@ Brien:"@spoilt, why did u screamed? I wasnt actualy criticizin d poster , jst sum sort of correctn, clda bin a typographical error. Now corect me. Eh eh he!" See your life?

There are over 20 TOEFL test centres in Lagos and just one GRE centre (First Logic, Oba Akran). This information and lots of other useful tips are available @ www.ets.org/toefl and www.ets.org/gre. If you plan to ace these tests, you'd have a lot of web-surfing to do. I suggest you start now. Good luck!

U can register for the GRE anywhere in Nigeria. Just go online- www.ets.org/gre and follow the instructions. You need a credit card that is internationally recognized. Only look for agents if you cannot afford a credit card and/or do not have access to the internet. In that case, you should be prepared to pay certain additional charges. If you are REALLY SERIOUS about taking the test, let me know. I may be able to provide you with information on study materials. All the best!

Guess Ur upbringing (which is similar to what I had) contributed to the way U handle money. Thanks for starting this thread. Now I know I'm not "too thrifty."

See the thread "Stock Market Tips For Nigerians".

@ greentree, thanks very much. Pls I am still new to this stock market biz. What do U say about d Kajola? Should I invest in it? Can I get it from my Stockbroker?
@ Prince11: I bought Japaul Oil at 9.68, is this a good time to offload?

I have a very important question: please to the gurus in the house, which company's private placement closes tomorrow (Tuesday)? I heard the company HQ  is located in one of the south-western states.
Thank you.

I know a guy who was in a similar fix. It's so easy to take the bank job and plan to save money for further studies abroad but it doesn't always work that way. A good number of fellas in banks today just wanted to "work briefly say for 2-5 years and jump out." My brother, I assure U that in the first six months of joining a bank U'd start thinking of renting a house, showing appreciation to those who helped you through school, and of course spending on designer clothes (U gotta live up to the image of your bank).

Then comes the interesting and very exciting world of up-fronts, profit sharing and staff loans. Ur mouth would always be filled with so much goodies U might find it difficult preparing for jumping ship. And so September after september glides by, and that thought of a great grad school experience gets ever so remote.

Think hard. Pray harder. Consult widely. then make a decision. And be determined never to regret Ur decision.

I wish U the best.

I'm applying to 8 US schools cos I don't want to be here after Fall '08. Top amongst them is U-Texas @ Dallas, Howard and Michigan State University (MSU). I've spent quite a fortune on these applications and I hope it pays off in the end. My GRE score is not that fantastic probably cos of inadequate prep time (I even had to report to the office first before leaving for Oba Akran on test day). Maybe that is why I'm applying to so many schools - to broaden my chances.

I also plan to write the GRE again before the end of the year maybe while on leave (if none of my applications is successsful) or when in grad school already cos I'm ultimately headed for Stanford or MIT and only a great GRe score would gimme either of those.

Does anyone have info on how to transfer from a mid-rate school to a top school perhaps after getting an awesome score?

I got a call yesterday from a Lander who needed information on how to register for the GRE. For any who is interested, just visit www.ets.org/gre, you'd find all the info U need there.
To be able to register on your own, U need to get a credit card. I got an Intercontinental Bank pre-paid Mastercard and I also know a friend who used a Zenith Bank Websurfer card. Commercial banks usually charge a fee of $20-25 the first time U get the card and @ least $5 each time U need to top up. For the Intercontinental Bank card, U can load a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $500 @ any one time.
If U think it does not make good business sense to pay $30 dollars service charge for an exam U're registering for with $170, then give me a call. We could use my card if we agree,

I got a call yesterday from a Lander who needed information on how to register for the GRE. For any who is interested, just visit www.ets.org/gre, you'd find all the info U need there.
To be able to register on your own, U need to get a credit card. I got an Intercontinental Bank pre-paid Mastercard and I also know a friend who used a Zenith Bank Websurfer card. Commercial banks usually charge a fee of $20-25 the first time U get the card and @ least $5 each time U need to top up. For the Intercontinental Bank card, U can load a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $500 @ any one time.
If U think it does not make good business sense to pay $30 dollars service charge for an exam U're registering for with $170, then give me a call. We could use my card if we agree,

ASUU has a case, and I enjoin them to fight all the way. The Nigerian federal government has failed in its duty to adequately cater to the needs of this section of the populace.
Sadly at a time when other countries are investing heavily in research and education, we seem to be perpertually at loggerheads with the bearers of light.
Because most of us have for a large chunk of our lives been exposed to situations where people silently endure the daylight robbery of their fundamental rights, we see those genuinely standing up for their rights as "queer".
Social justice is never given but taken, and ASUU must rise up and demand for what justly belongs to its members.

ON Yar'Adua: Although it may seem that our docile president is playing politics by saying he would wait for the Supreme court to speak on the Unilorin 49 issue, it is still the right thing to do. Let the law run its full course.

Simply visit the website;it's all there. In case U don't find it there & U still believe U ought to be shortlisted, then flip from the front page of that edition of Thisday to the back page. U won't be disappointed, I am sure!

You don't need to go through agents or special centres to register for any of those exams. YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF! All you need do is surf the web carefully. I registered for the GRE & TOEFL in October 2007 MYSELF and have successfully written both tests. You can call me on 08076519789 for details.

For those who applied for the 2008/2009 Overseas MSc/PhD scholarships of the PTDF, the names of successful candidates have been posted on their web : www.ptdf.gov.ng I guess it'd also be in some Nigerian dailies. The test comes up on the 2nd of February 2008 nationwide. I implore Landers who have access to past questions to make same available on this forum. Good luck folks!

Hey, I am very interested. I studied Biochemistry and Microbiology @ the undergraduate level and I plan to specialize in Molec. Bio. Let me know which Nigerian city you would like the seminar to be hosted in. I can also give you the names of a few professors whom I believe would be of immense help.
HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON!

Jairzinho (m)
FRN
Posts: 88

Offline

Re: Zenith Bank Bumper Offer Opens Today
« #5 on: December 13, 2007, 05:59 PM »

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Prob a wayo offer !

Granted the share price may never fall below the current offer price,but I detect a measure of arrogance in this offer.

Imagine 3 POs in 3 years,(+ bonus shares + rights issue.)

2 schools of tot exist on this offer:

1. They're engaged in the never ending race to be number 1

2. Sourcing for funds to finance Visafone

However way you look at it 'the ball is in your court'

This are purely my views PLEASE.


Just as we all have the right to say whatever we want to say, so do others have the right to voice their dissenting opinions. Zenith Bank is already number one and has been number one (in Nigeria) for so many years. It now wants to be numero une in Africa! Facts? Find them below:

Investors in Zenith Bank have in the past three years, earned capital appreciation of more than 600 percent. Competent stock market sources said last Friday in Lagos that since the bank’s initial public offering, in 2004, the Zenith Stock has risen progressively from N10.90 to N66.14 per share at the end of trading at the NSE on June 30, 2007, representing a total gain of over N55.24 per share. Apart from the capital appreciation, investors have also reaped from dividend payout as the bank made good on its promise by paying N4.2 billion in 2004/2005 and N6.6 billion dividends or N1.10 per share. This dividend remains the highest paid by any bank, in the 2005/2006 financial years. Zenith Bank also paid dividend of N9.26 billion in 2007 financial year, representing one naira per share in addition to one bonus share for every four held. Zenith Bank shares have remained in demand by investors who desire consistent and stable return on their investments. Stock analysts say that Zenith has given investors the wings to fly, as it is an emerging financial powerhouse. Currently the bank is embarking on a hybrid offer to raise N130 billion in a combined rights issue and public offer. Market experts say this move is in line with the bank’s desire to become a multinational financial conglomerate, seeking opportunities, far beyond its domestic base. The bank has enjoyed a successful year, with its consistently good financial performance producing high patronage on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), leading to its being named the “Quoted Company of the Year” by the council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Fitch Ratings Agency has rated Zenith Bank to AA-, the highest of any Nigerian bank, based on what it described as ‘positive outlook’ for the bank in its ratings released last week. The global rating agency’s recognition of the bank’s consistent performance is coming barely two weeks after Zenith was awarded the highest rating of any Nigerian bank by Standard and Poors. Fitch said Zenith Bank ratings were boosted by the maintenance of strong levels of capitalisation, continuation of competitive performance measures relative to peers and sound asset quality indicators. The rating agency, which is committed to providing the world’s credit markets with independent, timely and prospective credit opinions upgraded Zenith’s National Long-term and Short-term ratings to ‘AA- (AA minus)(nga)’ from ‘A+(nga)’ and ‘F1+(nga)’ from ‘F1(nga)’, respectively. “The Positive Outlook for the Long-term IDR reflects Zenith’s strong and growing domestic franchise, consistently good financial performance and low levels of non-performing loans,” Fitch said, “The ratings reflect adequate levels of capitalisation and the potential that capital levels will be further enhanced. The ratings also reflect Nigeria’s difficult operating environment,” the rating agency added. Only a fortnight ago, the bank was accorded BB- rating, the highest given to any Nigerian bank by Standard & Poors.


Any serious-minded investor is encouraged to use Google/any search engine to verify these claims.


ON VISAFONE:
Visafone is an independent telecoms company and is NOT a subsidiary of Zenith Bank. JAIRZINHO obviously did not take his time to read the prospectus of Zenith Bank's hybrid offer before making this un-informed assertion or simply did so out of "bad belle" as someone earlier said. Visafone is perceived in some quarters as a company that has the potential to take the Nigerian telecoms sector by storm come 2008. Let's wait & see.


For a bank that needed not to enter into any marriage of convenience in order to meet its 25 billion consolidation target and that has crossed the $1 billion dollar mark, I wonder what other assertion could be more preposterous! For our education, Zenith Bank raked in 53.63 billion naira in the last Public Offer alone. Visafone cannot gulp half of that, just assuming it becomes an arm of the bank tomorrow!

If U try d branches and they turn U back, U can go to d Head Office @ Ajose Adeogun, V.I & ask of Zenith Registrars / Zenith Securities. (This would b easy & convenient if U stay in Lag though).

I'll refrain from running down any institution here but I think the last poster did a good analysis. The final decision is yours. Personally (I don't know why), I'm in love with the Zenith brand and I think it's one that has come to stay. President Yaradua's biz interests in Bank PHB also makes it an attractive buy (although anything can happen at the Elections Tribunal). Sound decision leans in the direction of buying both stocks (cos they have great chances of doing VERY well) and watching the market keenly. U can't afford to invest and go to sleep.

Call 01-2783264, 08030479052 or 08076519789 for FREE counsel.

The Zenith Bank offer is simply the bomb! Coming at this time of the year, it is a well thought-out ,carefully considered and strategically executed business chess game. For smart investors and those who want to hit it big in the stock market in 2008, there could be no better buy. For FREE counsel and more information, please call 01-2783264, 08030479052, 08076519789.

LAST Word: After the pomp and merriment of the Xmas season comes the harsh reality of January responsibilities. Be wise. Enjoy your life, but also keep something aside for the future. Awaiting your call.