I attended a Youth Summit where a girl stood up to ask how Nigerian Youths can succeed without connections in Nigeria since according to her one needs to have connections for everything in Nigeria.
The truth is that in Nigeria Today, having the right connections is very important- to get a good job, to get university admission, to get good contracts e.t.c
*Note that connections are not only needed in Nigeria but especially needed in Nigeria.
For how long will your complain that you failed to get something you deserve because you lack connections? The big question is how do you get connected?
I have read several articles on how to get connections but they are all foreign and do not suit our peculiar Nigerian environment. This article is an attempt to answer this important question- the Nigerian way from my experience and the experience of others.
Influential People -- those well-connected, knowledgeable voices to which others listen and respond --They can provide insight, recommendations, introductions and opportunities. The can ‘make things happen for you.’
Here are 10 steps to connecting with influential People in Nigeria.

1. Presentation
Number 1 is presentation popularly known as ‘Packaging’. You should be able to present yourself well to connect with influential people. The phrase ‘be youself’ should not be abused to mean that you can dress anyhow, speak anyhow and expect important people to take you seriously. ‘The impression you create when you contact people whether on the Phone, online or in person is very important.
First, how do you introduce youself? Introduce yourself confidently. ( even if you are broke-lol) Most people fail in this regard. The impression you create when you introduce youself matters.

Use titles e.g Good afternoon Sir, I am Barr. A or I am Engineer B e.t.c
Get attention: try to get the interest of the person with your introduction(a.k.a create relationship –lol) e. g I am Esther, secretary of Ijaw union….or I am John of Edo Pilot association
Or better still I am kate, your sister from Cross river.
• Note introducing youself to an influential person may not be about you but the person- A sincere compliment is good
• Start a conversation based on what will catch the interest of the person.
• Dress very well: There is no need to look cheap because you may ask the Person for help.
Don’t be flamboyant either; just look modest.
• Your online profile picture tells a lot about you. You don’t have to upload every picture your take in at your ‘backyard’ online. Get a professional picture from a good studio. It need not be very expensive. I have take great some great pics for just N500 (just the soft copy though).
Great pics sell you online.

Presentation also goes to how you present anything that has to do with you such as you CV, business proposal, letter e.t.c Be unique


2. ATTEND EVENTS
Influential People are everywhere. How do you meet them? In events! Everyday, there are different events going on. Important People ‘who run things’ in Nigeria are invited for such events. Seek information about such events and attend. This is your opportunity to meet people who could be of help to you in your career, business etc
Such events could be summit, weddings,seminars, workshops, religious activities, book launching etc One you know important Persons who can be of help to you will be there, don’t dull-attend important events.

3. GET INVOLVED
Don’t just watch things happen, be part of people who make things happen. Join organizations, groups that will give you the opportunity to network with influential people.
Volunteer your services in important organizations. I know of someone who got connections by offering to participate in organizing a summit. One of the proposed Speakers decided to give jobs to Youths that participated in organizing the summit and that’s how that ‘someone’ I know got a job.



4. Do YOUR HOMEWORK
It is your duty to prepare well. You have to why you intend to connect with a particular person. Check for information about the particular person. Imagine a person saying ‘I don’t know if you can help me get a job…’ You have to be sure to what you want-Is it contacts , recommendation, job or mentorship? Do your homework to know if the person can indeed help you.
Sometimes, you only need an influential person who will recommend , connect or link you to your helper. The link here could be the Chairman of the political party in the state, Pastor, Imam, Friend or relatives.


5. KEEP IN TOUCH/ BE SOCIAL
Don’t just get contact of important people and relax. Get to work. Keep in touch. You could start by sending a text message or an email introducing yourself as the case maybe. It is important to know how a person would want you to keep in touch. The could be through BBM(Pinging), Twitter, Facebook, Email, Phone calls etc But do not abuse the privilege. Do not bug people just because you have their contact. Follow their activities on social media and make reasonable contributions. This would help to build better relationship.
Nigerians are getting very social. Don’t be left out. Grandparents and Parents are seriously engaged in social media. Update useful information online, censor your comments,Take interesting pictures especially Pictures with important personalities in events & tag them.They may share thes pictures and this will help to build your online network.

6. OFFER SOMETHING/ REACH OUT
One of the easiest way People get connected is by offering something of value. If you have valuable service to offer, You could offer it to someone influential and see how you can get them to build your customer or client base. Some people create connections by paying ‘courtesy visits’ where they present gifts.(sometimes awards). Others may send congratulatory messages etc Some offer their products and get the ‘influential person’ to help them increase patronage for their products.


However, it is important to Note the following;
• It is not advisable to tell sorrowful stories to get help. This may get you sympathy but not the help you need.
• Do not approach people with the mindset that they owe you assistance. Show appreciation for any support.
• Please try to look like a Prospect and not a suspect.
• You may encounter rejection. Don’t give up, it maybe something you did’nt do right. Move on…forward ever!
• It is not advisable to ask for any assistance immediately. Build a foundation first. Some people prefer to discuss certain issues in the office.
• Even if you need a job badly, it may be advisable to say it directly on first contact. You could say you would like to have time to discuss something with regards to your career with them. After first meeting, you could visit them in the office to talk about your career. Here, you can stylishly seek connections for a job. This works where the person would be more comfortable in the office.

These are few tips I have seen work in Nigeria. Do you have better ideas? Share your experience. Lets get better connections in 2014.

Gabbysky: Great! I'm already positioned in order to be part of these, I've even seen meaningful progress in some.
While some will be hating, others are celebrating

Positive attitude...way to go!

rati ken: From what I've seen so far, GEJ is a performer. He can achieve a lot if only these evil opposition can focus on constructive criticism rather than frustrating all the positive efforts by this administration.
Assuming APC succeeds in taking over leadership, there will be similar opposition with antagonistic tendencies and nothing will be achieved in all. Nigeria and the masses losses out in the whole scheme of thing. Evil opposition has to stop.

Well said!
This is why President Jonathan said 'I therefore urge you all to be ready and willing to do more this year to support the implementation of the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation in every possible way. Let us all therefore resolve as we celebrate the new year, and Nigeria’s Centenary, to place the higher interests of national unity, peace, stability and progress above all other considerations and work harder in our particular fields of human endeavour to contribute more significantly to the attainment of our collective aspirations. I urge all Nigerians, no matter their stations in life, to rededicate themselves to contributing meaningfully to further enrich our national heritage.'

mikeansy: I hope he delivers on electricity

everything else na jara

Electricity is power to Nigerians! very important...businesses will thrive, Life in Nigeria will be brighter.
Am very steady Electricity will encourage Nigerians in diaspora to return home

youngmonie: THIS GUY SHOULD STOP WASTING MONEY AND START FOCUSING ON BEING THE LAST EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.........Pls initiate the CONFAB AND NATIONAL CONFERENCE LET EACH ZONE MANAGED THEMSELVES AND THEIR RESOURCES

austaklin: This must be an appendage of the PDP in disguise only seeking to get cheap popularity but the undisputable truth remains that Nigerians at large now know that GEJ is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
So the present Nigerian electorates are now too sophisticated to fall for such cheap aggradisement and the PDP should be bracing up to a fatal political blow in the face come 2015

For d sake of progress in Nigeria...I hope U r wrong

paulolee: hmmm...dats GEJ ma man....##team fresh air##....bt abeg trY make u do atleast half of d list oo...ah hope say im qo C dis list self....M first 2 comment***tears shirt n runs unclade inside alaba market***

Even 60% acomplishment of this will indeed transform Nigeria. Lets support him and expect these things to manifest in 2014.

Nigerians expect a better 2014 and in line with this desire, here are direct quotes from the New Year Message of President Goodluck Jonathan under appropriate headings. This will help Nigerians know what to expect from the Government in 2014 and enable Nigerians to effectively ascertain the performance of the Government at the end of 2014.

1. MORE JOBS!
Our national budget for 2014 which is now before the National Assembly is specifically targeted at job creation and inclusive growth. We are keenly aware that in spite of the estimated 1.6 million new jobs created across the country in the past 12 months as a result of our actions and policies, more jobs are still needed to support our growing population. Our economic priorities will be stability and equitable growth, building on the diverse sectors of our economy. In 2013, we commenced implementation of the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) aimed at industrializing Nigeria and diversifying our economy into sectors such as agro-processing, light manufacturing, and petrochemicals.
2. TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY IN PUBLIC FINANCE
The Petroleum Subsidy Scheme is also now being operated under new strict guidelines to tackle previous leakages in the scheme and prevent fraud. Foreign travel by government personnel will be further curtailed. This directive shall apply to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government. Our strategy to curb leakages will increasingly rely on introducing the right technologies such as biometrics and digitizing government payments. I am therefore pleased to inform you that we shall complete the deployment of the three electronic platforms in 2014 – namely, the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) – which are all geared towards improving efficiency and transparency in our public finances.
3. REDUCTION IN COST OF GOVERNANCE
Our administration believes that the cost of governance in the country is still too high and must be further reduced. We will also take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages…Foreign travel by government personnel will be further curtailed.

4. SUBSIDY TO FARMERS

To sustain Nigeria’s ongoing agricultural transformation, we have planned further investments in the sector. We will provide input subsidies to five million farmers nationwide using the e-wallet system. [/b]This Administration recently launched a self-employment initiative under the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP), called the Nagropreneur programme. This scheme would encourage our youth to go into commercial agriculture as entrepreneurs and we plan to develop over 750,000 young Nagropreneurs by 2015. We will also establish new agro-industrial clusters to complement the staple crop processing zones being developed across the country.

5. [b]IMPROVED FUNDING FOR AGRICULTURE

In 2014, this Administration will continue to work with the private sector to improve financing in the agricultural sector. For example, we will launch the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) which will serve as a private equity fund to invest in agri-businesses across the country.

6. GROWTH OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES

Our Small and Medium scale enterprises (SMEs) will be the bedrock of Nigeria’s industrialization. We have about 17 million registered SMEs, and they employ over 32 million Nigerians. When our SMEs grow, more jobs will be created for our youth. Therefore, in 2014, this Administration will focus strongly on implementing the Nigeria Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) [/b]to address the needs of small businesses. Our interventions will include helping SMEs with access to affordable finance, business development services, and youth training. In addition, our new CET policies will enable us to support our emerging industries.

7. [b]MORE FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
We will also intensify our investment promotion efforts abroad, to ensure we bring the biggest and best companies from around the world to invest in Nigeria.

8. MASS HOUSING SCHEME
When the housing sector booms, it creates additional jobs for architects and masons, for electricians and plumbers, for painters and interior decorators, and for those in the cement and furniture industries. Today, I am pleased to inform you that this Administration is reinvigorating our housing and construction sector. We have established the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) [/b]which will increase liquidity in the housing sector, provide a secondary market for mortgages, and thereby increase the number of people able to purchase or build homes at an affordable price in the country. In 2014, we will work in a number of pilot states where the State Governors have agreed to provide fast-track land titles, foreclosure arrangements, and serviced plots.This new institution will enable us to create over 200,000 mortgages over the next five years at affordable interest rates. In addition, those at the lower end of the economic ladder will not be left behind as this new initiative will expand mass housing schemes through a re-structured Federal Mortgage Bank and other institutions to provide rent-to-own and lease-to-own options. I am confident that very soon, many more hardworking Nigerian families will be able to realize their dream of owning a home.

9. [b]IMPROVEMENT IN THE HEALTH SECTOR
In this our centenary year, we will continue our efforts, through the Saving One Million Lives initiative to strengthen primary health care services. [We will scale up interventions in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition, routine immunization, HIV/AIDS, malaria elimination, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and non-communicable diseases. We will pay greater attention to the provision of universal health coverage. Besides the implementation of new initiatives such as my comprehensive response plan for HIV/AIDS, we shall continue to collaborate with global health partners to deliver our health sector transformation agenda.

10. NO ASUU STRIKE IN 2014! BETTER EDUCATION
I am glad that the issues responsible for the long-drawn ASUU strike have been resolved and our children are returning to their campuses. We are committed to making our tertiary institutions true centers of learning for our young people. We will therefore focus on upgrading hostels, laboratories, classrooms, and halls. As the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals approaches, we will continue to expand access to basic education for all Nigerian children. Working with State Governments, we shall decisively tackle the problem of the large numbers of out-of-school children in this country. We will also invest in technical and vocational education to promote skills development for our youth across the country.

(It can be inferred from this statement that Nigerians should expect an ASUU strike free 2014.)

11. AFFORDABLE FINANCE FOR ENTERPRENUERS

Nigerian entrepreneurs still lack access to affordable financing, with medium-to-long-term tenors. To address this gap, a new wholesale development finance institution will be established in 2014 to provide medium-to long-term financing for Nigerian businesses. [/b]We are working with partners such as the World Bank, the Africa Development Bank, the BNDES Bank in Brazil, and KfW in Germany, to realize this project. Our existing Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry will be re-structured as specialized institutions to retail financing from this new wholesale development bank.

12. [b]CREDIBLE NATIONAL ELECTORAL PROCESS
In keeping with our avowed commitment to progressively enhancing the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process by consistently upholding the principle of one man, one vote, our Administration will also ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) receives all required support to ensure that it is adequately prepared for the next general elections.


13. PEACE AND SECURITY
As peace and security remain prerequisite conditions for the full realization of our objectives, we will also do more in 2014 to further empower our security agencies who are working in collaborative partnerships with our friends in the international community to stem the scourge of terrorism in our country and enhance the security of lives and property in all parts of Nigeria. [/b]The allocation of over N600 Billion to Defence and Policing in the 2014 Budget attests to this commitment. Fellow compatriots, the task of making our dear nation a much better place for present and future generations cannot be left to government alone.

14. [b]18 HOURS ELECTRICITY PER DAY!
We are also in the process of privatizing 10 power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP). We shall boost investments in transmission to ensure power generated is properly evacuated and distributed. In this regard, we have already mobilized an additional $1.5 billion for the upgrade of the transmission network in 2014 and beyond. Government will also strengthen regulation of the sector, and closely monitor electricity delivery to increase this beyond 18 hours per day. We will complete the privatization of the NIPP projects, accelerate work on our gas pipeline infrastructure and also continue to invest in hydro-electric power and clean energy as we monitor the effects of climate change on our economy.


By Enite Young
For Proudly Nigerian Network

www.proudlynigerian.net

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YEAR 2014: Our year of great accomplishments

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Noneroone: people dont achieve anything unless they take my blessing.

how did dis one escape from yaba left #thinking aloud

@proudlynigeria1 will ff back asap or use www.twitter.com/proudlynigeria1

Wishing you and your Family a wonderful 2014

God bless you,
God bless your Family,
God bless Nigeria!!!

Happy New Year

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sunky644: This your list is a confirmation that Nigerians don't give a damn about excellent research work and discoveries. I don't know what the selection criteria is that never made it cross your mind that Prof. Andrew Nok deserves to be on the list. If you don't know he won Alexander-Humboldt prize this year 2013 for discovering cure for Trypanosomiasis. Also, let me inform you that virtually all heroes who won this prize have gone ahead to win the Nobel prize as well. Please let's learn to celebrate our Academics. Thanks.

Thank you for your contribution. You have indeed enriched this thread wit useful information.

Emails are pouring in...send yours now

Chimamada Ngozi Adichie

Chinedu Echeruo

Goddex: [size=16pt]Is your list in hyrachical order? Then I think the top three should be this:

1) Stephen Keshi (for breaking a two decade jinx for Nigerian football)

2) Akinwunmi Adesina (Apart from Forbes awarding him Africa's person of the year, the current revolution in the agric sector despite very heavy flooding last year is just so obvious)

3) Aliko Dangote (That he remains Africa's richest man alone means he requires no introduction)[/size]

It is not in any particular order. Your top three is ok

Blessing Okagbare

Stephen Keshi

Akinwumi Adesina

Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde

Mo Abudu

Zuriel Oduwole

hybridtm: How come..my name no dey dere
makr nextyear pass..i no see my name ehen,,,una go get issues

Lol

Check www.proudlynigerian.net for great information

The year 2013 has been an eventful one. The year began on a Tuesday, January 1 and is about to end on a Tuesday, December 31. There have been a lot of exciting happenings, and great achievements by Nigerians. PROUDLY NIGERIAN NETWORK in a bid to chronicle the Success of Nigerians in the global sphere presents the Top Nigerian Achievers of 2013.

Check out the list of the Top Nigerian Achievers of 2013.


1. Coach Stephen Keshi

In February this year, media outlets were awash with the triumph of the Super Eagles at the African Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.

The national team, on February 10, 2013, under Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, became African Champions after
defeating Burkina Faso in the final match of the African Cup of Nations soccer tourney at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, to lift the trophy for the third time: in 1982, 1994, and 2013.
Keshi, born 23 January, 1962, is a former Nigerian defender and now football manager, who has managed the nation’s senior male football team since 2011. He became the first Nigerian and second African to win the cup both as a player and as a coach. He had coached the national teams of neighbouring Togo and Mali before taking up the Super Eagles job.


2. Mosunmola Abudu

Famous talk show host, Mo’ Abudu launched what could be described as Africa’s first global black multi-broadcast network, EbonyLife TV [/b]on Sunday, June 30, 2013. Just few hours after the glamorous Lagos launch, the channel went live on Monday, July 1, 2013.

According to Mosunmola Abudu, ‘EbonyLife TV is aimed at giving Africa a new perspective by projecting its potential and re-writing its story’. The channel, it is hoped would change the old age perception of both Africa and Africans, using entertainment and lifestyle with programming aimed at viewers aged 18 to 34,

Often referred to as the Oprah Winfrey of Africa, Mo’, as the talk show host is fondly called, has used the platform of her syndicated daily talk show, ‘Moments with Mo‘ to build a strong repertoire. With the launch of EbonyLife TV, [b]Mo makes history becoming the first and only woman in Africa to own a cable TV channel.

She has interviewed celebrities from Hillary Rodham Clinton, former African presidents F. W. de Klerk of South Africa and John Kufuor of Ghana, former England soccer skipper Rio Ferdinand, musician R. Kelly and American fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg.
Located in Tinapa, Cross River State, EbonyLife TV has high ambitions: to revolutionize media and entertainment in Nigeria and across Africa.



3. Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group was ranked richest man in Africa and richest black man in the world [/b]by Forbes Magazine. Forbes also said Dangote is now the first African entrepreneur to lay claim to a $20 billion fortune as the stock value of his largest holding, Dangote Cement, leaped just three months after it released its annual ranking of the world’s richest people.The report noted that Aliko Dangote’s 93 percent stake in the cement company is now worth $19.5 billion.This was in addition to his controlling stakes in other publicly-listed companies like Dangote Sugar and National Salt Company of Nigeria and his significant shareholdings in other blue-chips like Zenith Bank, UBA Group and Dangote Flour.


4. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde in April was enlisted on Forbes [b]magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, a feat which earned the 34-year-old actress the title ‘Africa’s most renowned leading lady.’
Jalade-Ekeinde was named in the 2013 icons category of the list alongside young Pakistani activist; Malala Yousafzai, US first lady Michelle Obama, Burmese pro-democracy activist; Aung San Sun Kyi, RnB diva; Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and controversial Italian footballer; Mario Balloteli.

Writing a profile on the actress who this year launched a reality show about her life on M-NET, she was described as the “Queen of Nollywood.”



5. Zuriel Oduwole

Zuriel Elise Oduwole, 10 -year-old Nigerian girl,who enjoys interviewing presidents and world business leaders, was recently celebrated as the youngest person to be interviewed by Forbes Magazine.

IN today’s world, when many youths and adults roam about the streets looking for jobs, here is a 10-year-old Zuriel Elise Oduwole, who seems to have discovered her purpose for living at the age of 10.

At a very tender age, she has met with African presidents and top African leaders because of her passion to relate with great men and women.

Currently, she is being globally celebrated as the youngest person ever to be interviewed by Forbes Magazine.

Oduwole has already made a name for herself right from her childhood, and another which stands as a plus for her is that she is already a hot cake in the business world.

Zuriel, who is often referred to as the next Oprah Winfrey, said she is committed and determined to rebrand Africa by bringing out positive things in the continent and most importantly, convince Africans on the importance of educating the female gender.

She became the [b]youngest global international media representative ever [/b]on record last November, 2012, competing with seasoned correspondents from Cable Network News (CNN), Reuters, Super Sports, Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) and The Guardian, likewise in South Africa and Nigeria.


6. Olumide Aliu

Olumide Aliu, was elected as president of the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) Council; thus becoming the first African to head the global body for aviation safety.
Mr. Aliu was elected ICAO Council president on Monday at the 38th Assembly of the organisation in Montreal, Canada. The assembly consists of 172 countries.
Nigeria joined ICAO in 1960 and was elected into the Council of ICAO in 1962 as a Part II member State. The country has since remained on the Council and has continued to promote the interest of Nigeria and Africa on the Council as well as contribute to the development and growth of civil aviation in the region.

7. Akinwumi Adesina

Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, was been named the 2013 Forbes Africa Person of the Year which celebrates the individual who has had the most influence on events of the year gone by.

The Forbes Africa Person of the Year has, since its inception two years ago, reportedly attracted the highest calibre of nominees from across the continent.

Akinwumi Adesina was considered a worthy winner by the judges as he is a man on a mission to help Africa feed itself.

8. Blessing Okagbare
Blessing Okagbare showed her class as she won a silver medal in the women long jump and a bronze medal in the 200m at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia. She also holds the African record in 100m sprint.
Blessing Okagbare won Nigeria’s first medal at the IAAF World Championship in Moscow as she leaped 6.99 metres to clinch the silver medal in the long jump event final.
Nigeria last won a medal at the Athletic World Championship in 1999, a drought Blessing Okagbare has ended with her victory.

9. Chinedu Echeruo
. Chinedu Echeruo’s HopStop.com was acquired by Apple this year.
Founded in 2005, HopStop.com makes mobile applications for both iOS and Android that covers over 300 cities and that helps people get directions or find nearby subway stations and bus stops.

HopStop has oft been compared to Israel’s Waze which was recently acquired by Google for $1 billion. The move is seen as Apple’s plan to bolster its map offering especially given Google’s recent acquisition of Waze.

A serial entrepreneur, Chinedu Echeruo grew up in Eastern Nigeria and attended Kings College, Lagos. He attended Syracuse University and the Harvard Business School in the United States and founded HopStop.com after working for several years in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase where he was involved in a broad range of M&A, Financing and Private Equity transactions. He also worked at AM Investment Partners, a $500 million volatility-driven convertible bond arbitrage hedge fund.

He founded and raised nearly $8 million for his two U.S based internet companies; Hopstop.com and Tripology.com. Tripology.com was acquired in 2010 by American travel and navigation information company, Rand McNally. He was named Black Enterprise Magazine’s Small Business Innovator of the year and listed in the magazine’s Top 40 under 40 [/b]and is currently a partner and head of the Principal Investing group at Constant Capital, a West Africa based investment bank.

10. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Award winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s third novel – Americanah was listed in [b]The New York Times recently as one of The 10 Best Books of 2013, selected by the editors of the publication.



Who else do you think should be on the List?