The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • How to make fortune from waste collection

    They say money is everywhere. You just have to know where to look. If you are thinking of starting a business and do not have capital, fear not.

    All you need to do is to direct your focus on the gold mine called waste collection and recycling. Drop your ego, forget your pride and begin collecting. This is all you need to know about waste collection.

    · You can gather things like laundry bags, plastic bottles water sachets, yogurt wrappers, polythene bags, hospital drip bags, pop-corn wrapper, bread wrapper, cellophane, shopping bags etc.

    · You can also take it a notch higher by collecting scrap iron materials as they earn you higher income.

    Read Also:$8m ACPML’s liquid waste treatment plant begins operation

    · Sort them each of them out into batches according to their materials.

    · Weigh them to know how many kilograms each batch weighs.

    · Take them to collection centre operators to earn money for collected waste. Recycling centres include: Recycle point, Wecyclers Nigeria Limited Hub, Richbol Environmental Services, Greenhill Recycling, Shonghai Packaging Industry etc.

    It really is as simple as explained. You can be earning ₦140,000 per month depending on how serious you are. For every kilogram of polythene, you get around ₦45-₦55 depending on the recycling centre you go to.

    If you can collect 100kilograms of polythene per day, you would get ₦5,500 daily. If you work for 26 days each month, you earn a whooping ₦140,000 with little or no capital! And guess what? You would be helping the environment be a safer place to live in!

    Now you have no excuse to be idle. The question is: how willing are you to let go of your pride?

  • Four things Igbo people like

    Igbo Kwenu! The Igbo people are an ethnic group native to the southeastern and some part of the south-central Nigeria. They are an interesting people with a culturally rich heritage and are indeed admirable. The Nation shares four things Igbo people like.

    Gatherings

    For their gatherings, the Igbos prefers a silent and quiet environment. Some might assume that this might make their gatherings dull, but this is totally not the case. The Igbos have a way of making themselves happy even amidst the silence and quietness through some philosophical type discussions, sharing drinks and basically privately relating within themselves, family members and a couple of friends.

    The Women

    Igbo women are typically raised to be bold and somewhat comfortable with their sexuality. If an Igbo woman likes a man, it will show in no time in the way she relates with him and behaves around him. However, if an Igbo woman doesn’t like a man, she is unlikely to turn him down harshly rather she will continue to be a friend to the man, pet his head, keep him at arm’s length while still giving him just the right amount of attention to know she appreciates his affection towards her.

    Read Also: Bride price in Eastern Nigeria: Facts, myths

    Proverbs

    There is hardly a Nigerian tribe that loves the use of proverbs like the Igbos. The use of proverbs seems to be embedded in the very foundation of the culture of the Igbo people. Even when there are fights, especially amongst themselves, they are not accustomed to getting physical. They will typically raise their voices and very sternly make their points and end by delivering threats to one another which are usually in form of proverbs before walking away.

    Business

    The Igbos are arguably the most business savvy tribe in the country. When it comes to entrepreneurial ventures, they are known to take the front seat. There is a common saying: “Give an Igbo man one thousand naira and he will make a million out of it”. Though this might not be true in every circumstance, you have to admit that there is hardly a group of people more business and entrepreneurially inclined as the Igbos. This is because Igbos seem to be the ones with the larger propensity for risk-taking that business and entrepreneurial ventures involve.

  • 10 important tips for dating in your 30s

    By Praise Olowe

     

    Dating in your 30s can feel very different from dating in your 20s. This is because as you’re older, you’re naturally carrying around a lot more baggage and of course there is also more pressure on every side.

    However, with these tips in mind, dating in your 30s would be made super easy and interesting.

    Understand that age is just a number

    It is important for you to know that age is just a number and it only matters when you make it matter.

    You need to stop looking at age as a “barrier”. Do not be pressured to settle for what’s not because of your age. There is nothing wrong with dating in your 30s since it is preparing you for forever.

    Know exactly what you want

    If you’ve never really thought about what you want in a partner, then now is the time to figure it out so you can find the right fit. Write down the names of the last few people you dated. Next to each name, list the top five things you liked about them and the top five things you didn’t like about them. You’ll probably notice that there are common descriptors on the list. The top qualities that you liked about these people are what you should look for in your next relationship.

    Let go of the past and focus on the future

    Nearly everyone who is single in their 30s has dealt with some form of heartbreak. Now is the time to leave the past in the past. Yes, your past has shaped who you are, but it’s your past, not your present or future. Instead of dwelling on your past, focus on what is happening now and look where you are going next.

    Let your guard down

    When you’ve been in a lot of unsuccessful relationships, a natural defence mechanism is to put your guard up. If you don’t let anyone in, then you won’t get hurt, right? However, if you don’t let anyone in, you probably won’t end up finding the one. When the time is right and you’ve met someone you’re into who is also into you, let your guard down and tell yourself everything will be okay.

    Focus on having Fun

    When you’re in your 30s, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking about the things you don’t have yet. You haven’t met the one, you’re not married, you don’t live in a beautiful house, and you don’t have kids. Wanting all of these things is okay, but grilling every person you date to see if they have what it takes to fulfil your expectations is not. Focus on having fun and getting to know the person. What’s the point of being in a relationship at any age if you’re not having fun? It shouldn’t be a job and it shouldn’t be depressing. A relationship should bring joy, laughter, and love whether you are 18 or 45.

    Read Also: ‘My husband takes care of his mother than our kids’

    Communication is Key

    Good communication is crucial to any relationship. When you are dating in your 30s, you should be able to talk to your significant other openly and honestly. Likewise, they should be able to talk to you candidly. Got into your first fight? Talk it out maturely

    Don’t waste your time

    Don’t waste your time. If you’re not into someone, stop talking to them, stop texting them, and stop hanging out with them. Life is too short. Wouldn’t you much rather get a good night of sleep than be out drinking empty calories with a person you’re just not that into?

    Trust your gut

    If you have a gut instinct about someone, trust it. Listen to your intuition. If something is telling you that they’re not right, then they’re probably not.

    Do you and be you

    Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. The real you will always come through eventually, so be yourself from the beginning. Own who you are. Nothing is more attractive than someone who is comfortable in their own skin. Don’t settle, but stop seeking perfection.

     

    Realize that waiting for the right person is more important than being pressured to settle for the wrong one

    Because you are in your 30s and everyone wants you to find a partner, it’s easy to make stupid mistakes. Be focused on finding what you want, what is best for your future.

  • Rainy season must-haves for ladies

    Rainy season must-haves for ladies

    By Praise Olowe

     

    The rainy season is here and the rains are upon us.

    As it is common with this season, most people are tempted to stay tucked in bed with a cup of tea just to ensure they do not get wet or messed up in the rain. However, we all need to carry out our daily activities and because this does not stop the rain, we need not miss any important appointment.

    With all these in mind, it is obvious that we cannot stop the rain, but we can always get ready for its ‘unannounced visit’.

    Click the start button below for a reminder of few things that can help you cope with the rains.

  • Seven keys to raising financially responsible kids

    Parenting is very challenging. It’s a fulltime job trying to teach your kids to be honest, responsible and hard work at the same time, encouraging them to be kind and respectful. It’s a lot and sometimes you have to pick and choose what matters most for your child.

    But above all teachings, raising financially responsible kids is very important. It doesn’t require any certain age because making money is not specific to any age. It is never too early to set children on the right path to financial success.

     One day, your child will face the big world all alone. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to inculcate good money lessons in them. Teach your children as to how they should manage their money and why money management is important.

    1. Teach them to save

     All those monies your children get from people, including you, what you can do is get them a piggy bank where they can be saving it.  Any little cash they get, be it a gift or errand tip-off, let them cultivate the habit of putting it in their saving bank.

    2. Make sure they spend cautiously

    As children, it is easier for them to get carried away by trivial and enticing things which appeal to them. This means they can easily use their money to buy toys, junks and other things that entice them.

     What you can do as a parent is to ensure that they buy things that could be helpful for them.

    3. Open a bank account for them

    Bank has created initiatives like Smart Kids Save. You can now open a bank account for your child who is as young as any age.

    This is very important because from that account you can even save enough money to take care of their future.

    READ ALSO: Why parents must listen to their kids, by don

    4. Play educative games (Monopoly)

     As weird as this advice may sound, it actually works. A game like Monopoly is fun because it will basically teach your children about money and financial responsibility.

    It will teach them the importance of having money, what happens when you spend lavishly and go into debt. Losing money several times in the game will teach them how to manage their resources in real life.

    5. Lead by example

    Be an exemplary parent. Children learn from their parents and they pick up habits either good or bad from them. If you are a financially responsible parent, it is possible that your kids might pick it up from you. Try to inculcate saving habits in them.

    6. Enlighten them on some financial insights

    Teens are very easily influenced. For teenagers, it is very tempting to buy new items like a phone, clothes or even start using credit cards. The advertisements on TV and other media constantly grab their attention towards a fancy world. Try to make your kids understand that they should spend on things they need.

    7.  Talk to them about financial goals

     Every parent’s happiness is to see their children succeed in every way. You can discuss with your children concerning short-term and long-term financial goals.

    Discuss with your children how much allowance they should spend each week and how much they must put towards short and long savings. Ask them to save money for charity as well.

  • How to relate with people with disabilities

    Have you ever looked down on a disabled person? Treated them with hate and disgust? If yes, then you are wrong.

    Being disabled isn’t an end to a good living.

    Disabled persons are not outcasts neither are they, aliens.

    Here are tips on how to interact with people who have disabilities

    1. Give a helping hand: Beckoning for help only comes up when a person is unable to do it individually. Maybe next time you might want to help a blind cross the road. By sole doing this, you have succeeded in impacting a life.

    2. Respect them: Someone who has a disability should be afforded the same amount of respect as anyone else. View others as people, not impairments. Focus on the person at hand and her individual personality. If you must put a “label” on the disability, it’s best to ask what terminology she prefers and stick with the terms she chooses. In general, you should follow the “golden rule”: treat others as you would like to be treated

    3. Speak directly to the person: It’s frustrating for someone with a disability to have to deal with people never talking directly to her if she has an assistant or a translator present. Equally, talk to a person in a wheelchair, rather than the person standing next to them. Their body may not be working fully, but it doesn’t mean their brains aren’t!

    4. Don’t be afraid of asking about a person’s disability: It may not be appropriate to ask about someone’s disability out of curiosity, but if you feel this might help you make a situation easier for him or her, it is appropriate to ask questions.

    Read Also: Physically-challenged donates N120,000 for Makinde’s defend at tribunal

    5. Right of way: Always ensure to aid disabled persons walk through the city without having to scamper for protection.

    6. Message of Hope: Each time you come across a disabled, always remember to encourage them. Ginger them. Counsel them on the need never to lose hope but launch into the deep and be successful.

    7. Offer genuine assistance: Some people are hesitant to offer to help someone with a disability for fear of offending her. Indeed, if you are offering help because of an assumption that someone cannot do something herself, your offer could be offensive. However, very few people would be offended by a genuine, specific offer of assistance.

  • 25 things Buhari promised to do in second term

    Here is a  list of things President Muhammadu Buhari promised during his second term campaign.

    • Promise to take Nigeria to the next level
    • To engage 1 million N-Power graduates.
    • To train 10 million Nigerians in various skills.
    • Give 1 million farmers inputs and jobs via Anchor borrowers scheme.
    • Create 1.5 million jobs through livestock, beef, crop programmes.
    • Create 5 million jobs through mechanised agriculture.
    • Provide $500m innovation fund for Tech and creative sector to create 500,000 jobs.
    • Train 200,000 youths for outsourcing market in tech, services and entertainment.
    • Create 6 regional industrial parks and economic zones.
    • Increase children fed through the school feeding programme from 9.3 million to 15 million.
    • Feeding programme to provide 300, 000 extra jobs for vendors and farmers.
    • Complete coastal rail (Lagos-Calabar), 2nd Niger Bridge, East-West road, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria to Kano road among others.

    Read Also: Buhari, governors take oath amid hope for better days

    • Complete Ibadan-Kano rail, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail, etc.
    • Move broadband coverage to 120,000 km of fibre network across the country.
    • Increase power generation by 1000MW every year.
    • Raise power distribution to 7000MW; 9 universities, 300 markets and clusters to have interrupted power.
    • Implement $550m rural electrification programme.
    • Provide N1million soft loans to artisans.
    • TraderMoni beneficiaries to be increased from 2.3 million to 10 million.
    • Establish 109 One Stop Shops of all regulatory agencies (CAC,NAFDAC, SON, etc).
    • To retrain all teachers in public primary and secondary schools.
    • To remodel 10,000 schools every year.
    • Use co-payments to share the cost of health insurance between individuals, the private sector and government.
    • Poorest 40% of Nigerians to be exempted from co-payments.
    • Increase population covered by primary health care from 12.6% to 45 % in 2023.

  • 12 professional habits Nigerian youths should have

    By Praise Olowe

     

    Whether you are on the path you’ve always dreamed of professionally or are still finding your way towards it, these 12 good practices will pay in dividends down the line.

    1. Maintain a digital professional address book: Doing this makes it super easy to find contact information when you need it (so you don’t have to go searching through old emails). The relationships you build during your career can be even more valuable than your title itself, so it’s essential to stay in touch. Get in the habit of adding business card information to your address book every time you receive one.

    2. Build out your LinkedIn profile: Treat your LinkedIn profile like a summary of your greatest hits. However, reserve some more recent projects for the interview to present an element of surprise. As you make new contacts throughout your career, add them on LinkedIn.

    3. Update your resume every six months: Whether you’re looking for a new job or not, it’s important to keep your resume updated with new experience, skills, and projects. Details become blurry over time, and you don’t want to forget an important facet of a project when you finally sit down for your next review or apply for a new position.

    4. Maintain relationships with old colleagues: when you move on to new opportunities. A simple “Just wanted to say hi and see what’s new” every six months or so to people you’ve developed a rapport with is all it takes. You never know how someone may be valuable to you later in your career!

    5. Working in a creative field like design or writing? Establish a cohesive and vibrant online presence. Create a portfolio website where you can show off your work, and allow your personality and expertise to shine bright from behind a computer screen.

    6. Always send a thank-you or follow-up email after a meeting with or a gesture from a business contact: Gratefulness and manners will always be remembered.

    7. Know your worth: By this time, you may have had a few jobs, taken on some projects, and conversed with others in your field, assess your skill set and become familiar with the space so you can become confident in your value the next time you’re due for a raise or a job offer.

    Read Also: Six tips to identify fake interviews

    8. Seek mentorship from those you admire: Ask questions, and listen carefully. Know someone on the path you might see yourself walking 10 to 20 years down the road? Do whatever you can do to learn from and emulate them.

    9. Learn how to network while still expressing your genuine personality: You shouldn’t have to feel like a shell of your real self in professional environments. Depending on your industry and work environment, the line may differ; know where it is, and tread it carefully.

    10. Always show up 10 minutes early: Think of this as more of a life lesson than anything. Punctuality is among the most important of professional habits to adopt. It’s an honest indicator of your organizational skills and overall reliability.

    11. Respond to emails within 24 hours and sooner: If you are busy, a simple confirmation of receipt will go a long way. Heading out on vacation? Don’t forget to set an out-of-office response telling people when you’ll be back in touch.

    12. Have a work-appropriate clothing choice: We all know that clothes can be an important form of nonverbal communication, so do your best to avoid those side-eye glances.

  • How to check expiry date of a gas cylinder

    Gas cylinders are essential components in our kitchens and almost every home owns it. it is important to know that a gas cylinder could be as dangerous as its importance if certain factors are not checked constantly.

    There have been many cases of gas cylinder explosions and when this happens, lives are lost and properties worth millions are destroyed. It is alarming that up till now, so many people are not aware of the fact that gas cylinders have expiry dates.

    Here are danger signs to watch out for and guides to help you ascertain when your gas cylinder is due for change:

    • Cooking gas cylinders must not exceed five years: most people using gas cylinders hardly remember when it was bought. It is important to keep track of the days and replace them as soon as possible.
    • ·       Do not buy used Gas cylinders.
    • ·       Watch out for the expiry dates: The steps to check the expiry date are very simple and basic. The expiry of LPG cylinder can be found on one of the metal strips that connect the body of the cylinder to top ring (handle). It is mentioned on the inner side of the strip. The strip has any of the alphabets from A to D painted on it along with a number. Decoding the expiry date is simple. The alphabet represents the month it expires while the number indicates the year. A year is divided into four quarters :

    A – January to March

    B – April to June

    C – July to  September

    D – October to  December

    For example, your cylinder has ‘A 18  painted on the metal strip. The alphabet A represents month March and 18 indicates the year 2018.

    • Use gas cylinders in a vertical position, unless specifically designed to be used otherwise
    • ·       Securely restrain cylinders to prevent them from falling over
    • ·       Always double check that the cylinder/gas is the right one for the intended use.
    • ·       Before connecting a gas cylinder to equipment or pipe-work make sure that the regulator and pipe-work are suitable for the type of gas and pressure being used.
    • ·       When required, wear suitable safety shoes and other personal protective equipment when handling gas cylinders.
    • ·       Do not use gas cylinders for any other purpose than the transport and storage of gas.
    • ·        Do not drop, roll or drag gas cylinders.
    • ·       Close the cylinder valve and replace dust caps, where provided when a gas cylinder is not in use.
    • ·       Where appropriate, fit cylinders with residual pressure valves (non-return valves) to reduce the risk of backflow of water or other materials into the cylinder during use that might corrode it (e.g. beer forced into an empty gas cylinder during cylinder change-over).
    • ·       Ensure the valve is protected by a valve cap or collar, or that the valve has been designed to withstand impact if the cylinder is dropped.
    • ·       Store gas cylinders in a dry, safe place on a flat surface in the open air. If this is not reasonably practicable, store in an adequately ventilated building or part of a building specifically reserved for this purpose.

    Read Also: Family of six burnt in Anambra gas explosion

    • ·       Cylinders containing flammable gas should not be stored in part of a building used for other purposes.
    • ·       Protect gas cylinders from external heat sources that may adversely affect their mechanical integrity.
    • ·       Gas cylinders should be stored away from sources of ignition and other flammable materials.
    • ·       Avoid storing gas cylinders so that they stand or lie in water.
    • ·       Ensure the valve is kept shut on empty cylinders to prevent contaminants from getting in.
    • ·       Store gas cylinders securely when they are not in use. They should be properly restrained unless designed to be free-standing.
    • ·       Gas cylinders must be clearly marked to show what they contain and the hazards associated with their contents.
    • ·       Store cylinders where they are not vulnerable to hazards caused by impact, e.g. from vehicles such as fork-lift trucks.

  • Five ePayment tips every Online Shopper should know

    The World Wide Web has made shopping more convenient and cost-effective. It is big business these days, with more and more consumers across Nigeria turning to the internet to purchase goods. Needless to say, this has caught the attention of cybercriminals who are keen to exploit individuals benefiting from the convenience, affordability and choice that makes the internet a safe place to make purchases. This automatically means that buying online has its risks. Here are five top ePayment tips every online shopper should know.

    Buy from a trusted brand

    Buying from a trusted eCommerce platform is one of the best ways to stay safe when shopping online. A brand like Jumia, introduced Jumia Pay, to enable its customers to make payment for purchases without any hassles. Not only do you know that you’re buying quality and at the best price, but you also feel more confident that a well-established brand like Jumia via Jumia Pay has in place robust security measures.

    Look for the https URL and the padlock symbol

    HTTPS is an online safety protocol that encrypts information so that data can be kept private and protected. In most cases, the text in the URL is preceded by a padlock symbol (if this is missing, the website should be treated with caution). The ‘S’ in HTTPS, incidentally, stands for secure. Websites that use HTTPS cause data sent between the site and your web browser to be encrypted through the use of TLS (Transport Layer Security). That means that any information, such as your credit card details, can’t be intercepted in plaintext form by an external attacker.

    Read Also; Five things you need to do before moving out of Nigeria

    Be wary of ridiculous offers

    We have all come across offers and discounts that are too good to be true. Most times, we are tempted to jump on it despite warning signs that it is actually false. You have to be careful because there are plenty of scams looking to connect you with tempting offers. In some cases, the perpetrators are looking to infect your device and steal information. It is advisable to be doubly vigilant and like earlier said, shop with trusted brands.

    Avoid public Wi-Fi to shop

    Anytime you enter personal information using a public network, you’re exposing yourself to identity theft. Most Wi-Fi hotspots don’t encrypt your data, so any hacker can basically steal your identity. This applies to mobile phones, too, since you’re often using nearby Wi-Fi. Be aware when you’re using a hotspot that any information you send through the Internet could be picked up by strangers; if it’s information that could make you vulnerable, wait until you get home to your protected network. It may be less convenient, but it’s much safer.

    Change your passwords regularly

    If you really want to keep your information and bank account safe while you’re shopping via the Internet, it’s essential to mix up your account passwords every 3 to 6 months. You should also make sure that you don’t have the same password across all your accounts since that makes them all vulnerable if one is hacked.