The Nation Newspaper

Category: Jobs

Wanted: Plantain processors

Are you looking for a job? Thousands of jobs are coming in plantain processing. Job’ seekers can plant plantain, process it into chips, and flour( for diabetic patients), among others. AKINOLA AJIBADE writes.

LOOKING for jobs? Why don’t you try plantain processing? Plantain can be processed into chips, flour and others.

A report entitled: An economic assessment of plantain production in Rivers State noted that plantain processing has helped in creating jobs for entrepreneurs, marketers and farmers, among others.

The report described plantain processing as a significant economic activity for large and small-scale farmers.

Plantain processing, it said, has the capacity to create jobs in many areas, if well-managed. It said the country has enough land for planting plantain, advising the unemployed to leverage on this.

Total production of plantain globally is estimated at over 76 million metric tonnes. Of this, an estimated 12 million tonnes are produced in Africa, with Nigeria a major producer, according to the report.

About 70 million people in the sub-region, it said, get more than one quarter of their food requirements from plantain, adding that the market is huge for individuals and companies.

According to experts, plantain processing has the capacity to create over 150,000 jobs in two years. They said people can work as drivers, marketers or machine operators in plantain processing companies. They said the unemployed can go into plantain farming, harvest it, process it into chips, and flour for domestic and hospital needs. The plantain flour is going to be sold in the hospitals , clinics and other medical centres where people that have diabestics are.

Plantain flour, they said, is in high demand in hospitals because it is good for diabetic patinets.

About 200 medium-sized companies can be established in a state with a minimum of 10 employees, the experts added.

The Managing Director, Best Foods Limited, Mr Emmanuel Ijewere, said plantain processing offers immense job opportunities for people. The firm is into livestock farming. He said many people eat plantain in one form or the other, adding that there is huge market for the product in Nigeria.

Ijewere said the demand for plantain outstrips its availability, adding that more people must plant plantain to increase the supply.

He said: “From all indications, people who are planting plantain are not enough. This means that more people must plant plantain either for home consumption or commercial purposes. Through this, the growing demand for plantain would be met in the country. This means job opportunities for the country. Besides, we do not have enough people in plantain processing.

“Of note is the fact that plantain flour is gaining acceptability in the country. Many eat it as a substitute for amala. Medically, plantain flour is good for diabetic patients. Doctors are advising diabetic patients to eat plantain flour because of its nutritional value. You would notice that plantain market is becoming bigger by the day. This shows that as many people that go into plantain production would make money.”

He said plantain processing has huge potential, advising people to think of what they can do with plantains for a living. He said plantain can be processed into consumables, offering different sources of making money. The market, he added is huge, noting that more jobs are coming for individuals and companies who go into plantain processing.

Ijewere said more people would get jobs if plantain is grown quarterly in industrial manners.

Also, a former banker, Mr Dickson Ayobami, said plantain can be processed into plantain chips to create jobs. He said unripe plantain is spiced and deep-fried to produce crispy chips, which can be packaged and sold as junks at schools and to travellers by vendors. He said fairly ripe plantain can be processed the same way, stressing that it can last for days without addictives if well-processed.

Ayobami, now into plantain farming, said his plantation in Osun State has created jobs for many people. He said the plantation has helped in employing labourers, farmers, harvesters, drivers, among others. He also said he employed people to market plantain chips in Osun, Oyo, and Ondo states, adding that many people eat plantain chips.

He said branding is crucial to the growth of the business, urging graduates who intend to go into the trade to brand their products well.

He said: “A lot of plantain produced is wasted, especially in the southern parts of the country. In some cases, the product is sold at a cheaper price. This is the time for the unemployed to look inward and create jobs for themselves. If the country has 100,000 people producing plantain chips, they are not enough. The educated ones have an advantage over the uneducated. It is compulsory that they should market plantain chips themselves. They can market, and pay them commission.”

He said plantain flour production has a higher jobs prospect, adding that the plantain processing business involves procurement of matured plantain, peeling, chipping, drying, milling and packaging. He said people are required to work in these areas, adding that the process of producing plantain flour is mechanical, and that the food is recommended for diabetic patients.

“When many companies go into production of yam flour to meet the needs of diabetic patients across the country, more people would be employed as marketers, and get paid. Those who are educated would benefit because they would be able to convince patients to buy the plantain flour. This will have a multiplier effect on the economy”, he added.

Ayobami said people who are going into plantain flour production must get a small factory, procure machines, install them, recruit people, and get approval from agencies regulating food production and packaging in the country.

He said buyers, mostly diabetic patients, would buy the product.

The Managing Director, Zion Hospital, Ikotun, Lagos State, Dr. John Adanike, said diabetic patients are advised to eat plantain flour to improve their health conditions.

Adanike said such patients need the food for their health, adding that hospitals offer producers of plantain flours an opportunity to market their product. He said people give higher consideration to anything that has to do with health.

August 17, 2015
Wriggling out of unemployment cobweb (II)
Last week, we said the latest report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on labour market indicates that the population of the working-age people (between 15 and 64 years) rose to 103.5 million in the second quarter (April to June) of 2015 from 102.8 million in the first quarter (January to March).

We added that more emotionally disturbing is the fact that the NBS report shows that about 1, 317,700 Nigerians lost their jobs within the period while the number of the under-employed people soared with new engagement of about 1,362,274 workers in this category of employment during the period.

We expatiated that the number of the unemployed people in the labour force jumped to 6,063,500 from 5,533,600 recorded in first quarter of 2015, leading to a rise in the unemployment rate to 8.2 per cent.

We said the matters arising from this NBS report border on the multifaceted issues of those looking for jobs; those who are under-employed and those who have lost their jobs.

We said to tackle this problem, we will discuss relevant employment solutions as a guide to the different categories of people identified in the report. We then discussed halfway, how job-seekers can get a job. We will continue this week.

Findings

According to findings, only about 20 per cent of job vacancies are ever publicly known or advertised. The main avenue for informing the public about these vacancies is through adverts in the mass media as well as on the Internet. Recruitment or employment agencies and executive-search firms are other sources of open-job-market vacancies. About 80 per cent of job vacancies are never advertised and thus regarded as “closed”.

This means it is difficult to find out the vacant positions unless we do our research well. The research often takes the form of making a compilation of the list of all the companies in your field that you might be interested in working for, and contacting them for possible employment.

Exploring the closed segment of the job market that has about 80 per cent of job vacancies necessitates that you send out your CV accompanied by the type of cover letter technically referred to as the “uninvited” or “cold-contact letter”.

This job-search tool can be very effective, especially if you have a specific set of companies you want to work for, or are looking for a job in a specific geographical location. The uninvited cover letter allows you to take a proactive approach to job-hunting instead of just responding to vacancy adverts.

The “uninvited” or “cold-contact letter” letter can make such impression that you will be remembered as soon as there is a vacancy in the desired organisation.

It is also possible to brilliantly create a vacancy for yourself by convincing the prospective employer that the company needs your talents or skills. In the process, you can secure an interview. It is noteworthy that whenever possible, ensure that your uninvited letter is sent to a named individual.

Alternative strategy

It is also possible to enhance your job-search strategy by writing another type of letter technically called “referral letter”. This is the type of letter that is very close to the cold-contact letter. This letter, too, is uninvited but has some edge. It prominently displays the name of a person your addressee knows.

Referral letters are the product of networking that many experts say is the most effective method of job-hunting. In its simplest form, networking in job search involves using everyone you know as a resource for finding a new job. Referral letters can come from a variety of sources. You may talk with someone at a meeting of a trade association in your field who will tell you about a vacancy.

A friend might tell you about a job he or she saw through his or her company’s internal job-posting. As once stressed, the value of the referral letter lies in its name-dropping. If you can arrest the prospective employer’s attention in the first line of your letter by mentioning someone he or she knows and accords recognition, then you are on your way to successful job search.

One of the variations on the referral letter is an approach like: “Pharm Uzamat Akinbile, CEO of Musaroq Nigeria Limited told me that you may have a vacancy for a Pharmacist” or “Mr. Odeyeyiwa Kazeem, CEO of Repton Group Nigeria Limited said you may have a vacancy for an Accountant.” We will continue next week.

PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated on this page for details.
- GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Professional Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.
Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425

Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com

Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com
August 17, 2015
In need of a job? Try soap making

Have you been thinking about getting a job? There are opportunities in soap making. OLUWAKEMI DAUDA, in this report, provides an insight into them.

DISH washing liquid soap business is very lucra-tive and re-quires little start-up capital. So, for those looking for jobs it is an option. Findings revealed that liquid soap making does not require special skills or huge capital to start. It can be started on a small scale. There are lots of ways to market your products to earn an income.

How to tap into the

opportunity

Owning (running) a soap business (liquid or bar) needs courage and perseverance.You have to be resilient and possess‘I can do it’ spirit, resistance to failure, undying enthusiasm for your products and a driving passion. You must be ready to dedicate most of your time to the job to get the business off the ground.

Liquid soap making

Liquid soap is on high demand in the country as many prefer to use it to wash cloth and kitchen utensils. This is because it requires less energy. It is a good job one can venture into with less capital and start making huge money within a few months.

The process

The process of making liquid soap is the same as that of solid soap. The only difference is that it comes out in liquid form. One essential raw material is water. The quantity of water required for production of a given volume of detergent is high. It is necessary to have a good source of water supply when you want to venture into liquid soap production. The requirements for liquid soap production include a mixing bowl, buckets, hand glove, wooden spoon, container and good quantity of water.

Also, you need some money to buy some components such as Nitrosol/Antisol, sulphonic acid, caustic soda, soda ash, texapon, formaline (optional), perfume (fragrance) as desired. Sodium laurite sulphate (SLS), tripoyphosphate (S.T.P.P) and you will need to put colourant of choice to make it look attractive after mixing the elements required.

Preparation

A liquid soap producer, Mrs. Kikelomo Olufowobi, said you need to get Nitrosol, which has already dissolved in water or the C.M.C that has been dissolved for two days to the preparation of the liquid soap. Add the dissolved sulphuric acid, texapon and perfume to either Nitrosol or C.M.C, depending on the one chosen and stir very well. Add the already dissolved caustic soda and stir very well. Add the already dissolved soda ash and stir properly. Add formalin to the content and stir properly, then add the dissolved S.T.P.P, stir and add the dissolved SLS to the content.

Thereafter, dissolve the colourant in water and ensure that it is completely done, then add it to the solution and stir thoroughly. Add some quantity of water to the mixture, depending on the thickness of the mixture. Leave the mixture for some hours or the following day and then package it for use and sale.

“Most of the raw materials for bar soap are like that of liquid soap and are chemical in nature. Some of the basic raw materials needed include caustic soda, soda ash, silicate, calcium, palm kernel oil (PKO) and perfume,” she said.

Another liquid soap producer, Mrs. Medinat Abiodun, said a prospective soap maker can start the business with N50,000. “You can start in your house; you can do it in your kitchen pending when you will get a place. There is nothing as good as having a job to do, especially one that does not cost much to begin in terms of initial capital,” she said.

She continued: “I learnt the art of liquid soap making from a friend. It took me less than two months. Having understood the art of making a good liquid soap that can meet people’s needs and the requisite marketing skills, I decided to raise N30,000 to start my own job that will give me money almost every day. Today, I am doing very fine, and I am happy doing it. I’m making money to take care of myself and my children.

“I started my soap business about four years ago. After much hard work, we now sell in many of the markets in Lagos and Ogun States. I made big mistakes along the way, especially at the beginning stages, which I have since overcome through dedication and prayers. One of the mistakes I made was to take advice from too many people.

“When you seek advice from too many people, before you know it, you lose focus. The best advice I can give for starting out is to slow down, do your research, and plan very well. When you have your focus, then you can start buying more supplies and ingredients.

“Some of the key qualities for a great entrepreneur are creativity, vision, confidence, can-do attitude, fearlessness, business savvies, and the ability to be a multi-tasker.”

Running a soap business is not for the faint of heart. You will need a fire in your belly, resistance to failure, undying enthusiasm for your products and business, and a driving passion. Again, you must be ready to dedicate most of your free time to the business to get it off ground.

“A good rule of thumb in your initial months of operation is to buy only what you are going to use for one or few months. You must also note that if you are going to be wholesaling your soaps, that price will be half of your retail cost.

“Note that marketing and sales initiatives rank just as high as your soap making efforts. They work hand-in-hand. Successful marketing and sales results, allow you to make more soap for your customers,” she said.

Usage

“It can be used as a souvenir at weddings and birthday parties. You can drop it at supermarkets and grocery stores around you. You can supply restaurants and eateries. You can also supply bars and cool joint owners. You can even supply guest houses and hotels around you,” Abiodun said.

“To boost your income, you can organise training workshops for people, who might be interested in learning the skills,” she added.

Findings revealed that liquid soap is fast gaining grounds for laundry and dish washing. It has several advantages over soaps and detergents hence, its preference for laundry and dish washing.

The market

This business is viable because many people now use liquid soap on a daily basis. Also, findings revealed that the market is not yet saturated and can never be saturated. This is because of the simple fact that people will never stop washing their dishes and doing their laundry. In other words, the demand for the liquid soap or any other type of washing detergent can only increase and never decrease because people must wash.

Challenges

A beginner, who chooses to use a domestic location must be very vigilant and cautious, particularly where he keeps the chemicals as “most of them are corrosive.”

August 10, 2015
Wriggling out of unemployment cobweb
I read in one of the national dailies last week that the lat-est report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on labour market indicates that the population of the economically-active or working-age people (people between 15 and 64 years) increased to 103.5 million in the second quarter (April to June) of 2015 from 102.8 million in the first quarter (January to March).

The NBS report also confirms that in the period under review, the labour force population (those within the working age willing, able and actively looking for jobs) increased to 74 million, up from 73.4 million in the first quarter of 2015, translating into an increase of 0.81per cent. The implication of this analysis is that 574,498 economically-active people within 15 and 64 years joined the labour force in the second quarter of 2015.

Addition

More emotionally disturbed is the fact that the NBS report shows that about 1,317,700 Nigerians lost their jobs within the period under review while the number of the under-employed people increased significantly with new engagement of about 1,362,274 workers in this category of employment during the period.

In the same period, the number of the unemployed people in the labour force jumped to 6,063,500 from 5,533,600 recorded in first quarter of 2015, leading to a rise in the unemployment rate to 8.2 per cent, up from 7.5 per cent in the first quarter.

Matters arising

The matters arising from this NBS report border on the multifaceted issues of those looking for jobs (fresh and old job-seekers); those who are under-employed and those who have lost their jobs. To tackle this triangular problem, we will discuss relevant employment solutions as a guide to the different categories of people identified in the report.

We will start with the category of (fresh) job-seekers, especially that for some weeks now, they have continued to bombard me with missiles of career inquiries. The latest upsurge in the inquiries is natural given that there are many new entrants into the labour market as confirmed by the NBS report.

Creating the job for yourself

As once said in this column, a job-seeker that gets the best job is not always the most qualified applicant but the most effective job-seeker. You need to have a masterpiece of curriculum vitae (CV), penetrate the “closed” segment of the saturated job market, write an assertive cover letter, have adequate interview preparation among others, if want to become an effective job-seeker. Your curriculum vitae (CV) is a tool with the aim of winning an interview.

Indeed, it is an advertisement. A great CV does not just tell a prospective employer what you have done but presents you in the best light by convincing the prospective employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position or career. It is so eye-catching that a reader is tempted to pick it up and read it.

A good CV stimulates the prospective employer’s interest in meeting with you and learning more about you. It inspires the prospective employer to pick up the phone and ask you to come in for an interview! You can create a CV that makes you really stand out as a superior candidate for a job you are seeking.

With a well-composed CV, you will be invited for an interview more often than many people that are more qualified than you are because the best-advertised product often gets higher sales than the best product.

Brilliant writing

To write a CV that is effective, you need to learn the strategy of writing a powerful, but subtle advertising copy. Additionally, you must sell a product in which you have large personal investment, that is, yourself. It is due to the fact that many people do not think in the marketing way while composing a CV that makes them compose an ineffective one.

There are three types of CVs, and these are chronological, functional and combined chronological functional. The most effective one is the combined chronological functional CV that takes care of the combined deficiencies of chronological and functional CVs. We will continue with this discourse next week.

PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated on this page for details.
- GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Professional Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.
Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425

Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com

Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com
August 10, 2015
A market of many benefits

On June 13, the capital market adopted a new rule, allowing sub-brokers to deal as investment agents, thereby creating opportunity for Nigerians to participate and earn income from the market, reports Taofik Salako.

On June 2, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), liter-ally with a stroke of pen opened window of opportunities for capital market operators and other enterprising Nigerians to make money from the market.

The rule on investment agents, otherwise known as sub-brokers, allows individually registered stockbrokers and professional members of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and non-stockbrokers first degree holders to set up their private firms and deal as investment agents in the market.

To registered stockbrokers, it opens a window of freedom and a shortcut to bypass the current restrictive regulatory framework that limits a stockbroker’s professional practice within a registered stockbroking firm as against other professions such as Medicine, Law and Accounting, among others that enable professionals to practice as individuals. To other first-degree holders, the multitude of self-employed, underemployed and unemployed people, the new rule is an opportunity to engage in the limitless opportunities in the capital market.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday, July 13, started the implementation of the sub-broker framework. Between SEC, the apex capital market regulator that signed on the sub-broker framework, and the NSE, the originator and implementer of the sub-broker framework, Nigerian capital market authorities appeared to have opened enormous wealth and self-dependence for millions of aspiring Nigerians. The sub-broker framework was first codified into guidelines in the second half of 2014.

The draft guidelines were approved by the Rules and Adjudication Committee (RAC) of the National Council of the NSE for exposure to stakeholders for comments in October 2014. Between October and November 2014, the guidelines were exposed for stakeholders’ comments. The draft guidelines and stakeholders’ comments received thereon were considered by the RAC at its emergency meeting on December 10, 2014 and the RAC consequently approved the revised draft guidelines for submission to the National Council of the Exchange, which approved the draft guidelines at its December 11, 2014 meeting.

The guidelines were submitted to SEC for approval on December 18, 2014, which nearly six months after, approved the sub-broker framework on June 2, this year. The appreciable regulator-operator collaboration between SEC and NSE gave birth to this initiative. SEC had in 2013 laid the foundation for sub-brokerage firms and sub-brokers by including the two as part of legal operators in the marketplace. The NSE’s sub-broker framework built on this.

How to start a sub-brokerage firm and be a sub-broker

The guidelines on sub-brokerage define a sub-broker as “any person or entity not being a dealing member, that is registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission as a sub-broker; and acts on behalf of a dealing member as its agent for assisting investors in buying, selling or dealing in securities through such dealing member.”

The sub-broker helps the broker to market securities, collect investor’s mandate and documents and foster the agent-principal relationship between the broker and investor by facilitating securities trading and rendering of returns to the investor. Beyond the knowledge of capital market, the capital requirement for the sub-brokerage practice has been deliberately made affordable to ensure that it serves the purpose of democratising investors’ access to the market. The minimum capital base requirements for sub-brokers are specified in Section 67 of the SEC’s Rules and Regulations 2013, which prescribes the minimum capital for corporate and individual sub-brokers at N1 million and N500,000 respectively.

In addition to registration by SEC, the NSE’s framework outlined specific eligibility criteria for sub-broker. It is only a sub-broker that is registered by SEC and meets the eligibility criteria of the NSE, that can be engaged by any dealing member or stockbroker.

Besides general provisions on knowledge about the theories, rules and operations of the capital market, the main requirement an individual that is sponsored as a sub-broker is that such a sponsored individual shall be an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) or a first degree holder in relevant fields as may from time to time be determined by the Exchange in line with the Rules and Regulations of the SEC, with a minimum of five years’ post working experience, excluding National Youth Service. The other requirements lie within the purview of the stockbroker-sub-broker relationship and agreement.

Dealing members are required to ensure that their clients are not acting in the capacity of sub-broker unless such clients are registered with SEC as sub-brokers. Dealing members are also required to execute agreements with each of their sub-brokers specifying the rights and responsibilities of the dealing members and sub-brokers as provided in the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.

Any stockbroker, who wishes to transact business with a sub-broker shall submit an application for approval pursuant to Article 8 of the Rules and Regulations Governing Dealing Members to the Exchange in writing with supporting documents such as a certified true copy of the Registration Letter of the sub-broker issued by the SEC, a copy of the documents evidencing the qualifications of the sponsored individual(s) of the sub-broker, a completed standard form guarantee document completed by the dealing member, a copy of the agreement between the sub-broker and dealing member and any other document(s) that may be required by the Exchange.

Besides, the onus lies on the stockbroker, who is the principal in the stockbroker-sub-broker relationship, to ensure that the sub-broker complies at all times with the rules and regulations governing dealing members and all capital market rules and regulations, including the know your customer (KYC) requirements. The dealing member shall be responsible for the internal review of activities of the sub-broker and shall ensure that supervisory controls are put in place to monitor the activities of the sub-broker. The dealing member is expected to submit a quarterly report of its review of the activities of the sub-broker in a form to be prescribed by the Exchange with the dealing member’s quarterly report.

Vast opportunities

The sub-broker serves as the outpost for the stockbroker and since there is no limit to the number of sub-brokers that a stockbroking firm can engage, the sub-brokerage framework creates a win-win situation for all the stakeholders including the regulators, which benefit from more coordinated and disciplined transaction process with higher levels of accountability. The stockbroking firms can reach the critical mass of urban and remote potential investors through a relatively cheaper mechanism than branch networks. With the new rule, existing and potential investors can have better interface and doorstep services at no extra costs while the self-employed, unemployed, underemployed enterprising Nigerians can draw on their entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to earn legal living without harassment of quackery. Nigerians will directly benefit from the immense job-creation potential of the framework and additionally leverage on the potential mass capital formation that comes from expanding domestic investors’ base to generate the much-needed domestic capital to bridge infrastructure gap and fuel the much-needed industrial growth, creating a cycle of wealth and better living standards; the sole objective of any government and the main elixir to socio-economic and political problems.

Head, Broker Dealer Regulation, NSE, Mr. Olufemi Shobanjo, said the sub-broker framework was developed with a view to enhance financial inclusion by attracting new entrants to the capital market particularly those based in remote, rural or semi-urban areas where investors are more likely to be less sophisticated and may not have access to modern technology infrastructure.

“It is also to discourage illegal capital market operators from taking undue advantage of investors and to create an enabling environment for micro-operators to participate in the capital market in a regulated manner,” Shobanjo, who is officially saddled with interpreting the rule, added.

Latest report on the job situation in Nigeria by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that 97,020 employees left the formal sector in the first quarter of the year. According to the report, the highest numbers of exits in the formal sector were in trade, accommodation and food services, and the education sector, accounting for 11 per cent, 13 per cent and 37 per cent of the total.

Nigerian capital market is regarded as an emerging market; a vast ocean of opportunities. With a growing population of some 170 million, Nigeria’s large population, and vast geographical space too, is both an advantage and disadvantage. Currently less than five per cent of the Nigerian population is participating in the capital market, underlining the potential challenge and opportunity of capital market penetration.

Besides, while the market is still largely equities-based, the increasing emergence of new products and the development of the debt market hold out large future opportunities for securities dealers and marketers. The collective investment segment, otherwise known as mutual fund, is a good example of the opportunities that sub-brokers can explore. With some 52 funds in 10 various sectors and total assets of some N160 billion, the mutual funds segment is still largely undeveloped. No fewer than 300,000 Nigerians are participating in collective investment schemes. This contrasts sharply with the situations in other emerging and developed markets where mutual funds are the largest investors in the market. While the poor penetration and low participation represent major challenges for the government and capital market authorities, they also represent huge untapped opportunities for sub-brokers, who can tap into the relatively developed cooperative system and Nigeria’s natural communal perspective to foster micro mutual funds.

Regulated marketplace

Many have expressed reservations that the sub-brokerage framework may be counterproductive and exacerbate the issue of touting, contrary to the intention of the rule. President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Shehu Mikhail, said the sub-brokerage system might make the market to porous unless proper checks and surveillance were put in place.

August 3, 2015
Which is better: Exceptional specialist or effective generalist?
Best approach to tackling workplace crises

Some days ago, I thought ex-tensively about the current nosedive of our macro-economic fortunes occasioned by the crash in the prices of oil at the international market.

When I remembered that our over-reliance on one source of revenue (that is, oil) like a specialist accounts for the current economic turbulence, the thought of whether or not it is better to be a career or business specialist flashed through my mind. Let me ask you this question, it is better to be an exceptional specialist or an effective generalist?

Specialism

It is a truism that competence is very critical in whatever we do to be able to establish the necessary credibility and become a brand. In short, it is the general belief that competence can easily come from “Specialism” (the right British English word called “Specialisation” in American English).

It is therefore not surprising that we are always quick to justify this belief by using the popular noun phrase “Jack-of-all-trades” to condemn anybody that refuses to subscribe to the concept of specialism. It is indeed good to be a specialist. Specialism in this context refers to the practice of limiting your interests or activities to particular subjects.

That is, to specialise is to limit your study, business, etc., to a particular subject or activity. It is noteworthy that most economic experts have argued that the industrial revolution period was the time when the world made the largest productivity gains. The major reason for increase in productivity, they claim, was the increase in specialism during the production process.

Medical specialism

Though there are different types of specialism, I would like us to examine medical specialism a little here for analytical clarity. FA Frizelle, SW Beasley, JA Roake and PH Sykes in their joint research say medical specialism, for instance, has evolved with the sole aim of providing better health care.

They add that medical specialism underscores recognition of the depth of knowledge, experience and skills required to treat patients with complex or rare diseases. They educate that other factors that encourage medical specialism are increase in inter-hospital referrals of complex cases and changes in the way general surgeons are to be trained.

They say specialism in surgery has however been criticised by some experts on the grounds that it is merely a marketing gimmick for commercial surgeons. They add that criticism against specialism in surgery therefore needs to be balanced against the evidence that it (specialism) leads to better patient care.

Generalists

The need to have multiple streams of income is often emphasised as one of the ways to achieve financial sufficiency and improve our living standards. This necessity readily challenges us to be a generalist capable of generating money through different sources or skills.

A generalist refers to someone who knows about many different things and can do them well.

Even though it is good to be a specialist, it is better to be a competent generalist because of many advantages derivable. However, the strong belief in the concept of specialism makes some people to even have all their academic qualifications in the same field. This idea is not strategic enough in this 21st century of globalisation and competition. After all, there is the maxim that it is bad to put all our eggs in one basket.

Therefore, some intellectual diversification is better in the form of having your first degree in Accounting, for instance, second degree in Business Administration and third one in banking to boost your intellectual versatility and/or elasticity of job opportunities. In 2004, I was shocked to step into one of the branches of the defunct Gateway Bank only to find a friend who has his first degree in Electrical Engineering as the branch manager.

Upon interaction, I discovered that he also had (and has) a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree which he used to make a career change to banking when he was tired of engineering. It is interesting that the man that services my generator is an exceptional generalist who also services my computers, television sets and other electronic gadgets.

In short, all his clients will tell you that he is more competent than even specialists in all his areas of operations. We will continue next week.

PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated on this page for details.
- GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Professional Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.
Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425

Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com

Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com
July 27, 2015
Writing to hit mega bucks

Can you write? Then, there is a job waiting for you as a content writer on websites and blogs, which subscribers can access on their mobile devices. Online businesses and marketers are increasing their spending on content marketing, reports, DANIEL ESSIET.

As more people access the web from their laptops, smart phones and tablets, the demand for digital content is growing. Online companies have found that attractive prices, huge inventories and responsive online ordering aren’t enough to attract traffic. The missing ingredient, according to them, is quality content to inspire repeat visits. To them, quality content is reading materials that are of value to their target markets.

Moreover, the best content comes from writers. Content writers are professional writers who produce engaging text for use over the internet. They’re Internet-savvy individuals who create articles, blogs and other forms of written web materials.

In the last five years, new content opportunities are emerging on the net, an internationally recognised web content writer, Bamidele Onibalusi said. Onibalusi, who has been successful as a web content writer started offering his services since December 2010. Since then, he has never looked back for any other job.

From his online earnings, he has been able to establish a commercial fish farm that has provided employment people. Compared to when he started five years ago, demand for web content writers has increased massively and it’ll continue to increase. Onibalusi said this is due to the rise of a trend called “content marketing” online.

Basically, content marketing involves educating and informing audiences through online media. Realising the importance of content marketing, businesses worldwide have increased their   budgets for it. This means, better days are here for web content writers.

Onibalusi said writers are raking in the cash. One area that he made money as a web content writer was in the area of writing landing page content on websites. A landing page is any page on a website where traffic is sent specifically to prompt a certain action, or result.

He also writes blog posts and guest blogs for clients. In the last five years, his reputation has risen, drawing attention internationally. His portfolio contains large amounts of marketing materials such as printed flyers, brochures, e-books and emails that he has done for people and organisaions.

His stories and articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines in different countries.

Onibalusi, who runs a writing blog (writersincharge.com) that has been read by over a million people, said there’s high demand for writers online, internationally, and this is a great opportunity those who are willing to use their writing skills to earn an income.

Businesses are in search of content writers to create content for the web including sales copy, e-books, podcasts and text for graphics. They are required to produce the content for many different types of websites, including blogs, social networks, e-commerce sites, news aggregators and college websites.

Aside from writing content, these writers might also be responsible for making sure the sites’ pages and content connect. They’re also responsible for setting the overall tone of the site. Content writers accomplish these tasks by researching and deciding what information to include or exclude from the site.

Onibalusi said a lot of youths with writing talents can carve a career for themselves as web content writers. Another celebrated web content writer is Michael Chibuzor. He is the owner of   contentmarketingup.com. He has made so much from web content writing business. He has now, ventured into offline projects through income from his writing services.

Victor Ijidola, owner of startupwithgreatsales.com. He is gradually building himself as a successful web content writer. Beside working with international clients and charging them a premium, Ijidola has written for Forbes, Problogger and other key publications. A lot of Nigerians who are making it through website content writing wear many hats. Some are skilled copywriters, web content producer, content editor, website and search engine optimisation (SEO) consultant, freelance journalists and editors.

Their main service offerings include   web copywriting, content editing, search engine optimisation, content marketing, website reviews, web consulting, editing and proofreading.

One example is a former Deputy Editor of City People Quarterly, a subsidiary of City People, Mrs. Iyabo Oyawale. She is a popular fixture on the social media, and earns good money from blogging. She runs two blogs http://naijanetwarriors.com and www.askiyabooyawale.com.

A champion of the “Quit Your Day Job” message, Oyawale is a professional copywriter, web content specialist, website/SEO consultant, journalist and editor. Over the years, she has produced and written quality content for a large variety of reputable businesses, and websites.

Drawing on her journalistic background, she writes web content in British and American English that is understood everywhere. She writes professional copy for small business websites that improves their visibility in search engines.

According to her, a lot of Nigerians are accessing books, magazines and news content on their laptops, smart phones and tablets than traditional hard copies. This represents a substantial increase in digital content consumption. For this reason, news content media is growing with digital access.

While more Nigerians may be less interested in physical content because of high cost of living, their appetite for digital content continues to grow. That appetite, coupled with the introduction of new technologies, is leading consumers to access the content they want on a number of different devices. They are simply watching or reading on different media or platforms.

For this reason, she said digital content consumption’s growth is no longer something businesses can ignore. She said the industry is in need of content writer with skills in search engine optimisation. According to her, SEO has emerged as an important industry in recent years due to the increasing power that a search engine such as Google wields.

As companies try to raise their rankings on Search Engine Results Pages (SERP), she said they are turning to a specialised content writer with SEO skills to accomplish this goal. Such writers understand the art of designing, developing and promoting high quality websites. They have   experience with search engine optimisation in a variety of online activities, including web design and web content production.

Content writers trained in SEO techniques and internet marketing help companies to create powerful, persuasive copy that compels and encourages positive audience reaction. As search engines continue to evolve their ranking mechanisms, companies struggle to align their strategies and stay in the game, she said. This makes writing for an internet audience increasingly challenging.

Oyawale said writing has an unbelievably low barrier to entry. According to her, if one is looking to cross the threshold into entrepreneurship, one needs training on SEO. On the whole, she said there has never been a better time to become an online writer than now.

She said the opportunities for those with experience and newbies too! – are greater than ever.   While full-time staff positions may require a degree, usually in the arts such as English, all most freelancers have to prove is that they can write.

Online companies hire freelancers without degrees, but have killer writing samples and an understanding of search engine optimisation. Other skills required are excellent computer, research and organisational skills.

On the whole, web content writing is competitive too, but one can earn significantly more as a freelancer once one determine a niche, set own rates, create own service offerings, Oyawale, said. Those preferred are content writers with strong English and writing skills, as well as experience using softwares and technology systems.

The market is open to content writers that use various web formatting tools, such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript, as well as content management systems to help create their work.

While the social media has created a need for writers, there are more opportunities for SEO content technically written for search engines. These are content written to be found by search engines. It is keyword driven.

According to her, the outlook for writers– especially freelance online writers– has never been better. The opportunities are there in many forms.

The Chief Executive, Business Impact Limited, Olatunde Samson said online content jobs show no signs of slowing despite the situation of the economy as companies turned to freelance hands to control costs and manage uncertainty. According to him, web based copies now require keyword research for search engine optimisation purposes.

Explaining the importance of SEO, Samson said it represents the ranking of a company or organisation’s internet content on web search engines. According to him, SEO content writers are responsible for creating content for websites using keywords that will be ranked highly by such search engines as Google, Yahoo and Bing. The writers, according to him, conduct keyword research to determine the most popular search terms and use analytic tools to monitor and measure ranking performance.

Generally, entry requirements for web content writers vary. However, many writers generally hold a bachelor’s degree in English, marketing, communications or another related field. Most successful content writers come from backgrounds in creative and technical writing, grammar, proofreading, editing and revising.

According to experts, good research skills are essential, as they are required to use and cite authoritative sources to gain credibility. Samson said SEO content writers must master the art of incorporating precise keywords into their writing in order to optimise the companies ranking on search engines. This is because some clients provide a list of keywords to be used in articles, while other SEO content writers are left to the task of researching and developing lists of their own.

He said content writers need expertise in social media as some SEO content writing jobs may have social media and blogging components. He said aspiring SEO writers should be familiar with using the most popular social media and willing to adopt new technologies and applications as they emerge.

Few companies are currently offering positions for in-house SEOs. An SEO specialist is responsible for optimising page content, researching keywords, building links, adding content, among others. The range is very wide due to experience and opportunity. In some settings, a content writer is a critical part of an SEO firm.

July 20, 2015
Taming team conflict for organisational and national devt (II)
Best approach to tackling workplace crises

Last week, we said the fact is that conflict is inevitable when people interact and it is important that we know how to handle it. We added that irrespective of the conflict level, the first step in its management is to deal with it. We said action teams are critical to finding a solution and also educated on the membership and leadership of the teams.

Leadership

When it comes to the roles that people will hold in the team, the first one to fill is that of the team leader. This is the person who must keep the meetings moving forward and ensure that all members are involved. The focus should be to look forwards to solutions rather than rehashing problems once they have been clearly identified.

The team leader must also be prepared to hold members accountable for their performance when necessary. When choosing a team leader, select someone who has emotional intelligence and reputation for high performance. Another critical position in the team is that of the secretary.

This person is responsible for capturing the meeting proceedings. These written minutes and assignments should be distributed to everybody in the team not later than 24 hours after the meeting so that everyone can know his or her tasks for that week. The secretary can be selected by the leader at the first team meeting.

Progress and procedure

To start the problem-solving process with an action team, choose a problem. Ensure that you carefully word your “problem to be solved” so that there is a clear understanding of the expected results of your action team. Then send out an e-mail to all selected members of the team, requesting their participation in the team.

At the first meeting, you should brief team members on the importance of their assistance in the team, noting that it is just as important, if not even more than their normal responsibilities.

You can easily solve the problem by having a schedule. The process should typically follow this outline: Week one involves clearly defining the problem and researching the issues and related data. This may include figuring out cost items and looking at different, possible solutions.

Week two is used to review the issues and the data, identifying new or modified procedures, and to identify updates or changes required to reporting systems. You want to track how the changes are affecting the business, so you need to establish some kind of measure to monitor.

Week three is used to finalise the new procedures through group interaction. In other words, the team is starting to establish written procedures on new, required actions.

Week four culminates with the final draft of all new procedures and an implementation of the plan. The result should be a new standard operating procedure and training on how to use the new process that is being created.

Deploying interpersonal skills

One of the solutions to conflict is possession of a reservoir of interpersonal skills. The good news is that there are several concrete things you can do to improve your interpersonal skills and become closer to your colleagues. One of them is to create an environment that encourages others to work together. You should also take a step beyond simply bringing people together and become someone who resolves conflicts when they arise.

Another one is to pay close attention to both what you say and how you say it. The good news is that we can develop these skills with minimal efforts. Emotional intelligence is also very critical.

Organisations emphasise this and other social skills because they want people who will work well in a team and are able to communicate effectively with colleagues, customers and others. Interpersonal skills are not just important in the workplace, our personal and social lives can also benefit from better interpersonal skills. People with interpersonal skills are usually seen as confident, charismatic and calm.

Final note

Team conflict is inevitable when people interact. However, it is important that we know how to handle it and get the best out of it so that an atmosphere of peace can be restored.

PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated on this page for details.
- GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Professional Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.
- Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425
- Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com
- Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com
July 20, 2015
Taming team conflict for organisational and national devt

I decided to address this topic this week, given the ravaging effects of the conflict currently engulfing our political landscape on personal empowerment and organisational and national development. The need to address the crisis becomes imperative following the trademark of “slow motion” that the current government is now accorded just within one month of being in charge. The current All Progressives Congress (APC) and National Assembly crisis has heightened our impatience and created impression of national standstill as opposed to the immediate change acceleration expected.

The fact is that team conflict is inevitable when people interact and it is important that we know how to handle it. Azriel Winnett, a relationship management expert says, “But when handled properly, conflict need not drive the parties further apart. On the contrary, it could bring them closer together.” This means the APC can still come out of the current crisis stronger if it handles its affairs properly.

Disappointment

It is a truism that only very few situations are as disheartening as belonging to a team experiencing conflict. This is because conflict disrupts productivity and leads to frustration just as being experienced currently in our national life. It is instructive that there are no quick fixes for this. There are typically many reasons for team conflict. The desire to make one’s feelings known is the first step towards solutions. In conflict, each person has his or her story and people tend to see themselves as either the innocent victim or perhaps the righteous hero.

First step, action teams and membership

Irrespective of the level of the conflict, the first step in conflict management is simply to deal with it. There are two key concepts here: sensitivity and willingness to resolve the situation. Those who have their eyes, ears, and minds open will see what others do not. Having a good sense of your surroundings and associates is the best way to recognise when and how conflict arises. The willingness to act intelligently and decisively is equally important. While many are contented to watch, wait and wonder, effective professionals get involved and solve problems rather than let them simmer.

When teams or organisations first encounter a problem that they need to solve it in order to grow, they have to find out how to get the right information on the problem, how to come up with solution options and how to implement the selected solution. Action teams can perform this task because they are well-structured groups meant to address management problems. If you truly want positive change in your team or organisation, then adopt the action-team concept. The team will normally meet for four to six weeks, concentrating on just a single problem. Meetings should be held once a week and limited to one hour. At the end of each meeting, if needed, assignments are given to team members to complete before the next meeting. This keeps everyone actively involved in solving the problem.

The action team normally consists of four to six people, and each member should have some stake in the assigned problem, but it can be peripheral. If the problem happens to deal with inventory in an organisation for instance, you may have people from shipping, manufacturing, inventory management, purchasing and accounting since they each deal with inventory in one way or the other. What you do not want is a team made up entirely of the responsible department, in this case, inventory management. Team members should come from a variety of levels, not just from management. During team activities, all team members should be considered to be on the same level, rather than on their level in the organisation outside the team. In an action team, each member is equal—there is no rank in the team.

Leadership

When it comes to the roles that people will hold in the team, the first one to fill is that of the team leader. This is the person who must keep the meetings moving forward and ensure that all members are involved. We will continue next week.

PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated on this page for details.

•GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Professional Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.

Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425

Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com

Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com

July 6, 2015
Managing events, making money

Events management is on the rise. With parties here and there, event managers are required to ensure things go well. The job potential in this social segment is huge, writes OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE.

Events’ management has assumed a new dimension. Unlike before, weddings, birthdays, political gatherings, funerals, conferences and anniversaries, among others, are now handled by experts. People often talk about how some events were so professionally handled that they become the talk of the town.

Such flawless, exciting parties are normally handled by those who have been trained and garnered experience.

Oftentimes people never get to see them because they work behind the scene, coordinating and ensuring that nothing is missed out, not even the minutest of details. The event management professionals also give advice to the celebrants, especially on matching budgets with invitees, on whether the numbers should be increased or reduced.

Event management involves all cadres of professionals with varied educational backgrounds such as engineers, caterers, artisans and lawyers, among others depending on the event. For instance in conferences and exhibitions, the event managers design and build the exhibition stands and lightings, put all the necessary electrical, mechanical and information technologies in place.

The event managers have regular and ad hoc members workers. The ad hoc staffers are hired for specific events and their jobs terminate after the event. Some schools run professional courses on event management but some acquire the knowledge by hands-on training. An event manager can be paid between N1 million and N10 million and more depending on the events and the personalities involved.

Event managers are needed in almost any kind of business – entertainment, finance, government, retail, fashion, sport, music, among others, so their day to day job can be filled with a huge range of exciting challenges and unique situations.

Events usually require many different teams to come together. It often includes several external suppliers. Successful events depend on the team with every member doing his/her job to standard with flexibility and commitment to good cross-team communication. If you love being part of a team and working with people to create something unique, events could well be the path for you.

Creative thinking

The event industry is all about exceeding the expectations of all parties involved in the events, and design is one of the key ways to impress. Event managers need to be real outside-the-box thinkers who have a dynamic approach to problem-solving. Design is essential to an event’s success, whether you have the creative spark that can give event guests a memorable experience, or the perfectionist’s streak that crafts brand awareness right down to the colour of name badges.

Strong leadership

An event management team needs strong leadership to be at its best – negotiations between clients, suppliers, company or venue staff requires flexibility, quick thinking, buckets of initiative and exceptional decision making. A particular ability to spot good compromises and know what is essential to the success of the event marks out an excellent event team leader. It takes a good event manager and leader to take on the challenge of directing a complicated event whilst managing the expectations of several different stakeholders.

Opportunities

Some event management companies have the trappings of royalty and take care of event from the conception period to actual delivery. In this business your efficiency is the perfect way to get an introduction to the industry and give you a head start in beginning a career.

Event management is a fast-paced, varied, and highly employable field. Even in times of economic recession, events remain invaluable to companies as a sure way to build brand reputation, drive consumer confidence and give people experiences to remember.

Managing Director of Pink and Blossom, Mrs. Nkechi Iheanacho, an Industrial Chemistry graduate, said she has always loved to organise things and started when her elder sister was about to get married. “My business actually took off as an off-shoot of my sister’s wedding. I not only took care of the catering of the traditional wedding but also the decorations and ancillary services including the white wedding. After the wedding people started making inquiries about the organiser of the event, it took quite a while to convince some of them that handled it. Those who believed encouraged me with jobs such as birthdays for their kids and spouses and end-off year parties.”

I didn’t look for start-up capital because my initial clients paid up-front, so l can say that l started with zero capital. My drive and love for putting things together kept me going. At the initial stage, I had no steady staff. I only used ad hoc staff but now as a full-fledged event management company l have at least 15 permanent staff. I engage ad hoc staff if l get several jobs at the same time or a very big job because sometimes I have as much as 30 people working on a project, she added.

I have never had any problem paying my staff, from nothing we have grown to picking up jobs of over a million naira and our balance sheet is good. When we get jobs that require for instance a marquee we outsource some of the engineering, electrical, plumbing jobs and concentrate on our core competence which is food and decoration she added.

On the skills needed she said there is a place for everybody. “This is one business that accommodates the graduates and highly skilled artisans who are barely literate. Everybody have a place but the most important thing is for each cadre to know its onions and stick to it. If everybody is a Ph.D holder, who will do the cleaning, decorations and other menial jobs involved? If for instance, you are handling a cross cultural wedding, you will need to spice it up with engaging somebody that can code-switch in the two languages. Event management is about innovation and competitiveness; you must try to please your clients against your competitors. The interesting part of this business is that it involves a lot of coordinates, a great employer of labour at short notice and pays the bills,” she said.

The Managing Director of Event Plus, Mrs. Evelyn George who studied Law but fell in love with event management, had a stint with an event management company for two years and left after acquiring some skills. “Though l took additional correspondence courses, it was only for effects to be a step higher in terms of the newest skill and technology. We have handled some high octane jobs running into millions of naira with great panache. I started the business with about N200,000, which I used to buy some special chairs and distinctive table wares for weddings and other colorful events, otherwise one can start it even with zero capital. The highest value in this business is your network of friends and associates and your core-competence. Sometimes a contract can be sub-contracted to you if your colleagues note what area you are good at, integrity is also key,” she said.

On her workforce, she said there are 10 core members of staff but makes use of ad hoc staff depending on the volume of job and skill needed for the job. She also confirmed that it is a business for everybody, stressing that no skill is wasted in the innovative business.

Rose and Pink Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Eton said event management is an all season business that does not go out of fashion. He started his company some three years ago with his wife and they have not looked back ever since. He said they divided their business into segments and hired the best hands to coordinate it. While he takes care of doing the master of ceremony and decorations his wife takes care of food and drinks where she displays her natural culinary abilities in cooking food as she read hotel and catering management from the Polytechnic. He said they are able to take-up jobs from any part of the country as she is capable of cooking almost all the major food and delicacies of the major linguistic groups in the country.

“When l lost my job as a result of rationalisation where l had worked for over nine years, we came to the conclusion that the only way out for both of us was to run a business which did not require a fortune to start. We started with less than N100,000 from our savings, organising end of year parties for schools and birthdays for some children of the rich, chieftaincy programmes, promotions and even political campaign programmes, from there we built our clientele.

“Our events have colour to it because we have traditional dancers that we trained to sing and dance according to the dictates of the event. With benefits of hindsight there is no business we would have done with so much ease in addition to being financially rewarding.”

On whether a practitioner needs a professional qualification in events management to be successful, he said no, adding that the first demand is interest, ability to organise programmes successfully, dexterity in organisation and ability to deliver within a short period.

Eton said they bought their first van after doing their first five major jobs. He noted that one gets to a point in the business that he cannot do without heavy vehicles that can move equipment around and even a warehouse.

“Another important thing is to exhibit the highest level of integrity with your clients. When somebody entrust huge cash to you with the belief that you will deliver; you will have no choice but to deliver. Before you grow big enough to have your marquee or build your own event centre where you hold your events, you must be at home with good event places in your location. Sometimes your client can live you with the choice of finding a suitable place for a particular event,” he added.

Event management has gone beyond cooking but now depending on the level of the engagement, you go beyond that to meet up with the expectations of your client.

On the number of staff, he said he has 12 permanent staff but makes use of casual staff a lot in such areas as ushers, service hands, electricians and plumbers to ensure that no service is disrupted. We are never in lack of good hands; this is one business that when people see you setting up a stand you will readily have hundreds of applicants trying to get an opportunity to be part of it. One other good thing about this business is that it can accommodate as many event mangers as possible. Nigerians celebrate just about anything and if you have a good record and deliver on your promises you will never be in short supply of jobs, he said.

On how much somebody needs to start the business, he said depending on the entry point, one can start with any amount or even zero capital if clients trust you enough to give jobs and mobilisation fee.

On the stream of income, Eton said he is happy he chose the line of business as he can’t complain especially in the face of the harsh economic condition in the country.

July 6, 2015