Life is stressful most of the time, the world is flawed and people are 2 faced; to make a bad situation worse; we live in a country where nothing works right and we often struggle to balance the urge to do so much or to just give up altogether. Most of us work hard in our individual lives, at the end of a hard day; we have no fuel to drive home, we pay ridiculous taxi fares, stay in traffic for over 2 hours only to get home to a house with no electricity. We read everyday of terrorism, thieving politicians, devalued currency, cheating yoruba men(aka demons) and other life threatening things we accept as the order of the day.

Really, i believe being Nigerian prepares you for hard times and teaches you coping mechanisms for hard times and i admire the strength and zeal of all hardworking Nigerians.

Despite all the above, Nigeria is an interesting place to live in, it certainly contributes to character development. Below are a few things i have learnt from being Nigerian

To be stronger – Only the strong will survive and thrive in this economy. I’ve learnt the need to be stronger and to always be one step ahead, I’m tough because in a society that doesn’t recognize women as equals, i have to work extra hard to prove myself.

To be hopeful – We are the most hopeful citizens; we cling to the hope and belief that things must surely get better one day. This can’t possibly be our eternal reality; so we hope and hope. I’ve learnt to be extremely hopeful for the possibility of a much better day.

To persevere – We keep struggling believing that any day could be the day we get that lucky break that will elevate us and change our current circumstance. So we persevere through all trials. I’ve learnt that no does not really mean no and that there is no situation that one can not handle with the right tactics or amount so i persevere through any and every situation.

High tolerance level – There’s so much negative things that we’ve gotten used to as a way of life (poor infrastructure, corrupt leaders, cheating husbands, high unemployment rate, Boko haram, underage brides, rape culture, ebola, gender inequality) just to mention a few. I have definitely attained a high tolerant level to situations.

To be more spiritual – In Nigeria, the answer to all questions and the solution to every dilemma is God. You get used to phrases like ‘it is well’, ‘God is in control’, ‘God will do it for you’, ‘God’s time is the best’. Religion is something Nigerians NEED to cling to; the desperate hope that if they live right then a higher power will reward them. I’m a Christian and i have to say that being a Nigerian living in Nigeria has taught me to be more spiritual.

To be competitive – I grew up around a LOT of comparison, to siblings, cousins, neighbors, classmates and so on. If you’re Nigerian you have heard ‘the person that came first does she have two heads?’. Being Nigerian has taught me to be very competitive in all situations.

The list is truly endless but i have learnt so much from being Nigerian and i believe that the traits i have picked up can allow me to live and thrive anywhere in the world. Everyone knows that Nigerians are EVERYWHERE. Even in the most unlikely places like Alaska, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Syria, Iraq, etc.

Really, i believe being Nigerian prepares you for hard times and teaches you coping mechanisms for hard times and i admire the strength and zeal of all hardworking Nigerians.

What has being Nigerian taught you? I would love to hear it all.

Proudly Nigerian.

Love x Light

N.
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Nigeria is a secular state, and its citizens are free to hold on any religious belief, President Muhammadu Buhari has declared. The president made the declaration last weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. Mr. Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, while making the declaration on Sunday, acknowledged the fact that the Catholic Bishops Conferences were crucial, and commended the Catholic Church for its humanitarian works in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the North Eastern part of the country.

The President said "There shall be no state religion, and all Nigerians are guaranteed freedom of worship.” He added that the menace posed by Boko Haram will soon be over, as the Federal Government is winning the war.

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Paul Orajiaka, a 37 year-old Nigerian entrepreneur, is the founder of Auldon Limited, a manufacturer of African-themed toys. Auldon manufactures dolls and other toys which depict, promote and teach Africa’s cultural heritage to children. Orajiaka founded the company 17 years ago with less than $100; it now has annual revenues of more than $10 million.

Apart from Nigeria, Auldon’s toys are now sought after in countries like South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and some parts of Europe. Last year, Auldon launched the Unity Girl Dolls, a set of multi-cultural dolls clad in the traditional attires of Nigeria’s major ethnic groups. It has been a runaway success and a tremendous hit among Nigerian parents and their daughters.

Orajiaka is currently studying for a Doctorate in Business Administration [DBA] at Henley Business School of the University of Readin, majoring in Entrepreneurship. The interviewer recently had a chat with him where he recounted his journey and spoke about his future plans.  

Why did you decide to venture into manufacturing African-themed toys?

I grew up in Warri in Southern Nigeria, and I did my secondary school education in Benin state. I recall that immediately after my secondary school education at Igbinedion Secondary School, Benin City, my sole ambition was to travel to the United States to seek the proverbial greener pastures. I never exactly planned to venture into the toy business. I was 18 at the time and determined to leave Nigerian at all costs. So, along with my friends, I made countless unfruitful trips to the American embassy in pursuit of an American visa. Eventually, all my friends were given visas, except me.

Naturally, I became dejected and ashamed. I had no clue as to what my next line of action was going to be. So I decided to stay back in Lagos and not return to my hometown where I would be mocked by my friends. You see, a lot of shame was attached to my disappointment at that time, being the only one out of all my friends who was denied an opportunity to go the U.S. So I decided that the only way out for me was to stay back in Lagos and work with my in-law in Idumota market and that is how that reluctant step taken out of frustration ended up becoming my glorious journey to success and fulfillment.

Idumota is a very saturated business hub and it’s not exactly the classiest place. Very few young men I know would like to start out in a place like that? How demanding was it building a business from Idumota?

I look back now and smile because it was indeed a difficult decision to make at that time. Idumota is largely congested and is a hustle-driven environment. It wasn’t fun at all. I felt like a fish thrown into a sea, filled with sharks and there I was trying hard not to be eaten up. All these factors emboldened me to strive in making a mark.  With this in mind, I had no choice but to get used to it.

Not long after settling in, the lid on my eyes were taken off after I came across young men who were doing extremely well in their different spheres of business.

Just before, I got too carried away I realized it was equally imperative, that I go back to school and get educated. So while I was working for my in-law, I enrolled as an accounting student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), after which I proceeded to getting a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Lagos Business School, Pan-African University (PAN). Expectedly, after graduating from school, I became better equipped for the journey ahead, which saw me take the management and administration of my business to a greater scale.

Today, I can confidently beat my chest and say, a humble beginning which started about 17 years ago as a small venture, is now a leading company, importing and supplying top quality range of educational toys to wholesalers and retailers in Nigeria.  Going back, 1997, when we started, our capital base was just $30, but as at 2014, the company’s turnover has surged to over a $7 million. We have also metamorphosed into a Limited Liability company, status, which we attained in 2002 employing well over 400 people, inclusive of direct and indirect.

Nigeria is not known to be a conducive environment that enables small businesses to thrive. What gave you the drive to forge on amid challenges you must have encountered, especially funding?

You are not far from the truth; I almost gave up because initially, it was an uphill task building this business from scratch, especially without funding from banks. It was near impossible to continue, but my frustration and anger at the banking system coupled with lack of support, only made me further persevere, be more passionate and determined to ensure that the business grew. I tell you, it would be unfair to blame or criticize some Nigerian entrepreneurs who fail to surmount the numerous challenges which stifle their growth. That said, I have come to realize- despite the myriad of challenges bedeviling them, which range from power, lack of funds, wickedly high bank interest, lack of infrastructure e.t.c. An entrepreneur can still attain success, if he/she can recapture the passion and emotions of its beginning likewise inculcate same in its staff.

What led to the Unity Doll Project?

Over the years, my attention got drawn to the painful fact that our cultural values is fast eroding,  because most parents this days, shy away from teaching their children about their culture but instead allow them imbibe foreign cultures which robs them off their identity and very existence as   Nigerians.

I was saddened to see that most toys in Nigeria have no social and cultural relevance to children.

For me that was a vacuum, I needed to feel urgently, so I swung into action in order to make that important change, and that change gave birth to the Unity Girl Doll Project, a collection of 14-inch child developmental dolls that represent Nigeria’s three major tribes – Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba – delivering a social message to infants across the country and by extension the world at large, enlightening them about the Nigerian culture, allowing them have a sense of ownership early in life which puts them in good stead to making a positive impact when they are grown.

For me my passion is educating them before time with positive Nigerian values and that’s why all the dolls have contents which teach them all the positive stories and values they need to inculcate as they grow.

With all the challenges threatening to tear us apart coupled with the tribal sentiments causing division among us, we have asked ourselves what will unify us as a country. Although we have diverse cultures, our strength comes from our diversity that is why we did our research and decided to inculcate in our infants the need to embrace their indigenous culture and that of others early on. By so doing, it becomes easy to love others, because the message that we are one is passed to them from the beginning, also we are mindful of the fact that the girl child is a future mother, and would be home a keeper someday that would keep the home and by extension the nation together. So you would agree with me that it is only wise to give them the needed positive start that would make them great mothers, with their very first doll.

We have created a doll that is bound to inculcate in them the following, moral values, social values, social relevance and natural uniqueness which distinguishes us from foreign cultures alien from ours.

The dolls come in 14-inch sizes and are dressed in local attires likewise posses the following characters; Amaka (Ibo), Ronke (Yoruba) and Aisha (Hausa). The three dolls contain booklets that tell you about the rich culture, robust background, language and all other important detail of the three main tribe; Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba. One other thing worthy of mentioning is to present the Nigerian girl in looks peculiar to her, not the kind of looks that do not really represent Africa. What we have done is to create dolls that have relevance to us, look like us and portray our image in the right manner.

As it concerns the age bracket, we try to create a doll that a child as young as one year can use. The dolls have other features that older kids can use also. The Unity Doll also possesses beads, which children can customise and wear on the dolls, or on themselves.  We tried to make the dolls fit for any young girl to use so that at every stage of her life, she finds something relevant to her age in the dolls. But our target, are children between the ages of 1- 10 years.

How well have Nigerians taken to the Unity Doll and how strong are your distribution channels?

I am very pleased at the level of acceptance of these dolls and our other toys all over the country which has been massive and this are connected to the following reasons, namely; affordability, premium quality, availability, uniqueness and most importantly the educative value the dolls offer. So it is safe to say we are a market leader with strong prospect for increased growth. Currently, we distribute to all leading retail outlets and supermarkets across the country, namely Game, Shoprite, Spar, Next, Park n Shop Emab, and so on, the list goes on. Our visibility level is very high and that’s because there is a growing level of attachment between the dolls and our target market which are the girl child ranging from age1 – 10 and their parents. Unity Dolls has also started a fan club for the girl child where they can be groomed with positive key values needed to grow, and it is open to all children who fall within the stipulated age, 1-10. All they need do is register or have their parents register for them to become members on Unitygirlfanclub.com website. We also hope to increase distribution and presence over a period.

Teachers also appreciate it, for obvious reasons the educational value it gives and the fact that children learn faster when they are taught with fun things that easily captures their attention. That is why, If you observe these days, most things in nature are replicated in toys.

For instance, when teaching a child about fruits say an Apple, you show him a replica of that fruit, so he/ she can grasp easily, same goes for animals, e.g.  Zebra, you must show the child a zebra toy because children no longer go to Zoos to see animals.  In the same vein, you find children learning how to become engineers by dismantling and assembling toys.

That’s why I always appeal that parents buy educative toys that possess good quality for their children. You need to be sure of the quality. Toys should be safe   for children to play with. We want to be sure that children play with toys that have social relevance and not ones that teach violence. That is why if you go around our shops, you will never find a gun toy in whatever form. We do not even sell toys that have violent features. We ensure that our toys are 90 per cent educative.  We deal more in educational toys because we believe that aside being in business, we want to impact positive values on our children.

Any plans for the future?

At the moment we are working very hard on a number of ideas targeted at ensuring that Unity Dolls are present in every home in the country two years from now; also Auldon is hoping to strategically set up offices and retail outlets in the 36 states of the country most importantly satisfying our ever increasing demand for the dolls. New educative features that would engage and thrill children are also been conceptualized by our research team.

Also in the next five years we are planning to replicate a family fun resort, in the mould of Disney, after which our eyes are set on expanding to other frontiers, both Europe and Africa. Already there has been significant level of demand for Unity dolls, in Europe and Africa, Particularly Africa. What we hope to do in those places is to first of all gain significant presence in select countries in both climes, particularly Africa, especially where demand is highest after which we would then start customizing/ adapting the Unity Dolls into their own culture. We would love to one day be like ToysRus, the world’s leading kids store for all kind of toys.

Another thing; Auldon is considering assembling toys in the country so that it can create more jobs for people. Nigeria does not have the expertise to manufacture world-class toys, so what we plan on doing is get Completely Knocked Down Toys (CKG’S) that will be assembled here in the country. To this effect we have set the ball in motion to partner Lagos State Technical and Vocation Education board, where we can teach the students the process of assembling CKG’s after which they are employed after graduation.

Are there CSR initiatives you intend to embark on?

Yes, Auldon is very passionate about CSR, there is quite a lot we have done and especially in the area of education. No good man forgets where he is coming from. As part of our policy, my company ensures that part of the proceeds from the sale of our toys is donated to some reputable non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the promotion of the girl-child education. There is also a percentage   that has been set aside for   the promotion of the girl -child   education from each doll sold. If you look at UNICEF statistics concerning the girl child, you will find out that the Nigerian girl-child is one of the most disadvantaged   in the world. Statistics has shown that the girl-child, especially from the Northern part of Nigeria, suffers from neglect in all ramifications. We are aware that little contributions like this, as well as working with reputable girl-child foundations, would make a great difference.

Also, Auldon has just concluded the renovation of some schools in dire need of refurbishing. A school in Ikorodu which was in a sorry site has just been completed and would soon be commissioned by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola. I also take it upon myself to lecture students, in all Technical colleges across Lagos State, business skills that would see them become independent after graduation.

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"I will stay because there are no more guys out there," says one lady desperately

What if your man hits you once? Would you stay or leave? BattaBox presenter Odunayo asks Nigerian women on the streets of Lagos and we definitely got crazy replies.

"I won't stay o, Never," one lady said

While some women would stay if they get beaten, some would walk immediately. What would you do?

Watch video below:

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What if your man hits you once? Would you stay or leave? BattaBox presenter Odunayo asks people on the street----video credit batabox--see more videos on youtube--LIKE THIS PAGE
Posted by Naija Gbedu on Friday, April 3, 2015

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It is no longer news that the Britain have pulled out of their membership of the European Union (EU). Many allies of Britain, including Nigeria will no doubt feel the impact of this decision. Economic experts say there is a risk of a contagion effect beyond the borders of Britain.

As a member of the British Commonwealth, Nigeria has strong economic ties with Britain. Nigeria is Britain’s second largest trading partner in Africa after South Africa, with £6 billion (about N2.4 trillion or $8.52 billion) in bilateral trade volume last year.

Nigeria and Britain have long standing political and economic ties. The decision of Britain to pull out of the EU will affect Nigeria in different ways.

1. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United Kingdom would shrink over time and a weaker and smaller UK economy would scale back its investment in development projects in Nigeria.

2. Immigration and Visa application It would foster anti-immigration around the world, and this will affect Nigeria who have a large population of its citizens in diaspora. It is expected that Britain will be very strict on visa applications especially from countries like Nigeria which has a large visa applicants to the United Kingdom.

3. Investment potential Investment in Britain by Nigerian businessmen would be less attractive since the country would no longer offer full access to the lucrative EU market. Trade agreements between EU countries and non-EU countries are negotiated by the European Commission.

4. Integration and economic development The benefits of deepening integration and socio-economic development through economic blocs in Africa especially Nigeria would be punctured due to Brexit.

5. Tough immigration policies Brexit will bring about enforcement of tougher immigration policies that would affect Nigerians travelling to the UK and the estimated over 2 million Nigerian migrants in the country.

6. May fuel secessionist sentiments It will have a strong influence on secessionist sentiments in Nigeria as the unification of the United Kingdom will be affected, as some regional agitators in Nigeria would find the example worth emulating.

7. Nigeria internal politics The toll of Brexit on Nigeria would have deeper implications on Nigeria’s politics because it is a signal that political unions can no longer be seen as self-perpetuating.

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Nigeria has announced ambitious plans to send an astronaut into space by 2030, as part of its drive to develop a world-class space industry.

"The space program is very important," said Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, during a speech in the capital city Abuja. "Space is a major asset that Nigeria must be involved in for the purpose of protecting national interests."

A Nigerian Space Agency delegation will visit partners in China this month April 2016 to discuss logistics and investment for a manned space mission, which would be the first by an African nation.

Nigeria's space program is no joke, and it is making steady progress. The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has launched five satellites since 2003, with three still in orbit delivering vital services. The most recent - NigeriaSat-X -- was the first to be designed and constructed by NASRDA engineers, and more advanced models are in development.

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Four hours. That's how much time physicist Rabia Salihu Sa'id has each day to get her research done at Bayero University in Kano, Nigeria.

"Each day, my university is giving me only four hours of electricity. I can't do research in four hours!" Sa'id says, laughing, despite her frustration.

She studies how deforestation may change air temperatures in Nigeria. Computing power is essential for her research.

"Think! You are concentrating and the power goes off! You try to use the battery, and the battery starts beeping. Then you have to close it and leave," she says. "The ideas are gone by the time you come back. It's difficult — you have to start all over again."

Working as a professor isn't an easy job anywhere. But scientists in many low-income countries, such as Nigeria, cope with problems unheard of elsewhere. Universities commonly lack the funds to support research, while students have no access to computers or the Internet.

Despite such slings and arrows, good science does get done in poor countries. And done by women, such as Sa'id. Women make up only about 14 percent of Nigerian academics but account for about a quarter of the science and technology professors — the latter statistic is roughly inline with the percentage in the U.S.

Three of the top female scientists from Nigeria, including Sa'id, won an award Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Advancement of Science in San Jose, Calif.

Sitting around a table during the conference, the women swapped experiences and shared common frustrations. Many times they sounded just like female scientists in the U.S. They strive to get money for students, to do innovative research under tight funds and to receive support from male colleagues.

Caltech biochemical engineer Frances Arnold was awarded a National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Obama in 2013.

"I don't think they were very happy in my department when I got the award," Sa'id says about her male colleagues back home. When she showed one of them her award letter, he asked if the award was specifically for women. She said it was. "And he just shook his head and walked away — as if that's the only reason I got it!"

"There is always some hostility," says Dolly Ighoroje, a physiologist at the University of Benin in Nigeria. "I don't know if it is because they feel threatened or envious or something because as far as they are concerned, they are the boss."

But some of these women's struggles make problems in the West look small. Take for instance Mojisola Oluwayemisi Adeniyi's experiences at the University of Ibadan.

Like Sa'id, Adeniyi is a physicist. Her goal is to understand how future climate conditions in Nigeria will affect the country's ability to grow food. This type of research requires massive computing power — think a room filled with computers for her students to run climate models.

Adeniyi has only one laptop. But that doesn't stop her.

"Presently I improvise," she says. Adeniyi uses her own laptop, outfitted with eight processing cores and climate modeling software, which she copied at a conference.

"If you tell someone I am running regional climate model on a laptop," she says, "they'd find it unbelievable — but I do it."

Adeniyi's dream is a computer room for her students. But she doesn't have the money to buy the machines. Lack of funds, in general, seems to be a problem for many scientists in Nigeria. Many even have to use personal money to fund their research.

When Mojisola Usikalu was working to get her master's degree in physics, she used her salary as a schoolteacher to pay for samples to be analyzed. She studies how radiation can affect plants and animals.

"The professor I went to said my data were very good," Usikalu says. "He encouraged me and said, 'You can do more than this.' From that point, I said to myself, 'OK, there are good opportunities in the sciences. If I just do good work, maybe I can get somewhere.' "

Usikalu believes that with a little doggedness and a little help from time to time, anything is possible. The professor recommended her for a doctoral fellowship. Now she's a lecturer at Covenant University in Ota, Nigeria.

"I always try to motivate the students — especially the girls," she says. "I tell them, 'There is no barrier. There is nothing that can keep one from good success in science if one is passionate about it, determined and focused. One can get to any level.' "

Like in the U.S., girls in Nigeria tend to drop of science as they get older, Adeniyi says.

"It's in secondary school that boys and girls begin segregating," she says. "Girls start thinking math and physics is hard. It's not feminine. But if people like us can go there and talk to them, showing them what we have achieved, telling them they can do well in those subjects, they will surely be encouraged."

This is a #throwback story

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The Nigerian Students Society, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders has finalized plans for a once-in-a-life-time Debate forum where Nigerians, well-wishers and friends can deliberate on certain issues bedeviling the most populous nation in Africa and African economy power house, Nigeria and possible solutions.

More details below:

Date: TODAY: Thursday, 24th March 2016
Venue: RD Blue Hall, EMU-Famagusta
Time: 5pm (be punctual please)

The first step in fixing a problem is knowing where it lies. "Corruption in a country, who is to be blame? THEM OR US? (Leaders or Followers)"

The speakers are selected from a rich pool of intellectual Nigerian minds and are expected to do justice to the topic(s) that will be in contention.

Moreover, there will be a question and answer session where winners will be gifted with memorabilia, et al.

According to the official bulletin from the NSS_EMU, there will be light refreshment also provided. In this regard, everyone is cordially invited.

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Concerning the effort by the management of CIU to open a Naira account for Nigerian students in TRNC to pay their school fees in Nigeria, here's the updated exchange rate for the Euro.

According to CIU management "For the Nigerian students who would like to pay their fees to our Naira account in GT Bank (Nigeria) please consider the following information:

From the date of 02/March/2016 the exchange rate for 1 Euro would be equivalent to 330 Naira."

Concerned students are by this advised to pay in the exact amount for the semester tuition using the updated exchange rate.

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PRESS RELEASE: NANS TURKISH ZONE DEMANDS SUPPORT FOR NIGERIAN STUDENTS ABROAD FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

"It has come to our attention that more that 80 percent of Nigerian students in Turkish Zone are having difficulties in paying their tuition for the spring semester 2015-2016 academic sessions. Currently, many students are unable to register for the semester.

We would like to use this medium to deliver a message to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal government. It is necessary that our federal government considers the overwhelming impact of education upon the National economic development.

Since educated youth are a key component to Nation building, it is only rational and logical to provide all the means necessary to make it easy and possible to for Nigerian Students overseas at all levels to be able to register. 

After thorough deliberation and discussions with the leadership of NANS Turkish Zone, we concluded that we will do everything in our power to ensure that Nigerian students in all Universities of Turkish Zone are granted a safe passage to register. In an effort to deliver as stated; 

1. We sent letters to all Rectors of each University in North Cyprus, stating the seriousness of the crisis on ground and possible solution to our current situation.

2. We also an sent an official complain letter to Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government through the office of the Special Adviser to President on Youth and students affairs.

We are pleading with Nigerian students in each University in Turkish Zone that are confronted with the same difficulty, to exercise patience and know that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Turkish Zone is not just folding its arm at this difficult point in time.

We will do everything in our power to ensure that your welfare is secured without any hindrances to your progress."

Thanks

Yours in struggle
Comrade SALIM HAMZA RINGIM 
President NANS Turkish Zone

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CC //  FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION - NIGERIA
      //  ALL CONCERNED UNIVERSITIES IN NANS-TURKISH ZONE

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Twenty-two-year-old first class degree holder from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Fatima Sulaimon, tells SUCCESS NWOGU the secret of her success

Not all young girls in universities easily admit that they have boyfriends. Their male counterparts, many of them claim, are a source of distraction.

Therefore, in the thinking a good number of female undergraduates, there is no need to keep boyfriends on campus. But this is not the thinking of the University of Ilorin 2013/2014 BEST Anatomy Graduating Student, Fatima Sulaimon.

The 22-year-old is not just proud of her boyfriend, she is also happy with the relationship.

According to her, her boyfriend is the elixir for her success. She said, “He encouraged, inspired and assisted me to excel in my studies.”

Sulaimon, with a Cumulative Grade Average Point of 4.80, not only emerged as one of the 48 first class graduates this year, she is also the first female to obtain that grade in Anatomy in the history of the 29-year-old university.

Claiming however that the relationship with her boyfriend was a ‘normal friendship devoid of untoward indulgences’, she stated that the young man gave her a lot of psychological support.

The lass added, “He encouraged me. At times, even if I woke up in the night and I felt dizzy, I would just put a call across to him and after discussing with him, I would feel okay. He was more of a friend. He encouraged, inspired and assisted me.”

Claiming she was never involved in ‘sorting’ bribing lecturers for scores – or was never sexually harassed by lecturers and students in the institution, she noted that she read at least six hours daily aside from lectures and other academic engagements.

A Nupe from the Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Sulaimon attended Ipakodo Junior Grammar School, Lagos between 2003 and 2006 and Ipakodo Senior Grammar School between 2006 and 2009, posting excellent results in his West African Senior School Certificate Examinations and national Examinations Council.

She explained, “I never did sorting. I never heard of such in the university. I also never suffered sexual harassment or undue overtures from lecturers and even from my colleagues. The lecturers did not know me until 400 levels; even then, they were all nice.

“I thank God for the feat I recorded. I am happy and fulfilled because to make a first class is not an easy feat.

“I did not really have social life. I am not the type that goes out. I like playing games. I sleep reasonably. I read most of the times if I am not in class. I read at least six hours daily outside lectures and other academic engagements.

“Undergraduates should be prayerful in life. They should abide by the rules and regulations of any institution they are. If they obey school regulations, they will not become victims. ”

Another graduate, who obtained first class in Electrical Engineering from the university, Ahmed Aleshinloye, said it was not an easy accomplishment for him.

Ahmed, from Ibaja, Ifelodun Council Area, who scored a CPGA of 4.50, stated that he achieved the academic glory through commitment.

The 21-year-old son of a lawyer, Raheem Aleshinloye, said, “I feel great obtaining first class from UNILORIN. Considering the current rating of Nigerian universities today, the institution is the first and it requires diligence and commitment to excel there. When I entered the school five years ago, I was told that it would not be easy, but today I am leaving the ivory tower alongside 47 others with first class.”

Credit: PUNCH News

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The Nigerian Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has announced that a low-interest loan scheme for one million young graduates will take off next year 2016. Emefiele said the scheme, which would be managed by the CBN in collaboration with commercial banks, was part of a government strategy to boost the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sub-sector and curtail unemployment among the youth.

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The Nigerian Presidency has unfurled tentative details on the implementation of its N500 billion social welfare programme, revealing that one million extremely poor Nigerians would be direct beneficiaries of the N5,000 monthly cash transfer.

The payment which is to commence once the budget is approved by the National Assembly, is besides another five social interventions that include the provision of one meal a day to school pupils in some selected states.

A total of N60 billion would be directly transferred to the one million extremely poor Nigerians, according to a statement issued by the Office of the Vice-President in accordance to President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of building human capital.

Other elements of the social intervention scheme revealed, yesterday, include the 500,000 direct jobs, which will see unemployed graduates being trained and deployed as volunteer teachers in their communities while still prospecting for jobs in their chosen professions. The details as released by Mr. Adeolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant, Media in the office of the Vice-President, also disclosed a youth employment plan which will see the training of 370,000 non-graduates youths in different skills and vocational programmes.

“The recruitment of beneficiaries into the volunteer teaching jobs and the skill acquisition training scheme for non-graduates would be done on state basis, including the FCT and opened to all Nigerians of different shades,” Akande said.

Another initiative also revealed is the micro credit scheme where one million Nigerians, mostly small scale traders, artisans and market women, would get a one-time soft loan of N60,000 each through the Bank of Industry.

And finally there is the free education plan for students of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, where government will pay tuition for 100,000 students.

Explaining the administration’s determination to positively impact the capacity of Nigerians through the unprecedented intervention, Akande disclosed that at no time in the nation’s budgetary history had the Federal Government made a specific vote of such volume for social welfare.

“The President’s vision is to increase investments in human capital to guarantee security for all, employment and improved well-being of the people,” the Vice President’s media aide added.

The Senior Special Assistant said for the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, where one million extremely poor Nigerians will receive N5000 monthly in 2016, the money would be paid directly to the beneficiaries through a payment system that is being worked out.

He said the World Bank and the Bill Gates Foundation were collaborating with the Presidency to develop an efficient payment system. All together, about N60 billion had been estimated to be paid out to extremely poor Nigerians. And the implementation of the programme starts once the budget is passed.

[Source]

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The $100 Million Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme – an annual programme of training, funding and mentoring, designed to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs – is now open for entries through its application portal
http://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/teep

The flagship entrepreneurship programme from the Tony Elumelu Foundation opens its application portal for entries at 12:01am [West African Time] on January 1st 2016 and will continue to accept applications until midnight WAT on March 1st 2016. In order to submit an application, entrepreneurs must complete the online application form with questions on their background, experience and business idea, plans for growth and proposed pan-African impact.

The $100 million programme, announced at the Tony Elumelu Foundation headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 1st 2014, will identify and support 1,000 entrepreneurs from across the continent each year over the next decade. The 10,000 start-ups and young businesses selected from across Africa will ultimately create one million new jobs and add $10 billion in annual revenues to Africa’s economy.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is open to citizens and legal residents of all 54 African countries. Applications can be made by any for-profit business based in Africa in existence for less than three years, including new business ideas.  The application portal is available in English, French and Portuguese and applications will be accepted in these three languages.

At the launch, Tony O. Elumelu CON, the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, spoke of his personal commitment to empowering African entrepreneurship, saying, “This programme is far more than a funding initiative or networking opportunity. It is an act of faith in our entrepreneurs and our young people to transform our continent; to be the engine for the creation of both economic and social wealth, putting into practice what I have called Africapitalism.”

Applications for the programme close on March 1st 2016 when they will be reviewed by the Selection Committee.

The 1,000 selected applicants/winners will continue through the programme cycle for the course of the year. This includes an intensive online training curriculum and participation in an entrepreneurship boot camp.

To stay informed about The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, including the 2016 selection of African Entrepreneurs, follow @TonyElumeluFDN on Twitter and join the conversation #TEEP #AfricanEntrepreneurs

About the Tony Elumelu Foundation
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is an African-based, African-funded philanthropic organisation, founded in 2010 by African business leader and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu, CON; who is committed to driving African economic growth, through empowering African entrepreneurship.
Website: http://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org

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The $100 million Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is the flagship entrepreneurship initiative from the Foundation and will support 10,000 African entrepreneurs over the next decade, creating one million new jobs adding $10 billion in annual revenues to Africa’s economy.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had, at the expiration of the initial October 31, 2015 deadline for Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration, extended the timeline for Nigerians in Diaspora to January 31st 2016, while enforcing penalties for non-compliance on account holders within the country.

However, according to Punch Newspapers, the deadline for Nigerians in diaspora has been extended to June 30, 2016. And it’s easy to see why the extension has been enforced.

It’s all in the stats

In a circular sent out on Thursday by the Director, Banking and Payments System, Dipo Fatokun, the CBN cites “low percentage of registration of Nigerian bank customers in the Diaspora, which may be attributed to lack of accessibility to registration centres and unavailability of registration centres in some cities where Nigerian population is high”, as justification for the extension.

The official BVN website records 23,176,441 registered accounts as of 26th January, 2016. The striking news is the sheer size of unregistered bank accounts. There’s a disparity between the 58,975,876 active bank accounts compared to the 23,176,441 active BVN registered accounts.

This means that over 60% of active bank accounts are still not registered for the BVN. The big question is, what percentage of these over 30 million unregistered accounts belong to Nigerians in diaspora? And how can the CBN come up with a quick and innovative way to engage those left out and provide the relevant data on bank account holders in Nigeria?

For now, it is safe not to regard the BVN registration as a success yet. For more stats on the BVN registration exercise, you can view the NIBSS reports.

Credit: Techpoint Nigeria Learn more »

Nigerian Former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, says it is impossible to provide constant, uninterrupted electricity to everyone in Nigeria in the near future.

Speaking with newsmen in London recently, the minister said: “Nobody in the world can provide 24/7 electricity everywhere in Nigeria”, adding that 160,000 megawatts would be needed to do that. The current capacity is 4,500 megawatts.

“The cost of providing electricity per megawatt on average is $2billion. To get to where South Africa is, you will need about $3.2trillion (about N672trillion). Where will you find that kind of money?” he asked.

In addition to the huge amount of money involved, Prof. Nebo said power projects also take time to come to fruition, stressing that it takes between four and six years to deliver the power projects.
“You don’t buy these things off the shelves. It takes time to design, study, procure, manufacture, install and commission”, he said, but explained that the government had done so much on generation capacity, transmission and distribution infrastructure, which are key necessities in power supply.

He said 20,000 megawatts was needed to ensure constant power supply to major cities in the country that have been connected to the national grid, but said it would require a lot of resources and time to achieve the feat. The minister further said the current facilities and infrastructure on the ground had the capacity to provide more than 5,000 megawatts in the country, but lamented that some saboteurs were bent on ensuring that the target is not achieved by vandalising gas pipelines on a regular basis.

He emphasised that the demand for electricity in Nigeria is so huge that “no matter what you do, once electricity gets to a place, people acquire more facilities, buy refrigerators and air-conditioners, and before you know it, what you think is enough for everyone has to be shared by so many people”.

He also said solar power could go a long way in solving Nigeria’s power problems, especially in the rural areas, disclosing that three communities, including Durumi in the suburbs of Abuja, have enjoyed 13 months of uninterrupted electricity since the start of the pilot scheme in December 2013.

[Source]

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With the growing need for us to spread our tentacles, widen our horizons and further consolidate our relationship with our counterparts here in North Cyprus and back home in Nigeria, it became imperative for a central body to be created.

Consequent to that, On the 30th of January, 2016 The Nigerian Association of Pharmacy Students North Cyprus (NAPS North Cyprus) was inaugurated by The National Association of Nigerian Students Turkish Zone (NANS TR Zone) with the following mandate;

1. To foster Unity among Nigerian Pharmacy Students in North Cyprus to help tackle health Challenges facing our dear country Nigeria by organizing programs such as, Seminars, Conferences, Symposiums, Health Awareness, Research, Trips and Social activities.

2. Invite the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) to all Universities offering Pharmacy to help Supervise and give appropriate approvals to our programs here.

3. Work with the Turkish-Cypriot Government with help of Deans of participating schools to ensure that more traineeship and internship opportunities are provided for our students and Licensing examinations are administered to our students upon graduation to help reduce the intense pressure faced by international graduates during licensing examinations in Nigeria.

4. Work with sister societies and associations to inculcate basic norms into our members (especially freshers) and ensure that all Pharmacy Students are up to date with their educational-cum-social programs.

5. Work with other related international and national bodies to create international and national conference and congress opportunities for our members to improve educational and social exposures.

6. Work with all Universities with faculty of Pharmacy to source for more international accreditation from international licensing bodies in other to place the institutions in world standard. This will create a platform for a global recognition of our certificates.

The following emerged as the pioneer National Executives-

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) 

1. NATIONAL PRESIDENT – FREDRICK EDEH (EMU)
2. NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT - CHIKENDU MICHEAL OKEKE (CIU)
3. NATIONAL GENERAL SECRETARY - OZIOMA EZEOFOR (EMU)
4. NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY – UMAR USMAN SABO (EMU)
5. NATIONAL FINANCIAL SECRETARY -AUSTIN OGUNJOBI (NEU)
6. NATIONAL TREASURER - UYIOGHOSA ARIGBE (NEU)
7. NATIONAL EX. OFFICIO - OYINDAMOLA OLATUNJI (EMU)
8. NATIONAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR - MARY EFFANGA (CIU)
9. NATIONAL WELFARE DIRECTOR - ANJOLAJESU OLASOGBA (NEU)
10. NATIONAL EVENTS DIRECTOR - SIRAJUDEEN SHITTU (EMU)

Signed.
Umar Usman Sabo
(Publicity Secretary NAPS North Cyprus)

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NEW SURVEY: 45 Percent Of Nigerian Graduates Unemployed. "Africa’s most populous nation"
A total of 41,032 (45.72 percent) of the 89,755 people who responded to the survey on said they were unemployed graduates, the Lagos-based firm said in an emailed statement...READ MORE Learn more »

“Studies have shown that 25% of children below the age of 11 are unable to speak their mother tongue and if this trend continues it is believed that most Nigerian languages will be extinct in 2 to 3 generations…. Estimated to be about 50 to 75yrs from now"….. my thoughts on that? I’ll be damned. That’s the best piece of news I’ve heard all year, perhaps in those generations to come they will become less Yoruba, Urhobo, Igbo, Hausa and more Nigerian. 

A lot of us in the present lost generation must have heard this common advice from our relatives, telling us it is very important to speak our mother tongue, advising us to marry from our region so that our children will not be lost. I heard that so much that I had to believe it was of paramount importance. I started to learn my language, even considered relocating homewards. All my Uncles and Aunts shared the same opinion so it had to be right. No way so many grown people would share a common wrong opinion, that would be unheard of (GEJ 2015. …if you know what I mean).

Anyways in my new found spirit of questioning everything I do and logically analyzing why we do what we do, I decided to stop blankly accepting that notion, turn around and ask why? Uncle, why do u want me to speak my language? What exactly do I stand to gain from it? I started asking for the benefits, asked everyone and I couldn’t get anything concrete. People said stuff like “it’s to make you know your roots“, “make you feel like you are from somewhere“, others said “it’s to enable you say things in the presence of your visitors without having them understand“, others believe it’s to get a good deal from the brother trader in the market. All in all I got only one concrete reason, and that’s just to feel good, just to have this air of belonging.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally against culture/language and roots. I think it is pretty cool, it gives one a sense of belonging, keeping it gives some kind of pride or ego. It makes one look/feel very exotic, cultural practices and rights are truly a beauty to behold but does it serve any real purpose if critically looked at? Does it help put food on the table? Does it help put a roof over our heads? Will it pay your medical bills? Well fine if it doesn’t do any of that, a lot doesn’t do any of that but that doesn’t mean we stop doing those things.

Dancing for example doesn’t put food on your table but that don’t mean we should quit doing the Rumba or Shoki. But why I have keen interest in language is because as it doesn’t do all that it happens to in a very subtle way take away a lot of those. In its own way it does, how do you feel the visitors feel when you switch from English to language all of a sudden, he already feels left out, feels separated, feels different, feels like you are plotting something no matter how small against him.

How do you think it feels in a work place or casual gathering when the Igbos or Yorubas are preserving their heritage in the presence of 2 or 3 from other regions? They feel disconnected, feel like there might even be plotting their death or preparing to scam them. Language speaking tends to create a sense of division amongst us Nigerians, we have all become more Igbo, Tiv, Efik, Ibira, Itshekiri than Nigerian, which is great for the tribes and storage of heritage but not so good for the nation as a whole.

It is very annoying when whites come here and watch/learn about our cultures, saying stuff like “awwww…you have such rich culture in Africa, try to preserve it, I am so envious of your strong roots” then climb on that airplane and return to good roads and security and health. I say to them “Sir , I am also envious of your roads and schools, I’ll trade roots for shelter thank you". The Federal government recognized this sense of division at a point and bared vernacular in all federal institutions, however now that federalism has been replaced by tribalism and nepotism that system has been thrown out of the window.

Secondly the concept of I am Ibibio or I am Angas has stepped up the nepotism level to epic proportions, the people who merit admission don’t get it, the people who are capable of doing the jobs don’t get to do it. A man in a position of power is judged purely on how he helped his people while in office, no matter what you did, if you couldn't give your brothers jobs or build a road in your village you are a shame and should never return home. In this kind of setting how can we do anything tangible. Someone said once that we are like a hundred different countries in one.

Now the debate of which I am not quite sure, is the real importance of this diversity, is it that relevant? Does it hold that much water? There are however many different languages around the world, that doesn’t mean those places aren’t working. The USA is extremely diverse, but it still works. In my spirit of rationalization I took a little look at these other languages and countries, and in my little understanding I found one thing striking , these countries that are trying to work all have one common tongue, or at least 80% have one common background or root. The French speak french, same as the Portuguese, Indians, Chinese, Italians, English. They all have a common root, same culture, they are somewhat one body. Countries founded on a common goal ,unlike the bulk of Africa founded on a common channel of resources. Even the United states has a common English root, all the diverse individuals welcomed in have to twist themselves into that system.

Now elections are upon us, and how do we plan to vote? On sentiment, the consensus is to vote your brother, if he isn’t contesting then next is your clans man, then your towns man, then local government brother, then states man. None? Then I’ll vote the person from my geopolitical zone, then maybe worst case scenario and I have no one contesting then I’ll use north Vs South or religious bias. Now this system of democracy is a sure failure and a big shame, even the educated ones somehow find a way to rationalize in favour of their brother. North tends to go for north and south for south at the national level at the very least.

On a final note to buttress the importance of language, the Christians amongst us have heard about the tower of Babel, a bunch of infidels were trying to build a tower to reach heaven, God was unhappy with that move so in order to stop them he made them speak different languages, what followed? Construction was unable to go on. So if the diversity was able to stop the construction in that tower it therefore makes perfect sense why Nigerians with our many languages have been unable to build anything as a nation.

You don’t agree with me Bah? It’s simply an opinion, I would love to hear yours.

Credit: One Local Boy Like That

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OLUWASEUN Oguntoyinbo writes... "Ne Mutlu Türküm Diyene..." [OPINION]
I began to wonder whether the reason I never felt a sense of honour at being called a Nigerian was simply because the word “Nigerian” had been linked to so many negative stereotypes both at home and abroad... READ MORE Learn more »