Since Donald Trump promised to send everyone home, I think this problem might not exist anymore as everyone is coming home

By the way how can someone be studying abroad and still depends on source income from home. Quite interesting article though

Interesting write-up. These days are not good times for Nigerians studying abroad especially the ones receiving support from Nigeria.

There has never been a more difficult time to be living abroad on support from Nigeria. As the exchange rates spiral out of control, we have progressed from one CBN-imposed international spending limit review to another unto the recent total clampdown on spending internationally on Naira-denominated cards. Indeed, survival away from home has been really horrendous. How else can you describe the situation of a student in a suburban town where monthly living costs can run up to 900.00 US Dollars every month who has only got a Naira bank card that does not work?

I am not well versed in the economics of why. Hence, I will focus this article on the survival options I have used in the last couple of months and learn't about by some personal research. Hopefully, this will draw public attention to the plight of most Nigerian students abroad. Perhaps, other students will join in to suggest other options they have found viable. This may benefit a few students abroad – current and prospective.



Firstly, let us take a quick look at some of the factors that are considered in choosing an option for funds transfer especially from Nigeria.

Exchange rate – this is the most important factor.
Service charges – these can get really high and unpredictable.
Delivery time – you also want to be sure your money will be delivered in good time.
Compliance – newest among all but none the less important with rapidly increasing government regulations.

Some of the available options are: use of bank cards, bank transfers and money transfer, cryptocurrency and community-based payments.

Bank Cards: 24 months ago, it would have been enough to have your money in any account in Nigeria. With a Mastercard, you could access sufficient funds to meet your needs using a combination of ATM drawals, POS and online payments. The rates were friendly although a few complained about the bank charges. Then came the crash in global oil prices and the first signs of dwindling government forex reserves. With those came wave after wave of regulations almost on a monthly basis until the recent grind to a total halt to international spending on naira-denominated bank cards. Only a few folks with domiciliary cards can still live in the old culture but at a price. Of course, they have to get foreign currencies from the black market at exorbitant rates (470 naira to a dollar at the time of writing). Moreover, bank charges still apply.

Bank Transfers: The high street banks have shown that the old concept of money is changing. How else does instant payment work today? All the computer has to do is apply a few zeroes here and remove an equal number there. No money actually moves. However, when it comes to cross border payments, it gets complicated since they need to back each transaction by real currencies which are scarce in the Nigerian situation. So default mode – go to the e-money payment guys – Western Union, Moneygram, etc.

Money Transfer: Bad news. These businesses are designed to send money from developed economies where the hard currency is to the growing economies where families are in need of it to survive. So the charges are supported by this downward flow and not the other way round. Either way, the rates are very unfriendly – today, Western Union will hand you 373 Naira for a dollar. That is about 100 Naira less than the amount to buy back the dollar from the BDCs since the banks will not sell to you.

One method that could work going from Nigeria to other parts of the world is Paypal. So you have an account in Nigeria, transfer your funds to it and you can receive it on another account anywhere else Paypal is supported. In most countries, the fund can be transferred to a local bank account. Be warned though, the exchange rates applied by Paypal are set to keep the business profitable.


So far, we have seen some compliant methods with really unfriendly exchange rates. We will now look at some other methods which can either be categorized as compliant or not but may be solving real problems.

Community-based payment: – Very recently, I stumbled upon this one. My friends in the United Kingdom are excited about it and I have had to check it out myself OmniBorder.com. It appears to be a community of people who live across different countries, mostly Europe, and help out each other in making payment from individual accounts. From my observation, Nigeria appears to be a popular destination – easy to guess why. I am not sure if other countries outside of Europe are supported at writing time.

The very friendly rates and zero fees stand out on OmniBorder.com. You simply register to make a payment and someone from a network of verified users can accept to assist you at the rate you have chosen. It is definitely not a problem for my friend to accept my Naira in Nigeria and give me US dollars in the United States at a rate that we both decide. I am yet to use this one but asides from the extra time approval seems to take, OmniBorder comes out on top when it comes to rates and charges. It is surprisingly not as popular as it should be.

Frankly speaking, these are hard times for Nigeria and especially for Nigerian students dependent on home for studies abroad. We are surviving because we are a resilient people – always able to find a way out from difficult situations.

We thrive.

Long may we continue.

copied from
http://www.jarushub.com/tips-for-surviving-away-from-home-during-forex-scarcity/

UncleJJ:


Yes Nigerian ! But, IPOB is making everyone skeptical about the east.

These are military equipment not housewares. From, the look on Saraki's face the senator is just wasting his time.

He may get the contract for training kits but definitely not for real soldiers.

Besides, the senator should have invited the other senator to the so called factory in ABA.

Military boots and uniform are from very durable materials and made by companies who have experience or have brought in experienced individuals to do so.

For all we know, these guys are importing this shi*t from vietnam, china or indonesia.

It's the same way we where told innoson is a manufacturing plant , while infact it's an assembly plant.

Defence contracts are not childs play and are only issued to the most trusted of candidates. Unfortunately , eastern Nigeria is on short supply of this so called element.,

Yoloba olodo spewing bullish.it

MixedMan:
What's this Anumanu Saying?

The dumb mugu wrote all those pages to show dullards body language

Honestly think this should be on front page. After so many encounters with these white, i conclude that 'oyibo no get sense'.
Imagine Spain that is going through economic turmoil and hardship is denying a medical doctor visa for conference.

HungerBAD:
There is 419, there is Wayo and then there is Biafra. They all share one thing in common, SCAM. Ralph Uwazuruike is just using Biafra's cry to line his pocket with money, from those illiterate Omata traders.

Why don't he come to Lagos to shout Biafra? or even come to Delta State that is his neighbor to shout biafra? dont these places have Ibo people there? he is concentrating in Onitsha and environ, because he is sure of fleecing the uninformed.

Biafra is dead and ran with Ojukwu to Ivory Coast.

For u to open ur filthy mouth and say Onitsha people in essence anambra people are uninformed makes u win the most useless nairalander of the year. Amala and ewedu fo.ol

Hey guys take it easy on Google, it wasn't intentionally done to insult blacks. If you guys understand how artificial intelligence and machine learning works, then u will see is part of the training before the system is perfect.

Let me explain Artificial Intelligence
It's simply machine being able to understand what it sees and hears and respond in natural language.
Machine learning is done by feeding big data, several input into a machine and telling it about the name. For instance If you want to teach a machine about cat, you show the machine pictures of all possible cats u have come across on the internet. When next it sees a cat, it compares it to the pictures it has, and then say it's a cat becos the object is similar to a cat.
This process of feeding several input into the machine and telling it what it is is called machine learning or training.

From the little explanation I give above, it's obvious this error wasn't on purpose. It's part of those errors before the machine becomes perfect and close to reasoning like humans. In fact this is how Google self driving car works. Over the past ten years, Google have being developing artificial intelligence of this machine by training the machine. In the last three or 4 years, these cars are driving across the city of the major world but still in the process of training and correcting mistakes.

Why the machine called them gorillas
The machine looked at a the pix and compared it with the dataset it has and the closest thing it thinks resemble that particular picture is a gorilla. This is quite exceptional cases, like I said, artificial intelligence makes a lot of mistakes before it becomes close to perfect. Just like Google cars are still having one or two accidents in a year.

Time to blame Google
I think Google machine shouldn't make this kind of errors, reason is that Google like no other company in this world has the largest dataset ever. In fact it's understatement if I tell u that Google knows more about u than u know about yourself.

Last shot
This wasn't done on purpose, it's not programming error, it's part of the process of machine learning.


Hope this info helps.

omenka:
BooooooM!!!!!!!

This is what I call a journalistic nuclear bomb!!

Saraki Bobo you see ya life??

U re really a demented foo.l. How is this shirty report from desert reporters turn nuclear bomb.

Traveller11:
It seems you people supporting this guy don't know the meaning of war. War is ugly. Don't you read books? You will die like flies. If your children attempt it in another forty years, they also will die like flies.

U sound disgusting. Is it only true war that people can get their freedom. If the people of the East decides they don't want to be part of the country, there is nothing u or your brothers can do about it.

The only thing stopping biafra is that the people have not decided. When they decide, they get what they want.

vedaxcool:


Fool is what ur dad probably called u after he discovered how foolish you are. What is fun about subtle tribalism?

Amala and ewedu man. Carry ur tribalism protest and go knack head for wall. Subtle tribalism my a.Ss

vedaxcool:
This archaic way of doing census only shows the calibre of thinking that runs NL, peopls from similar region could simply just boost their own group likes or as usual use their spear moniker to like.

U re a foo.l for taking what's suppose to be for fun too serious

llbhuds:
http://www.mamaafricaclub.se/
everything you need to know is on the site.

Checked it out. Seems interesting

llbhuds:
Google mama africa club in stockholm and go there nd im sure u will meet atleast 15 naija there.

Thanks for your reply. Are u in Stockholm? Is there entrance fee for the club?

Am asking becos I want to make all necessary preparation before coming, and am coming with some friend(s)

nattyspice:
You can meet alot of Naija at Hallunda church

Thanks man for the reply . But am thinking of going Friday night and back Sunday. Anyway the church idea make sense. But I know there is some kind of local bar or bar where Africans gather especially Nigerians.

Hey guys

AM planning on a weekend trip to Stockholm sometime in July, will be happy to meet up with nlers. Any advice on possible local bar or clubs to meet naija guys.

jayfolarin:


That you do not see the happenings of yesterday in the senate as the highest form of impunity just shows how ridiculously low u are. The same set of people that have kept our development at bay takes over the senate and hoa and you are overjoyed. You are a disgrace to this nation and it's progress!

Meanwhile, You were probably a baby still sucking mommy's boobs when tinubu had started fighting for democracy! Your hate for the man can only hurt and worst still kill you while he soars.

Tanoid oshi

U mean when tinubu started fighting for his pocket? Ur level of ur ignorance is mind blowing.
I suggest u concentrate more on ur ewedu and amala and make less posts here.

frenzymirakk:



from all i knw they said some of the IT student stationed in lagos were involved in fraud or smtn... But I stl dnt tnk dat should warrant thm sending we all away this tym witout pay. My branch manager even tried figthin it wit reasons dat we were not involved and should not b held accountable for any1s sin but instead he received a querry. I even tot dat if it were ther staff dat did such would they disengage all ther staff?. Av jst been devastated sinc then cos i spent every of my savings durin d two months engagemnt hopin they would pay afta 3 months as some ppl speculated

Speculated? Didn't u read the contract before u sign.

fisaylab:
Sorry oo,with my experience so far,this error common among,southeast babes.education at that end get k-leg i beg.


Na call corpse jare

When an amala and ewedu fool like u opens mouth everywhere stench with odor

My anambra brothers fully representing. Always the first both in good and evil. However I think our society will change the moment we start questioning the source of wealth of our neighbours, family members, Church members etc.
Even as am currently studying some peeps back home are expecting me to be sending millions.

torkaka:


. . . . . . . .Goon, if you have followed my comments over this issue since the controversy started, I have maintained that she can afford that wristwatch

Mumu of the highest order. Since she can comfortably afford it why couldn't she borrow her husband money for nomination form instead of borrowing from bank

Nysc is as useless as used toilet tissue. The only thing is that an easy way for cheap labour and slavery .
its for employers. I served in the office of the governor, directorate of ict and I was paid N2500 about €12 at the end of month.
Yet that silly yooloba director and his brothers insist I come work through all days of the week else I wont get discharge letter.

tobtap:
yes...but the chinese economy is three times bigger and better than the germans... #lesson for our eastern brothers...ABA MADE = CHINESE MADE....but with time the chinese improved....ABA manufacturers showed be empowered..my opinion

Bigger and better? Seems kids have taken over nairaland. I suggest kids section be created on nl and this can be enforced using digital identity provided by national id card

moremuch1:

Do u tink American companies like Apple will produce iPhones etc in China if the product is substandard I don't think so
Its all about quality control and your purchasing power Bro

Iphone is not.produced in china, rather it is assembled in china becos of cheap labour

10inchesDk:
oh! what if am applying with an official transcript, do I still need to do ielts?

Forget that transcript if u re applying from . For most schools in eesti english test is now compulsory.

lasthoperesort:
i'd love to know y

The same way we Nigerians are travelling abroad for greener pastures and better education thats same way georgians are travelling too from their country.

Secondly experience of Nigerians currently studying there is horrible.

10inchesDk:
bro, do u tink is possible one get admitted into 200l in Estonia if one apply with a year university transcript?

Bros u never manage get admission na 200 level u come de find.
Anyway officially, courses can only be transferred if ur previous studies is within Europe

guttentag:


How I apply for an admission in Estonia?

I think there is a thread about study in Estonia. A lot of information is being shared on the thread

bravo269:

Thanks for your reply what do I do to get to Georgia and how will I get where to stay there, as I have no one there. Also I need more enlightment about Monaco.

Georgia should be the last country u should consider. You will thank me later for this info.

Since u talked about interest in IT, estonia might be a good destination for u though the competition is quite high now

sauceny:


Am from idemili-north in anambra state & can authoritatively say "my people used to solely specialize in business"...

Stop talking sh**.t and generalising about my state. That ur people specialises in business doesn't make my dear state to be behind when it comes to education.

Anambra has being leading from the time immemorial. Truly the light of the nation