The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has enjoined religious leaders to pray to God to guide him and other politicians in the country aright so that they will not set the country ablaze through their utterances.
In a remark at the Christ Apostolic Church, Area 1, Durumi, Abuja where he joined other worshippers for the last Sunday service for the year, President Jonathan reiterated that the ambition of anybody in the country was worth the blood of Nigerians.
According to the president, for every office in the country, there are a thousand and one Nigerians who are qualified to occupy such office so no politician should think that he is the only qualified person for the office.
He noted: “Next year is a tempting year for us. Elections year in third world countries is always a turbulent year with all kinds of predictions.
I however believe that the God who brought us to this level will see us through.
“All that I will request of you is to continue to pray for us politicians, myself and other politicians from all political parties, for God to guide us in our utterances and what we do so that we will not sacrifice the lives of Nigerians because of our ambitions.
“Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. Pray to God to give us that wisdom and mind to make sure we conduct ourselves in a way that will not set the country ablaze because of our own personal ambition.
“There are so many good Nigerians that can hold the offices we are occupying or aspiring to occupy, it is by privilege of God that we are here in positions to ask for the mandates of Nigerians.
“None of us should begin to think that he is the best person to be anywhere from state houses of assembly to the President. There are a thousand and one Nigerians that are super qualified more than those people who are even aspiring to occupy offices.
“Pray for us that God should give us the wisdom to conduct ourselves in a manner that at the end of the day, this country will triumph” the president said.
Emphasizing that the essence of leadership is to serve the country and its people, President Jonathan said any person seeking to lead would not encourage the killing of people he seek to lead or the destruction of their properties.
“The development of Nigeria is what all of us want. If every aspirant has the mind to develop the people, then you do not need to kill or maim people to get there.
“You do not need to kill the people you want to develop in order to get to the office you want except if you are aspiring for that office for a different reason.
“If the idea is to help the people, grow the economy and make the people happy, you won’t want to kill, you won’t want to maim or burn down houses, vehicles and property” the president pointed out.
While acknowledging that the country is presently under going a lot of challenges, President Jonathan however expressed hope that the country would overcome these challenges.
“We are facing a lot of challenges now as a nation. The pastor has said it all. The challenges did not start today but somehow, instead of abating, the problems started increasing for one reason or the other.
“But I am convinced that it would have been worse than this but for your prayers. With the prayers you continue to offer to God, God will see us through” he said.
President Jonathan acknowledged that although Nigeria as a nation has not reached where it ought to be, his administration has put in place policy measures that will begin to bear fruits in the next four or five years and change the face of the country.
“Those who are taking pain to look at what we are doing will agree with us that if we progress as a nation steadily in this manner, in the next four or five years, this country will be a better place.
“Only a few days back, the Vice President was in Port Harcourt to flag off the Eastern railway. The Western one moving from Lagos to Kano has been running. We will start using the modern one from Kaduna to Abuja by the first quarter of next year and the one from Port Harcourt.
“We relied on agriculture before the oil boom or doom and all that died. We are reviving it and the whole world has appreciated that we are moving forward in agriculture.
“When they start something, people do not see the benefits immediately. We know that as a nation, we have a lot of challenges in terms of getting jobs for our young graduates and we have set up a lot of programmes that can bring addition to the recent job opportunities in Nigeria for our young men.
“The result may not be obvious immediately but God willing, job opportunities will continue to increase and many more young people will be engaged” he noted.
On the drop in the price of crude oil, president Jonathan admitted that the trend will “affect us in one way or the other” but promised that “the economic team is working very hard to stabilise it and we believe that although there may be temporary inconveniences, it will definitely not bring the economy down”.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Ajaokuta Steel Company; Story So Far
Few months back news made rounds that Ajaokuta Steel Company, Ajaokuta Kogi State will commence production after being dormant for as many years as we could remember. It gave hope to many Nigerians especially the impact it will have on the latest job vacancies in Nigeria.
As at the time of this writing, production is yet to commence. Explaining why, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Mohammed Sada has said lack of raw material was one of the major factors affecting full production of liquid steel at the Steel Company.
Other challenges against the mining sector include funding, low level of geo-sciences information, and inadequate mine site infrastructure to facilitate mineral resource development.
Sada, who was speaking at a Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, said the Federal Government was working assiduously to ensure that the plant functioned optimally.
He maintained that most of the bad components of the plant had been reactivated with the rolling mill units functioning optimally.
“One of the major challenges of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant has been the problem of infrastructure like the railway for transporting raw materials to the plant,” he said.
Sada lamented that government spent huge amount of money on the importation of steel products into the country. “In 2013, N488.7 billion was spent on the importation of 2.01 tonnes of steel products into Nigeria,” he said.
Source:Vanguard
As at the time of this writing, production is yet to commence. Explaining why, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Mohammed Sada has said lack of raw material was one of the major factors affecting full production of liquid steel at the Steel Company.
Other challenges against the mining sector include funding, low level of geo-sciences information, and inadequate mine site infrastructure to facilitate mineral resource development.
Sada, who was speaking at a Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, said the Federal Government was working assiduously to ensure that the plant functioned optimally.
He maintained that most of the bad components of the plant had been reactivated with the rolling mill units functioning optimally.
“One of the major challenges of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant has been the problem of infrastructure like the railway for transporting raw materials to the plant,” he said.
Sada lamented that government spent huge amount of money on the importation of steel products into the country. “In 2013, N488.7 billion was spent on the importation of 2.01 tonnes of steel products into Nigeria,” he said.
Source:Vanguard
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Nigeria!! How corrupt is it?
 |
| Anti Corruption |
According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2014, Nigeria is up eight places to 136 out of 175 countries ranked by the index.
The government has unsurprisingly interpreted this to mean that Nigeria is “winning the war on corruption under President Jonathan’s watch.”
The government has also said in a rather celebratory tone that, “It may not be immediately apparent to those who do not understand the dynamics of applying creative techniques in upturning an age-old habit that has cost this country a lot in terms of financial resources; but to those like the officials in Transparency International knowledgeable in the nuances of fighting corruption, a lot of grounds have been covered.”
Two central observations become clear; firstly, the statement seems to take a dig at government’s critics for lacking “creative techniques” in the fight against corruption. But creative techniques? I’m sorry; no serious observers of the government’s record will succumb to this cheap shot.
Secondly, the government also may be accused of inconsistency and political opportunism because having previously questioned the validity and credibility of the index, now seems to be its strongest ‘apostle’ by suddenly acknowledging the ‘knowledge’ of Transparency International “in the nuances of fighting corruption.”
The government’s response is nothing more than a standard public relations tactic. But this triumphal tone needs to be moderated; and the government’s real record in the fight against corruption has to be placed in proper perspective.
The country’s current ranking is clearly better than its scores for 2013 but it doesn’t really tell us something we don’t already know: that this government is still considered highly corrupt, as the country still ranks in the bottom half of the index. As a matter of fact, Nigeria shares 136th position with well-known corrupt countries like Cameroon, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, and Lebanon.
The CPI ranks countries on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean). More than two-thirds of the 175 countries surveyed, including Nigeria, scored below 50. Nigeria is clearly not the country with the lowest score on the index (its score was 27%), but according to Transparency International, any country that scores below 50% on the index is still considered “highly corrupt.”
This shows that corruption is rife as it ever has been in the country, making this government one of the most corrupt on earth.
This is therefore no time to feel comfortable with Nigeria’s sheer mediocrity on the index. But the government’s response says something about diminished expectations for a country that is endowed with enormous human and natural resources and should be doing much better in terms of socio-economic and infrastructural development to see the 27% on the index as good news.
Millions of Nigerians who continue to live from hand to mouth, unsure of the next meal, while their ‘leaders’ enjoy the commonwealth with their families and friends certainly won’t celebrate this score. And they won’t celebrate a score that still shows a serious breach of the country’s international anti-corruption obligations and commitments.
It would seem that the government doesn’t even understand the depth of disgust Nigerians feel for the increasing level of corruption among high-ranking government officials and the impunity of perpetrators.
For many years President Jonathan has devoted dozens of speeches to rooting out corruption. For example, the President once promised to “fight for justice, for all Nigerians to have access to power, for qualitative and competitive education, for healthcare reforms, to fight corruption, and to fight for your rights.” But it is now another election time and he has not even published his asset declaration (to show the way in the fight against corruption) let alone “fight for your rights”!
Under the President’s watch, no high-ranking public official has ever been brought to account for corruption, despite widespread and increasing allegations of corruption at the highest level of government.
By celebrating a marginal movement on the index, the government isn’t focusing on the job of fully and effectively combating corruption by high-ranking public officials. Instead, it is downplaying the magnitude of the problems, and seems to be kidding itself and kidding millions of Nigerians. This is unwarranted, counterproductive, and on balance, does more harm than good.
This government has to come clean and be straight with the Nigerian people on its record in fighting corruption.
But Nigerians are not fooled, as they are very aware of the lack of integrity, trust and credibility of their political institutions and the lack of quality behaviour from their politicians generally. They know pretty well that corruption is still a major problem in Nigerian politics, with various government agencies becoming deeper and deeper involved with the widespread use of political appointments even at the highest level of government.
The simple fact of the matter is that Nigeria’s corruption is now institutionalised into the political system and where democracy has been replaced by “Nairaraincracy” (or more accurately “Dollaraincracy”, as most of the country’s politicians consider US dollar as the legal tender) and where politicians are elected to provide self-serving favours to donors and “godfathers”.
It is clear that the government is still largely run for the benefit of the very rich and socially and politically connected. When people say, ‘it is not what you know but whom you know’ and that has adversely affected how recent jobs in Nigeria are being accessed. There is a problem
Corrupt judiciary and weak anti-corruption mechanisms well illustrate the damaging lack of political will by this government to confront corruption and impunity of the corrupt. Serious human rights violations, including poverty, crimes against humanity and the environment are now considered normal.
Yet, lack of prosecution of high-ranking government officials for corruption has created an impression that they are above the law. No wonder, then, that corrupt officials are so unfazed in their wrong doings, they are all doing it openly and lavishly and don’t even bother to hide their misdeeds.
Unfortunately, the more corrupt the country becomes, the less motivated its leaders and politicians are to end it. This doesn’t present much hope for the future.
But we can’t simply throw our hands up in the air in frustration. Progress is not only possible but necessary as it is simply unacceptable to continue with ‘business as usual’. The government will need to get to work and move swiftly to improve the independence and freedom of action of the anti-corruption agencies to genuinely fight corruption.
These agencies should be free to investigate and prosecute any allegations of corruption, not just those the government has a partisan interest in seeing pursued.
It is time for the government to let the country’s anti-corruption agencies off the chain and allow them to prosecute those indicted by: the KPMG report, involving large-scale corruption in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit report, which exposes 10 years of corruption in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry; ‘pension funds corruption report’; ‘corruption report’ in the capital market, and of course the case of the missing $20 billion from the account of the NNPC.
Some level of transparency and accountability won’t hurt the country. In fact, it will ensure better governance and the returns for effective enjoyment of human rights by the citizens will be huge.
One can only hope that the government will wake up and genuinely begin to address corruption and associated human rights violations. Nigerians deserve this. The success (and sustainability) of the country’s democracy depends on this.
And this is the most important promise for the politicians to take to the February 2015 elections and subsequently keep if elected.
* Olaniyan, author of ‘Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa’, is Legal Adviser, International Secretariat of Amnesty International, London.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Outdoor Adverts During Election to Boost Employment in Nigeria
According to Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, these are boom times for players in the outdoor advertising segment of the industry. The political parties have just completed their party primaries for various elective posts. Players in the outdoor advertising are expected to witness activities in the industry after a long lull that has rendered the industry illiquid.
Some players had projected about N20billion for the industry during the election period. They expect that the fund being devoted to the sector will not only create empowerment for outdoor agencies and hoarding owners, but also provide both the skilled and unskilled jobs in Nigeria.
As a result, the boom will open windows for people in areas such as billboard designing, structural engineers and their auxiliaries, planting, account management, media management, field supervision. This will in turn grow government’s revenue.
Of all these areas of opportunities in the outdoor advertising, the structural engineering seems to have job space for more people because it is tasked with the responsibilities of mapping out the sites where billboards will be sited. As a result, certain categories of people will be employed to carry out the job on the sites.
From the cumbersome manual method to the now popular imposing electronic billboard advertising, structural engineers have been creating Jobs for people in the formal and informal sector. The former includes fine artists, graphic artists, printers of large format posters, and computer programmers, while the latter are bricklayers, welders, painters, among others.
Accountants, media managers, compliance officers and creative experts such as graphic artists will benefit from the fortunes of the outdoor advertising industry during the electioneering period.
With the recent restructuring and reforms in outdoor advertising also known as the out-of-home advertising medium, experts say better days await job seekers as states governments have now embraced the new generation billboards.
The states, which have established agencies to regulate activities in outdoor advertising are Lagos State Signage Advertising Agency (LASSA), Osun State Signage Advertising Agency (OSAAA) and Oyo State Signage Advertising Agency (OYSAA).
Others are Rivers, Ekiti, Edo, Ondo, Enugu, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
While these states are generating revenue by approving and collecting commission on every billboard erected in their domain, they have helped in providing job opportunities for people.
Experts said the stakes are high for job seekers, given that companies are committing fortunes to it. They said billions of naira are being spent on outdoor advertising which has a multiplier effects in the economy.
Job potential
The Director General, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Mr. George Noah says the industry holds huge job opportunities as the Lagos market alone currently employs some 100,000 people, adding that the industry would have grown more but for prevailing hindrances which included but not limited to loss of market share to television, radio and social media marketing. He said Lagos currently hosts 100,000 signs and 800 outdoor structures.
Gains for outdoor
The Media Facts, a key media resource for marketing professionals in West and Central Africa, showed in its fresh report on the industry that the TV sub-sector dominated the media spending for last year. With a total of N47 billion advertisers spent on their advertisements on the TV stations in the country last year, the figure represented 45 per cent of the overall spending by advertisers. The report said with N23.2 billion spent on outdoor advertising during the year under review, the outdoor sub-sector came second after the TV. Similarly, the report stated that the radio and print media recorded advertising spend of N15.1 billion and N18.5 billion, respectively last year.
“The TV dominated media spends of advertisers - accounting for 45 per cent of the total expenditure of N103.8 billion in 2013. While TV and radio spends dropped by nine per cent and two per cent points, OOH (out of home) and print increased by three per cent and eight per cent, respectively,” the report stated.
Former General Manager, Tequila Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbolalian Mosaku-Johnson said newspapers, radio and television advertising have overshadowed outdoor advertising for years, arguing that there is a renewed interest in outdoor advertising by blue-chip companies that can spend a fortune in producing good copies. Tequila is an integrated marketing communication outfit providing services such as brands developments, promotion among others.
Mosaku-Johnson said many people would be employed either on contract or full-time basis to help in producing outdoor advertising services because some companies are ready to pay a lot of money for such services.
“This is high time graphic artists, among other skilled personnel must prepare themselves for big opportunities in the outdoor advertising industry. It is projected that outdoor advertising will get more attractions in the next five to 10 years because state governments are showing keen interest in the field by setting up agencies for such needs. Now that we have thousands of billboards in strategic places across the country, there would be more job opportunities in Nigeria for job seekers.” he said.
He projected that at least 5,000 jobs would be created directly or indirectly in a year in each of the 36 states of the federation when the outdoor advertising begins fully.
He said: "Now mobile outdoor advertising which ensures that bigger buses and taxis are used to promote products/services of companies is on the increase in the country. These advertisements are produced periodically, depending on what the clients pay for. This shows that graphic artists and large format printers would be made to provide more services in the industry. "Also, drivers, among other auxiliary workers would be employed aside the workers needed to produce billboards. With this, a lot of job opportunities would be open for skilled and the unskilled workers in the country," he added.
However, the advertising practitioners in the country, acting under the aegis of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, (AAAN) said over N20billion would be spent on political campaigns this year.
Its Chairman, Publicity Committee, Dr. Celey Okogwu, noted that the N20 billion that would be spent on political campaigns which may however not pass through the organised private sector.
Outdoor advertising guidelines
Three months to the general elections, LASAA is worried by the indiscriminate ways these campaign posters are being pasted across the states. It has threatened to sanction candidates and individuals that run foul of its guidelines on the use of election campaign materials in the state.
Noah, who gave the warning, said the guidelines on the use of election campaign materials for next year’s general elections in the state were issued in accordance with the agency’s responsibilities, and as provided for under its enabling law. One of these laws is the Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law 2006 as amended, which regulates and controls outdoor signage, advertisements and billboards in the state.
According to Noah, the guidelines were issued to establish sanity and protect the environment from defilement, visual blight and other adverse effects of uncontrolled, unregulated deployment and display of political campaign materials within the state during this electioneering period.
He said: "The guidelines are also issued without prejudice to any political party, association or aspirant as it is our intention to ensure fairness and equality among all concerned stakeholders, while judiciously performing our duty and applying the rules without sentiment or bias."
He explained that billboards and wall drapes political campaigns may only be deployed on existing structures owned and operated by outdoor advertising practitioners who are registered with LASAA and have obtained permits for such sites and structures.
"Parties interested in deploying political campaigns may contact LASAA or owners of the proposed structure for clarification. 2. A-Frame may only be deployed on road verges, medians on inner streets and must not exceed a size of 1 x 1 meter (big size) and 0.5 x 0.5 meter (small size) and must have a distance of not less than 100 meters between each sign deployed.
"Banners may only be deployed on inner roads and streets subject to the following conditions: only if the banner is attached to the wall of a particular building limited to inner streets, and it is not to be tied to poles or public utilities (electric and telecom poles).
"Posters may be deployed on designated surfaces on inner streets only and are not to be deployed on highways, major roads and high streets. Posters must not be pasted on public utility structures such as street lamp poles, transformers, road directional signs, electric poles and other unauthorised surfaces."
The agency warned political parties, aspirants and their supporters to refrain from indiscriminate deployment of campaign posters and embrace the use of other creative and innovative platforms including: a stick in the ground, billboards, mobile adverts, among others.
According to Noah, aside risking prosecution, other non-conforming political campaigns would be removed without recourse to the owners, even as he reminded politicians that all political campaign advertising materials must be removed immediately after the elections.
Source: The Nation
Some players had projected about N20billion for the industry during the election period. They expect that the fund being devoted to the sector will not only create empowerment for outdoor agencies and hoarding owners, but also provide both the skilled and unskilled jobs in Nigeria.
As a result, the boom will open windows for people in areas such as billboard designing, structural engineers and their auxiliaries, planting, account management, media management, field supervision. This will in turn grow government’s revenue.
Of all these areas of opportunities in the outdoor advertising, the structural engineering seems to have job space for more people because it is tasked with the responsibilities of mapping out the sites where billboards will be sited. As a result, certain categories of people will be employed to carry out the job on the sites.
From the cumbersome manual method to the now popular imposing electronic billboard advertising, structural engineers have been creating Jobs for people in the formal and informal sector. The former includes fine artists, graphic artists, printers of large format posters, and computer programmers, while the latter are bricklayers, welders, painters, among others.
Accountants, media managers, compliance officers and creative experts such as graphic artists will benefit from the fortunes of the outdoor advertising industry during the electioneering period.
With the recent restructuring and reforms in outdoor advertising also known as the out-of-home advertising medium, experts say better days await job seekers as states governments have now embraced the new generation billboards.
The states, which have established agencies to regulate activities in outdoor advertising are Lagos State Signage Advertising Agency (LASSA), Osun State Signage Advertising Agency (OSAAA) and Oyo State Signage Advertising Agency (OYSAA).
Others are Rivers, Ekiti, Edo, Ondo, Enugu, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
While these states are generating revenue by approving and collecting commission on every billboard erected in their domain, they have helped in providing job opportunities for people.
Experts said the stakes are high for job seekers, given that companies are committing fortunes to it. They said billions of naira are being spent on outdoor advertising which has a multiplier effects in the economy.
Job potential
The Director General, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Mr. George Noah says the industry holds huge job opportunities as the Lagos market alone currently employs some 100,000 people, adding that the industry would have grown more but for prevailing hindrances which included but not limited to loss of market share to television, radio and social media marketing. He said Lagos currently hosts 100,000 signs and 800 outdoor structures.
Gains for outdoor
The Media Facts, a key media resource for marketing professionals in West and Central Africa, showed in its fresh report on the industry that the TV sub-sector dominated the media spending for last year. With a total of N47 billion advertisers spent on their advertisements on the TV stations in the country last year, the figure represented 45 per cent of the overall spending by advertisers. The report said with N23.2 billion spent on outdoor advertising during the year under review, the outdoor sub-sector came second after the TV. Similarly, the report stated that the radio and print media recorded advertising spend of N15.1 billion and N18.5 billion, respectively last year.
“The TV dominated media spends of advertisers - accounting for 45 per cent of the total expenditure of N103.8 billion in 2013. While TV and radio spends dropped by nine per cent and two per cent points, OOH (out of home) and print increased by three per cent and eight per cent, respectively,” the report stated.
Former General Manager, Tequila Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbolalian Mosaku-Johnson said newspapers, radio and television advertising have overshadowed outdoor advertising for years, arguing that there is a renewed interest in outdoor advertising by blue-chip companies that can spend a fortune in producing good copies. Tequila is an integrated marketing communication outfit providing services such as brands developments, promotion among others.
Mosaku-Johnson said many people would be employed either on contract or full-time basis to help in producing outdoor advertising services because some companies are ready to pay a lot of money for such services.
“This is high time graphic artists, among other skilled personnel must prepare themselves for big opportunities in the outdoor advertising industry. It is projected that outdoor advertising will get more attractions in the next five to 10 years because state governments are showing keen interest in the field by setting up agencies for such needs. Now that we have thousands of billboards in strategic places across the country, there would be more job opportunities in Nigeria for job seekers.” he said.
He projected that at least 5,000 jobs would be created directly or indirectly in a year in each of the 36 states of the federation when the outdoor advertising begins fully.
He said: "Now mobile outdoor advertising which ensures that bigger buses and taxis are used to promote products/services of companies is on the increase in the country. These advertisements are produced periodically, depending on what the clients pay for. This shows that graphic artists and large format printers would be made to provide more services in the industry. "Also, drivers, among other auxiliary workers would be employed aside the workers needed to produce billboards. With this, a lot of job opportunities would be open for skilled and the unskilled workers in the country," he added.
However, the advertising practitioners in the country, acting under the aegis of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, (AAAN) said over N20billion would be spent on political campaigns this year.
Its Chairman, Publicity Committee, Dr. Celey Okogwu, noted that the N20 billion that would be spent on political campaigns which may however not pass through the organised private sector.
Outdoor advertising guidelines
Three months to the general elections, LASAA is worried by the indiscriminate ways these campaign posters are being pasted across the states. It has threatened to sanction candidates and individuals that run foul of its guidelines on the use of election campaign materials in the state.
Noah, who gave the warning, said the guidelines on the use of election campaign materials for next year’s general elections in the state were issued in accordance with the agency’s responsibilities, and as provided for under its enabling law. One of these laws is the Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency Law 2006 as amended, which regulates and controls outdoor signage, advertisements and billboards in the state.
According to Noah, the guidelines were issued to establish sanity and protect the environment from defilement, visual blight and other adverse effects of uncontrolled, unregulated deployment and display of political campaign materials within the state during this electioneering period.
He said: "The guidelines are also issued without prejudice to any political party, association or aspirant as it is our intention to ensure fairness and equality among all concerned stakeholders, while judiciously performing our duty and applying the rules without sentiment or bias."
He explained that billboards and wall drapes political campaigns may only be deployed on existing structures owned and operated by outdoor advertising practitioners who are registered with LASAA and have obtained permits for such sites and structures.
"Parties interested in deploying political campaigns may contact LASAA or owners of the proposed structure for clarification. 2. A-Frame may only be deployed on road verges, medians on inner streets and must not exceed a size of 1 x 1 meter (big size) and 0.5 x 0.5 meter (small size) and must have a distance of not less than 100 meters between each sign deployed.
"Banners may only be deployed on inner roads and streets subject to the following conditions: only if the banner is attached to the wall of a particular building limited to inner streets, and it is not to be tied to poles or public utilities (electric and telecom poles).
"Posters may be deployed on designated surfaces on inner streets only and are not to be deployed on highways, major roads and high streets. Posters must not be pasted on public utility structures such as street lamp poles, transformers, road directional signs, electric poles and other unauthorised surfaces."
The agency warned political parties, aspirants and their supporters to refrain from indiscriminate deployment of campaign posters and embrace the use of other creative and innovative platforms including: a stick in the ground, billboards, mobile adverts, among others.
According to Noah, aside risking prosecution, other non-conforming political campaigns would be removed without recourse to the owners, even as he reminded politicians that all political campaign advertising materials must be removed immediately after the elections.
Source: The Nation
Friday, December 12, 2014
Tips on Resume Writing for Ladies
Modesty is a virtue. But when it comes to writing a resume for any of the recent jobs in Nigeria, women should throw that old adage out the window. It’s time to toot your own horn! When writing a resume, women have a tendency to downplay their own accomplishments which can impede the impact your resume has on hiring managers. This doesn't mean you should exaggerate or embellish them, but it does mean that you should not understate or minimize your work experience either.
Here are some expert tips you should follow when writing a resume.
1. Before you begin the writing process, start by outlining all the details of your work history. For each position you have held, list the qualifications you have and the accomplishments you have achieved on the work-front. This will form the base summary of your work experience, and help you articulate it in a clear, yet engaging manner.
2. Be bold, tell them what you want. This means communicating objective clearly and effectively. Hiring managers have hundreds of resumes that they receive for each job opening, and in general only spend about 30 seconds reviewing each one. With a clear objective up front - that is specific to the job opening – you have a better chance of standing out. And always tailor the objective to the position.
3. Speaking of content, it is still king (or queen, if you prefer). This means that every resume you submit needs to be tailored to each position. Most resumes are submitted electronically and hiring managers search by keywords. Every job posting mentions these keywords. Mirror them in your resume, if they apply, so that your resume comes up during database searches. It should also be written in a language that the hiring manager understands. Do not use acronyms unless you are 100 percent sure that the person reading your resume understands what you are stating. The best bet - spell everything out as clearly as possible. And if you have worked with well-known companies and brands, make sure they are clearly visible and up-front.
4. In this case, simplicity is best. Sometimes we assume that we need to be elaborate and show our personal style. But in this case, representations of our qualifications are better suited in a simple format. Elaborate formats can be distracting. Visit our online Resume Builder to help you develop a simple, yet professional format.
5. Short and sweet will do the job. Although there is no general consensus of how long a resume should be – for instance, college grads will have a shorter resume than someone who has been in the work force longer; remember that hiring managers only have a few seconds with each resume. We suggest keeping it to no more than two pages maximum – less if you can. Key elements should include your heading with your contact information, overall objective, skills and abilities, work experience, professional associations or memberships, education and references.
6. As with every part of the job search process, always be professional. This means check for grammar and spelling errors before you submit your resume. With electronic transmission, we tend to work at a faster pace and this means errors can occur. Stop, pause and review your resume before you submit. It can mean the difference between landing an interview or not.
Here are some expert tips you should follow when writing a resume.
1. Before you begin the writing process, start by outlining all the details of your work history. For each position you have held, list the qualifications you have and the accomplishments you have achieved on the work-front. This will form the base summary of your work experience, and help you articulate it in a clear, yet engaging manner.
2. Be bold, tell them what you want. This means communicating objective clearly and effectively. Hiring managers have hundreds of resumes that they receive for each job opening, and in general only spend about 30 seconds reviewing each one. With a clear objective up front - that is specific to the job opening – you have a better chance of standing out. And always tailor the objective to the position.
3. Speaking of content, it is still king (or queen, if you prefer). This means that every resume you submit needs to be tailored to each position. Most resumes are submitted electronically and hiring managers search by keywords. Every job posting mentions these keywords. Mirror them in your resume, if they apply, so that your resume comes up during database searches. It should also be written in a language that the hiring manager understands. Do not use acronyms unless you are 100 percent sure that the person reading your resume understands what you are stating. The best bet - spell everything out as clearly as possible. And if you have worked with well-known companies and brands, make sure they are clearly visible and up-front.
4. In this case, simplicity is best. Sometimes we assume that we need to be elaborate and show our personal style. But in this case, representations of our qualifications are better suited in a simple format. Elaborate formats can be distracting. Visit our online Resume Builder to help you develop a simple, yet professional format.
5. Short and sweet will do the job. Although there is no general consensus of how long a resume should be – for instance, college grads will have a shorter resume than someone who has been in the work force longer; remember that hiring managers only have a few seconds with each resume. We suggest keeping it to no more than two pages maximum – less if you can. Key elements should include your heading with your contact information, overall objective, skills and abilities, work experience, professional associations or memberships, education and references.
6. As with every part of the job search process, always be professional. This means check for grammar and spelling errors before you submit your resume. With electronic transmission, we tend to work at a faster pace and this means errors can occur. Stop, pause and review your resume before you submit. It can mean the difference between landing an interview or not.
Managing Your Online Image
In today's world, managing your online reputation is more important than ever. Whether you are a LinkedIn maven, a Word Press fanatic, or you launch Facebook more times a day than you'd rather admit, odds are you've joined the social media revolution.
As these sites gain in popularity, it is important that you remain vigilant about the content you're accessing or producing, say the recruiting experts at World over. Call it "policing your online image." This ensures that employers and peers aren't reading items or articles that could damage your personal brand.
While it's impossible to control every aspect of your online brand, there are some ways you can regulate your own PR. Also, if you are searching for one of the current job vacancies in Nigeria, monitoring your online brand is more important than ever.
Here are some tips for maintaining your online integrity:
Always keep updated on privacy settings and know your controls. Did you know that Facebook changes its privacy settings regularly? Oftentimes users remain blissfully unaware of these changes until applications or people not in your sphere of friends unwittingly access your account. Check Facebook often for updates and keep a close eye out on your own checked off settings. Make sure your wall, photos, and other personal content can only be accessed by friends that you have accepted and are not viewable by outside parties.
Remember that you are the sum total of your network, and you will be viewed as such by employers. If you connect with a lot of people who post racy content and photos, you won't be immune to their influence. If you want to keep your profile cleansed of damaging material, consider removing these kinds of connections.
Try to 'outrank' bad press. If you Google yourself and find some embarrassing material, know that you can't delete it, but you can take steps to bury it. Ask the offending party if they would please remove the content. If they refuse, take matters into your own hands. If you blog, blog regularly, post photos, comment on other sites, and soon the content will disappear down the ranks of the search engines. But also know that you are not perfect, and your struggle to maintain your online brand will stay just that: a struggle. We can't remove everything, but we can strive to keep a balance.
Set up a Google alert for yourself. That way you always know when something crops up, good or bad, and you can take measures to deal with it immediately before the damage is done.
Tap into the power of the web to become a fierce online brand vigilante. There are multiple services to assist you when it comes to policing your brand. These services ensure you're aware of everything being said and posted about you.
For career advice, resume writing and interview tips, salary information and more. click here
As these sites gain in popularity, it is important that you remain vigilant about the content you're accessing or producing, say the recruiting experts at World over. Call it "policing your online image." This ensures that employers and peers aren't reading items or articles that could damage your personal brand.
While it's impossible to control every aspect of your online brand, there are some ways you can regulate your own PR. Also, if you are searching for one of the current job vacancies in Nigeria, monitoring your online brand is more important than ever.
Here are some tips for maintaining your online integrity:
Always keep updated on privacy settings and know your controls. Did you know that Facebook changes its privacy settings regularly? Oftentimes users remain blissfully unaware of these changes until applications or people not in your sphere of friends unwittingly access your account. Check Facebook often for updates and keep a close eye out on your own checked off settings. Make sure your wall, photos, and other personal content can only be accessed by friends that you have accepted and are not viewable by outside parties.
Remember that you are the sum total of your network, and you will be viewed as such by employers. If you connect with a lot of people who post racy content and photos, you won't be immune to their influence. If you want to keep your profile cleansed of damaging material, consider removing these kinds of connections.
Try to 'outrank' bad press. If you Google yourself and find some embarrassing material, know that you can't delete it, but you can take steps to bury it. Ask the offending party if they would please remove the content. If they refuse, take matters into your own hands. If you blog, blog regularly, post photos, comment on other sites, and soon the content will disappear down the ranks of the search engines. But also know that you are not perfect, and your struggle to maintain your online brand will stay just that: a struggle. We can't remove everything, but we can strive to keep a balance.
Set up a Google alert for yourself. That way you always know when something crops up, good or bad, and you can take measures to deal with it immediately before the damage is done.
Tap into the power of the web to become a fierce online brand vigilante. There are multiple services to assist you when it comes to policing your brand. These services ensure you're aware of everything being said and posted about you.
For career advice, resume writing and interview tips, salary information and more. click here
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
FG inaugurates a N45bn integrated sugar project,
Sunti, Niger State
The project, wholly owned by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, and comprising a 16,500-hectare sugar cane estate and mill, is part of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s approved Backward Integration Programme for the production of local sugar in line with the provisions of the National Sugar Master Plan.
Already, the company has invested N16bn while the entire project is expected to be completed and inaugurated before the end of 2016. When completed, the project is expected to produce 100, 000 metric tons of sugar annually, create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs will be added to the list of job vacancies in Nigeria, generate 10MW of electricity, produce animal feed and fertilizer as a by-product and save the country over $50m annually in foreign exchange.
Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said the event represented a milestone in President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic diversification efforts.
Aganga noted that the implementation of the National Sugar Master Plan was an integral part of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan.
The minister said, “Today is another historic day as it represents another milestone in the implementation of the National Sugar Master Plan, an integral part of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan , which was launched by our President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in line with his Transformation Agenda.
“As part of the NIRP, we have developed the National Sugar Master Plan as one of the sector-specific policies to diversify the Nigerian economy because we were importing about 97 per cent of the sugar we consume in this country when we can produce sugar from sugar cane. Also, from the raw materials of producing sugar, we can generate electricity, produce ethanol and animal feeds.”
Aganga, who expressed satisfaction with the current level of implementation of the new Sugar Master Plan, said the country was on course towards achieving economic diversification, stressing that the Federal Government would continue to provide the conducive environment and right incentives to attract and sustain investments across the country.
He said, “In 2012, President Jonathan approved the National Sugar Master Plan because for a long time, we have relied heavily on exporting one commodity (crude oil) despite the fact that our country is blessed with about 84 million hectares of arable land. And for decades, we pursued a wrong policy of exporting crude oil and using the proceeds to buy back refined petroleum products and created jobs for other countries. The current decline in price of oil has reinforced the need for us as a country to take proactive steps to diversify our economy through industrialisation.”
“Today, I have come to see the progress that Flour Mills has made in terms of adhering strictly to the Sugar Master Plan. Although I receive regular updates from the National Sugar Development Council and all the sugar companies, I still consider it very important to come to see things by myself; and I am satisfied with the level of investment and work that are going on here.”
The minister added, “Having gone round the multi-billion-naira facility, I can say that the company has fully embraced the new Sugar Master Plan and is fully implementing their Backward Integration Programme as approved by my ministry. One striking thing about the company’s BIP is that they are doing the sugar cane plantation side by side with rice production, thereby, keying into commodity-based industrialisation and import-substitution.
“This is in line with Federal Government’s strategies for diversifying our nation’s economy, and we are on course towards achieving that. We will continue to provide the conducive environment and right incentives to attract and sustain more investments across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.”
In his remarks, the Chairman, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Coumantaros, commended President Jonathan and Mr. Aganga for initiating and implementing the new Sugar Policy, adding that the company would continue to take advantage of government’s investment-friendly policies and incentives to invest more in the country.
Courtesy: Punch
The project, wholly owned by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, and comprising a 16,500-hectare sugar cane estate and mill, is part of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s approved Backward Integration Programme for the production of local sugar in line with the provisions of the National Sugar Master Plan.
Already, the company has invested N16bn while the entire project is expected to be completed and inaugurated before the end of 2016. When completed, the project is expected to produce 100, 000 metric tons of sugar annually, create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs will be added to the list of job vacancies in Nigeria, generate 10MW of electricity, produce animal feed and fertilizer as a by-product and save the country over $50m annually in foreign exchange.
Speaking during the inauguration on Tuesday, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said the event represented a milestone in President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic diversification efforts.
Aganga noted that the implementation of the National Sugar Master Plan was an integral part of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan.
The minister said, “Today is another historic day as it represents another milestone in the implementation of the National Sugar Master Plan, an integral part of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan , which was launched by our President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in line with his Transformation Agenda.
“As part of the NIRP, we have developed the National Sugar Master Plan as one of the sector-specific policies to diversify the Nigerian economy because we were importing about 97 per cent of the sugar we consume in this country when we can produce sugar from sugar cane. Also, from the raw materials of producing sugar, we can generate electricity, produce ethanol and animal feeds.”
Aganga, who expressed satisfaction with the current level of implementation of the new Sugar Master Plan, said the country was on course towards achieving economic diversification, stressing that the Federal Government would continue to provide the conducive environment and right incentives to attract and sustain investments across the country.
He said, “In 2012, President Jonathan approved the National Sugar Master Plan because for a long time, we have relied heavily on exporting one commodity (crude oil) despite the fact that our country is blessed with about 84 million hectares of arable land. And for decades, we pursued a wrong policy of exporting crude oil and using the proceeds to buy back refined petroleum products and created jobs for other countries. The current decline in price of oil has reinforced the need for us as a country to take proactive steps to diversify our economy through industrialisation.”
“Today, I have come to see the progress that Flour Mills has made in terms of adhering strictly to the Sugar Master Plan. Although I receive regular updates from the National Sugar Development Council and all the sugar companies, I still consider it very important to come to see things by myself; and I am satisfied with the level of investment and work that are going on here.”
The minister added, “Having gone round the multi-billion-naira facility, I can say that the company has fully embraced the new Sugar Master Plan and is fully implementing their Backward Integration Programme as approved by my ministry. One striking thing about the company’s BIP is that they are doing the sugar cane plantation side by side with rice production, thereby, keying into commodity-based industrialisation and import-substitution.
“This is in line with Federal Government’s strategies for diversifying our nation’s economy, and we are on course towards achieving that. We will continue to provide the conducive environment and right incentives to attract and sustain more investments across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.”
In his remarks, the Chairman, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Coumantaros, commended President Jonathan and Mr. Aganga for initiating and implementing the new Sugar Policy, adding that the company would continue to take advantage of government’s investment-friendly policies and incentives to invest more in the country.
Courtesy: Punch
Monday, December 08, 2014
Successful Career Planning: Tips for Job-Seekers of All Ages
Career planning is an activity that should not be done once -- university -- and then left behind as we move forward in our jobs and careers. Rather, career planning is an activity that is best done on a regular basis -- especially given the data that the average worker will change careers (not jobs) multiple times over his or her lifetime. And it's never too soon or too late to start your career planning.
Career planning is not a hard activity, not something to be dreaded or put off, but rather an activity that should be liberating and fulfilling, providing goals to achieve in your current career or plans for beginning a transition to a new career. Career planning should be a rewarding and positive experience.
Here, then, are 10 tips to help you achieve successful career planning.
1. Make Career Planning an Annual Event
Many of us have physicals, visit the eye doctor and dentist, and do a myriad of other things on an annual basis, so why not career planning? Find a day or weekend once a year -- more often if you feel the need or if you're planning a major career change -- and schedule a retreat for yourself. Try to block out all distractions so that you have the time to truly focus on your career -- what you really want out of your career, out of your life.
By making career planning an annual event, you will feel more secure in your career choice and direction -- and you'll be better prepared for the many uncertainties and difficulties that lie ahead in all of our jobs and career.
2. Map Your Path Since Last Career Planning
One of your first activities whenever you take on career planning is spending time mapping out your job and career path since the last time you did any sort of career planning. While you should not dwell on your past, taking the time to review and reflect on the path -- whether straight and narrow or one filled with any curves and dead-ends -- will help you plan for the future.
Once you've mapped your past, take the time to reflect on your course -- and note why it looks the way it does. Are you happy with your path? Could you have done things better? What might you have done differently? What can you do differently in the future?
3. Reflect on Your Likes and Dislikes, Needs and Wants
Change is a factor of life; everybody changes, as do our likes and dislikes. Something we loved doing two years ago may now give us displeasure. So always take time to reflect on the things in your life -- not just in your job -- that you feel most strongly about.
Make a two-column list of your major likes and dislikes. Then use this list to examine your current job and career path. If your job and career still fall mostly in the like column, then you know you are still on the right path; however, if your job activities fall mostly in the dislike column, now is the time to begin examining new jobs and new careers.
Finally, take the time to really think about what it is you want or need from your work, from your career. Are you looking to make a difference in the world? To be famous? To become financially independent? To effect change? Take the time to understand the motives that drive your sense of success and happiness.
4. Examine Your Pastimes and Hobbies
Career planning provides a great time to also examine the activities you like doing when you're not working. It may sound a bit odd, to examine non-work activities when doing career planning, but it's not. Many times your hobbies and leisurely pursuits can give you great insight into future career paths.
Think you can't make a hobby into a career? People do it all the time. The great painter Paul Gauguin was a successful business person who painted on the side. It actually wasn't until he was encouraged by an artist he admired to continue painting that he finally took a serious look at his hobby and decided he should change careers. He was good at business, but his love was painting.
5. Make Note of Your Past Accomplishments
Most people don't keep a very good record of work accomplishments and then struggle with creating a powerful resume when it's time to search for a new job. Making note of your past accomplishments -- keeping a record of them -- is not only useful for building your resume, it's also useful for career planning.
Sometimes reviewing your past accomplishments will reveal forgotten successes, one or more which may trigger researching and planning a career shift so that you can be in a job that allows you to accomplish the types of things that make you most happy and proud.
6. Look Beyond Your Current Job for Transferable Skills
Some workers get so wrapped up in their job titles that they don't see any other career possibilities for themselves. Every job requires a certain set of skills, and it's much better to categorize yourself in terms of these skill sets than be so myopic as to focus just on job titles.
For example, certain young lady seeking one of the recent job vacancies in Nigeria who was trying to accomplish career planning found herself stuck because she identified herself as a reporter. But once she looked beyond her job title, she could see that she had this strong collection of transferable skills -- such as writing, editing, researching, investigating, interviewing, juggling multiple tasks, meeting goals and deadlines, and managing time and information -- skills that could easily be applied to a wide variety of jobs in many different careers.
7. Review Career and Job Trends
Everyone makes his or her own job and career opportunities, so that even if your career is shrinking, if you have excellent skills and know how to market yourself, you should be able to find a new job. However, having information about career trends is vital to long-term career planning success.
A career path that is expanding today could easily shrink tomorrow -- or next year. It's important to see where job growth is expected, especially in the career fields that most interest you. Besides knowledge of these trends, the other advantage of conducting this research is the power it gives you to adjust and strengthen your position, your unique selling proposition. One of the keys to job and career success is having a unique set of accomplishments, skills, and education that make you better than all others in your career.
8. Set Career and Job Goals
Develop a roadmap for your job and career success. Can you be successful in your career without setting goals? Of course. Can you be even more successful through goal-setting? Most research says yes.
A major component of career planning is setting short-term (in the coming year) and long-term (beyond a year) career and job goals. Once you initiate this process, another component of career planning becomes reviewing and adjusting those goals as your career plans progress or change - and developing new goals once you accomplish your previous goals.
9. Explore New Education/Training Opportunities
It's somewhat of a cliche, but information really does lead to power and success. Never pass up chances to learn and grow more as a person and as a worker; part of career planning is going beyond passive acceptance of training opportunities to finding new ones that will help enhance or further your career.
Take the time to contemplate what types of educational experiences will help you achieve your career goals. Look within your company, your professional association, your local universities and community colleges, as well as online distance learning programs, to find potential career-enhancing opportunities -- and then find a way achieve them.
10. Research Further Career/Job Advancement Opportunities
One of the really fun outcomes of career planning is picturing yourself in the future. Where will you be in a year? In five years? A key component to developing multiple scenarios of that future is researching career paths.
Of course, if you're in what you consider a dead-end job, this activity becomes even more essential to you, but all job-seekers should take the time to research various career paths -- and then develop scenarios for seeing one or more of these visions become reality. Look within your current employer and current career field, but again, as with all aspects of career planning, do not be afraid to look beyond to other possible careers.
Final Thoughts on Career Planning
Don't wait too long between career planning sessions. Career planning can have multiple benefits, from goal-setting to career change, to a more successful life. Once you begin regularly reviewing and planning your career using the tips provided in this article, you'll find yourself better prepared for whatever lies ahead in your career -- and in your life.
Career planning is not a hard activity, not something to be dreaded or put off, but rather an activity that should be liberating and fulfilling, providing goals to achieve in your current career or plans for beginning a transition to a new career. Career planning should be a rewarding and positive experience.
Here, then, are 10 tips to help you achieve successful career planning.
1. Make Career Planning an Annual Event
Many of us have physicals, visit the eye doctor and dentist, and do a myriad of other things on an annual basis, so why not career planning? Find a day or weekend once a year -- more often if you feel the need or if you're planning a major career change -- and schedule a retreat for yourself. Try to block out all distractions so that you have the time to truly focus on your career -- what you really want out of your career, out of your life.
By making career planning an annual event, you will feel more secure in your career choice and direction -- and you'll be better prepared for the many uncertainties and difficulties that lie ahead in all of our jobs and career.
2. Map Your Path Since Last Career Planning
One of your first activities whenever you take on career planning is spending time mapping out your job and career path since the last time you did any sort of career planning. While you should not dwell on your past, taking the time to review and reflect on the path -- whether straight and narrow or one filled with any curves and dead-ends -- will help you plan for the future.
Once you've mapped your past, take the time to reflect on your course -- and note why it looks the way it does. Are you happy with your path? Could you have done things better? What might you have done differently? What can you do differently in the future?
3. Reflect on Your Likes and Dislikes, Needs and Wants
Change is a factor of life; everybody changes, as do our likes and dislikes. Something we loved doing two years ago may now give us displeasure. So always take time to reflect on the things in your life -- not just in your job -- that you feel most strongly about.
Make a two-column list of your major likes and dislikes. Then use this list to examine your current job and career path. If your job and career still fall mostly in the like column, then you know you are still on the right path; however, if your job activities fall mostly in the dislike column, now is the time to begin examining new jobs and new careers.
Finally, take the time to really think about what it is you want or need from your work, from your career. Are you looking to make a difference in the world? To be famous? To become financially independent? To effect change? Take the time to understand the motives that drive your sense of success and happiness.
4. Examine Your Pastimes and Hobbies
Career planning provides a great time to also examine the activities you like doing when you're not working. It may sound a bit odd, to examine non-work activities when doing career planning, but it's not. Many times your hobbies and leisurely pursuits can give you great insight into future career paths.
Think you can't make a hobby into a career? People do it all the time. The great painter Paul Gauguin was a successful business person who painted on the side. It actually wasn't until he was encouraged by an artist he admired to continue painting that he finally took a serious look at his hobby and decided he should change careers. He was good at business, but his love was painting.
5. Make Note of Your Past Accomplishments
Most people don't keep a very good record of work accomplishments and then struggle with creating a powerful resume when it's time to search for a new job. Making note of your past accomplishments -- keeping a record of them -- is not only useful for building your resume, it's also useful for career planning.
Sometimes reviewing your past accomplishments will reveal forgotten successes, one or more which may trigger researching and planning a career shift so that you can be in a job that allows you to accomplish the types of things that make you most happy and proud.
6. Look Beyond Your Current Job for Transferable Skills
Some workers get so wrapped up in their job titles that they don't see any other career possibilities for themselves. Every job requires a certain set of skills, and it's much better to categorize yourself in terms of these skill sets than be so myopic as to focus just on job titles.
For example, certain young lady seeking one of the recent job vacancies in Nigeria who was trying to accomplish career planning found herself stuck because she identified herself as a reporter. But once she looked beyond her job title, she could see that she had this strong collection of transferable skills -- such as writing, editing, researching, investigating, interviewing, juggling multiple tasks, meeting goals and deadlines, and managing time and information -- skills that could easily be applied to a wide variety of jobs in many different careers.
7. Review Career and Job Trends
Everyone makes his or her own job and career opportunities, so that even if your career is shrinking, if you have excellent skills and know how to market yourself, you should be able to find a new job. However, having information about career trends is vital to long-term career planning success.
A career path that is expanding today could easily shrink tomorrow -- or next year. It's important to see where job growth is expected, especially in the career fields that most interest you. Besides knowledge of these trends, the other advantage of conducting this research is the power it gives you to adjust and strengthen your position, your unique selling proposition. One of the keys to job and career success is having a unique set of accomplishments, skills, and education that make you better than all others in your career.
8. Set Career and Job Goals
Develop a roadmap for your job and career success. Can you be successful in your career without setting goals? Of course. Can you be even more successful through goal-setting? Most research says yes.
A major component of career planning is setting short-term (in the coming year) and long-term (beyond a year) career and job goals. Once you initiate this process, another component of career planning becomes reviewing and adjusting those goals as your career plans progress or change - and developing new goals once you accomplish your previous goals.
9. Explore New Education/Training Opportunities
It's somewhat of a cliche, but information really does lead to power and success. Never pass up chances to learn and grow more as a person and as a worker; part of career planning is going beyond passive acceptance of training opportunities to finding new ones that will help enhance or further your career.
Take the time to contemplate what types of educational experiences will help you achieve your career goals. Look within your company, your professional association, your local universities and community colleges, as well as online distance learning programs, to find potential career-enhancing opportunities -- and then find a way achieve them.
10. Research Further Career/Job Advancement Opportunities
One of the really fun outcomes of career planning is picturing yourself in the future. Where will you be in a year? In five years? A key component to developing multiple scenarios of that future is researching career paths.
Of course, if you're in what you consider a dead-end job, this activity becomes even more essential to you, but all job-seekers should take the time to research various career paths -- and then develop scenarios for seeing one or more of these visions become reality. Look within your current employer and current career field, but again, as with all aspects of career planning, do not be afraid to look beyond to other possible careers.
Final Thoughts on Career Planning
Don't wait too long between career planning sessions. Career planning can have multiple benefits, from goal-setting to career change, to a more successful life. Once you begin regularly reviewing and planning your career using the tips provided in this article, you'll find yourself better prepared for whatever lies ahead in your career -- and in your life.
Ugandan maid pleads guilty to baby torture
Latest development on the story says that the Ugandan maid pleaded guilty monday to torture of a baby, a case that has shocked the country after a video of her abusing the child was made public.
The 22-year old maid, Jolly Tumuhiirwe, faces up to 15 years in prison for the crime.
Worried parents, who installed a CCTV camera when they were at work, were shocked to see they had filmed the maid pushing the 18-month-old baby girl to the floor.
She then kicked the child’s face and stomach before putting her entire weight on the girl’s back, and then dragged her out the room apparently unconscious. The baby was left bruised and shaken by the abuse.
Battered baby receiving treatment at the hospital Photo: peacefmonline.com
Battered baby receiving treatment at the hospital
Photo: peacefmonline.com
The disturbing video has been seen or shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media.
After her arrest, police said she would be charged for attempted murder, but in court Monday faced torture charges alone.
State prosecutor Joyce Tushabe said the maid, who had no lawyer, “was remorseful” in court.
“She said she was sorry for the act,” Tushabe said. “She asked for forgiveness from the parents of the child, the nation, and those she said were affected by her acts.”
Tumuhiirwe was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Friday, December 05, 2014
Thousands of Jobs Expected Via Nigeria Railway Contract
No fewer than 200, 000 Nigerians are expected to be engaged in the execution of the multi-billion naira railway contract awarded to China Railway Construction Corporation.
The local jobs openings in the execution of the project are expected to add to today jobs in Nigeria, reducing the high number of unemployed persons presently roaming the streets for non-existent jobs.
Checks revealed that the engagement of Nigerians in the execution of the multibillion naira project was meant to fulfill some of the provisions of the Local Content Act as the Chinese firm do not want to jeopardise its chances in future contract pursuits.
Sources said the firm initially rebuffed attempts to engage Nigerians until they were made to understand the grave implications going by the provisions of the Local Content Act.
The railway contract is for the construction of a fresh coastal railway from Nigeria’s commercial nerve to the capital of the Cross River State capital, Calabar. On completion, the coastal railway is expected to serve as an alternative link between the Western part of the country and the East.
The railway, which will connect many villages and towns in the Western and Eastern parts of the country, stretches for 1,402 kilometres.
According to Xinhua, China Railway Construction Corp had signed a deal worth nearly $12 billion with Nigeria to build a railway along the coastal part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said it and will enhance port service delivery by using the railway in cargo movement across the country.
The Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, Malam Nasir Mohammed who stated this in Lagos explained that the use of water, road and railway transportation was imperative for efficient cargo movement.
“The success of any port, especially our Nigerian ports, must be dependent on three angles. The water angle and the road angle, of course the road angle divided on the trucks and the railway. For Lagos port, we are trying to harness all the three. We already have an existing road angle through which we move cargoes including containers and other general cargo that leaves Lagos ports,” he said.
He stated that an existing rail track in the LPC terminated directly in Kaduna and Kano and enabled the inland container depot in Kano to move some boxes.
He, however, said with increased number of wagons, the weekly movement to Kano would be more frequent.
He said: “We are also beginning to look towards using the waterways to move cargo. We want to start engaging some stakeholders in discussions in such a way to see the possibility of using our extensive waterways to move cargo, not just within Lagos itself but maybe out of Lagos. It is something that can be used, because it’s being used in some other parts of the world much more seriously in such a way that you do not even see boxes. You do not even see containers on the roads.”
The local jobs openings in the execution of the project are expected to add to today jobs in Nigeria, reducing the high number of unemployed persons presently roaming the streets for non-existent jobs.
Checks revealed that the engagement of Nigerians in the execution of the multibillion naira project was meant to fulfill some of the provisions of the Local Content Act as the Chinese firm do not want to jeopardise its chances in future contract pursuits.
Sources said the firm initially rebuffed attempts to engage Nigerians until they were made to understand the grave implications going by the provisions of the Local Content Act.
The railway contract is for the construction of a fresh coastal railway from Nigeria’s commercial nerve to the capital of the Cross River State capital, Calabar. On completion, the coastal railway is expected to serve as an alternative link between the Western part of the country and the East.
The railway, which will connect many villages and towns in the Western and Eastern parts of the country, stretches for 1,402 kilometres.
According to Xinhua, China Railway Construction Corp had signed a deal worth nearly $12 billion with Nigeria to build a railway along the coastal part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said it and will enhance port service delivery by using the railway in cargo movement across the country.
The Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, Malam Nasir Mohammed who stated this in Lagos explained that the use of water, road and railway transportation was imperative for efficient cargo movement.
“The success of any port, especially our Nigerian ports, must be dependent on three angles. The water angle and the road angle, of course the road angle divided on the trucks and the railway. For Lagos port, we are trying to harness all the three. We already have an existing road angle through which we move cargoes including containers and other general cargo that leaves Lagos ports,” he said.
He stated that an existing rail track in the LPC terminated directly in Kaduna and Kano and enabled the inland container depot in Kano to move some boxes.
He, however, said with increased number of wagons, the weekly movement to Kano would be more frequent.
He said: “We are also beginning to look towards using the waterways to move cargo. We want to start engaging some stakeholders in discussions in such a way to see the possibility of using our extensive waterways to move cargo, not just within Lagos itself but maybe out of Lagos. It is something that can be used, because it’s being used in some other parts of the world much more seriously in such a way that you do not even see boxes. You do not even see containers on the roads.”
IETA Engages Nigerian Youths in Empowerment Programs
As one of the leading skill acquisition development organisations in Nigeria, Initiative for Entrepreneurship and Talent Advancement IETA, has pledged to empower not less than 15,000 Nigerian youths, and 200 women in various sectors of economy that will strengthen the life of people that would contribute to the GDP of the nation.
This is even as IETA poised to empower no fewer than 200 women on entrepreneur skill that remain economic development of every community stressing that no society could develop without entrepreneurial skills.
Chairman Board of Trustee IETA, Engr. Maxwell Esan disclosed this at the press conference recently in Abuja ahead forthcoming of women of titan conference slated for 12th to 13th of December 2014, with the theme: “the voice of women must be heard.”
He said: "IETA is known as initiatives fur entrepreneurship and talent advancement that focus is to strengthen entrepreneur drive and also discover talent that can showcase the fundamental of Nigeria
“For the next three years IETA is targeting 15,000 thousand and if we don't make 15,000 the least we can make 10,000 Nigerian youth self-reliance.
“it is not going to be level of empowerment that you might be expecting like the normal political empowerment of distributing rice or thereabout, I don't believe in the school of thought that is distributing grinding machine or distributing Okada or rice to me: that is poverty enhancement not poverty alleviation. I believe in giving you something that can put money on your table constantly and to be able to build future for yourself.
“When people hear empowerment what come to their mind is that they are giving people money. I want to correct that impression, we didn’t empower with cash, the cash empowerment will come next year
“Very soon we are starting football competition for youths so that talent will be discovered, talent discovery of comedians, there would be talent discovery in the area of music. We shall promote anybody that we discover.
“However, the notable foundations in the Nigeria today, be it Tony Elemelu Foundation, Dangote group of companies, Globacom, big foundations across the globe, they started somewhere and I believe that IETA will surpass its contemporary I will do everything within my power and with God to put lETA on the global map.
On his remark, the President of the IETA Mr Joe Pax stated that the NGO had trained over 1000 women and youths in Nigeria in different acquisition skills for self-reliance across the country and make it able for them to fit into the recent job vacancies in Nigeria or stand on there own.
“We have also as a non-profitable organisation, provided consultancy services in term of business advice, mentorship, carry out visibility studies for individual, corporate organisations.
"And in doing that we have a lined up of activities to carry out in between 2015 to 2017. Our NGO is towards creating platform for women and youths essentially and so what we are going to do is creating platform to further strengthen the economic main-brain of our great country”
Source: National Mirror
This is even as IETA poised to empower no fewer than 200 women on entrepreneur skill that remain economic development of every community stressing that no society could develop without entrepreneurial skills.
Chairman Board of Trustee IETA, Engr. Maxwell Esan disclosed this at the press conference recently in Abuja ahead forthcoming of women of titan conference slated for 12th to 13th of December 2014, with the theme: “the voice of women must be heard.”
He said: "IETA is known as initiatives fur entrepreneurship and talent advancement that focus is to strengthen entrepreneur drive and also discover talent that can showcase the fundamental of Nigeria
“For the next three years IETA is targeting 15,000 thousand and if we don't make 15,000 the least we can make 10,000 Nigerian youth self-reliance.
“it is not going to be level of empowerment that you might be expecting like the normal political empowerment of distributing rice or thereabout, I don't believe in the school of thought that is distributing grinding machine or distributing Okada or rice to me: that is poverty enhancement not poverty alleviation. I believe in giving you something that can put money on your table constantly and to be able to build future for yourself.
“When people hear empowerment what come to their mind is that they are giving people money. I want to correct that impression, we didn’t empower with cash, the cash empowerment will come next year
“Very soon we are starting football competition for youths so that talent will be discovered, talent discovery of comedians, there would be talent discovery in the area of music. We shall promote anybody that we discover.
“However, the notable foundations in the Nigeria today, be it Tony Elemelu Foundation, Dangote group of companies, Globacom, big foundations across the globe, they started somewhere and I believe that IETA will surpass its contemporary I will do everything within my power and with God to put lETA on the global map.
On his remark, the President of the IETA Mr Joe Pax stated that the NGO had trained over 1000 women and youths in Nigeria in different acquisition skills for self-reliance across the country and make it able for them to fit into the recent job vacancies in Nigeria or stand on there own.
“We have also as a non-profitable organisation, provided consultancy services in term of business advice, mentorship, carry out visibility studies for individual, corporate organisations.
"And in doing that we have a lined up of activities to carry out in between 2015 to 2017. Our NGO is towards creating platform for women and youths essentially and so what we are going to do is creating platform to further strengthen the economic main-brain of our great country”
Source: National Mirror
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Partnership: SURE-P & NITDA to Create 600 IT Jobs in January
The Subsidy Reinvestment Programme, SURE-P, has signed a partnership agreement with the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA to train some selected youths on software and other technology skills.
The training, which starts in January 2015 is an initiative of the SURE-P aimed at empowering 600 youths at the commencement of the scheme on software and allied IT services, will engage more youths as the programme lasts.
The Director General of NITDA, Dr. Peter Jack, at the signing ceremony, said, NITDA considered the partnership as a potent measure to accelerating additions to recent job vacancies in Nigeria drive of federal government and transforming the fortunes of poor and unemployed youths.
"Software industry and IT services have been recognized as having the potential to transform the economy, create jobs and contribute significantly to country’s GDP. It is also a potent tool to constructively engage the youths and stir up their creative ability.
"It is in the light of this that NITDA is partnering" with SURE-P to train and empower minimum of 600 selected interns across the six geo-political zones of the country in specific areas of information technology optimized for identified economic sectors," he said.
Jack, who was represented by the Acting Director of Software and Outsourcing, NITDA, Mr. Christopher Okeke, explained that the partnership is also expected to stimulate innovation and stir up the creative ability of the interns, and more so create job opportunities in selected areas of the economy.
Earlier in his address, the Director of Graduate Internship Scheme of the SURE-P, GIS, Mr. Per Papka explained that SURE-P under the scheme will provide the interns with welfare pack made up of a monthly stipend of N30, 000 over a period of 12 months, the programme will last.
On the other hand, Papka said NITDA will provide a laptop, the platform infrastructure, training content, venue, facilitators, mentors, and business incubation and certification exams for the interns.
Some of the identified areas of focus at the training include: agriculture; health; oil and gas; education and creative industry.
According to NITDA, the partnership while enhancing collaboration among government agencies and stimulating creativity among the interns is equally expected to establish a minimum of 30 small and medium scale business ventures by the interns within the next three years.
Source: Vanguard
The training, which starts in January 2015 is an initiative of the SURE-P aimed at empowering 600 youths at the commencement of the scheme on software and allied IT services, will engage more youths as the programme lasts.
The Director General of NITDA, Dr. Peter Jack, at the signing ceremony, said, NITDA considered the partnership as a potent measure to accelerating additions to recent job vacancies in Nigeria drive of federal government and transforming the fortunes of poor and unemployed youths.
"Software industry and IT services have been recognized as having the potential to transform the economy, create jobs and contribute significantly to country’s GDP. It is also a potent tool to constructively engage the youths and stir up their creative ability.
"It is in the light of this that NITDA is partnering" with SURE-P to train and empower minimum of 600 selected interns across the six geo-political zones of the country in specific areas of information technology optimized for identified economic sectors," he said.
Jack, who was represented by the Acting Director of Software and Outsourcing, NITDA, Mr. Christopher Okeke, explained that the partnership is also expected to stimulate innovation and stir up the creative ability of the interns, and more so create job opportunities in selected areas of the economy.
Earlier in his address, the Director of Graduate Internship Scheme of the SURE-P, GIS, Mr. Per Papka explained that SURE-P under the scheme will provide the interns with welfare pack made up of a monthly stipend of N30, 000 over a period of 12 months, the programme will last.
On the other hand, Papka said NITDA will provide a laptop, the platform infrastructure, training content, venue, facilitators, mentors, and business incubation and certification exams for the interns.
Some of the identified areas of focus at the training include: agriculture; health; oil and gas; education and creative industry.
According to NITDA, the partnership while enhancing collaboration among government agencies and stimulating creativity among the interns is equally expected to establish a minimum of 30 small and medium scale business ventures by the interns within the next three years.
Source: Vanguard
Monday, December 01, 2014
Gov Orji slashes fees at Abia State University by 20%
In a statement signed by Secretary to Abia State Government, Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Governor Orji said the gesture was to boost education in the state and in turn motivate the students to study hard and turn out employable graduates to fill in the latest job vacancies in Nigeria.
“Following the present economic crunch in the country occasioned by the oil prices in the international market, as a result of which students of ABSU and their patents are in great difficulty coping with the demands of their school fees in the institution, His Excellency, the Governor of Abia State, Chief T.A. Orji as a demonstration of his sympathy with the plight of the students, their parents and guardians, has magnanimously approved the reduction of school fees payable by all students in Abia State University by 20 per cent across the board.
“This kind gesture of His Excellency seeks to ameliorate the hardship currently being experience by parents and students as a result of the said oil price fluctuations. Government therefore expects the staff, students and management of Abia State University, Uturu, to reciprocate the Governor’s kindness by remaining disciplined and law abiding at all times.”
FG To Spend N485 Trillion On Infrastructure Master Plan
Mohammed made the announcement on Saturday, 29th Nov 2014, at Okada, Edo state, while speaking at the 12th convocation ceremony of Igbinedion University, where he was conferred with a Honorary Doctorate Degree.
Besides, the minister said the master plan would catalyzed the provision of infrastructure in critical sectors such as Power, Oil and Gas, Transportation, Housing, Water, Agriculture, Social Infrastructure, as well as ICT and the FCT.
“This will demand the building of a critical mass of capacity of about 33 million jobs in all these fields among others, to deliver to Nigerians,” he said.
He therefore challenged universities in the country to build these capacities.
In his address, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Prof. David Awanbor, expressed fear that Nigeria’s education sector was being threatened, adding that, the challenges of insecurity in the country was the greatest problem confronting the education sector.
While stressing on the importance of education to growth and development, Awanbor noted that a peaceful environment was needed for the sector to thrive.
He listed other challenges of the sector to include, lack of manpower development, inadequate funding and faulty policies formulation and implementation.
Earlier in his speech, the Vice-chancellor of the University, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae reiterated his call for the inclusion of private universities in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
A total of 773 graduands were conferred with various degrees with 24 graduating with first class, while a Honorary Doctorate Degree was also conferred on Mr Martins Uhomoibhi, a former Permanent Secretary, Federal ministry of Foreign Affairs.
UPDATE: Explosions, gunfire in Damaturu, as military, Boko Haram face off
Series of explosion and gunfire rocked Damaturu, capital of Yobe state on Monday, in a suspected Boko Haram attack that targeted police, residents said.
Residents say an Air Force jet has arrived Damaturu and is engaging the Boko Haram insurgents but police say they are still under siege from the Islamist sect.
The dawn raid came after a suicide bomb and gun attack on the central mosque in the northern city of Kano on Friday which bore all the hallmarks of the Islamists and left at least 120 people dead.
The militants, who have been waging a five-year rebellion to create a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, have conducted similar dawn raids and attacked Damaturu before.
Umar Sada, who lives in the Gujba Road area of the city, said the latest raid happened at about 4:45 am (0345 GMT).
“I was awoken by huge blasts and the sound of heavy gunfire around the mobile police barracks,” he said.
“The gunmen came in numbers. They have burnt down the police barracks. They are now advancing towards two housing estates…
“We have left our home. We are now in the bush. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Another local resident, a government official who asked not to be identified, said: “It’s chaos all over the town.
“All I can hear is explosions and gunfire from my house. I couldn’t go out for morning prayers because this started before dawn and I’m afraid to leave in case I get caught up in it.”
On June 18, at least 21 football fans were killed when a bomb exploded as they watched a World Cup finals match at a public viewing centre in Damaturu.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for an October 24, 2013 attack in the city, in which four police buildings were hit with guns and explosives and there was an hours-long battle with security forces.
Thirty people, all thought to be soldiers, were killed.
Yobe was one of three states worst-affected by the violence and was placed under a state of emergency in May 2013.
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan last month requested an extension to the special powers but a deadline for its renewal has passed.
The measures were initially successful in forcing Boko Haram out of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, where the group was founded in 2002.
But violence has increased in rural areas and in recent months the group has seized more than two dozen towns in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states and declared some part of its caliphate.
Nigeria’s leading Muslim body the JNI on Sunday criticised the government for not ending the violence and claimed it was failing to protect civilians.
More than 13,000 people have been killed since the insurgency began in 2009.
Boko Haram was meanwhile blamed for a separate attack on the Borno town of Shani at about 8:00 pm on Saturday. No one was killed but the fighters wreaked havoc, witnesses said.
Buba Umar, who left the town for Maiduguri, said the militants attacked the police station and were armed with assault rifles and petrol bombs.
Another resident, Manassa Samuel said, “While some of the terrorists stormed the palace, others destroyed all the churches in the town. They also destroyed many shops.
“Most of us fled to the bushes, leaving only women and children at home. The good news is nobody was killed,” he said.
Borno State police spokesman Gideon Jibrin confirmed the attack and said an investigation had been launched.
Residents say an Air Force jet has arrived Damaturu and is engaging the Boko Haram insurgents but police say they are still under siege from the Islamist sect.
The dawn raid came after a suicide bomb and gun attack on the central mosque in the northern city of Kano on Friday which bore all the hallmarks of the Islamists and left at least 120 people dead.
The militants, who have been waging a five-year rebellion to create a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, have conducted similar dawn raids and attacked Damaturu before.
Umar Sada, who lives in the Gujba Road area of the city, said the latest raid happened at about 4:45 am (0345 GMT).
“I was awoken by huge blasts and the sound of heavy gunfire around the mobile police barracks,” he said.
“The gunmen came in numbers. They have burnt down the police barracks. They are now advancing towards two housing estates…
“We have left our home. We are now in the bush. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Another local resident, a government official who asked not to be identified, said: “It’s chaos all over the town.
“All I can hear is explosions and gunfire from my house. I couldn’t go out for morning prayers because this started before dawn and I’m afraid to leave in case I get caught up in it.”
On June 18, at least 21 football fans were killed when a bomb exploded as they watched a World Cup finals match at a public viewing centre in Damaturu.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for an October 24, 2013 attack in the city, in which four police buildings were hit with guns and explosives and there was an hours-long battle with security forces.
Thirty people, all thought to be soldiers, were killed.
Yobe was one of three states worst-affected by the violence and was placed under a state of emergency in May 2013.
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan last month requested an extension to the special powers but a deadline for its renewal has passed.
The measures were initially successful in forcing Boko Haram out of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, where the group was founded in 2002.
But violence has increased in rural areas and in recent months the group has seized more than two dozen towns in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states and declared some part of its caliphate.
Nigeria’s leading Muslim body the JNI on Sunday criticised the government for not ending the violence and claimed it was failing to protect civilians.
More than 13,000 people have been killed since the insurgency began in 2009.
Boko Haram was meanwhile blamed for a separate attack on the Borno town of Shani at about 8:00 pm on Saturday. No one was killed but the fighters wreaked havoc, witnesses said.
Buba Umar, who left the town for Maiduguri, said the militants attacked the police station and were armed with assault rifles and petrol bombs.
Another resident, Manassa Samuel said, “While some of the terrorists stormed the palace, others destroyed all the churches in the town. They also destroyed many shops.
“Most of us fled to the bushes, leaving only women and children at home. The good news is nobody was killed,” he said.
Borno State police spokesman Gideon Jibrin confirmed the attack and said an investigation had been launched.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Are You Gifted? Sure You Got A Talent
Let me begin by saying that we all are gifted in one way or
another. In other words; you have a talent.
Your talent may well be in one of the latest jobs in Nigeria. There is something you know
how to do. Your talent may be different from other people’s own. We are all
given talent by God according to His presumed ability we possess, some are
multi-talented. You find them being able to do many things that others can’t
do. You may have one person being a singer, a writer, a footballer and a
painter, just one person doing all these. That is a talent. You may also find others
endowed with only one talent, each given according to their abilities.
The nature of your talent determines your IMPACT. If you
have many talents, then you are likely going to make more impacts. It is not
just enough for you to have a talent, there is a divine expectation and target
for you. There are people you are supposed to touch with your talent. That is
the more reason why you must use your talent well. Making good use of one’s
talent is a question of PASSION. Passion is the thing that makes you to work on
your talent and develop it well. Passion is the effort you are expected to
make. You must employ passion in the use of your talent, the extra you get from
it is as a result of the passion employed. The more passion, the more extra.
If we selfishly hold unto the talent given to us, and not
use it for good especially for the benefit of others and the society at large.
We run the risk of losing the meagre benefits we expect to accrue from such
talent. Though is generous and magnanimous in dishing out gifts and talents to
us, He expects and demands correspondent work and accountability on our part.
Have a Great Weekend
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