The One Thing Successful People Never Do

Success comes in all shapes and colours. You can be successful in your job and career but you can equally be successful in your marriage, at sports or a hobby. Whatever success you are after there is one thing all radically successful people have in common: Their ferocious drive and hunger for success makes them never give up.

Caution: When KPIs Turn To Poison

Just imagine you put some KPIs in place and instead of measuring and improving performance, they lead to the opposite: A mindless chasing of numbers, resulting in reduced performance.
KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) should be the most important measures used by companies, business units or project teams to track their progress against strategic goals. A well-designed set of KPIs ought to provide the vital navigation instruments that give everyone an understanding of current levels of performance. However, in practice, these well-intended KPIs can turn toxic.
One reason why things go wrong with KPIs is that they sometimes turn from a measure into a target. I believe that when a KPI becomes a target it stops being a KPI. Let me give you some examples:

• An electrical wholesale group put KPIs in place to measure the relative sales performance of branches. It then created league tables and rewarded the best performing branches. The result was, stores that were hundreds of miles apart chased the same customers and even undercut the geographically closets retailers to the customer. In many instances, deliveries were made from the central warehouse to the shop hundred of miles away, only for this shop to drive the parts back near the warehouse where they undercut the prices of the local store.
• A police force introduced KPIs to measure its performance. The government then turned some crime statistics into targets and measured every police force against these targets. As a result a lot of gaming took place to improve the numbers, but not necessarily the underpinning performance. For example, one police force was told by their chief to prioritize burglaries of multiple-occupancy households because the system would count each occupant as a separate solved crime.
• Another classic example comes from a Russian nail factory. When the government centrally planned the economy it created targets of output for the factory, measured in weight. The result was that the factory produced a small number of very heavy nails. The country didn’t only need massively big nails so the target was changed to the amount of nails the factory had to produce. As a consequence, the nail factory produced a large amount of tiny nails.

For me, a KPI should help to measure how well we are delivering on our key goals and strategic priorities. The data generated from the KPI should then inform decision-making and where appropriate, lead to actions. This means, the purpose of a KPI is to inform, or provide some objective data.
It is really important to understand that no measure is perfect or complete. There is a hint in the name KPI, where the I stands for indicator – it indicates performance, but never provides a complete picture.
I often use the analogy of comparing KPIs to a torch. You are trying to light up a room but your torch will only give you one spotlight. The same is true for a KPI, it will only give you a spotlight and leave other parts of the room in the dark. If we have a number of torches we can light up more of the room and get a better picture. This again is similar to using a set of KPIs that shine the light on different aspects of performance.
If we now use this imperfect measure as a target it means people can deliver great results on the spot that is lit up, but ignore the large areas that are left in the dark. This is a bit like telling children to tidy their room and then saying that you will only check this one corner of the room, and if that is tidy then they will get a treat. We all know what will happen, the one corner will be spotless, but all the toys will be stuffed under the bed and into the cupboards. And believe me, as a father of three I know a thing or two about that.
If we use KPIs as targets then we get what we measure, and nothing else. However, if we use KPIs as indicators used and owned by everyone to identify areas of improvement, then they become powerful enablers of improvement. A subtle, but vitally important difference.
There is one added complication. In order to be meaningful, every indicator needs a target or benchmark. But this target is more of a reference point to tell us what good or bad looks like and not the overall goal to aim for.
KPIs are powerful tools if they are used as indicators to measure the delivery of the goals. However, if the KPIs become the goals, then they turn into toxic material that will inhibit performance improvement.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Have you got any experiences with toxic KPIs? Please share any of your views on this.

Job Interview: Why Only 3 Questions Really Matter

Even for the most fearless amongst us, job interviews can be nerve wracking. In order to give us the best chance of success we tend to prepare for many of the difficult questions we anticipate, questions like:

• Why should we hire you?
• What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?
• What are your key strengths and weaknesses?

Of course, you can never predict how an interview will go and what questions you will get. You might get an interviewer who fires one tough question at you after the other, or one that turns the interview into a more comfortable, natural two-way conversation. Preparing, therefore is difficult. In most cases we practice the answers to a long list of possible questions. The problem is that this can leave you over-prepared and as a consequence your pre-conceived answers can come across a bit robotic.
From my experience, there are really only 3 questions you have to prepare for and you can link most of the interview questions back to these three. Preparing for these three questions also means you can answer most questions more naturally, simply by referring mentally back to your preparations for these three questions.
Basically, any interviewer wants to establish 3 key things:

1. Have you got the skills, expertise and experience to perform the job?
2. Are you enthusiastic and interested in the job and the company?
3. Will you fit into the team, culture and company?

However, during the job interview, the interviewer might use many different questions and angles to get to the answers. If the interviewer doesn’t get what he or she wants from one question, they might ask them in different ways. Or they might probe from different angles to test for consistency in your answers.
Here is what’s behind these 3 questions:
1. Have you got the skills, expertise and experience to perform the job?
Think about the key skills you might need for the job you have applied for and assess your own level of expertise and experience in that context. It makes sense to identify the more specific or technical skills that your potential employer might expect as well as some more generic skills such as being a good communicator, having good IT skills, being a team player, etc. Once you have prepared for this question it will help you answer many different interview questions without getting sidetracked into talking about things that are not relevant. Remember that you want to demonstrate that you are aware of the key skills, expertise and experience required to do the job and that you have what it takes to perform it. Always go back to the key skills, expertise and experience when answering questions like:

• Tell me about yourself?
• What are your greatest strengths / weaknesses?
• What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?
• Why do you think you are right for this job?
• What do you think the main challenges will be?
• Etc.

2. Are you enthusiastic and interested in the job and the company?
Any potential employer wants to know that you are interested in the company and excited about the prospect of working there. You therefore want to demonstrate that you have researched the company, understand its strategy, current performance, structure, market position and products and that you can’t wait to join them. For most, you will have done your homework before you even applied for the job, but if you haven’t then check out the ‘about us’ section on their website and search for the latest strategy documents, annual reports, key statistics as well as the company history. Show that you know them and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and company. Here you might also want to think about your ambitions and how they fit into the company you have applied for. You can then use the insights for answering questions such as:

• What do you know about our company?
• What do you think our company is aiming to achieve?
• What do you know about our products and services?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• Why do you think this job is right for you?
• What motivates you?
• Etc.

3. Will you fit into the team, culture and company?
This final key question is about your personality and your style and how you as a person fit into the team and culture of the company. Companies have different cultures, which translate into different ways of behaving and working. It is important to make sure you fit in and don’t feel like a fish out of water. In fact, it is important for the company as well as for you. Again, hopefully you will have done some research prior to applying for the job. Sometimes, it can be tricky to find detailed knowledge about the company culture, in which case you simply talk about your assumptions and why you feel you fit in. One relatively new website that offers a glance inside companies is Glassdoor. The site is still in it’s infancy but provides a growing amount of data and information about what it is like to work for different companies. You want to map the culture of the company or the team you are planning to join and compare this to your personality traits, style and behaviors. Again, once you have done this you can use it to answer questions such as:

• How would you describe your work style?
• How would you describe yourself?
• How would your colleagues describe you?
• What makes you fit into our company?
• What makes you a good team member?
• If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
• Etc.

I hope this is useful? Please let me know your thoughts and share any comments you might have on the topic.

LADIES; 3 ways You can propose to guys

You need not fathom books on how to propose a guy to make that excellent impression. You just need to chalk out some important points before your set out to propose that hunk of your dreams. Here’s how to go about it:

Prepare yourself:

Always do the homework on what are his likes and dislikes first. Observe his mannerisms carefully and go about proposing logically. Emotions can come once you guys take off. So, note down whether all the indications and signals from him are truly worthy of getting involved and take a decision next. Always ready to hear the word ‘no’ also. There is equal possibility of getting rejected. So be prepared mentally for every outcome.

Groom yourself:

This is very important. You need to be smart and make some smart moves. Don’t look lost on what to wear and which look to sport. Act casual but that act too requires lot of thought. So, think carefully on your hair style, you choice of apparel and also your footwear. Everything makes a difference.

 

Stay positive:

Positivity says it a lot. The way you do things depends a lot on your positive attitude. It helps in making the lasting impression too. So, no matter what, make it a point to smile and be positive. Don’t be too self critical or critical about the world outside. Just be cool. Because that’s cool.And go ahead, girl.

Reader's Mail: Guys Am Pregnant For My Uncle

I am a 19 year old lady. My parents have been separated since I was about 8, and I’m an only child. Since I was about 12 years old, I have been engaging in a sexual affair with my mother’s younger brother who lives with us. When it started initially, it scared me a lot, and when I told my mum, she dismissed my report and accused me of making it up, I even got shouted at for trying to ’ spoil his name’.
Afterwards, I began to enjoy being with him, I was young, so the little treats he would give me made me feel like he genuinely loved me as he claimed. He was responsible for picking me up from school and I would be home alone with him, whilst I did my homework, he would touch me and I was vulnerable so I responded, and even performed oral sex on him, and I would promise not to tell anybody because nobody would believe me.
At 16, I moved away to boarding school and found that when I left, I missed him a lot, the way he made me feel, the things he said, the way he touched me, the excitement of the secret. I would come home on the holidays excited to see him, and through the holidays, it would continue, sometimes I even initiated it. On one Christmas holiday, I lost my virginity to him. After that, I genuinely felt like I loved him.
I convinced my parents to allow me move back home to attend a day school, and when I did, it just continued. I have never had such strong feelings for any other guy, and whenever I have seen him with women, I’m enraged. To get to the point of this email, I am now in university, and I am still involved in this relationship, I am not dating and none of my friends know, but now, I am 6 weeks pregnant. I have never been pregnant before, and we usually use protection but I am and it could only be for him, because I have never been with anybody else.
I have informed him, and he accused me of sleeping around at university and insists that I get an abortion immediately, I can’t talk to anybody else about this and I am desperate for advice. I have cried, and prayed for forgiveness, and the idea of an abortion scares me, but I still find myself wanting to please my uncle, because a part of me really does love him. I also cannot bear the thought of tearing my family apart.
Should I tell somebody about this, or just get an abortion?

CONFAB: Day 5: Nigeria National Conference Plenary – Live Updates

Good morning readers. We are here again at the National Judicial Institute, venue of the National Conference. As promised, we are here to bring you updates on what happens right inside the hallowed chamber.

16.37

The Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Bolaji Akinyemi is moderating the debate on the president’s speech.

16.37
The session resumes from lunch break, begins discussion on the president’s March 17 inauguration address.
It is going to be in alphabetical order and each delegate has only 3 minutes to discuss the president’s speech. The first delegate, Garba Abari is the first to speak.

16.36
Welcome Back!

13.58
Lunch Break.
The Conference has gone for lunch break. Thank you for your time.

13.56
Aisha Aliu suggested that the President’s inaugural address be debated after lunch break.
The Chairman has already put the question and the Conference stands adjourned for lunch at 2.26pm

13.52

Ammuna Lawan argued that since all the committees will be meeting simultaneously, it therefore means that each member will be stuck with one committee even when delegates are expected to belong to three committees.

The Chairman explained that members should select committees in order of preference and be ready to submit papers to the two committees they may not be able to attend physically.

Jibril Aminu said the level of patriotism in the country was low, adding that patriotism should be given a wider context and treated properly in the Conference. He said if Nigerians were a little more patriotic, corruption would not have been at the level it is.

Joe Okey Odumakin suggested that the plenary hall could be used by three different committees instead of going outside the venue to hire halls.

13.32

Already, 20 standing committees have been approved by the Conference, according to the Chairman, Kutigi.

Charles Edosomwan said the Judiciary is not given adequate attention.

He said it seems that the National Judicial Councils tend to usurp the powers of the Governors in the appointment of state judges. He argued that such issues should be brought into the purview of the Conference.

He argued that the NJC is an executive body and should not be found to usurp the powers given to the governors under the Constitution.

13.30
Each member is expected to belong to three different committees.
The committee membership form is being circulated round the hall. Joe Ejiro asked whether the merger of committees would not affect the number of committees each member would belong. The Chairman said the secretariat would work out the composition of the committees to include all the members.

13.24

Remi Kuku moved the motion for the adoption of the Conference Grouping arrangement and was seconded by Kashim Mohammed.

The question has been put and the group structure adopted.

13.23
Musa Adede suggested that many youths should be included in most of the committees, since they will benefit from the efforts of the Conference and would also contribute to building a great country.

13.22

Olawale Okuniyi called for the management of the Conference information. He argued that the elders’ statesmen and traditional rulers could be merged; the political parties could be merged, as well as Women groups for effective coordination.

Robert Audu thanked God for giving the delegates good conduct and commended the Chairman for the way he is handling debate on the floor of the Conference.

Sheila Abiye said that market women should not be included only in the social welfare committee but in every committee set up by the Conference. She argued that market women are affected by everything that goes on in the country. She added that women were involved in agriculture, transport, health and economy, adding that there was need for them to be accommodated.

13.19
Akinyemi said some of the groups have already told the leadership who their group leaders are but said there was need for all the groups to send the names of their leaders to the leadership.

13.17
The Conference has moved on to discuss Group Classification.
Kutigi said the classification is meant to help the leadership have contact with the delegates. He said 97 different groups were handed to the leadership from the Government. He said the leadership will be able to identify the various group leaders and pass on vital information to all the delegates.

13.14
Otu Orok Duke moved a motion for the adoption of the amended list of committees to address the suggestions of members. The motion was seconded by Asibi Asani.

13.13
Atedo Peterside said he humbly submitted that one of the biggest problems of the country is that of indigineship, settlers and landowners. He said that residency; settlers and indegineship should be seriously considered, noting that he is a tax-paying Lagosian with children who belong to more than one tribe having married from Yoruba.

13.10

Peter Izon said that part of the crisis of economic management is that Nigeria has no direct economic philosophy.

We must capture the necessary linkages to attain development.

We must not necessarily need to increase the number of committees but we can restructure the committees to address very important economic issues. He argued that with their hands up, people are not being recognised.

He said that they should be a way of knowing and recognizing people instead of allowing people to raise their hands ceaselessly without being acknowledged.

12.52

Mike Ozekhome said the media is so critical for national development, and should not be hidden under any committee. He said Section 22 of the Constitution, empowers the media to hold the government accountable to the people of Nigeria. Such a critical sector should not be subsumed in science and technology.

With due respect, I would submit that the media segment be brought in line with committee 11.

He also argued that Immigrations should be merged with others under the national security.

12.50

Iyorcha Ayu argued that there was no need to create a separate committee on immigrations but suggested that it should be placed under the National Security Committee.

12.49

National Conference Adopt 70 percent vote

As exclusively reported by PREMIUM TIMES yesterday, the National Conference has adopted 70 percent vote for arriving at decisions.

12.48
Buknor Akerele said the committee on governance has provision on minority rights but argued that the issues of women have not been properly captured. She called for the merger of some of the committees to make them address important issues that would help the country.

12.47
Fatima Adamu from Kebi State said education and health should be separated from social welfare and made to belong to human development.
She said Nigeria has no national value and agenda, and argued that the Conference should adopt a national agenda and national value.

12.41

 

Ebelle Okeke referred to committee on agriculture and asked that water resources should be made a separate issue instead of dumping it with agriculture.

She explained that water resources should be developed to bring immense benefit to the country. She called for the setting up a water resources committee be constituted.

12.38

Modibo Kawo said the choices the country has made since Independence has ruined the economy. He said the country has wiped off million of textiles jobs. He said since 1999, Nigeria has been selling national assets to government cronies. “We should interrogate the choices we make in this country.”

12.37

Aisha Ismail pointed out that most important issues bedeviling the country have not been given due attention. He said corruption has killed everything in the country. We have a collapsed agriculture, collapsed housing sector, collapsed health sector. I think that corruption should be made an item and not just dumped into some other issues.

Isaac Olale argued that there was no inter agency collaboration among security agencies in the country and urged that such issues be given serious consideration by the Conference.

12.31

Prof Gambo Laraba said that education has not been well covered in the Conference, saying that education will determine the success of the country.

He went further to say that the government should take serious responsibility of the educational sector.

He argued that the privatisation of education is not doing the country any good. By the time we wake up, we will realize that Nigeria has missed the point. She argued that education is the wealth of the 21^st century and asked that the education in the country should be demand-driven and not the way it has been allowed to go.

12.29

A delegate observed that the problem of the country was more of economic, adding that such items have not be properly handled in the draft work plan.

He also said Nigeria does not have a common national ideology and governance philosophy that would promote the empowerment of the people. He suggested that the committees should be merged and reduced to about 15.

He argued that the issues of illegal mining should not be seen as environmental issue but as resource theft just like oil theft. He said he has already submitted a position paper to the leadership on the proposed amendments to be made.

12.26

Ezenwa Nwogu argued that the Conference should not be seen as a workshop and suggested that delegates who have things to add to the work plan should do so in order to make the Conference achieve better result.

The Chairman told a delegate who tried to cause an uproar that he has the power to order him out. Kutigi, however, warned him to desist from causing trouble on the floor but noted that he would not use his maximum power on the delegate.

Motions for the adoption of the amended work plan have been moved and seconded.

12.20

Tunde Bakare said the Conference is full of mutual suspicion based on regional and religious leanings. Nigerians are expecting something different from this Conference. We are not a parallel government. All the work plan that are here Sir, we are almost going to have committees on this and that as if they are no institution to do these things. He said Atiku Abubakar has written on the back page of Thisday Newspaper and incorporate that in the work plan. He said the draft work plan as drafted, adding that Nigeria has not been able to operate as a true federation long after it adopted the system of government.

12.08

Sergeant Awuse suggested that the list of proposed committees and the work plan be handed back to the leadership to fine-tune some of the areas delegates raised complaints and bring back the document during the next sitting.

Femi Falana argued that Conference must move speedily, and suggested that the work plan be taken back while delegates send their observations to the secretariat. He said the Conference should move to discuss the President’s speech.

A member shouted from the extreme right, “You can’t move. You can’t move. You can’t move.”

12.07

Senator Ahmed Mohammed from Kaduna also called for a revisit of the draft work plan in order to come out with a clean and workable document. He also pointed out that the Conference Rules should not have been adopted without clean copies being circulated to members.

12.04

ABC Nwosu argued that most of the committees proposed by the leadership are not in alignment with President Goodluck Jonathan blueprint as embodied in his inaugural address. He called for the realignment of the committees to reflect the intendment of the President.

12.01

Secretary announced that the government has agreed to rent ten additional halls outside the Conference venue to accommodate the committee sitting during the three weeks they will be meeting.

The Conference is still discussing the draft work plan and observations raised to address some of the issues delegates feel so strongly about.

11.49

Obiora Ike said having considered the work plan but thanked those who prepared it. He said the Conference was already behind schedule and urged the leadership to ensure that the leadership of the working committees was ready to be announced on the next sitting. He also observed that the work plan should make room for the public holidays since some of the days slated for sittings are public holidays. National Chairman of the Labour Party was the first to draw Conference’s attention to the matter.

11.31

Delegate Aledu Ibrahim moved that the Conference Procedure Rules as amended be adopted and was supported by Ambassador Adamu. The Chairman has just put the question and the Rules have been adopted on a voice vote.

The Conference is moving on to adopt its draft Work Plan.

11.19

Currently, the Conference is about to move a motion for the adoption of its Rules of Procedure.

10.59

Nike Akande moved a motion for the adoption of the proceedings of 25^th March and it was supported by Prof. Ivara Esi from Cross River State.

The Conference has started the process of adopting the proceedings of its sitting on March 26.

10.57

A delegate has just made a correction on a mistake that was earlier corrected and delegates laughed at her. The Chairman, Idris Kutigi told the female delegate, “It shows you are not with us.” She sat down with a sigh.

10.52

The observations made are basically grammatical but a lot of members are asking that the business of the day should commence in earnest having spent two weeks already without making meaningful progress.

10.52

Inside the chamber, nearly all the seats have been filled by delegates and the day’s proceedings started barely 20 minutes ago.

Currently, the Conference is adopting the Proceedings of its previous sittings.

10.45

Movement into the Conference venue is smooth and the security operatives are friendlier than they were last week. There is very little traffic build-up by the major road leading to the venue. This is because the security operatives are doing a good job and managing incoming and outgoing traffic.

CONFAB: Day 3: Nigeria National Conference Plenary – Live Updates

Welcome to the third plenary of the ongoing National Conference in Nigeria.

16.33

Earlier today, Ayodele Adekanbi drew the attention of the Conference to the plight of physically challenged delegates. He noted that during inauguration, people on wheelchairs could not access the venue. Speaking on Order 12(1, he said, “We want to request that persons with disabilities be selected to cut across all the Committees. We are 90 million disabled persons in the country.”

Mr. Adekanbi appealed to delegates to support the yearning of the persons living with disabilities, adding that such people were being marginalised on a daily basis all over the country.

He added, “While women are crying for attention today, someday, somehow, we will all grow old and disability will set in and we will experience what they are experiencing now. So please let us put the physically challenged into consideration.”

The Chairman asked people living with disabilities to choose the Committee they want to belong.

15.08
Images of some delegates shortly before plenary adjourned for two-hours lunch break.

3rd Day Plenary Session

15.07
The session is now on break. And live update resumes at 4pm

12.13

Deputy Chairman Bolaji Akinyemi took the microphone and asked the rowdy hall to give the chairman his deserved respect and obey his order.
Speaking after, Chairman Kutigi said he has already ruled that thorough debate will be taken on the 2/3 or 3/4 decision at a later date. He said he still stands by that order and asked for continuation on discussion on Order 12.

12.12

Justice Gummi, asked delegates to calm down and told them that delegates are faced with weighty issues. He proposed for a 3/4 decision because it is “a near unanimity”.

Decided weighty issues on a simple majority will be doing more harm than good.

The hall is almost becoming uncontrollable as the chairman’s plea for order is continuously ignored.

12.10
Dan Nwanyanwu; after speaking on this issue, i may not be tempted to speak again. He said delegates should go with 2/3. He moved a motion that all decision should be decided by 2/3 majority of the conference.

12.09

Adamu Aliyu, a former Chief Judge asked the delegates to simply passed the order as proposed because according to him everything is ok.

Obong Victor Attah, spokes order 11 rule 2, which said in case of failure to reach a matter by consensus it shall be decided by 3/4.

he said the rule is silent on whether the matter shall be decided on the 3/4 of delegates sitting and voting or the entire delegate membership.

He said 2/3 has always guided decisions in Nigeria. He appealed to the delegates to go back to the time honoured 2/3 method in Nigeria. His comments elicited wide response of both yes and no!

12.03
Power is Restored! Proceeding continues

11.53
Electricity Supply is gone. Proceedings halted

11.52

Mike Ozekhome, on the other hand, said he does not want to speak through a representative because he does not want to be accused of being bought over.

Felicia Sani Asked for an amendment to rule 17 to allow committees submit their written reports to the secretariat and not the chairman.

11.51
Adefemi Kila advised the chairman, to ensure that each order being discussed is concluded before he hit the gavel. on order 9 rule 12: he said NSE has prepared a conference paper which he will be presenting.

11.21
Deputy Chairman Bolaji AKinyemi explained that the committees may appear over loaded but there is a challenge of lack of enough committee rooms at the NJI.

11.20
Orok Otu Duke: Votes and Proceedings should be given the next day while Hansards can be given on Thursdays.
Commenting on Rule 12, Mr Duke said those proposing motions should submit a list of their names after which they can be identified by the presiding officers to speak. He also said Principal officers should determine the number of committees, he argued that the list of proposed committees as proposed are over loaded and should be streamlined. “A committee having 15 to 16 items might be unwieldy” he said.

11.09
Meanwhile Delegates have continued with their discussion on order 9 of the draft Rule.
John Dara: (North Central) said he supports the submission by Joe Odumakin that all delegates should be given three minutes to speak instead of 10 minutes for group leaders to speak on behalf of their groups.
Anayo Enegbe (Former Speakers Forum) this is 2014 confab not 2005. He recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had asked the delegates not to apply old solutions to new problems. He said rule 1 and 2 of order 9 have already been adopted. He said it has been agreed that delegates should speak through their representatives when it comes to the presentation of group positions. He said allowing people from the same group speak individually is a way of calling for anarchy.

11.06
Yinka Odumakin (south West) said Security matters should not be discussed in plenary.
He also said there should be no attempt to gag the media. He said delegates have not been sent to the National Conference to “come and sleep”. He said the Media are not being mischievous but “only doing their job”.
Dan Nwanyanwu (Labour Party) also speaking on the matter first congratulated the secretariat for a tremendous improvement in their duties. He also reminded the delegates that they are here for serious business.
“Whoever wants to sleep should take their stairs and find a place to take a nap; The press did not lie with the picture in page 6 of the Leadership newspaper. If you want to sleep don’t do it here because the press will get you,” he said.

11.03
Mahmud Aminu (CSO) while speaking, shortly after the security concerns, aid there appears to be slanted and negative reports in the media over the conference. He said the Press should be responsible on its reportage.
He recalled that last week a Delegate simply asked if he is entitled to an assistant? But the press reported that delegates are asking for their aides to be paid.
He made reference to a Picture story in page 6 in the Leadership newspaper of today and said it was aimed at painting the delegate who appears to be sleeping in bad light. He urged the chairman to ask the press to report the proceedings with all sense of responsibility.

11.01
Although delegates are happy entry into the conference venue is easier today, they are worried about the infiltration of the venue and a security breach. Mansur Dan ALi (Zamfara) requested ease of access should not compromise on security. He said the security officials at the gate should always screen vehicles before allowing them in contrary to the practice this morning.
He also said more officials should be deployed beyond just the gate but all around the NJI. He said there are eminent Nigerians at the conference, and that if anything happens to them it will affect Nigeria seriously.
He also said plain cloth security officials should be discreet and the display of weapons by the SSS is unnecessary because they are not supposed to be engaged in combat duties.

10.56
Announcement continues…
Henceforth, delegates must identify themselves by name and group before speaking for proper recording, the sceretary also announced.
He confirmed that the N1.4 million delegates received over the weekend was two weeks allowance in advance, and that subsequent payments will be made fortnightly.

10.53
Before commencement of plenary, the Assistant Secretary Finance, Prof. Yakubu made the following announcements:
He said 28 delegates are still yet to collect their bags which contain conference materials.
He also asked to confirm the participation of a delegate from the UK representing Nigerians in the Disapora, Adebayo Oladimeji, as well as Cyril Amako and Arikije Alan James Royal Highness, representing ethnic nationalities.
He also said some delegates submitted up to ten names as aides for accreditation adding that the secretariat cannot afford to do that.
The Delegates finally agreed that only one driver and an aide will be accredited.
The official also announced that Car parks are also being allocated based on Royal Fathers, Elder statesmen, Other Delegates and the Media. Tags to that effect will be given at lunch time.

Unilever Nigeria Marks World Water Day

Page Image Gaining a new perspective on sustainable water management Image Caption Body Copy ​Unilever Nigeria marked the 2014 World Water Day with special commemorative events that held concurrently across the company’s two sites. These events presented an opportunity for employees to gain new perspectives into sustainable water management solutions and the role they can play to conserve this all-important resource. The event also provided a platform to update employees on the water management milestones the company has attained in the last three years. Between 2010 and 2013, Unilever Nigeria reduced the volume of water it uses in its manufacturing process by 31%. This result is largely due to interventions like: the installation of water metres, weekly tracking of consumption, water campaigns, weekly leak audits, installation of a more efficient cooling tower in the soaps factory among others. In his remarks at the event, Unilever Nigeria’s Managing Director Yaw Nsarkoh, noted that many communities around the world still do not have access to clean drinking water. “Today, we live in a world where clean drinking water is still beyond the reach of many families. While some families wash their cars with very clean water every day, others can hardly find clean, wholesome water to drink. “We should therefore play a part in ensuring that more families have access to clean drinking water. Unilever’s Pureit is a unique product that can help provide clean drinking water in communities that do not have access to clean and safe water; we should therefore play a part in ensuring that more Nigerians use Pureit to purify their drinking water.” Also speaking at the event Unilever Foundation Global Ambassador, Osita Abana, made a case for an increased focus on water management in Africa and around the world. He noted that Africa should embrace sustainable water management solutions especially in light of the continent’s growing population and expanding industrialization. He also highlighted some indirect consequences of water scarcity. “Over 66 million Nigerians do not have access to save drinking water, this reality has had a ripple effect on health and sanitation; livelihood of women - who cannot take up paid employment because they spend many hours fetching water - and children who lose thousands of school hours every day due to water-related diseases,” he said. He added that for Africa and the world to achieve water security , governments, business and citizens should get involved in the movement for sustainable water management and take small every day actions that add up to a big difference.

National Conference delegate, Hamman Misau, dead

details later...

Places to meet Babes and Dudes in the Premier University

When I say meeting points, I mean where the dudes meet the chics to set the P in motion. There are obviously many meetings in Ibadan, not to talk of Nigeria but that’s not why we are here. Make we yan about University of Ibadan – where the boys meet the girls.

ON THE ROAD: This is the commonest meeting point and anything can happen on the road because it is always under the cover of darkness. When I said anything, I meant the hand going over the girl’s shoulder and nothing more. LOL! Awo hall/Idia hall road is one interesting example because any girl on this lonely road is lonely and very bored and so therefore wants to be met. Any dude that comes across such should be called “lucky” because he’s going to get her – any joke he cracks must definitely be funny except if she’s a natural sadist. Why won’t it be funny sef – she wants to laugh already. We heard that found on this meeting point are mostly freshers especially Faculty of Arts, let me try not to mention names biko! Stalites are also in this category, especially if the road is chemistry road via SUB road. Don’t start thinking only random girls are met at this point because we have it in record that when that cute finalist in CLA was in 100 level, she was met by a ROCQ boy in his car.

FRONT OF FEMALE HALLS/FEMALE HALL BUS STOPS: For a dude to meet a chic at this meeting point ehn, two things are involved. Firstly, it must be a situation of winning the girl’s heart so it is a move or a bit of sacrifice even if he doesn’t love her, and secondly it is most likely to be that the dude is a fresher so appearing at this meeting point is nothing – queens 107, idia 112, awo 141, even annes 157. For this meeting point, except you’re in front of Saint Annes you’re liable to buy the chic suya and add drink to it if you’re in front of Idia hall. Reports have it that Awo hall girls would ask for suya, Idia hall girls would take the dude close to the suya spot and expect the him to grab the gist while Queens hall girls would hold on to their pride and ignore the suya spot even when they’re very hungry (please take note of the word “very” :D) Most of those Arts girls love this meeting point. Don’t ask me why ooh.

TANTIES: There’s something I know about this meeting point – the chics would definitely eat, the only exception to this rule is if the dude is from Faculty of Science. Science boys would meet a chic at tanties and talk away, no food, no drink not even table water then they would start lamenting like Jeremiah that the chic didn’t say yes, why would she say yes? Example is *lips sealed*. One fact remains, this meeting point is for ballers – real ballers like them Jerry Vag, Sammie GnS, Towbhi GnS, Dolapo Swag amongst others and those “one hour” ballers who will save hard to impress a chic and drink garri afterwards *clears throat* I shall not mention names. Just like the Bible said “remember Lot’s wife”, I will say “remember Sexy Skunk and Miss Yanga!” This meeting point is always flooded in the evenings as we have seen the likes of club boys, former mister UI, rappers and MCs while for the ladies the likes of club girls, balling chics, BQ girls and Theatre Arts girls. Painfully, my law girls rarely come around this meeting point. Issokae


KENNETH DIKE LIBRARY: On the lips of everybody two years ago was the story of two students who were about to make out in our dear library, holy books! Before and after that incident, our library has been a meeting point for two sets of peeps – the book freaks and the jokers. While the book freaks meet at this point during the day unless exam period is near, the jokers meet only at night. It is their kind that will be playing “X and O game” or be exchanging notes, get a room for better communication please. If you’re a chic and this is your meeting point then good for you because your boy would be the quiet dude and if you’re the dude meeting a chic here, I’m sorry for you gan because missionary is your portion, if you decode let me see your comments below

[FUNNY WRITEUP] The Ibadan “SOPRITE”

So I came across this really hilarious post by the one and only SirKenayo click here to visit
This made me laugh till got a headache and being so generous,I decided not to keep to myself buh share …have fun reading!

*slots in Durosoke by Olamide* *now singing along! She kowale? Koduroksoke o!* Before I continue or errrmmm……..before I start! This aint one of those “Ibadan-diss” posts *rolls eye* Hehehe……Although no matter how hardwe try -_- Ibadan-ites will be attacked *ghenghen*
A little Introduction! *maybe?* I am Ayo! Some people call me Sirkenayo……….. My mummy calls me Ayodeji, my dad, Deji! I stay in Ibadan! So does that make me an Ibadanite? LOOOOL! *I hope not mhen*
OK!!! Here we go! Some people are tush in Ib, while some are otherwise ! *I am lucky sha, iyam kuku parrof the elites*
The whole thing that triggered this post started in the year 2013, in the Land of Ibadan……….latitude bla bla bla, long. bla bla bla. When Heritage Mall was “launshed” in Ibadan.
FOR THE FIRST TIME in the history of the LARGEST CITY IN WEST AFRICA, there was a MALL! -_- *damn, we nigg*s were so excited* some of us popped Zobo!!! IbkDreams bought a pop-corn making machine! *bastard fe ma sell popcorn fun awon pple tofe lo Cinema*

Hehehe…….BLACKBERRIES and INSTAGRAM then got traffic from Ibadan people!
*Ani se we must show our frenz we now aff a cinema fa* DPs were shanging a lot, nigg*s be snapping on the escalator (well some say its elevator *LOST*)

Later, it became a TOY thing! Yeah, they were messing around with the escalators! *pheeew* Children from one particular school be coming to the mall just to use the escalators as “Swing, roller-coaster”……*otalenu! Peppermint*
Hahaha…….There was this day a very fine babe miscalculated on the escalator! (She was fine before she opened her mouth) Shawty rolled down mhen! The Sad parrof this occurrence was however the fact that she didn’t scream in a “tush” way……….Boys were expecting screams like! “OMG, Dammnnn, Somebody help!* Taaaaahhhh! Aunty Kafaya *that is the name I am giving her* was like “EGBAMI O, YEPA, ORIYA MI OH*
Yes! She screamed like that; I might have added one stuff up there as an hyperbole though! *adjusts my glasses*
Hahan! Some babes come to the mall in Mini Skirts. <3 a="" aint="" am="" are="" favorites="" going="" good="" i="" just="" lot="" no="" observant="" of="" opposite="" p="" perv="" see="" stuffs="" the="" they="" way="" when="" y="" you="">*lets proceed to the cinema itself* BUYS TICKET! Grabs an Hotdog MOVES IN to. the Theatre!* ok…..*now enjoying my movie*
Suddenly you see the flash of light! *dammnnnitt…..they are snapping again while the tape is rolling, I will never grab why someone will be snapping while watching a movie*
Hahaha…….did I mention boys snap in the underground parking space-_- *operation famz the finest car*
*Now lets proceed to “Cash and carry”*
Yeah, that is where the cool stuffs are (to me sha) The 3D TV; that one is JUST 2,9999.99 Million Naira *hahaha, just say 3M*
People go there to window shop POOR LADS *I hope they don’t fold up in Ibadan though……we aint ready*
O.K. This one I am guilty of x_x *watching the 3D T.V with no intention of purchasing!
Mr. Price……….the Boutique!!! Here is where the real snapping happens! There are mirrors there na! So we gats snap selfies!!!

We are done with Heritage Mall!
Lets descend to the adjacent store! SHOPRITE!!! *an average Ibadan person calls it SOPRITE tho *wetin man eyes never see for that place!!!*

ugh*
-Some people price goods
-Some people carry the shopping cart to buy one GALA one COKE! *bhet you can purchase those outside na*
-One particular school even brought their lads on excursion !!!

-some people come to search for their soul-mates
-some people branch to COOL OFF! Yeah! The A.C is really strong
*what else do you guys do in the mall oh, drop em for me as comments*

Hahaha! Pebs; that cheap Boutique sef don try for guys! The shirts are cheap, the trousers…….The shoes! Ladies own sef! *I thought twas a bonanza shii sha* Anyway…….Take Advantage of it
When Shoprite was launched I heard there was a lot of Ibadan Populace in the building! But errmm……50K was realized! *we are bad like that*

You people outside Ibadan, especially those in LAG!!! *kiniti e man se eyin omo eko yi gan??

On Progressives and Pro-aggressives - written by Reno Omokri

Article written by Reno Omokri, Special Assistant to the President on New Media.

All advertising is based on the theory of Proof by Repeated Assertion which provides that a proposition repeated and restated regularly using the mass media comes to be accepted as true irrespective of any contradictions in the proposition being asserted. This theory is very effective and even more so in the modern world where attention spans are limited and people read headlines and draw conclusions without reading the story. Gone are the days of Ronald Reagan where that great communicator urged us to "trust but verify". Nowadays, very few people are prepared to pay the intellectual price of verifying what they are served by the media and some individuals have clued in on this deficiency amongst Nigerians and the fact that we can be subliminally manipulated by what we read in the media and have used this deficiency against us.

 You may disagree with me, but I will offer an elementary example. If you have been reading newspapers, listening to the radio or watching television, or even if you have been following the news online news media for the past year, you would have heard of the All Progressive Congress, APC, being described as a progressive party. Many Nigerians have bought this asserted labeling hook, line and sinker. But do the facts bear this out?

A progressive party is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a group "favoring or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas" one that is "modern, liberal, advanced, forward-thinking, enlightened, enterprising, innovative, pioneering, dynamic, bold, avant-garde, reforming, reformist, radical".

Let us pay close attention to this definition and then let us consider the facts.

For the first part, a progressive party has to favor or implement social reform and promote new, liberal ideas. Can those who promote the All Progressive Congress truly say that the party favours or is implementing social reform and promotes new, liberal ideas?

In recent times, President Goodluck Jonathan recognized the fact that there are structural errors both in our constitution and in Nigeria's body politics and though he was previously against the idea of a National Conference, he realized that there was no way Nigeria could avoid it if we had to address the challenges that have caused friction amongst the people of Nigeria.

Thus, he conceived of the idea of having a National Conference in the year 2014 where those who were most vociferous in advocating the case of their region, group or professional and social organization could come and talk things out.

Obviously, objective persons would agree that this was a move that favored social reform and promoted new ideas that could radically change the way we do things in Nigeria.

However, the APC, which brands itself as a progressive party rejected the idea of a National Conference with many of its leaders saying that such a conference is unnecessary? Not stopping there, the APC asked its members not to participate in the conference, an advise which even its own governors wisely ignored.

The question to a reasonable by stander is going by the above, who between President Jonathan and the APC is progressive?

 

I offer another example.

Since the time of the late great President Umaru Musa Yar'adua, Nigeria has had issues with an insurgency in the form of the Boko Haram insurrection. If you have followed the media, the APC and its leaders have criticized the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for its handling of the insurgency, yet, they have not provided an alternative strategy to contain the insurgency.

On the other hand, the man they have consistently criticized has provided and implemented the following strategies to contain the insurgency;

On the 1st of January, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan temporarily closed Nigeria's borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon to curtail the movements of arms and insurgents into Nigeria as well as declared a State of Emergency in some of the Local Governments most affected by the insurgency.

On the 24th of April, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North to dialogue with the insurgents and explore opportunities for an amnesty.

On May 14th, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan cut short his visit to South Africa and aborted a planned state visit to Namibia to address an upsurge in insurgent activities by declaring a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and constitutionally and democratically left the governors and governments of those states intact.

On July 2nd 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan sent 25,000 metric tons of assorted food items to residents of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to facilitate their participation in the fasting period. Borno state got 324 trailers of food, Yobe received 195 trailers and Adamawa got 170 trailer. An eye witness and indigene of one of the states on sighting the supplies said "this is an unprecedented initiative by the president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I have not heard in history where this amount of food was released to any part of Nigeria in the past".

Finally, on the 18th of March, 2014, the Jonathan administration launched a major economic recovery plan for the Northeast tagged ' Soft Approach to Countering Terrorism” which involves de-radicalising extremists and stopping others from being radicalized, mobilizing the society through strategic public communication and economic revitalization of the North-East states affected by insurgency.

On the other hand, the strategy of the APC has been to criticize Nigeria's armed forces who are risking their lives by engaging the insurgents with the attendant risk that their morale could be affected. Without providing proof, they have alleged that the insurgents are better armed and motivated than our military personnel. This is besides the fact that they have blamed the military for civilian loss of life and damage to property without investigation.

Now, take a scale and weigh the responses of the President Goodluck Jonathan led Peoples Democratic Party administration and the All Progressive Congress's approach to the insurgency and let your conscience direct you on who between the two is truly a progressive.

If you go back in history, it will be recalled that of all the parties that existed in Nigeria in 2011, ONLY the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, engaged in a presidential primary on the 13th of January, 2011. All other parties, including the now defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, chose their presidential candidates either by consensus or by imposition.

Now, fast forward to the 3rd of March 2014. The All Progressive Congress, which is composed of those same parties which did not engage in presidential primaries, announced that in a poll that they carried out, their unnamed presidential candidate was more popular than President Goodluck Jonathan and would defeat him if an election was held immediately.

Discerning minds would have noticed that from the above information released by the APC, it appears that the three parties which coalesced into the APC are up to their old games. How can they know their presidential candidate in March of 2014 when they have not conducted a presidential primary?

The answer is because old habits die hard and just as they did in 2011, they do not intend to hold presidential primaries and plan to coronate their already chosen candidate by imposition.

So, I ask my readers, drop your biases and preconceived notions and consider what I have written to you with an open mind and ask yourself whether the APC is a progressive party as they say.

Remember that the Oxford English Dictionary describes a progressive as one who is "forward-thinking, enlightened, enterprising, innovative, pioneering and dynamic".

Who does this definition fit? The APC or the President Goodluck Jonathan led PDP administration? Let's further consider other facts.

If a progressive is "forward-thinking", what would you consider the action of President Jonathan in signing the Freedom of Information Act into law which essentially demystified governance and opened it up to the populace such that every Nigerian now has access to each line item of the executive's appropriation and can tell how much the President spends on feeding and other sundry expenses? Has it ever happened in Nigeria before?

If a progressive is "enlightened" certainly, President Jonathan fits that mould as a man who is enlightened enough to be led by conscience and not ego and was able to gather EVERY living former Head of State and President to the Presidential Villa last month irrespective of party affiliation or recent history in keeping with the statement he made on the 18th of September, 2010 that "I have no enemies to fight".

If a progressive is "enterprising" what would you call a man who met Nigeria's Per Capita Income at $1091 in 2009 and grew it to $1721 as at 2013 (/y5tfwwd)?

If a progressive is "innovative" then tens of thousands of young Nigerians are witnesses to the innovativeness of the President being beneficiaries of the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin) scheme which gave them quality business training and support as well as granted them between two and ten million Naira to start a business so they could employ other youths.

If a progressive is "pioneering" then what better effort can a man pioneer than to build schools for itinerant Islamic Scholars (aka Almajiri) complete with Malam's Quarters, Hostels, Qu'ranic Recitation Hall and Science Laboratories?

If a progressive is "dynamic" then the President who goes about Nigeria fulfilling promises he made is dynamic.

Giving the opposition propaganda in the media about the President not fulfilling his promises, some of my readers may ask, what promises, if any, has President Jonathan fulfilled?

I would attempt to list just a few of them.

If you live in Southeast Nigeria, some of the promises the President is fulfilling for you are the 2nd Niger Bride now under construction as well as the Enugu International Airport. If you live in Northwest Nigeria some of the promises the President is fulfilling for you are new universities and schools for almajiris. If you live in Southwest Nigeria, some of the promises the President is fulfilling for you are the revived railways and the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Rd. If you live in North-central Nigeria, some of the promises the President is fulfilling for you are the Zungeru Hydro Electric Dam, the Baro Port and the dredging of the River Niger. If you live in South south Nigeria, some of the promises the President is fulfilling for you are are the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos-Ore-Benin road and the East-West road. If you live in Northeast Nigeria, some of the promises the President is fulfilling for you are a Green Belt to stop Desert Encroachment and new universities.

But perhaps the most significant promise the President has fulfilled to Nigerians is the promise of bequeathing free and fair elections for all. In fact, after the APC governor of Edo state was re elected in July of 2012, he personally visited the President at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to thank him for fulfilling his promise of ensuring free and fair elections. Governor Adams Oshiomhole's testimony with regards that election are so telling, so spontaneously true, that I think it best to reproduce them especially as he is of the APC.

Said Governor Oshiomhole, “what the Edo election has confirmed is that when the President and Commander-in-Chief puts the country first and conducts himself as a statesman, not just as a party leader, credible elections are possible, because people were apprehensive that the Nigerian Army could be misused. But of course, I told them I didn’t think they were right, but the President’s clear directive was that the votes must count. He warned that there will be no rigging, no manipulation, no ballot snatching and orders were given to the Army to ensure none of those things happened and the Army carried out the order. The Police IG was similarly instructed. He deployed his men probably much more than we probably needed and they delivered on the President’s orders. The SSS were fantastic because they were always at the collating centres where some of the manipulations can take place".

You see, even an APC governor in a moment of candour recognizes the limits of propaganda. Recently, Local Government elections were carried out in some APC controlled states, I would eat my hat if anybody can come out and give the same testimony that Governor Oshiomhole gave with regards to those 'elections'!

I have had people complain to me that the opposition is outspending the government in the area of media propaganda and my response to them is that if a government keeps fulfilling its campaign promises to Nigerians, then Nigerians will open up their hearts to that government. President Goodluck Jonathan has a habit of delivering on his promises in a way that no one else has done before him and has a unique way of winning arguments with his detractors not by words but by results.

So for instance, his opponents may hold a rally and spend a good portion of their time insulting and disparaging the President rather than telling the people what they would do for them and think that they have achieved some big thing. But in actual fact, what they have communicated to thinking members of their audience is the fact that Nigerians enjoy a far greater measure of democratic freedoms under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan because had someone else spoken in such a manner about some of these folk while they were in government they would certainly enjoy freedom of speech but not freedom after the speech. But today, they can say what they want to say without fear because we have a true progressive as President of Nigeria.

It is little things like this that give a clue as to who is really a progressive.

You see, being a progressive is not something that you become because you constantly parade yourself as such in the media. No. Being a progressive is just like being powerful. If you have to tell people you are powerful then you are not really powerful.

A true progressive is a newsmaker and not a noisemaker. He makes the news because he has something to say and something tangible to deliver. A false progressive is a noisemaker who makes the news because he wants to say something, not because he has something to say. And I wager that in the final analysis, Nigerians are wise enough to know that if it is not panadol it can not be the same as panadol.

Reno