a serial technology and media entrepreneur who has worked for Google, RealNetworks, Microstrategy. He holds degrees from George Washington U, Dartmouth and Harvard. He is the founder of DealDey, a Groupon kind-of group-buying site that offers its members in Lagos discounted deals on several kinds of products and services.
full story :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/11/sim-shagaya-the-e-commerce-business-king/

Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) yesterday declared that Shell must pay an initial $1 billion for clean-up of the pollution.

Devastating oil spills by Shell in 2008 and 2009 at Bodo, Ogoniland, Bayelsa State, is said to have polluted the water, land and affected fishing, farming, increasing health hazard and causing death of many residents of the community.
full story :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/11/shell-must-pay-an-initial-1-billion-for-clean-up-of-the-pollution-amnesty-international/

Femi Robinson of the defunct Village Headmaster fame, Launches four drama play books at the Lagos Country Club today.

Amongst the books include ‘Osho Igbo’ and ‘Aja Nta Nla’. These books are two drama books that depicts the culture of states and tourism in Nigeria. However, they point specifically to Oshogbo and Nigeria respectively.
full story :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/11/femi-robinson-launches-books-today/

Earlier this year, a non-profit American organization, The Oakland Institute, released a well researched study concerning how western hedge funds, universities and high net worth individuals are buying vast tracts of land in Africa for little or nothing.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/11/thousands-of-hectares-of-african-land-sold-for-a-bottle-of-whiskey/

The 17th Nigerian Economic Summit commences today in Abuja. Public and private sector leaders from around the world gather to actualize the dream of making Nigeria the investor destination choice.

President Goodluck Jonathan is to champion the drive for investments in the different sectors of the Nigerian economy during a session tagged ‘Presidential Dialogue with Global CEOs’.

Director-General of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Frank Nweke Jr stated that the theme of this year’s summit, ‘Attracting Foreign Direct Investment through Global Partnerships’, “is the heart of President Jonathan’s transformation agenda and vision to grow Nigeria into one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020.”
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/10/17th-nigerian-economic-summit-commences-today/

THE Lagos International Trade Fair spurs with more creativity as companies in diverse creative ways showcase their products and also attracts people at the exhibition. A new dimension was added at the trade fair, as companies made use of side attractions to source for patronage.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/10/the-lagos-international-trade-fair-spurs-creativity/

The Cross River State government has signed an agreement with An Indian firm, Engineering Procurement Construction-Brath Heavy Electrical (BHEL) to commence construction work on its 52 megawatts gas-driven Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Calabar or in Adiabo, which is near the state capital.

The project is worth $30 million and is being financed with a credit loan bilateral agreement between the Federal Government and the government of India, and would be executed within the next 36 months, according to Adah.

The two year old contract is sealed by the Special Adviser to Governor Liyel Imoke on Investment Promotion, Mr. Gerald Adah, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Mr. Attah Ochinke, sign on behalf of the state government, Mr. Ricardo Leandro Garcia, a Spaniard, signed for International Technical Assistance Consultants (ITAC).
read more : http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/10/cross-river-govt-signs-30-million-agreement-with-indian-firm/

The First Bank of Nigeria Plc provides research and development prospects in 12 universities across the country.

At the public presentation of the Bank’s sponsored research report at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka. The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, stated that the role played by the financial institution was meant to promote capacity building and complement the efforts of the Federal Government in educational development.

The research was titled: “Fifty Years of Banking Sector Reforms in Nigeria (1960-2010), Past Lessons and Future Imperatives,” which was presented by Professor Francis Okafor.
read more : http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/10/first-bank-provides-research-prospects-in-universities/

The Nigeria Customs Services yesterday declared its achievement in exceeding its revenue collection target for the 2011 fiscal year by generating N602bn to the funds of the Federal Government. The achievement came with two months to the end of the 2011 fiscal year.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, gave the figure in Abuja at the monthly Revenue Strategy meeting held with the customs management and area comptrollers. This was revealed by the NCS,
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/10/the-nigeria-customs-services-exceeds-revenue-target/

Dozens of Canadians, Africans and student members of Africa Awareness Initiative (AAI) recently descended upon the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada for a dialogue about the state of African literature organised by the Nigeria-Canada Friendship League in association with the AAI where Dr. Ngozi Achebe, author of Onaedo: The Blacksmith’s Daughter and the niece of “Thing’s Fall Apart’s” Chinua Achebe, was the special guest speaker. According to Dr. Achebe, the event chaired by Professor Gloria Onyeoziri- Miller professor of African literature at UBC and author of Shaken Wisdom:
read more :http://dailypost.com.ng/2011/11/09/author-ngozi-achebe-speaks-on-the-state-of-african-literature-at-ubc/

Titus Bramble has been fined by his club, Sunderland after being arrested on suspicision of sexual assault and possession of a Class A drug.
A statement the club released said: “It read: “Sunderland AFC has confirmed that following a full investigation, defender Titus Bramble has been fined and given the maximum sanction permitted for bringing the club’s name into disrepute.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/09/sunderland-fines-titus-bramble/

Post offices may serve as mobile payment centres, if talks between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) sail through.

Under the plan, CBN and NIPOST will share facilities to promote the mobile payment initiatives.

A senior official, Shares Services Office, Governor’s Department, CBN, Mr Chidi Umeano, said the apex bank had discussed with the management of NIPOST on the possibility of using its offices nationwide. He said CBN task the decision because NIPOST has several abandoned offices that can be upgraded for mobile payment needs.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/09/cbn-in-talks-with-nipost-over-turning-post-offices-to-mobile-payment-centres/

Last Wednesday, the Slot Allocation Committee of the aviation ministry slashed the flight frequency of frontline United Kingdom carrier, British Airways, from 14 weekly flights to 10.

By this action, BA will, effective November 8, 2011, operate three weekly flights out of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as against seven it hitherto operated, using its super jumbo B747-400 airplane. More so, it will now be arriving 6am and depart 10am as against 6pm and 11pm respectively
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/08/unbelievable-how-foreign-airlines-are-cheating-nigerian-local-rivals/

In Jigawa state, there is now a process to gather the records of all adults that eligible to pay tax. This is to make it easy to track all revenue due to government and close all leakages.

The chairman of the state revenue board, Alhaji Muktar A. Wada stated that success of revenue collection depended on the right information on people under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme.

He disclosed that revenue payment was automated in such a way that revenue for Jigawa could be paid from anywhere in the country through the pay direct system.

He indicated that the major tax paying people were the civil servants adding that 90 per cent of revenues were from the PAYE scheme. But that when the personal income tax amendment law was signed by the president it would help the civil servants and low income earners
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/08/record-of-taxable-adult-commences-in-jigawa-state/

Conrad Murray is tonight spending his first night behind bars as Michael Jackson’s family celebrates after a jury convicted the pop star’s former doctor of involuntary manslaughter.

Members of the Jackson family wept quietly after the guilty verdict was read at Los Angeles Superior Court today.

Murray was handcuffed and taken into custody after being remanded without bail to await his sentencing on November 29.

The 58-year-old cardiologist faces up to four years behind bars after the jury’s conviction.

Wearing a grey pin-striped suit and a blue tie, Murray looked stunned as the jury’s decision was read out after two days and ten hours of deliberations.

Just as he has through most of the trial, Murray remained stoic as Judge Michael Pastor dismissed an appeal for him to be released on bail pending his sentencing hearing.

A sheriff’s deputy leaned over while Murray sat at the defence table and handcuffed him before leading him out of the court to the cells.

Jackson’s sister, La Toya, screamed out when the verdict was read out and her older sister, Rebbie, held her head in her hands.

Randy was closest to the jury and 17 members of Jackson family in all were sitting in the court. He massaged mother, Katherine’s shoulders as she cried after the verdict was read out.

Outside the court, hundreds of Jackson fans cheered when they heard the verdict, some singing ‘Beat It’ as passing motorists honked their horns.

Others held signs that read ‘guilty’ and ‘killer’.

Judge Pastor said Murray’s ‘reckless conduct’ meant he was a danger to the public.

Leaving the court, Jermaine Jackson said: ‘Justice was served, but it wasn’t enough time. Michael is with us.’

Sister La Toya, wiping back tears, added: ‘Thank you America, thank you everyone. Everybody was wonderful. Michael loves everybody. He was in that courtroom with us – that’s why justice was served.
read more:http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/07/michael-jacksons-doctor-found-guilty-of-involuntary-manslaughter/
http://dailypost.com.ng/2011/11/08/michael-jacksons-doctor-spends-first-night-behind-bars-after-jury-finds-him-guilty-of-manslaughter-in-king-of-pops-death/

How I Did It from hobby to makeup business success. Beauty sells but we shouldn’t sell products we should learn from Steve Jobs, like he would advise us sell ‘dreams’. Tara sold dreams of beauty to a world that thrives on it and so she found fame and fortune.

House of Tara / Orekelewa is a Beauty and Skin Care Consulting Firm. Small Business founded by Tara Fela-Durotoye who started in 1997 (an undergraduate at the time) as a Bridal Make-Up Artiste with her first make-up shop. With a StartUp Capital of N15, 000.00, she began her conquest of the makeup business world.

In the beginning, she started out by working for a makeup outfit while waiting to gain admission into the university. There she mastered the trade and as a result the Lagos State university world was opened with all hands to welcome this makeup genius. After seeing the amazing impact of touch on people’s faces, she decided to get her first kit for NGN15, 000.00 and the journey began.

full story :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/01/house-of-tara-orekelewa-story-of-the-makeup-genius/

Few have transformed Africa’s landscape like Dangote has done and still doing. He has broken the stereotype and brought succor to thousands through job creation while adding to shareholders’ value.

He strikes us as the most unusual person to have made such monumental impact in Africa’s market thereby writing his name in the sands of time. As a self-employed person, with minimum basic education, he accentuated that business success can be attained by determination, honesty and perseverance even when we are not holders of the highest degrees or from elite schools globally.

1957 will remain a landmark year in the annals of Nigeria’s history as that was the year he was born in Kano. It was his grandfather, the late Alhaji Sanusi Dantata that provided him with a small capital to start his own business, as was customary then.
read more :http://businessnews.com.ng/2011/11/04/alikoto-dangote-africa%e2%80%99s-pride-in-entrepreneurship/