Attend Career & Entreprenureship Summit (7th to 9th Oct 2011)

Also Wale Micaiah will be making a special appearance

UBA Foundation - Scholarship Programme

United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc, through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, UBA Foundation has concluded arrangements to invest in human capital development in Nigeria and other countries in Africa.

The new initiative — the Essay competition, is part of its corporate social responsibility and is designed to cater for the educational needs of bright young scholars.

Speaking during the launch of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, in Lagos, Managing Director, UBA, Mr. Philips Oduoza, represented by Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, Deputy Managing Director designate, explained that winners of the competition, which is opened to only students of secondary schools in Nigeria, will have UBA as their life guardian, with the bank providing for their educational needs throughout their stay in any Nigerian universities whenever they secure admission to further their studies.According to him, winners will be expected maintain a consistent and impressive academic performance if they are to remain beneficiaries, adding that it they drop below the required academic requirement, they will be cut off from the benefits.

The idea behind it, he said, is to ensure that the students do not become lackadaisical and distracted in their academic pursuit.

Also speaking, Miss Ijeoma Aso, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UBA Foundation, said the bank plans to conduct the essay competition across the Africa continent, but is starting it in Nigeria due to the pivotal role played by Nigeria in the continent.

She explained that students who wish to participate in the competition are expected to submit at the head office of the bank, a 750-word long essay about themselves and their career, on or before October 31, 2011.
She said the essays will be vetted and judged by three renowned professors from three higher institutions in Nigeria, who will then pick the winners.

Problems, Problems Everywhere but non to Solve

A wise man said “a problem is an opportunity in disguise”. One thing that is prevalent around us in "Naija" is different problems. Problems in themselves are resources or opportunity to leverage on.

Today, some organizations are feeding fat on our electricity shortage, inadequate supply of cement, a demand for wheat that is ever increasing. Waste disposal is now a money-spinner for some PSP operators. Insecurity in certain or all parts of the country has provided opportunities for security companies, body guards, Israeli security details to earn additional income.

Bad governance is an opportunity for outstanding leaders to emerge. Darkness is an opportunity for light to shine. Failures in National exams such as WAEC, NECO, JAMB, etc is an opportunity for outstanding schools, teachers to flourish. Low employability skills displayed by graduates in the labor market is an opportunity for training institutions to thrive.

Many people in the society are fraudulent and dishonest; another opportunity for the honest to get opportunities on the platform of integrity. Their is food shortage and famine in part of East and North Africa. Is this not a good time to venture into agriculture?

The National Cake (or Problem) is big enough for all forward-thinking people to bake and share. What sector are you going to play? This is the time to think, identify, research into the sector and take the plunge.

What do you have to offer?

The problem is not the mirage of problems. Your problem is to identify the problem you can proffer solutions to profitably.

I am resolute that i wont just be a public affairs analyst but continue to play an active role in the real sector.

The transfer window is still open!

MTN Football Scholar

Hi folks, I believe this information may be useful to someone.


*Introducing MTN Football Scholar*

*MTN Football Scholar* which was officially launched on Monday, September 5, following a press conference with major stakeholders. This initiative will further
consolidate MTN's leadership position among the youth segment through
connecting with their passion for football and aspiration to acquire quality
education.

The MTN Football Scholar is a youth programme aimed at discovering talents
who can combine active football and education at the tertiary level within a
scholarship scheme. It is a unique platform for the discovery, training and
exposure of budding soccer talents, providing them with access to
scholarship opportunities in soccer oriented universities in the United
States as well as links to international soccer academies.

The MTN Football Scholar programme is open to students within the age
bracket of 16 and 20 and is designed to strike an equal balance between
soccer and academics. Students who make it into the scheme will progress
through a series of knock out soccer competitions and mock exams to gain
entry into the Academy, where they will undergo intensive football and
academic training for one month.

The month-long training will prepare students for SAT (Scholastic Assessment
Test) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) examinations. Those
who succeed in crossing this stage will play a final football competition
under the watchful eyes of international soccer scouts who will select the
top winners.

The programme will kick-off with auditions in eight key cities. To
participate, interested contestants are required to send an sms costing N50
to the short code *4000*, stating their name, age and location. Online
application forms will also be available on the MTN website and at the
various auditioning venues.

Celebrity Status; an Asset or Liability?

A celebrity is a person who has a prominent profile in the media and is easily recognized.

According to Wikipedia, Some careers are associated with celebrity status; such as the top tier of the modelling, acting and sports industries. While people may gain celebrity status as a result of a successful career, in other cases, people become celebrities due to media attention for their extravagant lifestyle or wealth (as in the case of a socialite).

People like Prof Wole Soyinka, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu are examples of celebrities not from the entertainment world. Some people actually aspire to become celebrity.

Imagine someone saying that my life ambition is to be a celebrity. Hmmm, One thing is sure, and that is, it takes a lot of hard work (a little luck too) to become a celebrity in any sphere of life. It also takes extreme hard work and character management to remain a celebrity for life. Some people have become celebrities by being the first in the nation or category to attain an accomplishment, rank or status. You can become a celebrity by doing something noble like returning 5,000,000 million dollars you found on the road or toilet to the police etc.

Benefits of Celebrity Status
Endorsement deals
Product ambassadors
Access to other great individuals
Creating your own product line i.e fashion, perfume etc
You can be an advocate for a cause, red cross, NGOs
Platform to be a role model
free products or services
special welcome and reception in gatherings etc

Challenges of Celebrity
Loss of privacy
Rumor
security risks
cost of providing security
kidnapping potential (especially in Naija) etc
Why am i writing about celebrities. i have a hunch you will end up a celebrity. So i decided to help prepare you for that phase of life ahead. Many people don’t set out to be become celebrities in life, and when they are as a result of a grand achievement, the euphoria gets the other side of them out, they end up worse than their little beginning.


Scripture says "Have you seen a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings and not mere men........"

Power of Persistence

What do u do when it seems like all hope is lost - Give up or Stay focused on your vision?

Did u know:
That Soichiro Honda: was turned down at an Interview with Toyota? He was jobless for so many years. He began making scooters in his garage and today is the founder of Honda..yes! The Honda u know!

Akio Morita: many of u don't know him. His 1st product was a rice cooker. It failed to cook and burnt the rice instead. It sold only 100 pieces! Guess what? Today he's the owner of SONY...yeah, your TV and DVD maker..worth Billions!

Harland David Sanders: He invented a secret chicken recipe and tried to sell it cheap just to feed himself. It was turned down 1,009 times before a restaurant reluctantly accepted it..Well..Have u heard of Kentucky Fried Chicken? thats him!

Walt Disney: He was sacked by his boss at a newspaper because he "had no good ideas". He tried many other businesses and failed...He was bankrupt for many years. But you know the end don't you? Disney's 1 of the richest companies worldwide today...

Oprah Winfrey: she had to endure a rough and abusive childhood and suffered low self esteem. She was fired from her job because her boss said "you're not fit for TV"...well, she's now the richest and most influential woman alive and TV's greatest personality. I wonder how her boss feels now..

Sir Alex Ferguson: he was sacked as manager in 1978 cos they said he was a "managerial failure"... Guess I don't need to say more..Google him

Richard Branson: was called a dummy in school, is a dyslexic and never succeeded in his studies. Today he's worth $4.4 Billion and owns 360 companies.

Please don't write yourself off. Continue trying because the Lord is not giving up on you. The Lord is waiting on you too. Get up and make that bold move. The host of heaven is waiting to celebrate you.

Culled from the internet

Audition for Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

As part of its Globe 2 Globe Project, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre presents a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the London 2012 Festival.

37 International companies will present all Shakespeare’s plays in a different language over six weeks. The Nigerian entry is “The Winter’s Tale” produced by Renegade Theatre and directed by Wole Oguntokun. Presentation to be on 24th & 25th May 2012 at Shakespeare’s Globe, London.

Auditions @1, Akinwunmi Street (Top Floor), off Herbert Macaulay Way, by Casino Cinema/Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos.
Date – Saturday 10th September.
Time – 10am prompt.

Actors MUST be fluent in English and Yoruba.

For lucid enquiries, call Anike Alli-Hakeem on 0808 123 9477.