The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Praise Olowe

  • 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.

  • Senate presidency: Five reasons why Lawan defeated Ndume

    By Praise Olowe

    Senator Ahmed Lawan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday emerged President of the 9th Senate.

    Lawan defeated Senator Ali Ndume with total votes of 79 to 28. Here is a look at five reasons why Lawan defeated Ndume:

    ·       APC’s endorsement

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC met with governors and members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of the party on Monday in Abuja to endorse candidates for positions of the Senate President, Speaker and their deputies.

    The forum endorsed Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate President. It is safe to say that the endorsement of Lawan could have influenced his victory.

    Unlike 2015, the endorsement worked because the party didn’t stop at that. It mobilised all forces to make sure the endorsement worked.

    Read Also: Lawan floors Ndume to emerge Senate President

    ·       Buhari’s intervention

    On Thursday 6th June, President Muhammadu Buhari met with Senators Danjuma Goje and Ahmed Lawan. After the closed-door meeting with the President, Goje withdrew from the race making, the road clearer for Lawan’s victory.

    As against 2015, the President took the bull by the horn, ensuring he neutralised almost all the oppositions, cementing his status as a father figure in the party.

    ·       Wide consultation

    The same Lawan was endorsed in 2015 by APC but didn’t do much. He, more or less, trusted the party to ensure his victory. But this time around, he didn’t bank on the endorsement alone. He went round the nation, speaking to stakeholders and lobbying senators to support him.

    He was able to rally round key forces to make his ambition a reality.

    ·       Disaffections with Ndume

    Most People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senators, somehow couldn’t trust Ndume with their votes. The 28 votes he garnered clearly indicate all PDP members didn’t vote for him despite his endorsement by the NWC of the party.

    Ndume, to many of them, is never a good alternative to Lawan. He was in the PDP some years ago and they believe he may just be a sell-out.

    ·       PDP’s late moves

    PDP endorsed Senator Alli Ndume late. It was only on Tuesday’s morning, few hours to the election, that the party made its preference for the senate presidency public. To many of the senators, it was one move too late. If they had probably endorsed him earlier, he would have probably won.

  • 14 facts about Naira Marley’s trial

    By Praise Olowe

    Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, was arrested on May 10, 2019 alongside rapper, Zlatan Ibile, Rahman Jago, Guccy Branch and one other.

    · He was arrested for alleged money laundering.

    · Marley, known for his single “Issa Goal”, was slammed with 11- count charges.

    · Marley stands risk of spending 7 years in jail if found guilty in accordance with Section 33 (2) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.

    Read Also:Court grants Naira Marley N2m bail

    · Naira Marley who claimed to have been arrested 124 times in the UK appeared before a Lagos high court, May 20, 2019.

    · Some of the counts in the charges filed against Naira Marley includes, “That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 11th day of December 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, conspired amongst yourselves to use Access card 42658840359191132 issued to persons other than you in a bid to obtain gain and you thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 33(2) of the Same Act.

    · “That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 10th day of May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud possessed, counterfeit card 4921819410257431 issued to Timea Fedorne Tatar and you thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 33(9) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.”

    · Naira Marley pleaded not guilty before Justice Nicolas Oweibo.

    · The judge adjourned until May 30 for hearing of his bail application.

    · Justice Oweibo ordered that the musician be remanded in prison custody until his bail application is determined.

    .  Naira Marley appeared before High Court in Lagos on Thursday, May 30

    . He was granted bail for N2millon with two sureties in like sum.

    . Justice Nicholas Oweibo ruled that one of the sureties must be on Grade Level 10 in the Federal or state employment.

    . The other surety must have a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

    . The judge adjourned until October 22 for trial.

  • 25 things Nigerians should expect after May 29 inauguration

    By Praise Olowe

    With less than 24 hours to May 29th- the big day, the nation is upbeat, Eagle square, venue of the ceremony is already wearing a new look as President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to be sworn into office for the second term.

    So much is expected from the president in another four years, as according to him, “this is the fifth and the last time of standing for an election”

    However, as we prepare for the day, Nigerians expect beyond flamboyant and flowery speeches as it symbolizes the beginning of next level promises.

    Here are some of his campaign promises to look up to…

    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.

    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.

    Read Also: Corrupt Nigerians will come after me in 2023, says Buhari 

    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.

  • 10 tips for staying safe during a flood

    By Praise Olowe

    Recent cases of death caused by drowning have become very alarming as communities across several states in Nigeria are currently grappling with the devastating effects of flooding caused by heavy rains.

    The most important thing during and after a flood is your own safety.

    Here are ten tips for staying safe during a flood.

    • Do not walk through moving water. As little as 6 inches of moving water can make you fall.
    • Do not swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
    • Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
    • Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.

    Read Also: Missing Adewura Bello found dead in Lagos canal

    • Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
    • If your home is flooded, turn off your electricity when you return home
    • Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company.
    • Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.
    • Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.
    • Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.

  • Six things to do before house hunting

    By Praise Olowe

    In order to end up with a great house in a great neighbourhood, there are a couple of things to consider before you begin house hunting. This will help to smoothen out the house hunting process for you.

    Before browsing the market for a cosy new home, condo, or apartment, the first question to ask yourself is how long you intend to live there.

    Here, six things to keep in mind as you’re house hunting.

    Know the Market a Little

    Try to spend some time getting to know the market a little. You should not be completely ignorant about what the house hunting process entails to avoid being cheated. Browse real estate listings, familiarize yourself with the different neighbourhoods you are considering, ask around for recommendations on good real estate agents or consultancies, talk to friends, family and even co-workers to get to know about some of their house hunting knowledge and experiences etc. Try to get as much information as you can about the house hunting process beforehand.

    Find a Good Agent

    A good real estate agent or realtor is hard to find, but you are going to have to work to search them out. A good agent is someone who knows the market well, is knowledgeable about the area you are interested in and can point out problems with potential homes. Once you can get a good agent that knows their stuff and is able to get you a great house, it makes the house hunting process much easier. One of the best ways to get a good agent is through recommendations from family and friends. You can also go to trusted real estate consultancies for some help.

    Read Also: Five things you probably didn’t know about Israel, Eurovision

    Stick to Your Budget

    It’s not enough to just have a budget; you need to be able to stick to it. Consider your monthly cash flow and figure out the amount of money that you can conveniently devote to housing payments (the key word here is conveniently). A general rule to guide you is that the money you set aside monthly for house payments should not be higher than 25 – 30% of your monthly income.

    Choose a Location

    Well, this is obvious, however, it’s not just about choosing a location but the factors you consider when choosing this location. Unfortunately, a lot of people are ignorant of the vital factors to consider when searching for a house and end up choosing a great looking house in a terrible location. You should consider if you feel safe in the area (not just if the agent tells you the area is safe). Do your own research about the area, ask around. Consider the traffic situation around the area, especially during rush hour. Also, consider if there is likely going to be noise disturbances from any source that is beyond what you can handle. In addition, take note of how clean and well-kept the neighbourhood is. Are you likely to be dealing with typhoid issues when living there because of the dirty water etc.?

     Insist on a home inspection
    Typically, home inspections are conducted after an offer is accepted on the property. While homeowners are expected to mention issues with the house in the disclosure document, new issues may come to light during the inspection. In this case, oftentimes buyers renegotiate their offer, but it is also possible to retract an offer entirely if serious, deal-breaking problems are revealed.

    Have a Sizeable Leftover

    You would think many would know this, but there is an alarming number of people that spend almost the entirety of their income on buying or renting a new house. No matter what, this should never be done. Houses need constant maintenance, and even after buying the house there are still one or two unforeseen expenses you might need to make, you, therefore, should avoid putting everything down on a house. Ensure you have a sizeable leftover, that can act as a sort of emergency fund and that can be enough for your general upkeep.

     

  • 2019: Media experts advise against spread of fake news

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, media experts in Nigeria have advised journalists and members of the public against spreading fake news on both social and traditional media platforms.

    They made the call on Wednesday at the official launch of “CrossCheck Nigeria”, a website platform designed to fight against the spread of fake news and misinformation in Nigeria.

    CrossCheck Nigeria was initiated by ‘First Draft’, a United Kingdom based organization to curtail misinformation globally.

    Speaking at the launch of the website in Lagos, Chairman Editorial Board, The Guardian Newspaper Matins Oloja described Fake news as ‘deliberate misinformation aimed at destroying the truth’, adding that the evolution of technology is a major factor to the growth of fake news in the society.”

    Oloja however called on journalists to maintain their duties as gate keepers and urged them to be more credible in their reportage.

    “Journalism is all about credibility. The foundation is truth and accuracy. The moment customers notice you are no longer credible, you are finished in Journalism,” he said.

    In his contribution, the Executive Director of International Centre for Investigative reporting (ICIR), Mr Dayo Aiyetan, called on journalists to ensure the verification of information and news posted on social media.

    “The social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp have become avenues for the spread of misinformation, falsehood and fake news.

    “Therefore, it is important that journalists learn the skills to verify, fact check and debunk misinformation before they cause harm to the people.” Aiyetan said.

    The Managing Director of First Draft, Jenni Sergent who unveiled the website said the project which had taken place in two other countries France and Brazil is designed to help the public understand what to trust and why they should trust it.

    “Followers of the CrossCheck Nigeria project will be shown fact-check and verification steps behind each report.
    “They will also see the logos of all partner newsrooms that have participated in each investigation.” Sergent said.

    According to her, the main idea is to help the public make sense of what and who to trust in their social media feeds and also to ensure that rumours and false claims are swiftly debunked.

    CrossCheck Nigeria partner newsrooms include The Nation, The Punch, Premium Times, The Cable, Daily Trust, News Agency of Nigeria, Sahara Reporters, Agence France-Presse (AFP), Tribune, Africa Check, This Day, The Sun, Channels Television, Freedom Radio, First Draft, Connected Development, The International center for Investigative reporting and the University of Lagos, Department of Mass Communication.

  • 2019: IPC trains journalists on election reporting

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, no fewer than 25 political journalists have been trained on professional and digital reporting by the International Press Centre (IPC).

    The two-day workshop which held in Ogun state was organised by IPC in collaboration with European Union (EU).

    According to IPC, over 500 persons expressed interest to participate in the workshop but only 25 from different media organisations across the South-west of Nigeria were selected.

    Addressing participants on Wednesday, the Director, International Press centre Mr Lanre Arogundade described journalists as the heartbeat of the public.

    He however charged reporters to learn, unlearn and relearn so as to meet the utmost demands of journalism and ensuring desired change in the profession.

    Speaking during the training, Mr. Taiwo Obe, founder of journalism clinic urged participants on the importance of social media tools in news reporting.

    Obe, in a paper presentation titled Covering Political Space using Digital Tools and Apps, emphasised the need for reporters to think and rethink.

    “Your most important tool is your thinking” He said.

    He emphasised the development of creative stories and data ideas urging journalists to make their voices heard using various social media platforms.

    Journalists and former presidential aide on public affairs Mr Bolaji Adebiyi also urged reporters on in depth understanding of the legal frame work of the electoral processes.

    Adebiyi in his presentation titled” The dos and don’ts of election reporting” highlighted inadequate knowledge of the rule as one of the challenges of election coverage in Nigeria.

    Encouraging reporters to go back and study the constitution, he said ” journalists should be abreast and have deep knowledge of provisions of legal framework of the Electoral Processes especially the 1999 Constitution,

    Electoral Act 2010 as amended, INEC guidelines and constitutions of various political parties.”

    Adebiyi noted that political reporters could cause conflicts if they lack the necessary knowledge of the legal rules.

    A social and human capacity expert, Mr Jide Ojo said that the major role of the media as the watchdog of the society is to set agenda for the politicians.

    “The Media should set Agenda for the Contestants with a view to holding them accountable when elected into office” he said.

    Ojo challenged reporters to carry out their responsibilities ahead of the 2019 general elections adding that the media has so far not lived up to expectations.

    Speaking on integrating human index development into data, Ojo urged journalists to ask the right questions from political contestants.

    According to him, campaigns should be based on socio-economic issues such as “water, unemployment, electricity, tourism, agriculture, transportation”

    Participants however expressed joy to be part of the training as they all said they learnt a lot.

  • #GoogleForNigeria: How to use Google ‘Go’ initiatives

    Google  announced the update of several products from its “Go” initiative on Thursday at the Google for Nigeria Conference which held in Lagos.

    “Go” (often referred to as Golang) is a programming language created by Google in 2009 by Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson.

    The Goproduct suite aims to give people with low bandwidth connections and low-RAM devices the best possible Google experience. Although it was launched in the past year, it has new features which are:

    Google Go:  It is described as a lighter and faster way to search. It will soon read web pages out loud and highlight each word so users can follow along. It is a new app which makes it easy for people to discover the best of the internet, even on low-RAM smartphones or unstable network connections. It’s available for devices running Android v4.3 (Jelly Bean) and above, and delivers the same seamless experience whether you’re on a high-end or low-end phone.

    YouTube Go: It enables users to be able to browse downloaded YouTube Go videos, saved as .yt files, right from the gallery on their phones.

    Read Also: Google to launch free Wi-Fi hotspots across Nigeria

    It helps to discover popular videos: ? comedy, ? fashion, ? cooking, ? ‘how-to’s and many more!, helps to control your data and watch more videos it helps you to share  videos Instantly. For YouTubeGo, you need no data to transfer.

    Google Maps Go: will now provide users with turn-by-turn directions, whether they’re travelling by car, by bus or on foot. It is designed to run quickly and smoothly on devices with limited memory. It helps you search for a place, get more information about a place, get directions and see what is nearby.

    Android Go: Launched in Nigeria and 29 other African countries earlier this year, the Go OS gives people coming online for the first time a powerful and reliable smartphone experience.