Unbelievable! UNILAG Produces First Graduate With 5.0 CGPA (Photo)

A Nigerian student from the University of Lagos has achieved a rare academic feat in the history of tertiary education in the country. 

Ayodele Daniel Dada

 

In what may be the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria’s education system, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, will this year graduate a student who has been graded ‘excellent’ in all the courses taken while on campus with a CGPA of 5.0.

The student, Ayodele Daniel Dada finished from the Department of Psychology.

From captive to a teacher: Rescued Chibok girl awarded scholarship by Atiku now teaches IDP children

15 Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram captivity were in 2014 awarded scholarship to attend the American University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Interesting! Two Important Management Lessons to Learn From a 500 Naira Note

You have owned a 500 naira note before but have you ever figured out anything about the note except for the fact that it can buy you stuff? Well you are about to do just that. 

A social media user has shared an experience with a 500 naira note that totally changed his opinion about himself and his capabilities.

How to practice JAMB CBT for free + Get Software & App – Share with Family & Friends

As JAMBCBT draws closer, it is very important,thatyou or your family and friends, have the necessary tools needed to practice & tackle JAMB CBT once and for all. To do this, you will needreal past questions and real CBT environment. We have developed one and made it all for free, to practice JAMB CBT for Free, click here to start

Omg! Popular Female Writer Thrown Into Jail for 3 Years...See Shocking Reason

A popular female writer has been convicted in a law court and jailed for three years for a rather shocking reason. 

Fatima Naoot

 

An Egyptian court jailed on Tuesday, a popular female writer, Fatima Naoot, for three years for insulting Islam after she criticised the slaughter of animals during a major religious festival, a judicial official said.

Wow! The Photo of This Crippled Shoemaker on the Streets Will Break Your Heart

A disabled man who has refused to let his disability to define him, has been pictured on the streets hustling despite his condition. 

The disabled man

 

The picture above of the cripled man who was still going about mending shoes on the streets, was captured somewhere in Lagos and has motivated several people on social media.

Photos: Homeless begger draws amazing painting of Mona Lisa on the street with chalk

A homeless man drew an almost perfect painting of Mona Lisa on the streets of Nanjing, China’s eastern Jiangsu Province yesterday, with just chalks. The amazing work attracted the attention of passerby who stopped to take photos. The man claimed to have studied drawing all by himself and usually spends nine to ten hours completing a drawing on the street while begging for money. More photos after the cut...

Before You Sign That Employment Contract, Here Are a Few Key Clauses to Note

As an employee, one of the prerequisites to having some sort of assurance in a particular organisation is the Employment Contract. However, in a country such as Nigeria where unemployment is rife, and hunger is real, many job-seekers do not wish to “rock the boat” before gaining proper entry into an establishment. It is unlikely for a newly employed person, who has been job hunting for at least seven years, to negotiate any aspect of the Employment Contract and it is because of the high rate of unemployment that many employers choose to take advantage by enforcing onerous terms on their employees.

An Employment Contract, also known as Employment Agreement is a binding document which sets out the obligations and expectations of the parties, purportedly minimising future disputes.

A deeper look into the Labour Sector in Nigeria will reveal that the applicability of the Labour Act is limited to low cadre employees. This would mean that employees who cannot be regarded as being low cadre employees by virtue of the provisions of that legislation can only see recourse under the terms of their Employment Contract.

I believe that, at all times, one should fight for ones rights. I’m not advocating the pursuit of unrealistic goals (please do not go there and quote me whilst asking for a 2015 Range Sport as the company car for your junior position); however I do believe that where one is not comfortable with a particular term in their Employment Contract, then one should raise this fact before signing on the dotted line.

Fundamentally, the employee has the ball in his court and he is expected to take a closer look at the various terms, duties and rewards enshrined in the document. Anyone who knows their self-worth will always negotiate for terms that would be to their benefit.

Having said that, some of the vital issues an employee should look out for when reviewing his Employment Contract include the following:

Compensation (A.K.A “Salary”, “Allowance”, “Ego”, “Kudi”, “Owo”, or “Money”)
This is the main clause an employee must look out for. If the pay is not sufficient consideration, then such an employee might as well remain unemployed and stress free. When scrutinising one should also consider other benefits and entitlements, such as bonus, leave allowance, housing and transportation.

I have a friend who didn’t spend up to a year in her former place of work. She had to quit when she calculated her expenses and placed it beside her salary – she realised the money left, after deducting money spent on transport, wasn’t enough to make her live an “okay” life.

Scope of Employment
Many employees rush into an organisation at the very chance they get and fail to ask themselves “What exactly is my role here and is there any other secondary role which is ascribed to my position?”. At the end, we find absurdities arising, such as the receptionist taking up the duty of the messenger or sometimes the role of cleaner.

A lawyer friend of mine who’s just over 10 months in the profession commented on such instance where lawyers of his level are ordered to perform duties not relating to their calling, such as making daily trips to “Iya Eba” or “Ghana High” to pick up every ones lunch.

Vacation Entitlement
In this jurisdiction, it is not unheard of for there to be a clause in the Employment Contract baring the employee from any entitlement to leave whatsoever for the first year of their employment.

Initially, I thought this was only applicable to entry level employees, but recently I have come to learn that this clause may be found in any contract an organisation is able to put it into. Thus one can find themselves moving jobs after five years in the job market, and suddenly unable to take time off to recuperate.

I have never actually understood this, as very few immune systems can work non-stop for one entire year without rest; in most instances, employees will merely call in sick and return a few days later with a doctor’s note, thus making the “Leave” unmonitored and the organisation fundamentally losing. As the saying goes “Man no be machine, body no be fire wood”. If the organisation doesn’t know this, I’ll advice that you let them know as soon as you are set to negotiate this clause.

Where such a clause exists, it is worth negotiating to ensure that you are entitled to full staff entitlements from the moment the employment is confirm, that is after the conclusion of any applicable probation period.

Termination
It is always advisable to look for the grounds upon which the company can terminate the Employment Contract.

In the UK, it is a norm for organisations to have a clear procedure for termination; this is usually in the form of oral warning, written warning, suspension then termination. Or where there has been a serious incident, suspension, followed by an investigation which may then lead to the termination of the Employment Contract. However here in Nigeria, we do not have any uniform procedure for terminating an employee’s contract; many organisations simply do not properly cater for termination in the Employment Contract, thus leaving the employee at the mercy of the “Benevolent Dictator” also known as “The Oga”.

It is for this reason one needs to ensure termination is properly addressed in the Employment Contract. Where it is addressed, it is also equally import to ensure that the contract does not have an omnibus clause inserted in there. These clauses tend to be drafted in a way that they capture a range of instances and are often used by employers as a means of ending the Employment Contract abruptly; for example one such clause could read “or any other instance which in the view of management may be deemed as a breach of this Employment Contract”.

Notice Period for Resignation
Please, if you are not employed as senior management, exactly why should you be mandated to give 3-6 months’ notice of intentions to leave the organisation? In the instance where one has landed a fantastic role with a fantastic organisation, how many of these organisations will be willing to wait 3-6 month for you to complete the required notice period.

In most instances, once a member of staff resigns, their work load will significantly reduce, with them being present merely to hand over to the next parson. For this reason, I do not see why a non-managerial role would need 3-6 months to hand over to their predecessor.

Other essential terms in an employment contract include the following:

1. Accident/disability and death whilst on the job
2. Restriction of post-employment trade;
3. The effective date of the contract;
4. If the contract is for a fixed term, the date when the contract expires;
5. Hours of work;
6. Paid sick leave;
7. Criterions for promotion; and
8. Unilateral relocation to another location.

Conclusion
I walk down the streets these days and I see in every corner written in chalk or printed on A4 papers and pasted on rough walls, some sort of vacancy or job opportunity calling for “workers”.

But I cannot help but ponder if the said organistaion is seeking an individual who will add value to their team, or a mere “slave” who they can easily manipulate and mistreat.

In most developed countries, workers have their lives and jobs insured. Unfortunately, this is not the case here in Nigeria, with some people arguing that ‘it is better to be doing something than to do nothing at all’.

In the end, it is expected of every new employee not to rush into a new opportunity that has got no opportunity at all in its real sense.

Source: BellaNaija

The lady who rehabilitated a drunk in her neighbourhood loses her job...her reaction is awesome!

A few months ago, this lady, Olorunfunmi Adebajo, rehabilitated a drunk in her neighbourhood. She recently lost her job at Lagos State Eko Project (Education job) and her reaction in a post on Facebook is awe inspiring. Read it after the cut...

I lost my job 2 days to 2016...i have thrown two 'termination of appointment' parties and my niece thinks thats a wierd reaction considering how much I loved my job. As one whose spirit cannot be bowed by circumstances, i'm super excited about the new year. Its time to explore, get knowledge and hone my skills in preparation for the centre stage...by God, give me three months!!!

Anyone in a similar situation? The year doesn't feel new and you are wondering why everyone else is happy but you? Trust me life happens but till you decide not to be a victim, life will keep happening. Don't let life toss you, make life happen on your terms.

Cry if you have to, talk to someone but make sure you stand up, rise up from where you are. You have so much to offer. You are more blessed than you feel, stronger than you think, greater than you imagine.

Look in the mirror and see a conqueror. Beat your chest and say I cannot be defeated. I'm the light of the world and the life of the party.

Life wants to ahow me pepper. ..me, i'm already making pepper soup...and its gonna be veeery sweet.����

2016 resolutions to ensure your child’s success – Must read for all loving parents

This is a sponsored post. Read below...

As people shouted Happy new year to usher in 2016, I found myself thinking about what I want my year to be like, then a thought struck me! What about my baby girl? I can plan for my success but who will plan for hers? As an educationalist / guidance and counsellor I thought to share my personal resolutions for my child’s success in 2016 with concerned parents out there. I encourage all parents to read and share opinions. Please continue..

I have an 8 year old daughter who is about to write common entrance and a 14 year old son who will start preparations for Jamb, Waec, IGCSE and other university entrance exams this year. I’ve also been in the education industry for over 17 years, first as a teacher and then as a counsellor to more than 20 schools within and outside Lagos.

The advice I’m giving comes both from my wealth of experience as a counsellor who has interacted with hundreds if not thousands of students on a very personal level throughout my career and also as a concerned mother.

My 5 resolutions for my child’s success:

Listen to them: Spend at least 20 minutes a day having heart to heart talks with each of my kids or simply delving into their world… playing a game they like with them, listening to them talk about their classmates or telling jokes they learnt in school. Your impact affects every area of their lives: spirituality, academics, morals; the more you know about your kids the more you can influence them

Maximum investment in my children’s future: My children, not mycars, or goods or even land!! My children are my most valuable and potentially rewarding investment. And I am determined to give everything I have to assure them the highest quality of education possible

Create and enforce a daily time table for my child: Structure and planning are non-negotiable if you seek high performance. A well set out time table would ensure that your child makes progress in various areas every day (Please biko fellow parents, include rest and playtime in the time table, don’t use work to kill them)

Personal tutors for my kids: I can talk a bit here as an authority because of my career and my experience of almost 2 decades in this field. Nothing is as effective as getting your child a personal tutor who is able to teach your child lessons tailored to his specific needs and biased towards strengthening areas of weaknesses. A personal teacher is a very strong source of motivation for kids, over the years I’ve seen kids go from D grades and C grades or from poor scores to exceptional results in just 1 or 2 terms because they got a tutor. For this reason my kids have always had tutors from the ages of 5, I have never compromised on this.

I cringe when I hear parents say they already spend so much on school fees. I would say emphatically that even in the best schools, the teacher will not single your child out for special explanations when he has 19 other students, he may explain once maybe even twice but if your child still has an issue he will move on with the rest of the class. This is the simple reality. But a private tutor can go on and on as many times of required. My advice usually is to put the child in a school where you can still afford to get the child one – on – one attention

Once the issue of whether or not to get a lesson tutor is sorted the next challenge parents face is “how do I get a good tutor in Lagos?” I had the same problem, my kids are schooling on the mainland (I am against changing their school because we moved from our house on the mainland) but now we leave in Lekki and the school teachers are unwilling to come to lekki for lessons. I had almost given up when I stumbled on Prepclass tutors. I asked around and spoke to a friend who is also using their service and she said her kids gota very good tutor

Being the skeptic I am, I decided I would test them out I actually didn’t expect I would get private tutors who meet my high standards: I requested fortutors for my son taking igcse since my I was handling the tutoring for my daughter by myself.

I was very impressed with the response I got from them, I decided to share:

See the email response of the tutors I got from them

They sent me 5 tutor profiles to have a look at so I could pick 1 or 2 I would like to meet face to face, I took a snapshot of the details of the tutors they sent to me but hid their sensitive details, see below:

When you consider the years of experience these teachers here have, the schools they worked in and their qualifications I had to admit that the quality of tutors I got from them was at least 5 times better than what I got from other tutoring services I tried out and to be honest, It was better than what I would have gotten if I had gone out of my way to go around Lagos looking for tutors. Yet I just sat at home and made a call. The process of meeting with Prepclass visitation staff was just as impressive and when I meet my tutor I was delighted, everything was very smooth.

Of course getting a tutor from your child’s class or school is also a good option but getting a tutor from services like Prepclass would ensure that you get a teacher who lives close, has more exposure/experience and you would have a reputable company to hold accountable if you are not satisfied. I had to cancel out the names of their tutors so I don’t publicly release sensitive information but you can easily reach out to them by calling 01-2913790 or visiting www.prepclass.com.ng /hometutorformto get a tutor from them today. As a consultant myself I truly had to applaud their efforts in finding some quality teachers. I’ve been using their services since June last year and I haven’t had any complaints.

For 2016, I implore Parents to try these resolutions. Spend time with your child, invest in your child, have a daily schedule for your child, get your child a personal tutor AND LAST BUT MOST IMPORTANT, everyday call your child to your room and pray on your child everyday make prophesies into the future you want for your child DAILY.

God bless you all

Kemisola Adetola: 4 Reasons Your Smart Goals Didn’t Work

It is a new year and virtually everyone is reved up and excited about the changes to be made, and new things to be  accomplished. A lot of the time, we start out the year with good intentions that play out as targets, resolutions, ambitions and most importantly, as goals.

You may wonder why we often go  through the year and then realise along the line that one way or the other, we have lost sight of the goals.

Sometimes it is not because we didn’t set Smart Goals as we have been taught, but the obstacles that we come across as a result of stretching oneself towards the direction of ones goals are usually unplanned and sometimes come as a surprise.

It is one thing to set smart goals, it is quite another to stay true to the goals –  irrespective of the price to be paid for the goals to be accomplished.

I am assuming you already know what S.M.A.R.T Goals are; but let’s do a quick recap from the popular Brian Tracy’s advice on Goals! A Smart Goal is Specific,Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound. No matter how S.M.A.R.T your goals are, they may be difficult to be attain if you don’t follow the key principles that govern achievement and success.

Now let’s go through the top four reasons those SMART Goals haven’t worked in the past years.

Inconsistency
Have you ever set a goal only to change it when there is a perceived higher goal? Although this is not bad in itself, there’s a problem when it begins to result into loss of focus. It makes it seem like you don’t know exactly what you want. Another thing is that many people make the mistake of changing their goals entirely once they encounter challenges in the course of their goal attainment, only to realise later that those challenges re-surface irrespective of what goal it is. These inconsistencies could also be as a result of setting goals that are don’t align with your values, strengths and purpose. What this does, is to weigh you down and leave you completely demotivated. An average person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society – if that person has clear, focused goals – Brian Tracy.

Demotivation
When you are not in tune with your set goals, the first thing that begins to happen is that you become less motivated to work towards the goal. Motivation is the desire or drive to do something. It is the crucial element in setting and attaining goals. Now the question is, can you set smart goals that are in line with your values, desire to see its attainment but still be demotivated? The answer is, yes. The reason we become demotivated can also be because we have been overwhelmed by our goals at some point, but suddenly began to give up. Those goals we were once excited about now seem far fetched. There are two major factors that contributes to  demotivation. Internal factors such as lack of self-belief, confidence and assurance. Also, external factors include: lack of support and destructive criticism from significant others. These factors outrightly demotivate us and make us second guess the very goals we were once excited about.

Time Management
A lot of people are lacking in this area which dictates the time-frame of a smart goal. The journey of a thousand mile begins with a step, so every long and short term goals should be revisited on a daily basis in form of To-Dos. The attainment of a goal is not when the year has ended, but begins every moment of the day. We must be careful not to let our current appetites steal away any chance we might have for a future feast – Jim Rohn. A lot of people wait for a perfect timing before they start working towards the goals and fail to neglect the fact that even tiny efforts, made daily, makes the huge difference.

Indiscipline
I am yet to meet any successful person who does not have self discipline as a learned attribute. It is at the core of their being. We all desire to have fun, wake up anytime we like, buy the most expensive and random things, watch our favourite TV programs as we wish and so on, but all these would only slow us down and make us lose focus. The ability to consciously practise delayed gratification, to say no to unproductive things and activities, would increase the pace by which our goal is realised. Old habits die hard. This is why you should develop self discipline. The reason we set clear and written goals is so that we can consciously discipline ourselves till our ambition, target and desire is fulfilled. I quite agree with Sidney Howard when he said, one half of knowing what you want is knowing what you are willing to give up to get it.

On a final note, I will leave you with this thought: there is no telling what you can do when you get inspired by your goals. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them. – Jim Rohn

Have a fulfilled year!

Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Bobby Deal

Source: BellaNaija

Money Matters with Nimi: 16 Important New Year Resolutions for 2016

The complex nature of our nations turbulent economy has impacted all Nigerians and leaves many feeling confused and anxious. The good news is that no matter how uncertain things may be, the basic fundamentals of personal financial management still apply, so do stay focused on this.

Have you made your New Year resolutions? Did you include any financial ones? All major life events such as getting married, having a baby, educating children, losing a job, getting divorced, buying a home, losing a loved one, planning for your retirement and your estate, come with financial consequences that must be prepared for. Here are 16 resolutions to consider for 2016. Don’t try to tackle them all at once. Select just three or four to bring you closer to financial security.

1. Organise your documents
We all have some particularly important personal documents such as passports, birth certificates, title documents, educational certificates, your marriage license and so on; scan these documents and save them electronically as well as in your household files. It is important to protect the original documents from the risk of fire, flood or other disasters; store them securely in a fireproof safe or with your bank if it offers such a service. You don’t need to go overboard in trying to create Fort Knox at home, but at the same time you should avoid having sensitive documents lying around in cardboard boxes at the bottom of your wardrobe.

2. Establish a budget
Living as though nothing has changed during challenging times can make a bad situation worse; changing your spending habits must be a priority. Budgeting is one of the most important tools for financial security; a good budget will help you to plan for, and monitor your expenses so you can identify where to cut back if necessary. Where does your money go? Can you cut back a little?

3. Build and emergency fund
An emergency fund is a must-have particularly during times of financial challenge. Build a fund with at least six months’ worth of your expenses in an accessible, interest bearing account. If you are suddenly faced with unemployment, medical expenses, or other unexpected events, you will have this financial cushion to fall back on. If you can’t manage 6 months, focus on 3 months. The key is to have something set aside.

4. Automate your savings
Can you set aside a minimum of ten percent of your monthly income for savings? One of the most effective ways to increase savings is to automate the process by having the funds deducted via a direct debit into a savings, money market or mutual fund account. Remember to automate your regular bill payments as well, so that you are always up to date.

5. Reduce your debt
Getting out of debt, or at least reducing it, is another key step to taking control of your finances. List all your debt, and prioritize by focusing on the debt with the highest interest rates first. Are you one of those people who has borrowed from your family and friends and then starts to avoid them by ignoring their calls and reminders? You need friends and family during difficult times, so don’t damage relationships. If your debt has become overwhelming, contact your lenders to discuss the possibility of coming up with more palatable repayment arrangements.

6. Invest for the future
If you have some savings and your debt is under control, consider investing for the long term in the stockmarket either directly or through mutual funds. Many stocks are currently selling well their true value so it is a good time to take advantage of such discounts. Bear in mind, however, that stock market investments, whilst they have provided higher returns over the long term than other assets, come with greater risk.

Seek professional advice to build a diversified portfolio that spreads your investments across the various asset classes including cash, bonds, mutual funds, stocks and real estate to mitigate some of the risk. Mutual Funds offer a professionally managed, diversified portfolio and you can invest with sums as little as N10,000.

7. Invest in yourself
You are your greatest asset. Whether you are unemployed, in full or part-time employment, or running your own business, it is essential that you continue to develop yourself. Constantly seek additional training and knowledge through seminars, conferences in various areas of interest or more formal courses as appropriate; there is so much that you can achieve with commitment and discipline. Identify, develop and leverage on your talents and skills; those things that you are passionate about and can naturally excel at, they may well become a significant earner.

8. Learn about money matters
There is no excuse for being totally ignorant about your finances with the plethora of information around you – both in print, online, television, radio and through workshops. Seek guidance from an experienced, qualified professional; but remember that ultimately, you are responsible for your finances. If you do not already discuss financial matters with your partner or spouse, try to include this in your relationship. Children too should be introduced to the basic principles through pocket money, holiday jobs, from their earliest years.

9. Improve your health
There is a very direct connection between your physical and your financial health. Indeed in the U.S, the leading cause of bankruptcy is attributed to medical bills and other health care costs. One wonders what the statistics here would reveal. A heather lifestyle means fewer medical expenses and will give you brighter prospects in all aspects of your life. Do you need to lose weight, eat healthily, or exercise more regularly? Make your health a priority and take concrete steps to improve it.

10. Put health insurance in place
If you or a close member of your family fall sick, will you have to pay out cash for expensive medical treatment, or do you have insurance in place. Even if your employer does not provide this for you, try to get some medical and dental cover for your family. One serious illness can wipe out your savings. You should have adequate insurance cover for your health and for your life, particularly if you are your family’s primary breadwinner.

11. Protect your assets with insurance
Is your property including your car and home insured? Things happen; you cannot afford to be careless. With a small premium each year you can reduce the risk of loss from fire, flood, burglary and other mishaps.

12. Maintain your assets
Don’t wait until a strange noise from your engine becomes so bad that the engine needs replacing. Regular maintenance of your assets will help identify any festering problems before they become critical and require expensive repairs. Treat your car, your home and other expensive assets with care, so you can enjoy them for a long time.

13. Protect your finances from fraudsters
Cybercrime is real and we are all very vulnerable particularly as we navigate the internet and social media. From shredding sensitive documents to changing passwords regularly and protecting your PIN numbers, there are deliberate steps to take to reduce the risk of  being targeted. Put these in place.

14. Plan for your retirement
Most Nigerians do not have enough money saved by the time they face retirement. Your retirement income will have to come from money you set aside and invest when you are young and through out your working life. Even though the future seems so far away now, if you save and invest when you are young, you have an opportunity to build significant wealth.

15. Put an estate plan in place
No one wants to think about death at the start of a new year, but you owe it to your family to put something in place should something untoward happen to you. Meet with a lawyer who will put you through what is a relatively simple process. If you already have a will, review and update it to make it is still relevant to your circumstances. If you have acquired or sold any assets or you have new beneficiaries then this must reflect in your estate plan.

16. Build philanthropy into your plans
In spite of how difficult things might be for you, there are always people worse off. Philanthropy is a powerful and effective way to change lives. Determine your area of interest and identify ways in which you can make a positive impact.

As you face this New Year, it is important to note that the most important things in life have little to do with money. Remember to count your blessings in 2016. May God grant you good health, happiness, and peace this year and beyond.

Happy New Year!

Source; BellaNaija