I was just thinking of how this goverments performance can be judged, and concluded that he has spent 2.5 years systematically distroying all the gains of the previous goverment,  performing dismally, particularly with the economy and the fight against curruption. Equally notable, is that the leading players in this goverment (excluding Yaradua of course being an extremely weak and incapable leader) are curruption personafied. What you say?

Very Interesting post. I just read the write-up (on page one) by Goldman, and I must admit I was really impressed. Given his insightful piece, I was particularly surprised to learn, at the end of his piece, that he hadn't already gained an MBA from one of those 'prestige' institutions.

The value of the right MBA can hardly be over-emphasized. I recently completed an executive programme on strategy and decision making at the London Business School as well as an executive MBA from the Imperial College London. Besides the direct academic and network benefits, these institutions can also confer an aura of authourity and CONFIDENCE that can easily set you apart. You leave knowing you've been thought by the very best brains and networked with the very best minds in the world.

As for contacts though, I don't think an MBA is altogether necessary. There are short executive courses that run in most of these institutions one can avail oneself off. You could easily meet as many as 200 top business leaders in the space of three weeks living / networking on the Harvard campus. This is a particularly usefull asset particularly for any future entrepreneural plans.

Don't care what anybody says in favour, Yar is a DUNCE!

Dangote has a point! We need a certain level of protectionism for our nascent industries. Even the western countries we're quick to refer to are not as open as they'd like us to believe. But thats conversation for another day.

Let's take a cursorary look at local production and cost of goods. It's certainly cheaper to import than manufacture locally as Dunlop and a few others have come to find out. The recent depletion of our foreign reserves is partly a result of Yar's loose import policy.

Furthermore, with the penchant for imported goods, local industries, the engine room of any nations development, will never get of the ground. What we need is to encourage local competition and not wholesale importation that makes us a major import dependent, consumer nation.

Limiting importation may be what's needed to concentrate minds and grow local capacity as well as stimulate innovation. Maybe through this innovation, we'll finally find a solution to the seemngly intractable challenge of Power supply.

When I read text of Sanusi's interview, a very old quote by Greenspan came to mind -

“Since I have become a central banker, I have learned to mumble with great
incoherence. If I seem unduly clear to you, you must have misunderstood what I
said.”

We all know that Soludo's a hard act to follow and Sanusi may be keen to make an early impression, but he
needs to stop acting like an economic activist. He is a distinguished professional in his own right and
has all it takes to be successful in his new role. His unguarded statements regarding CEO's and
our banking system is not in our national interest. It will only serve to empower those internal and
external forces bent on seeing our banking institutions crumble. He needs to understand that the issues he
highlights (real or contrived) pale in comparism to the damage his urterances may precipitate.

I fear that if he doesn't adopt a more tackfull approach, he may trigger a revolt from the banks, which will
not be in his or our nations interest.

One of the guys mentioned was a room mate back at uni and a real gentle man. Even up till recently when we met up, would never have portrayed him as the type to trade blows.

See what politics, the way we play it, , can turn you into  

Sad. Truely sad.


Thank you for the music Micheal.


Rest in Peace.

No one has to live with constant, unprovoked abuse of  this kind, however it can't be easy to have a racist / prejudiced father inlaw. You haven't stated your fathers attitude towards your husband, but it's also important that they respect him as an inlaw. It's a two way street.

I don't agree that you should leave your husband, however you must make him realise the damage he's causing,urge him to forgive and let go whatever ill feelings he may harbour towards your parents. Also, your father must elevate his thinking and change that racist mentality,  FAST, if he's to get any respect.

are very political

Somehow I suspect this is quite prevalent. And therein lies the challenge. I suppose one can expect this will be less in private companies than they are with public organizations?

The CB doesn't seem like a bad place to work at all. Expecially considering the possibility of owning your own venture while in employment, as seems common out there.

On a related note, can someone please suggest what position / figure someone with the following education / experience can realistically expect to attain in naij?

###
MSC (Information Systems), MBA  (Finance) (Both from reputable UK institutions)
10 years consulting (Big 5)
6 years Investment Bank (operations) - (@Director)
###

I hear companies are now holding back on further recruitment due to the economic conditions?

I'm enquiring for somebody behalf, so please so any advice / insight will be much appreciated.


Thanks guys,

@Poster,

Problem is when you're not on the ground, na wahala. And I find  it's very difficult finding whom to trust, especially when looking for partners / employees. It's even more worrying considering that many people (business partners included) there can do ANYTHING to get their hands on your money!

I decided a long time ago never to undertake any physical venture unless I'm willing to relocate. The only investment I'm willing to do remotely is the stock market / organized private sector where I'm not a majority holder in the venture.

@poster,

Thanks mate.

I simply meant that 35, unless put in a qualifying context, is not "very young". Taken in context of a 109 year old man, then it's veryyyyy  young.  A 15 year old, in any context,  is very young etc, , get my drift?


Oh,  I be think say you wan posse with education and things,     

In more advanced economies, age discrimination mostly affects older folks. From what I read and see with Nigeria, it's the reverse. In all my 15 years of professional experience across three continents (Excluding Africa), I find that young people are empowered.  It took me a while to get that into my head, that I wasn't too young to be in any position and that perhaps, this era belongs to the comparatively young. There are just too many old folks in important positions in naij!

The substantive CEO of the Prudential, Tidjane Thiam, a black African is 46. We know of Obama in the US and David Cameron in the UK.  In the organization I work for with 80,000 employees globally, a 41 year old has been the CEO for 3 years.

The trend seems to be changing for the better in Nigeria though, as I see young professionals in top positions, particularly in the private sector.  Is the public sector (for which the professions of Politics and the CBN falls under) any different?


BTW, they do"entrance exam" for senior level positions in Nigeria? 

@poster,

I don't question your accomplishments. In fact, I congratulate you for achieving so much, so early in life. We really thank God for your life. But you lost me with your reference to accomplishments etc. The question didn't put any of that in context did it?  I only commented on your reference to 35 being "VERY YOUNG".  Anyhow, like they say, it's no big deal. Good luck with your job hunt btw!

On another note, age discrimination is everywhere. It is such a topical issue in most parts of the world, including the developed countries you refer to.

This is interesting. I travel by train to/from work, and the train driver always cracks me up with his announcements.

Reading this thread now, I can see that this is the strategy the geeza is playing out. I thought it was a joke initially, but
eventually figured out he had a speech impediment he was trying to mask. He does really sound like he's singing
a song, which comes accross as quite strange, though a lot more fluent that his normal speech would have been I can
tell.

How do you talk and "sing" without sounding like a comedian, or appearing to be talking too fast?

I'm still very young (35)

Big guy, na 35 you dey call very young?

What role, level, department are you applying too? If na to be director, your pay may be small, but you go hammer in other areas