MY THOUGHTS

I have not blogged in a while.

Each time I look at my blog and website(still working on it) I feel like I have a lot going in my head,  I mean I can write a movie script (working on that too). The challenge is writting, what is stopping me?  I need to get my groove back.

By the way, I got married May 24th 2014.

Cheers.

LAGOS WORLD RECORD PROJECT; Openings at a world record event in Lagos

Hello Lagosians! We are recruiting volunteers for a public oral health project directed at adolescents and culminating in a World Record Attempt taking place simultaneously at over 300 locations in Lagos on May 23, 2013. Based on the nature of the project, over 3,000 volunteers would be needed to facilitate planning and implementation of the project.

 

This presents an opportunity for volunteers to gain invaluable project management experience, especially since the project is set to break a world record. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A CHARITABLE SERVICE ATTRACTING NO SERVICE CHARGE FROM THE ORGANIZATION OR VOLUNTEERS.

 

Kindly review the different roles and duties as given us by the organization below. WORKING HOURS PER WEEK: 4-6 hours

 

DESCRIPTION OF ROLES

Logistics Team – The logistics team is responsible for the co-ordination of onsite logistics (Venue & Core team Co-ordination, Internal Planning, Partner Sessions, Reception & Registration process), and logistics (onsite/off-site operations) teams.

1. Assistance to the Head of the Delegate Servicing (DS) team in logistical management to promote synergy & planning of the events. 2. Coordinate the overall transport plan, including management and communication with the transport companies 3. Assistance with Pre-Event Networking & Press Conferences. 4. On-site Logistics (Venue & Core team, internal planning, breakaway rooms, partner sessions). 5. Coordination of the on-site Human Resources (HR) Team (HR Planning & Resource Allocation) and Delegate Servicing Team. 6. Team reception & registration & logistical management of on-site operations teams.

Ideal Skills/Profile of the Logistics team members a. Excellent interpersonal & team management skills b. Strong ability to multi task c. Excellent planning/execution skills and solution oriented attitude d. A strong and diverse background in communication

 

External Relations (ER) Team: The ER team is responsible for fundraising and finding in-kind partnerships to meet the budget for the Lagos world record project. Below are the duties of the ER team before and during the world record attempt: 1. Partnership management (Delivery/Servicing, Partnership Enhancement & Communication). 2. Coordinate with the onsite ER team during the event and responsible for on-site coordination of externals. 3. Follow-up with Partners/Sponsors & Patrons post-world record attempt day. 4. Assist in production and design of project-related publications (Brochures, Website, and Merchandise). 5. Coordination of keynote speakers, government officials and other dignitaries attending the opening ceremony.

Ideal Skills/Profile of the External Relations Team members a) Strong fundraising background and related competencies (selling and partnership management) b) A working style that is goal-oriented. c) A high level of awareness of the external environment in general, and of the Indian Industry in particular. d) Excellent communication skills e) Excellent Presentation skills Communications Team This team is responsible for the overall communication details of the project as well as development of key messages for all audiences to communicate the project’s core brand identity. The duties of this team are: 1. Oversee the writing of press releases, copy for marketing materials, project reports, advertisements, and other related material. 2. Manage media relations, research editorial opportunities and build relationships with key industry media players. 3. Work closely with the web manager to ensure messaging is consistent with overall marketing and communication of objectives before and after the World Record Attempt. 4. Lead agencies and internal team members, where appropriate, to execute all communication activities and Public Relations (marketing materials, advertising, client communications, direct mail, marketing campaigns, press releases, content for trade publications, etc.). 5. Overall responsibility for social media marketing. 6. Perform related work as required. Ideal Skills/Profile for Communications Team a. PR/Media/Journalism/Advertising backgrounds would be preferred. b. Excellent English language skills and creative writing skills c. Very good understanding of Web 2.0 and social media tools d. A basic awareness of the Media & Public Relations environment. e. Basic knowledge of graphics software like Adobe Photoshop/Corel Draw, HTML editors like MS FrontPage

 

Delegate servicing team – The delegate servicing team is responsible for the communication with delegates/stakeholders attending the world record event on the 23rd of May, 2013. Below are the duties of this team: 1. Ensuring that each delegate goes back with a WOW! Experience 2. Ensure all systems are in place for delegates’ needs during the world record event- health, personal, safety etc. 3. Maintain delegate help desk during the world record event, provide assistance to delegates, being aware of all relevant information 4. Develop reception systems and work closely with the Head of logistics. 5. Overall responsibility for all immigration related support for international delegates (Guinness World Record team from the UK) attending the event. Ideal Skills/Profile for Delegate Servicing Team a. Excellent inter-personal & team management skills. b. Strong ability to multi-task. c. Excellent planning and execution skills, solution oriented attitude. d. Excellent relationship management skills e. Excellent communication skills Information Systems (IS) Team – The IS team is responsible for the overall Information Systems that will power the operations of specifics during the World Record event. Below are the duties of the IS team: a. Development & Maintenance of the project website. b. Development of the event registration database c. Planning, developing and implementing the IS budget, obtaining competitive prices from suppliers where appropriate, to ensure cost effectiveness. d. Researching and installing new systems; e. Ensuring the smooth running of all IS systems f. Managing crisis situations, which may involve complex technical hardware or software problems g. Ensuring the security of data from internal and external attack and core teams office IS administration. h. End-to-End IS planning for the conference i. Overall responsibility for taking the World Record event LIVE! Ideal Skills/Profile of Information Systems team members Strong background & experience in: a. Web-development b. Networking Technology c. Database Management Software (Oracle/SQL/Lotus Notes) d. Advanced PC/Internet User Skills e. Operating Systems (Win7/8, X Windows, Unix/Linux OS, Mac OS) THE PROJECT ORGANISERS HAVE

 

 

AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS WHO PARTICIPATE. HOW TO APPLY: LIKE our Facebook page and then click here: http://on.fb.me/17AdOSV OR head straight to the registration form: http://goo.gl/ZIeBL HELP SOMEONE FIND OUT: SHARE ! + Send this as a BC (Broadcast message) if you use a Blackberry (Remember to tell them to re-broadcast). + Forward to your email contacts and tell them to forward to their contacts as well +Re-post this to your website or blog + Share this post on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, LinkedIn, and any other platform you use

 

*Culled from Volunteer In Nigeria, you can follow @naijavolunteer

SOCIAL MEDIA WEEK LAGOS

In just under four years, Social Media Week has become a platform and a community that has grown to more than 100,000 members in 26 cities around the world. It is a dynamic mix of events taking place from panel discussions to mini shows and lots more, SMW is an amazing opportunity to learn, network and basically have a great time. The first ever social media week in Lagos started 18th and will end 22nd February 2013.

 Day 1 started with Open Government and Social Media held at the E Learning Center Odunlami street Lagos Island. Topics that were raised include; putting a structure in Government for social media and online engagement, embracing technology for open governance, government partnership with organized sector and more.

Engaged learning beyond the classroom is another session that had speakers talk about social web and education with emphasis on Campus Network, an academic engagement network that provides a balance between education and social media. 

Entrepreneurship in the digital age is another interesting session that was held at the Porsche Center, looking at building your brand on social media.Three important aspects were mentioned, consistency, visual branding and integrity. SMWLagos holds simultaneously in about 18 centers per day so you have a variety to choose from. Click on the link below to get the schedule and register for the sessions ahead, it promises to be informative and interesting.

 http://socialmediaweek.org/lagos/schedule/

FOR YOU!

Hello all, welcome to the New Year!!! 2013 promises to be a fruitful year so get ready to reap the harvest of 2012. Find below an article that is targeted at bankers but speaks to us all, lets adopt a healthy lifestyle so we can enjoy our hard work.

A HEALTHY HEART FOR TODAY'S BANKER.

In simple terms a heart can be described as a pump that keeps blood moving around your body. It delivers oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body, and carries away unwanted carbon dioxide and waste products. A healthy heart is achieved by maintaining a healthy lifestyle therefore, recognize that maintaining a healthy heart means cutting out all the high risk habits in your life. For some people, that could mean making huge changes in all aspects of their daily life including work/career. The Banking sector is seen as a time consuming career which is true however time is relative; a market woman can complain that her trade is time consuming same goes for a fashion designer, engineer and the list goes on. A banker is expected to set priorities at work and home, manage time effectively which will in a long run lead to living a heart healthy life. This might seem like a long shot however it is achievable.

Lifestyle of a banker: The perception of a typical banker's lifestyle is characterized by working very long hours, weekend work, emergency calls to the office as you are expected to be reachable at all time, day and night. This lack of control makes it extremely difficult to schedule time to eat healthy, exercise, and spend time with friends and family to relax. The word perception is used because there is always a way around every situation to suit you. Bankers do not have time or should I say make out time required to give the heart needed attention and care. At work you can make out time by setting your daily and weekly target then have the discipline to follow through. It is a fact that most weekend jobs are fallout of unattended work during the week although there are some exceptions for certain job descriptions that are required to work over weekend. It is quite hard to adopt a heart friendly lifestyle; some people might need support of not only their families but their friends, colleagues and even doctors. Many bankers view changing over to a healthy diet as a major feat, they think they will have to resign themselves to a life of vegetables and chocolate and chip abstinence. I agree it can be difficult to change the habits of a lifetime, but drastic changes may not be required as the mind can be conditioned to adapt to change gradually. Take for instance the work environment; you condition your mind to work early and close late (if necessary) then meet and exceed targets. If this can be done at work then it can be done for health, home and every area of your life. Lets not forget the fact that you can only be available to work when you are healthy because there is no room for excuses when it comes to delivering at work. Therefore it is important to have a healthy heart and body in as a whole.

Reconciling a banker's lifestyle with a healthy heart: In the home front an average banker has a house help/cleaner, laundry man/washing machine that make running the home easy however eliminating every chance of exercising. Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight; as you put on weight in adulthood; your weight gain is mostly fat rather than muscle. This excess weight can lead to conditions that increase chances of heart disease — high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Exercise for 30minutes on most days of the week; this includes activities such as jogging, housekeeping, taking the stairs and regular walks. It is not necessary to exercise strenuously to achieve benefits; small weight loss can be beneficial. Reducing your weight by just 10 percent can decrease your blood pressure, lower your blood cholesterol level and reduce your risk of diabetes. Diet is also important, a heart-healthy diet comprises of foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, which can help protect your heart. Beans, other low-fat sources of protein and certain types of fish also can reduce your risk of heart disease. I have noticed that the only part of the day you own is the morning. Jog on one spot then eat fruits and veggies before you start work for the day. Reduce intake of processed food, eat less salt and fatty food. Try eating baked or grilled fish, minus the skin twice a week; fatty, oily fish in particular are high in omega-3 fatty acids that helps the heart. We are of the impression that it quite hard to get a healthy meal in this country however thanks to the local markets and stores, you can walk in to a variety of fruits and vegetables to pick from. The internet is also available to search healthy recipes in Nigeria.

The BMI (Body Mass Index) is a good, but imperfect guide to determine your weight; the muscle weighs more than fat. Women and men who are very muscular and physically fit can have high BMIs without added health risks. Because of that, waist circumference also is a useful tool to measure how much abdominal fat you have: Men are considered overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (101.6 centimeters, or cm). Women are overweight if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (88.9 cm). Emphasis is made on BMI check because of the importance of weight, a slim person might not have a healthy BMI while everyone looks at a big person as unhealthy. The measurement above will help keep a healthy weight and heart.

There are several simple lifestyle changes you can make today to keep your heart healthy and decrease your risk of heart disease. Maintain a healthy weight, calculate your BMI and talk to your doctor to determine if you should lose weight. Adopt a healthy diet rich in important nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Get regular health screenings: Blood pressure, Cholesterol levels and Diabetes screening. Stay active by engaging in regular physical activity like walking or biking. Find healthy ways to keep stress in check like dancing, taking up a hobby or engaging in sport. Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke. A banker can maintain a heart healthy lifestyle and still perform optimally at work. It takes determination, discipline and proper time management.

CHOOSE

Hi all, this a short write up on making career choices.

How do you choose a career path to follow? This is a question parents need to know the answer in order to be instrumental in the success of their children. To choose a career a person needs to know the necessary skills required, this is why it is important for parents to discover the skills/gifts their children have through the things they like doing and what they are good at. With these the problem of deciding what course to study and what career path to follow will be eliminated.          
A career can be an opportunity to influence others in a positive way, it could be a calling, ministry or business. To the employee the job you have right now is an opportunity to acquire certain skills and discover what you want as a career. 

I believe we are all meant to make a difference around us no matter how small or insignificant, we do it to the glory of God for this is our purpose in life.

Nwachukwu Nancy

THE ART OF NETWORKING

THE ART OF NETWORKING

Networking can be defined as making of ties or acquaintances (especially for professional support or business advantages) or establishing an informal set of contacts among people with common social and business interests as a source of prospects, for the exchange of information, and for support.

Building a network of diverse people is very helpful for a business or anyone in particular, contacts with different clusters or groups would help you with the possibility of greater opportunities. Your network should cut across geographical boundaries. When you attend group meetings collect the business cards of other people because meeting people frequently could help you advance in your business or career. You probably have heard the term “the size of your network determines the size of your net worth". This cannot be overemphasized for people have been known to be wealthy financially, materially and of course emotionally through networking.

However busy you are you should give importance to networking. It is important to create a lasting first impression on people whom you meet undoubtedly the impression you create will bring you greater business opportunities. You should always try to keep in touch with the contacts you have developed and you should help people in your network for this would not only bring you goodwill but also good business. It is important to view networking and relationship building as a continuous process; identify ways and means to improve your network. Networking aids the growth of your relationships, business and expands your horizon. It would aid you in creating new products and expanding your knowledge. If you are a professional you should seek new ideas and pastures that would help you to grow. If you are attending a networking meeting, be well prepared. Think in advance as to what kind of people you are going to interact with. When you meet people, you find out what their requirements are and whether you can fulfill them.

 

For Christians, networking can be a useful tool to evangelize and win souls for the kingdom of God, to effectively network; you are expected to have a positive mindset coming from a place of abundance by giving to enable people open up when you approach them. Next you should be clear on what you intend to achieve, what goal you expect to achieve or what solutions are you searching for. Intuitive networking is an art that is ultra-responsive, warm and ever -expanding, in a way that's effortless, joyous and has real-human connection at its cornerstone. Its success depends on implementing certain factor; be open to possibilities and make a declaration that you will connect with all the souls that you're supposed to connect with, and with the highest good of the people involved before you meet them. Listen to your heart and it will tell you where to go and when to act for God will direct you when you ask him for guidance.

Finally when you connect with someone, think of ways you can help that person accomplish his/her goal without expecting anything in return. Not only it's a very rewarding experience, but you'll initially make new friends and later clients, and very possibly for life, if you're consistent at 

follow-up and keeping in touch.

Nancy N.

 

ONLINE SHOPPING IN NIGERIA

Hi all, this is to introduce my long awaited blog!! 

Our first article will be on emerging online stores in Nigeria.

A major advantage of online shopping is that you have access to sales and promotions anywhere in the world and you don't waste time and energy going from store to store or markets (we know how hard it is to drive through traffic). We have had online stores based in UK and US ready to deliver in Nigeria, these stores keep you updated on the latest trends e.g CityChic and Bluloft. Being the shopaholic I am, I have few that have been tested and trusted.

I SHOP IN LONDON www.ishopinlondon.com, this is an online store that specializes with shopping in London and deliver in Nigeria. The service is trusted and excellent.

DEAL DEY www.dealdey.com is concerned with shopping within Nigeria with the benefit of a price slash and sometimes free delivery.  

I should warn you that there are lots of online stores in Nigeria, frankly it has turned to a lucrative business everyone wants to start. I will keep you updated on the necessary, trusted and known stores to look out for.

konga.com
kasuwa.com
bluloft.com
dealdey.com
ishopinlondon
mallforafrica
kamdora.com
naijastyles.com

Welcome to the world of online shopping!!!!!!