Smart cash

Stripe Checkout – Web And Mobile Payment The Easy Way.

2014-06-09T02:58:00.002-07:00

If you dabble in e-commerce and have yet to try out Stripe, then you are losing out on one of the easiest way to receive payment online. Stripe takes care of the payment process without the need of complex coding. A while back, Stripe released a brand new payment form: Checkout. It has integration with stripe.js and works well both on mobile or desktop browsers

Checkout enables users to easily finish their payment without having to leave the page they are on. Users can also opt to save their credit card data by entering an SMS code sent to their phone. This feature also is embeddable, and Checkout effectively solves problems involving mobile payments.

30 Double-Spread Magazine Ads That Will Make You Turn The Pages

2014-05-15T03:52:00.000-07:00

Today's articles are high-powered for business growth.You can enjoy much of this as a registered member of our MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME.Send enquiries through our contact on this blog.
Magazine ads are considered a more traditional form of advertising and they take up over 30% of conventional magazine space. However, if done right, marketers can make use of their ads to be more focused on a particular target audience by choosing the right magazine to feature it in. This also paves the way for higher reader involvement.
Thinking outside the box definitely helps in creating impactful and effective ad,s and double page spreads leave plenty of room for creativity and innovation. I’ve put together 30 creative examples of double page magazine ads to show you what I mean. Let’s just say you probably wouldn’t mind a magazine filled with ads, if they’re as interesting as these!

40 Nigerians Under 40: Ayeni Adekunle [38]

2014-05-15T03:43:00.004-07:00

In our quest to motivate young aspiring entrepreneurs in Nigeria and beyond,the CEO brings to you in this piece on outstanding Nigerians who are doing well in their chosen fields and career.It is all about you!YOU CAN MAKE IT! IT'S IN YOU.
.

Ayeni Adekunle [38]

This one media guru that defines the norm. He successfully created and hosted Entertainment conference on the 21^st of April bringing together Entertainment stakeholders. It was one of the biggest gathering ever witnessed in a long time and many adjudged it as a turning point in the industry. He runs Nigeria’s biggest online Entertainment platform, TheNetng.com as well as the Weekly newspaper Nigeria Entertainment Today. He is also CEO, Black House Media, a PR firm managing industry leaders such as The Headies, Hennessy artistry and Viacom. Ayeni the great as he is fondly called is a leader to watch out for.

Dr. Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba [29]

Was shortlisted as one of the 3 finalists for the Ogunte Women’s Social leadership Awards in the category: Leader Charitable Organizations and Campaign 2013 which she won.

Akudo founded Friends Africa (Friends of the Global Fund Africa) as an African voice in support of the Global Fund and the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Friends Africa mobilizes and builds the capacity of the African private sector, civil society and government to improve Africa’s health and is the recipient of the 2012 Stevie Award for Non-profit of the year and finalist for the 2012 ONE Africa Award.
She serves on a number of boards including Roll Back Malaria, the Global Health Council and the Nigerian arm of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). Through her leadership, Friends Africa has been able to mobilize over $560 million USD to countries in Africa for the purpose of integrating family planning and HIV services. This integration will reduce maternal mortality rate and reduce the number of infants born with HIV across Africa. She is constantly giving an African voice to high-level meetings across the globe, campaigning tirelessly for increased commitment to Health from government and organizations both African and Foreign. Under the leadership, Friends Africa has trained over 2700 SMEs across Africa to create a healthy workforce. Dr. Anyanwu Ikemba is a World Economic Forum 2012 Young Global Leader, Stevie Award Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 and Stevie Award Innovator of the year 2012. She is also a member of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative. She holds a Doctorate degree in medicine from Tufts University, a Master’s degree in International Public Health from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University. She also has diplomas in non-profit management and non-profit leadership from Duke University and she has done post graduate studies at the University of London and the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Anyanwu Ikemba is the recipient of two 2012 Stevie Awards: Female Social Entrepreneur of the year and Female Innovator of the year respectively.
Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Friends Africa, a pan- African organization that fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria using the capacity of African governments, African businesses and African community-based organizations. Anyanwu Ikemba serves on the Board of Roll Back Malaria and Nigerian arm of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). She is also a member of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative and the Vice-President of her alumni class at the Harvard School of public Health. Anyanwu Ikemba holds a PhD in Medicine from Tufts University, an MA in International Public Health from Harvard University and a BSc in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University. She has two diplomas in non-profit management and leadership from Duke University and has done post-graduate studies at the University of London and the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases. She has received multiple awards in leadership and academia.

He was born in 1982. He is the author of a collection of poetry, Listen to geckos singing from a balcony (Bewrite Books, 2004) and a novella, Conquest & Conviviality (Hodder Murray, 2008). In 2007, he was awarded a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg poetry prize, in 2008 the Nordic Africa Institute Guest Writer Fellowship, and in 2009 a Cadbury Visiting Fellowship by the University of Birmingham. His fiction and poetry have been published in The London Magazine, Wasafiri, Farafina, PEN Anthology of New Nigerian Writing, Litro, Brand, Orbis, Nano2ales, Stimulus Respond, Sable, Magma, Stanford’s Black Arts Quarterly and World Literature Today, among others.

Linda Ikeji [23]

She once tried her hands on different things as a young girl before getting it right. She was a popular runaway model, reporter, fashion consultant, event manager. Publisher of a fashion magazine, even a beauty pageant consultant in 2003 Miss Nigeria. She must have weathered a lot of storm and still rose above mediocrity.

Apart from making millions from her enterprise, she has been mobilizing thousands of readers in her online community, Linda had the ability to provide a voice to Blessing Effiong, a girl who had actually been apprehended for 4 years in prison without a trial. Four months after the tale was reported on the blog site, Blessing went out of jail with her freedom, grateful to all advocates including Linda Ikeji.
Whether you agree with her methods and material or not, we need to hand it to Linda, she has actually captivated, engaged, inspired and promoted Nigerians for 7 years doing what she loves best. She has actually turn blogging into a profitable company and shows no indication of stopping. With well over 40,000 hits daily, LIB, stands as one of the most profitable ventures in Nigeria. Last year August Forbes profiled her as the highest paid and most powerful blogger in Nigeria, a feat you won’t achieve by sitting at a corner. She is a shining example for this generation.

Dayo Israel [35]

He is an astute motivational speaker and advisor to many world leaders, business executives, politicians, young entrepreneurs and sports professionals. He is also an international recognized personality with over 12 years of professional experience in international development having worked with organisations such as The United Nations, British Council, Save the Children UK, UNICEF, in various capacities and has appeared on countless television interviews, commercials, talk shows, radio programs, and was even selected by the United Nations to represent all the young delegates to the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children ion a special CNN Live Interview. Recently, he was specially invited by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to a private session in Buckingham palace. He is one of the Africa’s leading authorities on Social Enterprise and Youth Development. He co-launched the UNICEF State of the World Children’s Report in 2003 alongside Carol Bellamy and Oscar Award Winner – Vanessa Redgrave CBE. He is the first African to become a Student Council Chair in London’s Largest University and a recipient of so many International Awards which includes the British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Award, PEWA (Person Earnestly Working for Africa) Award, GAB Award, Icon Awards, Icon of Hope Award, Young Achievers Award and many more.

Toyosi Ogunseye [36]

A former CNN/Multichoice African journalist of the year (MSD/Health), Toyosi has shown uncommon dedication for her craft, going undercover to investigate stories that matter to her an hardly accepts no for an answer. A winner of Punch Newspapers staff of the year (she was presented with a brand new car), Ogunseye was appointed Ag. Editor, Sunday Punch in January 2012 becoming one of the youngest editors in the country and is responsible for the weekly’s accessible aesthetics.

How To Charge Clients Any Amount You Want

2014-05-13T05:32:00.002-07:00

Did you know that the current "market prices" for design are totally irrelevant? It’s true, and what’s more is that you absolutely don’t have to follow them. You can, in fact, charge whatever you want for your designs and products, provided you make a few important changes to your design process.
You might ask, "Isn’t that unethical?" Not at all. I’m going to show you exactly how you can, ethically and fairly, charge any amount you want for your design works and products. Interested? Good. Let’s continue on this as you follow me in my school of business.
HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR MY ON-LINE MENTOR-SHIP PROGRAMMES?If not, you better do because am about to dish our some high level-powered articles that are exclusive to registered members only.You can also benefit from our business opportunities that abound (scam-free)on our platform.
Other topics to watch out for this MAY Special are:INVESTMENTS OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN MAKE YOU A MILLIONAIRE;HOW TO TURN YOUR PEN AND PAPER INTO MONEY MAKING MACHINE;HOW TO MAKE EXTRA INCOME OF N200,000 WITH MOBILE360 CASH INVESTMENT CLUB etc...
Thanks for reading...Yinka Richards

25 Quotes From Famous Entrepreneurs The Secrets to Their Success?

2014-05-12T03:44:00.002-07:00

There is no simple formula for creating a successful business. Luckily, there is an easy way to improve your chances.

And that’s by listening to the wisdom of those who have done it already.

With that in mind, here are 25 quotes from famous entrepreneurs…

INSPIRATION

1) "If you can dream it, you can do it."

-Walt Disney, founder of The Walt Disney Company

2) "Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming."

-Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Enterprises

3) “Capital isn't that important in business. Experience isn't that important. You can get both of these things. What is important is ideas.”

-Harvey Firestone, founder of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

4) “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

-Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and Pixar

5) “Find your passion… then it is no longer work!”

-L.A. Reid, co-founder of LaFace Records

TAKING INITIATIVE

6) “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!"

-Madam C.J. Walker, creator of beauty products and the first female self-made millionaire

7) “The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.”

-Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari & Chuck E. Cheese’s

8) “The key is to just get on the bike, and the key to getting on the bike… is to stop thinking about ‘there are a bunch of reasons I might fall off’ and just hop on and peddle the damned thing. You can pick up a map, a tire pump, and better footwear along the way.”

-Dick Costolo, founder of Feedburner.com

9) “The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try.”

-Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies

HARD WORK vs. LUCK

10) “Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.”

-Thomas Edison, founder of General Electric (GE)

11) “I made a resolve then that I was going to amount to something if I could. And no hours, nor amount of labor, nor amount of money would deter me from giving the best that there was in me. And I have done that ever since, and I win by it. I know.”

-Colonel Sanders, founder of KFC

12) “Nobody talks of entrepreneurship as survival, but that's exactly what it is.”

-Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop

13) “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that something is too competitive. Once you subtract the people who don’t work very hard, or the people who aren’t as good as you, your competition shrinks dramatically.”
-Maggie Mason, founder of Mighty Goods

14) “Life is really simple as far as I’m concerned. There is no luck, you work hard and study things intently. If you do that for long and hard enough you’re successful.”

-Jason Calacanis, founder of Weblogs, Inc.

PERSEVERANCE

15) "When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure."

-Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

16) “It doesn’t matter how many times you fail. It doesn’t matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because all that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are.”

-Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, co-founder of Broadcast.com, founder of HDNet

GUIDING PRINICIPLES

17) “Entrepreneurs are risk takers, willing to roll the dice with their money or reputation on the line in support of an idea or enterprise. They willingly assume responsibility for the success or failure of a venture and are answerable for all its facets.”

-Victor Kiam, owner of Remington Products

18) “The best reason to start an organization is to make meaning; to create a product or service to make the world a better place.”

-Guy Kawasaki, venture capitalist, CEO of Garage Technology Ventures

19) “A friendship founded on business is a good deal better than a business founded on friendship.”

-John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil

20) “An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he’ll quickly learn how to chew it.”

-Roy Ash, co-founder of Litton Industries

21) “I've been blessed to find people who are smarter than I am, and they help me to execute the vision I have.”

-Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam

22) “One of the unique things we small companies have over the big guys is the ability to establish personal relationships. Big companies really can't do that. You read about effective organizations, learning organizations, lean and mean organizations, but small companies can be virtuous. We as small companies can have virtue because we as small companies are basically the embodiment of one or two people, and people can have virtue, while organizations really can't."

-Jim Koch, founder of Boston Beer Company

23) “Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you're generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don't make.”

-Donald Trump, real estate developer

24) “High expectations are the key to everything.”

-Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart

SATISFACTION

25) “I find that when you have a real interest in life and a curious life, that sleep is not the most important thing.”
-Martha Stewart, founder of Omnimedia

MY FAVOURITE NIGERIAN ON-LINE WEALTH BLOGGER

2014-04-28T05:53:00.001-07:00

Akin Alabi(CEO NairaBet.com)

Serial entrepreneur, Otunba Akin Alabi, CEO of online betting company, NairaBet.com and OverTheTop Entertainment, home to acts like Skuki has proved himself as a successful entrepreneur that has what it takes to change the society for better.
Akin Alabi has invested in nigerian economy from,sports,properties,music,etc.He is a mentor to so many people including my humble self.

GUESS WHAT ATTRACTED HIM TO ME!
His passion to succeed and create wealth for people to benefit.He is a successful net-entrepreneur who has impacted on many lives in Nigeria and beyond.
The difference between him and others is;he is ready to transfer his knowledge to those who crave for it.

WILL BE TELLING YOU MORE ABOUT HIS NAIRABET IN OUR NEXT EDITION
Stay blessed ! Yinka Richards

……Get Smarty….Go Ahead

2014-04-23T03:42:00.000-07:00

STRETCH YOURSELF

Several years ago,I was awakened in the middle of the night with this thought,’Don’t live within your means’. What do I mean by don’t live within your means? I believe we should act bigger, believe bigger, think bigger, associate higher in order to make your destiny great.Your outlook determines your oucome. So, make your plans BIG.

Talk to people smarter than you,listen to those more spiritual than you,and ask questions of those more successful than you.if the shoe fits,don’t wear it.You are not allowing room for growth.

Think of it!

3 steps to great success

2014-04-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Today's article is simple but brutally effective.

I'm about to reveal to you 3 keys to acheiving great success in life. If you're not yet successful, then you need to pay close attention.

Let's go...

Key 1: Stop dreaming

The world is filled with dreamers yet we've got very few doers. If you want to succeed in life, you have to start doing the things you believe will make you succeed.

Do you have a business idea? Then go out and do something about it.

If you don't do anything, you can never make it. Period!

Key 2: Invest your time

We've got only 24 hours in a day. Whether you're rich or poor, we all have the same number of hours to work with.

The Bill Gates and the Warren Buffets of this world had only 24 hours a day yet they made billions. It's what they did in those hours that made them all that money.

How do you spend your time? Especially your spare time. If what you do will not make you a successful person tomorrow, then you have to change

Key 3 : Seek information and help

To succeed in this age, you need information. Quality and life changing information I mean.

Recently, I was talking to a friend how I make thousands of dollars monthly by selling ebooks online and he was surprised that such a thing exists. He did not have the information. That is the difference between the two of us.

Always seek for information from the right sources. From people you admire, from the internet, investment and self development journals etc.

Then ask the poeple you come across how to apply such information. This is important because information without application is useless.

Thanks for your time today.
Yinka Richards-A.k.a Dream-naija

IT IS POSSIBLE

2014-04-16T01:55:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a very rich man who was getting somewhat long in the tooth.

He’d had a long, wonderful life and now, he wanted to leave his considerable fortune to his three daughters. They had married well. The rich, old guy had great affection and respect for all three of the gentlemen his daughters had chosen to marry.

So he boogies on down to the offices of the law firm which handles all the legal details of his business affairs. He tells his attorneys what he wants to do… and… that’s when he began to learn the harsh realities of the probate, estate and inheritance laws in his country.

These Laws Are Flat Out Insane!

They are (naturally) ridiculously complex. But, when you boil them down to their essence, it all amounts to this: Whenever God decides to bring you “home”, the process of transferring your money, property and all other forms of your wealth to your loved ones (or, even to your favorite charities) will involve:

(A.) A very long and totally ridiculous legal process.

(B.) Giving a ridiculously high percentage of your wealth to one or more unworth, attorneys and

(C.) Giving the Government another ridiculous, unfair and huge chunk of your net worth.

After his attorneys explained all this to him, the rich, old guy was not a happy camper. Being a God-fearing man, he decided to express his feelings in a Biblical manner. Then, he looked up at this team of high-priced attorneys and spoke thus…

This Sucketh!

He then asked if all the laws pertaining to probate could be found in the legal books his attorneys had in their private law library. They answered him in the affirmative. Then he asked if he could be left alone in the law library for a few hours every day during the coming week. His attorneys (behind his back, of course) rolled their eyes heavenward, but nevertheless, they granted his simple request.

Hey, what could it hurt?

The old man had been a good client for many years. Why shouldn’t they honour him? And thus, it came to pass, the old man closeted himself in the firm’s law library for the better part of a week.

After that, he courteously thanked his attorneys and informed them they need not concern themselves with this area of his affairs any longer. The attorneys (sensing a loss of income) tried to dissuade him. But, alas, they could not.

The old man returned home and went about his business. He decided to throw a huge party to announce his retirement. He invited hundreds of people (including his attorneys) to this gala event.

There was wine, food, music, other forms of entertainment, good conversation and, in general, a fine time was had by all who attended. When the party was at its peak, the rich old guy asked the musicians to take a break so he could mount the stage, pick up the microphone and make a few comments. He thanked everybody for coming.

He briefly described (with humility) the highlights of the rich, good life with which God had blessed him. He had a wonderful wife, three wonderful daughters, wonderful friends, a wonderful business, and, he had enjoyed excellent health. No man, he said, had been more blessed. The only smudge on his otherwise wonderful life was that…

The Three Men His Daughters Had Chosen To Marry Were Crooks, Thieves, And All-Around Unethical, Dishonest Scum!

He went on and on about this.

The partygoers were astonished.

They all thought the old man had respected and even loved the three men his daughters had married. How could he be saying these awful things? In public? At an event where everyone was being video taped?

From time to time, individuals in the crowd would sneak a peek at the three young men who were being so unfairly depicted. They seemed remarkably composed, as did their wives, (the old man’s daughters) during this tirade.

Anyway, shortly after the old man had had his say, the party seemed to lose its festive atmosphere. All the guests went home, and, no one was surprised when, a few days later, a front page story in the local newspaper, about, how those three, maligned young men were suing the rich old guy for everything he had.

No one was surprised when they won their lawsuit either. After all, they had hundreds of witnesses, and, even a high quality video tape of all the old guy’s libelous and public statements.

And so, it came to pass that all the old men’s wealth was lost in this vicious lawsuit. His three sons-in-lawsGOT IT ALL, which, of course, they shared with their wives, whom they loved very dearly.

And, believe it or not, they even found a way in their hearts to “forgive” the old man, and, they gave him a generous (very generous) allowance so he could exquisitely enjoy the golden twilight years of his life. And, guess what, his daughters, their husbands and, his grandchildren had all this money and…

Nobody Had To Pay A Penny In Inheritance Taxes! Or Income Taxes!

Or state taxes! Or capital gains taxes! Or property taxes! Or… any other type of taxes whatsoever!

Why? Simply because, all the money that is won in a lawsuit for damages is always 100% tax-free! Bet your attorney never told you that, did he? I wonder why? No, it’s probably not because he doesn’t want you to know. More likely… it’s simply that he’s so “brain dead,” he has no clue about the significance of this fact.

But that rich, old man, who didn’t know, it was impossible to avoid these unfair probate laws… went ahead and avoided them anyway. Please, let me say it again…

Nothing Is Impossible For A Person Who Doesn’t Know It Can’t Be Done!

I don’t know the creator of the story I’ve just shared with you but I heard it for the first time from the late, legendary direct response marketer, Gary Halbert. Looking back at my business career, most of what I’ve been able to accomplish is a direct result of my attitude and my belief, the type demonstrated by the rich old man in the story above.

What about you?

What are the excuses holding you back? Your ambition is not impossible to achieve if you don’t believe it can’t be done. Like motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, “your business is neither good or bad out there… your business is either good or bad right here, in between your two ears”.

The Number One Reason Why Most People Fail With Their Small Businesses

2014-04-16T01:40:00.004-07:00

When I was in secondary school, my economics teacher used to say that the number one reason why most small businesses fail is because of lack of adequate capital. I believed my teacher like most of us did. Why not? He was my teacher and he knew it all. There was no way I could…

Question His Authority.

What I have found out over the years since I’ve been in business is that while having adequate capital is vital and essential, it is not the biggest reason why most people do not make money with their businesses. I’ve come across a lot of business owners that had access to a lot of money but their businesses still struggled in the market place.

So, was my economics teacher lying to us?

I won’t go that far. He was innocently passing across what some other people passed across to him. He had never done any kind of business so all he taught us were mere theories.

From my experience in business and consulting for other small business owners, I’ve since discovered that the reason why most businesses do not make money and fail at the end of the day is simply because…

They Do Not Sell What People Want To Buy!

Are you surprised? Don’t be. You see, the truth about business success is that once you offer people what they WANT to buy, your business will make you more money than you can ever spend. Lack of adequate capital will not be an issue as customers and investors will literately beg you to take their money.

Before you launch out with any kind of business, you must ask yourself: do people really want my product or service? If you cannot answer that question with a straight face, then do not bother to start the business.

Do not make mediocre assumptions like most people do.

Assumptions like “Every human being must eat so I will sell food” or “every human being must drink water so I will sell water”, or “every human being must wear clothes so I will sell clothes”.

Yada. Yada. Yada.

Don’t get me wrong.

I’m not saying food, water and clothes will not make you money. What I’m saying is that you should not follow general assumptions. Have you asked yourself if people actually WANT the kinds of food you want to sell? If you have not, you must have a rethink.

I remember a lady telling me years back that because we must all use salt to cook, she would make millions selling salt. I laughed really hard because I do not know the volume of salt she would sell in her shop to make millions. Come to think of it. If you organize a big party, you cannot finish a bag of salt!

If you want to make a lot of money, you should sell what people WANT to buy and not what people NEED to buy. Products people need to buy will make you decent money but products people want to buy will fly off the shelves…

Faster Than a Texas Tornado.

For those that are wondering what the difference between a product people NEED to buy and a product people WANT to buy is, kindly give me an opportunity to explain. There is a colossal difference between the two and I will explain with an illustration.

Let’s assume you’re a mobile book seller and you have just taken stock of two new books. One of them is titled “How to easily pass WAEC and JAMB” and the second is titled “How to inexpensively relocate to Canada”. Let’s also assume you are about to market the books to group of secondary school leavers.

Before we go any further, let me ask you this: if you have a son that has just completed his secondary school education, what will you advise him to do at that stage in his life? Pass JAMB and go for his university education or travel abroad to work? The obvious answer is to pass JAMB and go to a university because that is what he NEEDS at that stage of his life.

I want you to imagine a situation where you can gather 100 teenagers that have just completed their secondary school education. Ask them what they will prefer. To pass JAMB and go to a university of to travel abroad? I can guarantee it that 90% of them will choose to travel abroad. Why?

Because that is what they WANT!

Are you getting the picture? You have a bigger chance of success when you sell wants. When it comes to wants, human beings do not make their buying decisions based on common sense. We tend to buy emotionally.

Why do you think sports newspapers sell more than business newspapers? We NEED business news, but what we WANT is sports news. We don’t care that these footballers we religiously follow their careers are already multi millionaires.

The lesson is simple: before you start that business, make sure the product or service you want to offer the public is what the really want and not what they need!

Yinka Richards
A.k.a Dream-Naija

PS: I’m sure you learnt something powerful today. I mean something practical you can apply to your business right away. If you didn’t, it’s not because I did not share a powerful lesson. We have to come to the conclusion that you are simply…

Beyond All Hope.

Peace.

NIGERIANS NEED CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP

2014-04-13T03:37:00.001-07:00

Nigerians have began to pray for an emergence of a eadership that is void of corruption,focussed and selfless.Dream-naija moved round the town to celebrate the most revered palm sunday with worshippers in churches ad discovered the only prayers n the lips of the people is LORD GRANT US CHANGE

2014-01-22T01:54:00.002-08:00

Day soldiers feted civilians in Ondo

Officers and men of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, in Akure, Ondo State had their 2013 end-of-year party at the Owena Cantonment penultimate weekend and it was a day to remember, Dream-naija reports

If you think the military is all about war and peacekeeping, then you need to attend a “West African Social Activities” or WASA as it is better known organised by the Nigerian Army to see the civilian side of the soldiers.

Officers and men of 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Owena Cantonment in Akure, Ondo State capital had one recently and the civilians invited had the opportunity to rub shoulders with the soldiers and saw them in mufti or civilian clothes as against their normal khaki uniform.

WASA or “Civilian day” as some would call it is an annual event meant to take officers away from their routine regimented life to an atmosphere where they unwind and relax freely with one another as well as with their civilian brothers and sisters.

It was an event that dated back to the colonial era when Britain had the West African Frontier Forces comprising of units from her various colonies in the subregion, Nigeria being one of them.

The forbearers of the West African units distinguished themselves in many battles under the British flag and due to the diverse cultural inclinations of the West African soldiers, the colonial authorities introduced the West African Social Activities as an annual social event in response to the requests by soldiers to participate in their local cultural rituals.

The Nigerian Army derived its existence from the Frontier Forces and when Nigeria gained her Independence from the United Kingdom WASA was officially adopted in the Army, as a way of showcasing the cultural backgrounds of officers and soldiers from Nigeria’s rich and diverse heritage.

Apart from the officers and men of 32 Artillery Brigade and their families, friends, retired Generals and other top ranking soldiers returned to the barracks at Owena Cantonment on that day to celebrate the event with their friends and colleagues.

Not only this, other security agencies, like men of Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), State Security Service (SSS), Traditional rulers, Government officials and members of the public were all invited.

The event was unique in the sense that, it was the second time the barrack was having its WASA under the leadership of the Brigade’s new Commander, Brigadier-General A. M. Dikko, who succeeded Brigadier-General Mansur Dan Ali (rtd).

Cultural displays from various ethnic groups in the country were performed mainly by soldiers, their families, members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), in the barracks and members of Ondo State Cultural Troupe. Traditional dancers from Enugu and Delta States, and Ikale in Ondo State among others, were all allowed to showcase their talents at the event.

In his address, Brigadier-General Dikko said, WASA was initiated for the purpose of strengthening the relationship of the civil populace and the military men.

Dikko said: “WASA is a forum where the military shows appreciation to friends and the deserving personnel through the presentation of gifts and award as well. This event normally takes place in the last month of the year.

“It was rescheduled to January this year in order to give allowance to festive celebration and to enable our good friends and good people of Ondo State to witness and have a feel of our culture.

”You might be surprised to know that most of the cultural shows that will be staged here will be performed by soldiers and their families. At the same time we have also leveraged on the rich cultural heritage of Akure and its environs.

”The Nigerian Army is constituted by people from almost all ethnic and cultural groups in the country. This is what makes it a unique organisation that is aware of its cultural and societal obligation and always seeks to promote and guard Nigeria heritage, particularly at formations and unit levels.

”WASA has come to stay like other events all over Nigerian Army formations and units. It is a means of bringing families of soldiers to interact and celebrate the end of year and as well as to preserve the rich cultural heritage of our nation.

“The cordial relationship that had existed between the 32 Artillery Brigade and the people of Ondo State and also Ekiti State which is one of our areas of responsibility has been commendable.

“We are also reaffirming our commitment to the aspirations of the two state governments and the protection of lives and property in the country.

”This event is remarkable to members of the 32 Artillery Brigade, during last year under review, the Brigade participated in a couple of activities. I am glad to inform you that the Brigade singled itself out and came third in all the competitions that we participated in 2013. We are grateful to the government of Ekiti and Ondo States for all the assistance rendered to the Brigade.

“Our feeling also goes to the families of soldiers who went out for operations in other parts of the nation and also outside the country in response to national duties”.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was represented by his Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Bekekhimi Idhiarhi praised the soldiers for partnering with other security agencies in ensuring that the State is crime free.

Mimiko, however called for more cordial relationship between the Military and the civilians, as the country prepares for another general elections in 2015.

2014-01-22T01:51:00.000-08:00

Uproar in House as APC members claim majority

Gbajabiamila calls Leo Ogor Minority Leader
Members of the House of Representatives returned from the Christmas/ New Year break to a rowdy session yesterday.
The session also saw members criss- crossing from one party to the other. APC lost two members —Francis Hananiya and Ganama Titsi, who moved to PDP, Adamawa. PDP also lost two members to the APC, with Emmanuel Jimeh (PDP) moving to APC (Benue) and Yahaya Kwande (PDP) to APC (Plateau).
But members of the APC, who insisted on changes in the leadership, deferred to a court order and withheld the letter they had intended to read on the floor, asking for a change in leadership due to their numerical strength, which the leader of the opposition, Femi Gbajabiamila, said “ is 20 more than the PDP”.
There was confusion as members of the APC and the PDP launched into hot exchanges, threats, shoving and insults.
The leadership change tension exploded in near violence over a statement made by Minority Leader Gbajabiamila.
Plenary was on hold for over 20 minutes as the chamber became a scene of angry members.
Trouble started when Aliu Madaki (APC Kano) brought up a matter under urgent national importance on the Rivers State crisis and the attack on Senator Magnus Abe. According to him, what is happening in Rivers State if not curtailed, could spell doom for Nigeria’s fledging democracy.
He urged the House to adopt his prayers, which called on the President to sack the Inspector General of Police, and asked for the dismissal of the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, by the Police Service Commission and his prosecution for all the perceived crimes he may have committed.
But the Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor, raised a fundamental issue of fair hearing under point of constitutional order.
Citing Section 36 of the Constitution, Ogor said: “Nobody should be crucified without hearing from him. If we take the resolution, it might become an embarrassment.”
But Gbajabiamila said the responsibility of the government is the security and the welfare of its citizens. He referred to Ogor as the Deputy Minority Leader.
This infuriated the PDP members. A horde of PDP members headed in Gbajabiamila’s direction. Believing they were bent on attacking Gbajabiamila, APC members sprang to their feet, and raced toward them off.
A tumultuous crowd submerged Gbajabiamila on his seat.
Efforts to get Gbajabiamila to recant his description of Ogor proved abortive. While the PDP members demanded a retraction, the APC members encouraged him to stand firm.
Thereafter, hot exchanges, threats, shoving, warnings and insults began, with members of the opposing parties almost throwing punches.
Speaker Aminu Tambuwal looked on as his initial efforts to quieten the House failed.
Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Samson Osagie, Victor Ogene, Karmil Akinlabi, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi and a host of others conferred with the Speaker.
It was a battle of supremacy that brought the plenary to an abrupt halt and replaced it with an uproar that lasted over 20 minutes.
Eventually, the Chamber quietened and the Speaker asked members to allow Gbajabiamila finish his submission. He opined that Gbajabiamila who he said “is a very senior lawyer and a ranking member of this House” must have been joking by addressing Ogor in such manner.
Gbajabiamila, however, stuck to his guns, saying: “With deference to Mr. Speaker, I will hereby refer to Hon. Leo Ogor as Hon. Leo Ogor.”
This brought a loud protestation from the members of the PDP who had expected Gbajabiamila to either retract his words or apologise.
The Speaker thereafter referred Madaki’s motion to the House Committees on Rules and Business, Judiciary and Justice. They are to report back to the House within one week.
Tambuwal admonished members to be careful of their actions, saying he is aware of the desire of the APC to assume the majority position of the House, but that as an institution, the House must not be seen to be flouting court orders even if they are questionable.
Said the Speaker: “We should be the last either as an institution or individuals to disobey court order. Let us continue as leaders to manage what I would refer to as an interesting development.
“We should work together as one. Politics we must play, but the institution of the House of Representatives is key to the stability of democracy. So, we should not slide into a situation in which we cannot conduct our business here. Nigerians will be the losers”.
The drama in the House came to an amiable end. Gbajabiamila and Ogor were sitting together about five minutes to the end of the plenary, laughing and sharing jokes.
At a news conference after the plenary, Gbajabiamila described the court order secured by the PDP as “strange” and “shameless”.
He said: “PDP’s restraining order is shameless as the constitution and the House rules are clear. We abide by the court order for now, until we study it in detail. With the court order, they are only trying to delay the inevitable.
“The situation in the House as at now is ridiculous because it’s the only legislature in the world where minority is in control. But we want to say here clearly that the numerical strength of the House has changed.
“APC more than PDP even with the two members that defected. How can the party with the majority be in the minority?
Ali Ahmad, Chairman House Committee on Justice and a former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Kwara State said the court lacked the powers to entertain such cases.
Describing the court order as a “Strange court order”, he said: “The quality of debate has not reflected the fact because arguments are not premised on the fact that no court has said there is no faction in PDP.
“PDP knew that there is a faction. The court did not even have the jurisdiction to stall another arm of government from performing its job. It is disturbing because there is no amount of urgency that will allow an arm of government to prevent the other from performing its responsibility to the people.”
Samson Osage, the Minority Whip, said: “We affirm our faith in the leadership of the House that has demonstrated fairness in the affairs of the House.
“We are not tenants in this country and to ridicule an arm of government by another arm through the court is not good for our democracy.”

Reps move to simplify impeachment process of President,Vice President

2013-06-05T01:31:00.001-07:00

A bill with the aim of simplifying the procedure for impeaching the country’s President and Vice-President passed second reading at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The bill seeks to amend Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) “to remove the ambiguities in the process of removal of the President and the Vice-President from office on allegations of gross misconduct and to provide for a more transparent and democratic procedure for impeachment…”
Sponsored by a lawmaker from Bauchi State, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, it seeks to adopt the American model of impeachment by giving the sole powers to remove the President to the National Assembly.
According to Dogara, adopting this model will alter the present constitutional requirement where the Chief Justice of Nigeria will constitute a panel of seven persons to investigate any allegations of gross misconduct made against the President.
He stated that this power would now be transferred to the Senate, which would sit to convict the President after he would have been impeached by the House.
However, he added that the CJN would preside over the sitting of the Senate to convict the President.
Dogara claimed that the current provision whittled down the powers of the National Assembly, noting that should the CJN’s panel fail to establish the allegations levelled against the President, the legislature would be ridiculed.
He spoke further on why the current provision in Section 143 needs to be changed, “Once the omnipotent panel of seven is constituted by the CJN, who himself is an appointee of the President, and the panel reaches a decision, no authority, not even the courts can question it.
“This may ridicule the National Assembly to the high heavens.
“It will be unprecedently ridiculous for a body consisting of 469 members to pass a resolution supported by two-thirds of its members only for a panel of seven to throw it out.”
Dogora tried to rally support for the bill by telling his colleagues that President Gooduck Jonathan was not the target of the bill.
“This bill is not talking about a particular office holder here.
“It has nothing to do with the current administration”, he added.
Another lawmaker from Benue State, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, also told the House that Jonathan was not the target of the bill.
“This bill is not meant to impeach President Jonathan.
“It is an attempt to return to the House the powers that belongs to us to call check the Executive,” he added.
However, many members kicked against the bill, describing it as “unnecessary, “undemocratic” and “a waste of parliamentary time.”
Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, known for supporting such reform bills in the past, opposed this one.
The Action Congress of Nigeria legislator from Lagos State expressed concern over the “timing” of the bill, which he said could send the wrong signals over its real intention.

I’m Not Jealous Of Alariwo’s Female Fans — Wife

2013-06-05T01:25:00.001-07:00

His real name is Rotimi Martins but many refer to him as Alariwo of Africa. A musician cum entertainer, he is married to Sola and they have three children. The couple, talk about their 17-year-old union
How long have you been married?
Alariwo: We have been married for 17 years.
What attracted you to her?
Alariwo: She visited my friend alongside her friend and I was attracted to her conduct. Immediately, I knew she would be mine. I knew I would be comfortable with her for the rest of my life and I proposed to her on the first day.
Sola: I met him in Oregun. That day, I went out with a friend and we ended up at her boyfriend’s place. That boyfriend happened to be Rotimi’s friend and we started talking. In fact, he proposed to me the first day he met me.
When he approached you, what went through your mind?
Sola: I had just the normal feeling but I liked him.
Was he a star when you met him?
Sola: No, he was just a Deejay. It was after I met him that he went to the studio to record his first album. That he was not a celebrity or star didn’t cross my mind. I just liked him and agreed to marry him. When he became an entertainer, I didn’t mind as long as it didn’t disturb my marriage.
Are there times you wish he was not a musician?
Sola: No.
How has the marriage been over the years?
Sola: Interesting but sometimes challenging. In all, our love for each other and our children has kept us going.
Alariwo: It takes the grace of God to be in a sustained marriage and be a father, a husband and a musician.
Do you get jealous when his female fans come around?
Sola: Why should I? That would be foolhardy of me because he is a musician. Entertainment attracts women and it would be unfair to send them away with my jealousy. I don’t get jealous because his kind of job entails women flocking around him. Besides, I know he is all mine when he gets home, so why bother with any woman outside?
In what ways has marriage changed the both of you?
Alariwo: Many ways. While we were dating, we never cared about any other person aside the two of us but now, we have responsibilities.
Sola: Some of the things we did while we were courting have stopped because of the children. Apart from that, I am not the outgoing type and I’ve never encouraged having a maid at home. When we go out now, we go as a family to see movies, eat out and party. We always observe a family holiday.
Were your parents happy that you wanted to marry an entertainer?
Sola: No, they were not angry but they were a bit apprehensive. Then, entertainment was no big deal and their initial reaction was expected. Later, they embraced the relationship and I don’t think they regret allowing me to marry him.
Alariwo: Initially, her parents were a little bit uncomfortable because I was an entertainer. When my parents met her, in less than an hour, they knew she was the right person for me.
When you quarrel who is the first to apologise?
Sola: Most of the time, I apologise first. I go on my knees and I tell him I am sorry.
Alariwo: If she is at fault she will apologise and vice versa.
Apart from apologising verbally, what other things do you do to show remorse?
Alariwo: I make it up to her by buying her gifts or I take her out on a date.
How do you spend time together as a couple?
Sola: See a movie or sometimes, we go out.
Alariwo: My schedule is very busy but I do create time to spend with them.
What are those things you dislike about each other?
Sola: I don’t like my husband’s temper. He gets angry easily. He’s hot-tempered.
Alariwo: She does not like my temper. I don’t like when she demands for money—her timing is bad. This is a common feature with most women and I don’t like it.
What would you say has kept your marriage going all these years?
Sola: Tolerance, love and the fear of God.
Alariwo: Patience, tolerance, understanding and the grace of God have been keeping our marriage.
Apart from being his wife, what else do you do?
Sola: I am into business— I buy, I sell and I make jewellery and accessories.
What are the best gifts you have given each other?
Alariwo: I have given her cars and she has given me three beautiful children.
What advice will you give to couples especially those who are in the limelight?
Alariwo: I will always advise that, ‘See but pretend you didn’t see. Hear but you pretend as if you never heard.’ That way, you are not influenced or controlled by external factors. This keeps your home in place.
Sola: First, I will advise the women. When you see anything, pretend as if you didn’t see. Whatever you hear anything, feign ignorance. That way, you will be at peace, your marriage is in place and you are happy. Moreover, couples should respect and tolerate each other’s shortcomings. You should know that you are from different background and had a different upbringing.
What kind of man is your husband?
Sola: He is very caring and loving as a husband. As a father, he is loving and second to none. He puts his family first in everything and he does not fail to provide for our needs.
Are there times when you are suspicious of your husband?
Sola: Yes, I am not a perfect woman and sometimes, such things bother me. But when I remember I am the only one in his life, I perish such thoughts.

AMAECHI ADAMANT,VOWS NOT TO STEP DOWN AS NIGERIA GOVERNOR'S FORUM CHAIRMAN

2013-06-05T01:17:00.002-07:00

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, on Tuesday rebuffed suggestions that he should step down as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, following the emergence of a faction of the Forum headed by his Plateau State counterpart, Jonah Jang.
He said he will stick to the mandate freely given to him by his colleagues in the election two weeks ago in which he polled 19 votes to Mr. Jang’s 16.
Mr. Amaechi told journalists in Abuja after inspecting the NGF secretariat belonging to his faction that it was wrong to ask him to relinquish the office of the chairman he was elected into and reminded Mr. Jang and his self acclaimed deputy, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, that God hates liars and heaven is real.
“Mimiko and I are Christians and I think he’s a good Christian and one of the sins against God is the sin of lying, I am not saying he is lying but I am saying Mimiko voted,” the Rivers State Governor said while reacting to Mr. Mimiko’s statement in the media that he (Mimiko) did not vote during the controversial election.
“I think they suspected that they will (not) win and Mimiko was one of those who refused to vote, but when they whisper among themselves and they thought they will win, they all casted their votes. Those governors who were pro-Amaechi voted first and those against him voted last. Tell Mimiko that I said he voted. Mimiko voted, everybody there voted.”
Also speaking about Mr. Jang, Mr. Amaechi, who was in company of the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said, “I want to urge Jang because he said he is Christian, to know that God watches over everybody and whatever you say, say it according to God because beyond NGF you and I know that there is heaven and you can’t go to heaven if you don’t tell the truth and stand by the truth.”
The Rivers State Governor, while responding to the video clip of the election, which leaked to the media last week, explained that when he was informed that one of the governors was recording it, he did all he could to protect the interest of all the governors by calling the governor to order.
He said he has now realized that the governor was doing the right thing as the video has turned out to be a historical evidence about the election.

Why I’m no more a pastor –Queen Ure Okezie

2012-09-19T03:18:00.001-07:00

Queen Ure Okezie, who was a banker for more than a decade, is an interesting personality. This diva, ex-pastor, celebrity, ex-wife of Soul-E, a musician, whose marriage crashed after a few years, is a great beauty. In this interview with Adaeze Amos, she reveals why she stopped being a pastor and how she regained her composure when her marriage crashed.

Please, tell us a little about your growing up

Growing up was awesome. I have a beautiful family. I was born in the 1970s. My late father used to be in government; he was a minister twice - the Minister of Agriculture and then Minister of Health. I’m the only girl and the last born. I was pampered, loved but not spoilt. I attended Federal Government Girls’ College, Owerri, Imo State. My dad started giving us books to read very early in life.

Were you then born with a silver spoon?

I would say I was born with a silver spoon. My father wasn’t just a government person, he was a medical doctor. He owned his own hospital, a big central hospital and most people from Umuahia, where I come from, were coming there. My dad was their family doctor. He practised for 50 years. He became a doctor when he was 25 and died at the age of 77, still practising. My dad was a disciplinarian, an academic. Having a doctor as a father entailed a lot of reading.

How about your mum?

Oh yeah, she is a female activist. At the moment, she is the special adviser to Abia state governor on human mobilization. She is still strong, she is less than 70 and she is even lighter in complexion than I am. I have a very wonderful mum. She is a fashionista too.

What’s your discipline in the university?

I studied Physics at the University of Jos. I’m a scientist and I’m abreast with all the scientific new findings. When people learn that I studied Physics, they usually tell me that I look like someone who studied Theatre Arts. My best subject, growing up in school, was Mathematics. I enjoyed studying Physics too.

You were once in the banking sector; what were some challenges that confronted you then?

Well, I was in the industry for over a decade. Immediately after my youth service, I got into the Diamond Bank, then Zenith Bank, after that Platinum Bank. That was before it became Bank PHB, after that Fin Bank. It was wonderful, no regrets at all. The corporate world would give you that proper foundation of discipline, of being goaloriented. It would give you the experience of being a subordinate and a supervisor. You would learn how to work with people and it would increase your interpersonal relationship skill. You would have knowledge of how to run your own company or organisation when you want to. Waking up early and going home late just became part of my lifestyle. You start doing something and you get used to it. At 4 a.m., your alarm rings and you are not getting home until 10 p.m. I knew that it wasn’t something I would keep doing for a long time, until retirement. I knew it was strenuous and it was something I would just do for a while and let go. But it was good while I was there.

How did you develop the passion for music having studied Physics and worked in the banking sector for over a decade?

Music has always been part of me right from childhood. My mother is a great singer but she would just sing in the shower and then in the church. Music is something in our family. I have been writing songs but hardly ever publicised them. I had a music group on campus known as Rubies. Basically, I have been into music, although I have been doing other things. But now, I want to face it squarely.

You were a pastor, why did you step out from pastoral work?

Most of last year, I was out of the country and I handed the ministry over to someone. You know how it is when you are not the one there, they had some challenges and they couldn’t continue. I still go to church every Sunday. I have gone back to my former church which is Household of God Church, owned by Pastor Chris Okotie.

Is that why people are insinuating that you have an intimate relationship with Pastor Chris Okotie; is it true?

Well, I think that both of us (Pastor Chris and myself) are two people who God’s hand is upon. So, in our lives, only the counsel of God will stand. I’m in Household to worship. I have been a householder for years. Pastor Chris is a man of God that I hold in high esteem and I respect him a lot.

When you are down, what do you do to derive your inspiration?

I can’t be down for five minutes, it is not possible. I mean why should I be down in this beautiful world?

Don’t you cry?

I cry sometimes. I can’t sit down for five minutes brooding. Five minutes is too long for me to be down. If there is anything, maybe it would just hit me that moment and then I remind myself that I’m here on earth to enjoy and not to cry. Crying doesn’t change anything. I don’t stay down.

What do you do when you are heartbroken?

Why should people be heartbroken? Is it that you are in a relationship and the person walks out or when a person is not getting enough attention from the person she loves? Well, you are bound to feel bad for a while. I don’t think it is right to desire to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with you. It doesn’t even make sense to begin to cry over someone. There are over a billion people on earth and then you choose one person and begin to cry over the person, it doesn’t make sense.

Haven’t you been heartbroken before?

I have but I didn’t get heartbroken for long because I’m a wonderful person, I’m a loving person, I’m fun to be with and anyone who has me is blessed. That is the way I look at it. Someone should know your value and if the person doesn’t know, it is his loss. Women should begin to value themselves and you should be a woman that a man would need, not a woman that needs a man. That doesn’t mean I can’t fall in love and I’m like, ‘oh my God I would like to be with this person’. I’m a very open person; if I like you, I would tell you I like you and the whole world would know I like you. I’m not someone who hides my feelings. But if you didn’t feel the same way, before you know what is going on, I’m done with you.

When your marriage with Soul-E crashed, all sorts of things were written about you and…

I didn’t even let that bother me (cuts in). Yes, if you meet a million people, they would have a million opinions about you. And those opinions have nothing to do with who you are. From my early childhood, I grew not to bother about what people think of me because time would eventually unfold who you truly are

2012 budget: Reps suspend plenary to probe ministries *****Insist Oteh must go

2012-09-19T02:54:00.001-07:00

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday declared that the House would suspend its sittings for one week for its 90 committees to investigate the level of implementation of the 2012 budget by every agency and ministry. The Speaker, who made the announcement at the resumption of the lawmakers from a two-month recess, reiterated the House’s dissatisfaction with the poor implementation of budget by the executive. He said: “In the course of the week, a day will be set aside to deliberate in plenary session, the level of budget implementation as collated by the various committees.
“Budget in Nigeria has become a yearly ritual. The Appropriation Act is observed more in the breach than in execution. “It is time to remind us all that Appropriation Act is a law passed by the National Assembly and assented by the President. It is not a document of convenience to be executed as officials deem necessary.
“It is a solemn legal commitment of government to intervene in various areas of need of our people. “It is the instrument of infrastructural and economic development. The budget allocates resources and guides governmental activities in a given year.
“When this House insists on budget implementation by the executive, it is never meant to witch-hunt anybody.” The Speaker said the House was pushing for the implementation of Appropriation Act because the budget remained the only way representatives could touch the lives of their constituents.
“Budget implementation is the only way Nigerians can feel the direct impact of government in their daily lives. Our people have given us a clear mandate to represent them and advance their interest.
We are resolved to fulfill the terms of that contract, and to do so with integrity and honour. “We cannot continue to pay lip service to the idea of a better Nigeria, rid of the twin evils of poverty and disease. What do we show our people at the end of our tenure as our achievements? In what specific ways can we show our people that we have contributed to their economic, social and political well-being?
“Can we in good conscience go back to our people after four years to ask for yet another mandate if we are unable to show what we have done? This is the challenge facing us as elected representatives,” he added. He said the decision of the Presidency to monitor performance of ministries and agencies was in tune with a long-held conviction of the House.
He said: “May I also acknowledge the performance contract initiated by Mr. President to regulate the conduct of ministers. “This performance contract is a vindication of our position and resolution on budget implementation. “With specific reference to the 2012 budget, we have asked all committees of the House to collate information on the level of funding and implementation by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.”

The House had, before it adjourned for a two-month recess on July 19, issued a warning to the President to implement the 2012 budget 100 per cent by September or face impeachment on their resumption.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers yesterday demanded the sack of embattled Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Director-General, Ms. Arunma Oteh.

Oteh
A motion reminding the House of its resolution on July 19, 2012 recommending Oteh’s removal by the President was passed after a short debate. The motion, sponsored by Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, regretted that nearly two months after the resolution on Oteh was served the President, nothing was yet to be done to ask her to leave office on allegations of official misconduct.
“This resolution of the House was conveyed to the Executive arm of the Federal Government on July 19, 2012, by the Clerk of the National Assembly, CNA. “The resolution, among other issues, requested the President to terminate the appointment of Ms. Arunma Oteh, the Director-General, DG, of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, for being unqualified by law to serve as the DG of SEC, for incompetence and inability to manage the Commission and regulatory failures, which may lead to the collapse of the Capital Market, if unchecked,” Ossai reminded the plenary.
The House, in its motion yesterday, said it was “worried that the President recalled Ms. Arunma Oteh from suspension immediately the report of the Ad hoc Committee, which indicted her was made public, in flagrant contempt of the House and the feelings of the Nigerian people and investors who lost money in the capital market.”
The lawmakers also said they were worried that despite the fact that “the staff of Securities and Exchange Commission protested the recall of Oteh and even the letter by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, recalling her, cautioned her against flouting of the extant rules and administrative procedures in the conduct of all official transactions,” the “president has repeatedly refused to implement important resolutions”.
The House thereby resolved that in line with sections 3(2) (a) and section 38(1)(b), 2 and 3, and section 315 of the Investment and Securities Act(ISA), 2007, sack the DG SEC for incompetence and non-qualification to hold the office.
The House also warned that, “the House of Representatives or any of its Committees shall henceforth, cease to accord any recognition or deal with Ms. Arunma Oteh as Director- General of Securities and Exchange Commission.” The House also directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to, within 14 days report to the House on the compliance to the directive to the President.
It will be recalled that the House had had a protracted battle with the SEC DG in the course of its three-month investigations into the cause of the capital market crash.
The probe sessions which began with a substantive Committee on Capital Market, headed by the Hon. Herman Hembe, degenerated into a fiasco following an allegation by Oteh that legislators had demanded bribes from her for which Hembe is facing trial. Hon. Ibrahim Tukur Elsudi would later take over the probe and end it on a shuddering note, where Oteh was marked for sack on the basis of incompetence.

Ondo Guber: Mimiko to declare intent on July 25th

2012-07-19T01:36:00.003-07:00

Ondo Guber: Mimiko to declare intent on July 25^th

- As Igala community pledges support for his re-election bid

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has disclosed that he will declare his intent whether to run for governor for the second term on Wednesday 25^th July, 2012.

The Governor stated this on Wednesday, while addressing members of the Igala Community in the state who trooped his office to declare their support for his re-election bid.

He said his administration has been running an all inclusive government in the past three and a half years devoid of any discrimination to religious or ethnic groups in the state.

Mimiko while expressing his appreciation to members of Igala Communities for commiserating with him on the death of some leaders of the Students Union in the state, said that his government would continue to run an egalitarian government that will be fair to all residents of Ondo State.

The Governor also thanked the Igala people for giving the assurance of their supports to him and his administration in Ondo State.

The leader of the Igala Community (a tribe from Kogi State) in Ondo state, Mrs Blessing Imajiede, in her address told the Governor that members of her Community had been watching with keen interest the various developmental programmes of the State Government.

She also stated that they are in total support of Dr Mimiko for the second term in office, having been direct beneficiaries of the various empowerment programmes of the present administration in the state.

Imajiede promised her people’s continuous cooperation with the government and the people of Ondo State to ensure more development in the state.

Black|Up 1st International Store Coming To Ikeja City Mall, Alausa, Lagos Sunday on The July 22nd 2012

2012-07-19T01:21:00.000-07:00

black|Up Paris Set To Launch It’s First international Stand-Alone Store In Lagos, Nigeria

The Makeup Artist Brand With A Unique Concept
Montaigne Place Exclusive Retailers and partners with black|Up Paris in Nigeria is set to bring the first black|Up stand-alone shop outside Paris to Lagos. The store will be formally launched on the 22nd July 2012 at the Ikeja City Mall, Alausa, Lagos, Nigeria.

The Launch event will take place at the new black|Up store and will gather together special guests and celebrities. This unique event will feature live makeup demonstrations by a team of make-up artists headed by international Celebrity Makeup Artist and Creative Ambassador of black|Up, David Coranson, and presentations by professional models.

Founded in Paris in 1999 by a professional makeup artist of African ancestry, this is the first premium brand to enhance the look of black women and all women of colour. It offers luxurious skin care and makeup focused on modernity, elegance and innovation.
The black|Up woman
Since its creation in 1999, the brand has created products for a free and modern woman. A woman of colour who is proud of her roots and absolutely anchored in her era. Stylish and triumphant, a symbol of elegance, she accepts who she is and cultivates her beauty as well as her personality.

black|Up develops products that pair professional quality and pleasure of use: velvet textures, magical pigments, intense colours, as well as perfect coverage. Offering a wide choice of textures and shades adapted to the specific needs of black and golden skin.
Every black|Up product is developed and formulated to answer the specific needs of women of colour and to enhance their natural beauty. Give in to the addiction of the black|Up range of products that include:
Foundations are oil free and provide a perfect matte finish. They are designed to offer a high coverage and provide an even complexion while giving a natural makeup result. They are also enriched with luminous red, orange and yellow pigments which instantly light up golden and copper undertones contrary to mainstream brands which favour beige and pink undertones predominant in Caucasian skins. These light-reflecting pigments deliver an incredible radiance and instantly light up the skin from the first application.

Say goodbye to a dull complexion, a veil of powder to beautify the skin’s natural radiance. The popular ones are the Two Way Cake and Cream to Powder foundation, star product of blackUp Cosmetics, is your best friend for this season. You can build as much coverage as you want with this 2-in 1 compact powder and foundation, giving a light finish and shine-free result.
Eyeshadows in vibrant tones are the ideal make-up in a chic and glamorous version, customised for women of colour. Get the glowy touch and shape the facial features and brighten the complexion in the blink of an eye, no need to reach for the peachy pink or peach blush which fades on a golden or ebony skin. Colour can be enhanced thanks to a clever blend of shades.
Get the glamorous touch with a variety of Eye liners that are bound to set off any look you choose to go for.
This ultra-fine, silky textured Blush in a full range of warm, sparkling and sophisticated colors help accentuate and highlight cheekbones, finishing your complexion with a fresh, bright and radiant look.
Smile to bring out cheekbones, then gently sweep brush over cheeks with upward movements towards temple.

Lipsticks that come in candy pink, vibrant coral, poppy red or flashy plum and matte. Thanks to their smooth texture, the lipsticks glide on the lips to offer perfect coverage and radiant colour. Infused with wild mango butter, with moisturizing and healing properties, the lips stay ultra-comfortable. Shades are fine-tuned to show on dark lips.
Our superb collection of Lip glosses that leave lips with a high shine vinyl finish and a delectable fruity scent. The non sticky moisturizing formula contains Hyaluronic Spheres combined with Marine Collagen to keep lips soft and luscious. With this fabulous collection of shades, your lips will truly be pout-perfect and irresistible. Non-sticky, smooth and moisturizing texture nourishes lips subtly delectable fruity fragrance with ultimate comfort.
Get a flawless complexion with Perfect Matifying Primer, already a best seller thanks to its ultra matifying action and velvety finish. It is enriched with a new powerful active called Evermat, this new matifying gel is a 4 in 1 product which prepares the skin and sublimates makeup but also helps to minimize the look of pores and control excess sebum production.

Skincare products offer the ideal range of products to address the concerns of this skin type such as excessive sebum, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, dull patchy skin and lack of radiance.
Also available are Fragrances that were developed around noble and precious ingredients, as if crafted by a goldsmith. black|Up teamed up with Firmenich to create its first fragrance, constructed around spicy accords and a beautiful and sensual musk. A breeze of exotic lands and sun-ripened fruit for this amber-coloured essence that evokes women.

black|Up Boutique
black|Up is also available in 18 stores throughout Nigeria and in all Montaigne Place outlets.
For more information on black|Up, visit: www.blackup.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook/Black Up Nigeria (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Up-Nigeria/250469455065544#)
About Montaigne Place

Montaigne Place is the trading name of Montaigne AH Ltd, the luxury cosmetics, fragrance and well-being company that brought many exclusive and leading brands to Nigeria such as Clarins, Creed, Lalique, Dr Murad, Chanel, Christian Dior and many more.
Montaigne Place, Exclusive partners of the black|Up brand, launched the brand into the Nigerian market a few years ago; today this young brand known for innovation, style and modernity is a leader in the Nigerian premium cosmetics segment. Montaigne Place spearheaded by Alali H. Hart, who holds an MBA from Insead, France, has consistently broken grounds in the beauty and well-being industry.
Montaigne Place has consistently been recognized for its outstanding professionalism, innovation and contribution to the development of the Nigerian beauty and well being industry and as a result, the black|Up brand was chosen as the Exclusive make-up brand for the Inaugural Arise Magazine Fashion Week, Lagos 2011 and was responsible for all the exquisite and stunning make-up looks seen on the runways. A team of 30 black|Up makeup artists worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create looks for 50 different shows in the three days of the fashion week.
Montaigne Place and black|Up have also been the exclusive makeup partners for the Yearly international Elite Model Look Competition, currently in its fifth year.
The company currently has Fifteen stores located in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, with plans to roll out three more outlets in 2012.
For more information on Montaigne Place, visit: www.montaigneplace.com

Nigeria may appear before ICC , says Falana Nigeria may appear before ICC , says Falana

2012-07-19T01:18:00.000-07:00

. Lagos lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday said Nigeria may appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.
In a statement in Lagos yesterday, the rights’ activist accused the government of serial negligience and “criming breach of duty,” which caused the death of many.
He mentioned the killing of legislators in Plateau State and the death of villagers in Rivers State tanker fire.
The statement said Nigeria may be made to appear before the ICC for crimes against humanity.
It said: ‘’Not too long ago, Governor Jonah Jang claimed that he alerted the military authorities to an impending attack from some armed persons.As no precautionary steps were taken, there was a clash between two communities, which led to the killing of scores of people...
“On Thursday, July 2, 2012, there was an accident in Port Harcourt involving a tanker. Among the people scooping fuel from the tanker, about 200 persons were roasted in the inferno. While it is convenient to blame the tragic incident on greed and poverty, the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps and others failed to cordon off the scene and carry out rescue operation. The officials, whose criminal neglect led to the unfortunate incident were not sanctioned.
‘’Many citizens are killed daily on roads that are in states of disrepair due to the failure of governments to fix them.
‘’On Saturday, July 14, 2012, two policemen and an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) died when the rickety boat hired by the INEC to convey electoral materials to the riverine area in Edo State capsized...
‘’Following the disloyalty of the JTF in Plateau State and the criminal negligence of the Police, FRSC etc. in Rivers State and the corrupt practices of INEC, the Federal Government must go beyond the ritual of sending condolence messages...
‘’The government must pay compensation to the families of those who were killed as a result of gross official negligence...
‘’If the Federal Government lacks the political will to prosecute the public officers engaged in the extra-judicial killing of unarmed Nigerian citizens we shall invite the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.’’

SENDFORTH FOR TOP LAGOS CLUB MANAGER,JIBOLA OLUBIYI

2012-07-19T01:14:00.001-07:00

Sure by now you must have heard the news that Jibola Olubiyi the beautiful manager at Swe Bar has resigned.She got loads of love for her dedication to work as the chief executive of the hangout.Making things work at Swe bar for 6 years was no small feat.She was hosted on 16 June 2012 to a send forth.The latest news is that the hot chic who is well connected in the social circuit has started her own company.The brand known as 'Ayana' is an event planning company, according to what dream-naija.blogspot.com gathered, Ayana would rise in no time as one Nigeria's biggest and most sought after companies.
Congrats!

South Africans celebrate Mandela’s 94th birthday

2012-07-19T01:08:00.001-07:00

South Africa’s school children sang happy birthday to anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela who turned 94 on Wednesday, joining in the global praise for the much-loved statesman.

Mandela, whose 1990 release from an apartheid prison put South Africa on the path to democracy and reconciliation, spent a quiet day with his close family in his home village of Qunu, where he has retired from public life.

The nation’s 12 million schoolchildren began their day with a special birthday song for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, ringing with the line: “We love you father”.

“As we celebrate his birthday, we remember that he fought for us in the struggle. The struggle was to fight apartheid,” 12-year-old Kgaugelo Masunhloane at Batsogile primary school in Soweto said.

“He spent 27 years in prison. We would want to say thank you Madiba, and we wish you happy birthday, and many more years to come.”

Mandela, known fondly by his clan name Madiba, has not appeared in public since the World Cup in 2010. But his relatives said he was doing fine, for a man of 94.

Chief Mandla Mandela, the family’s head, said he was “relaxing at home and doing fine” at his Qunu home.

“Generally, he’s looking good and he’s joking, he’s his old self,” his granddaughter Tukwini Mandela told CNN from the family compound.

Images of Mandela have become rare since he retired to Qunu.

But he retains the ability to inspire, and for many South Africans remains a symbol of the best of themselves, for leading the nation away from civil war and to a non-racial democracy.

Former US president Bill Clinton met Mandela at his village home on Tuesday. A photograph released after the meeting showed Mandela seated in an armchair, his lap covered by a blanket, as he held Clinton’s hand.

A couple of buses and a few dozen cars were parked outside his home where entry was restricted to his close family members.

Villagers at his birthplace in nearby Mvezo were showered with gifts, including wheechairs donated to the only clinic in the village.

But fellow Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu warned that South Africa was not living up to Mandela’s ideals, saying he would be shocked at the shambolic state of public schools.

“If he (Mandela) knew what was happening he would be crying… it’s totally unacceptable,” Tutu told a leadership summit in the central Free State province.

He was angry at the failure by education officials to deliver textbooks to some rural schools, noting that some children were still learning under trees because of a lack of classrooms, 18 years after Mandela became South Africa’s first black president.

At the request of his charitable foundation, July 18 is observed as Mandela Day, recognised by the United Nations as a global call to volunteer for good causes for 67 minutes — representing each year of Mandela’s life in active politics.

At the Tour de France, children unfurled a banner to wish the icon happy birthday at the start of the daily stage.

And the science world added an unusual tribute, naming a prehistoric woodpecker — the oldest type ever found in Africa — after Mandela.

President Jacob Zuma pledged to uphold Mandela’s legacy of promoting forgiveness, unity and a non-racial society.

“We make a commitment to continue where Madiba left off. We will continue the long walk to confront poverty, unemployment and inequality,” he said in a statement.

At 94, Mandela is just six years younger than the ruling ANC party, which has been rocked by bitter in-fighting for the last five years.

His ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said: “We cannot pretend all is well in the African National Congress,” as she marked the birthday at an orphanage.

“That is not the ANC he gave up his life for and that is not the ANC we all wanted it to be. Especially on his birthday.”

Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in a Thembu royal family in Mvezo village southeastern South Africa

Why Jonathan has not signed bills – Presidency

2012-07-19T01:00:00.001-07:00

The Presidency on Wednesday said President Goodluck Jonathan had not signed some bills passed by the National Assembly because he was still consulting on reservations made by stakeholders on some of the bills.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, gave the explanation while featuring on a current affairs programme of a private radio station, Raypower 100.5 FM.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwwal, had during a symposium, marking the last Democracy Day at the Presidential Villa, said it was disturbing to note that the executive had shied away from its responsibility by not assenting to bills passed by the National Assembly.

Tambuwwal said the situation had made legislative process cumbersome because some of the bills had to be re-introduced de novo.

Also on Monday, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, for the second time, criticised the executive for failing to sign certain bills passed by the National Assembly aimed at deepening good governance and democracy.

Speaking at a National Conference on Law Reform and Law Making Process organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, Ekweremadu expressed concerns that too many bills were still awaiting presidential assent.

While admitting the existence of unsigned bills, Abati said discussions were already ongoing between the executive and the legislature on issues arising from the content of the affected bills.

He however insisted that notwithstanding the situation, there was no conflict between the two arms of government on the matter.

He said, “There are indeed pending unsigned bills but these are very few. Those bills are already being discussed both by the Executive and the Legislature because there are certain issues arising from the content of those bills.

“Because there is ongoing dialogue, the legislature has not found itself under any pressure to exercise any veto powers. There is some kind of understanding that there are issues that need to be addressed.”