120 Reasons Why You Should Pass Your Visa Interview

EXPATRIATE LIVING HAPPILY IN ‘FORTRESS BUILT NEAR WATER’

By Omololagbeye

When I first landed at the Kuwait Airport, the kind of air I breathed whispered to my subconscious mind that yes I have certainly come to experience something different away from home. My hope was rekindled.
The services rendered by the various airport workers was another surprise, most especially when I went to pick up my luggage. My luggage was already waiting for me without any human or mechanical delay.
The facilities and the set up of the airport is another thing, including the spacious parking space which is big enough to be the size of both an international and local airports combined together in some countries of the world.
My first night here with the children was another story. We slept throughout the night without any impediment from heat or the so called little giants of Africa- 'mosquitoes', no power failure or low voltage. I remembered when my kids woke up the morning after, they said “Mom thank God NEPA did not switch off the light”, this is to say that no power holders holding the light anymore. What a big relief!
Before I relocated to Kuwait with my family, my fears with the Arab countries in the middle east was based on religion, that I may never be allowed to practice my Christian faith, but I got it wrong! You will also be surprise to share in my discovery shortly.
According to the Kuwait pocket guide 2009, article 2 of the constitution states, “The religion of the State is Islam, and the Islamic Sharia shall be one of the main source of legislation”.
Majority of Kuwaitis are Muslims but there Kuwait born Christians also. When I discovered this, I became stunned. What a liberty!
Article 35 of the constitution states that, “Freedom of belief is absolute”.
The State protects the freedom of practicing religion in accordance with the established customs, provided it does not conflict with the public policy or morals.

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TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY BEGINS FROM THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU PUT TO WORK FOR OTHERS TO BENEFIT FROM
KEHINDE OSUDE

In an interview with Kehinde Osude the Chief Executive Officer of Broadway Events who hailed from Ijebu-Remo, Ogun state, the extract:

Q: What is your background?

“I am from Ijebu-Remo Local Government in Ogun state. I had my primary education at May Flower Junior School and my secondary school education also at May Flower Secondary School, the schools founded by Dr. Tai Solarin. I proceeded to Yaba College of Technology to read accountancy. I then moved to the United Kingdom in 1989, where I did a short course in business management at the university of Kingston in England. From there I worked briefly with Burger King, a fast food restaurant. I also worked at Safeway Supermarket in the UK.
I became an entrepreneur dealing in cloth and leather accessories. I did this for a period of about five years. I then diversified to real estate business. All these in the United Kingdom”.

Q: Explain what events planning entails in general.

“Social events history has its roots from the ancient time, our fore fathers were involved in it and was transferred to us. This era is witnessing a hitech inputs in various ways because of the modern days demands which became expedient in the social circle. Events planning and logistic is therefore an ability to organise, co-ordinate and bring together the vendors to make an event a success. The event planners take upon themselves the needs of the celebrants as specified to them and get them executed for a price.
Fading away are the days when events flop because of dozens of chairs that has to be rented from local vendors who traditionally maintain an unkempt chairs and tables and torn or dirty canopies. Event planning has overgrown what it used to be, today’s challenges places a high demand on event and we have taken it upon ourselves the modalities of filling the gap”.

Q: Can we know what motivated you into events planning and logistics?

“I have always believed whatever I have passion for. In 2003, my dad held his birthday and I realised that we paid a lot of money into renting tents, tables and all the stuffs. At the end we were not really happy with the value we got. I was motivated and considered this as being short-changed and something has to be done to address this lapses in the industry. So I found an opportunity in this direction.
“I studied the western world, how things are done with accuracy and calculated responses, that is, paying less and getting big value for what customers pay for. When I was getting ready for event planning and logistics, I did an intensive research on the internet to know the quality, planning and co-ordination required. I paid special attention to these.
“A lot of businesses in Nigeria were established to do business the way it is done in England but with the sole aim of making profit not about quality of what they offer. For me, it is service first before profit in monetary terms”.

Q: On your international exposure, how and when did it take place?

“It took place in the year 1989”. I used to have a family friend who has contact at the British High Commission, I secured my visa through his influence. My visa was delivered to me on a platter of gold. I have no experience through the hardship people go through. I remember back in those days, the problem of long queues. People had to get to the embassy as early as 2 am to take vantage position. It is still very tedious and difficult for average Nigerians to secure British visa. There are obstacles to discourage applicants.

Q: Share you experience with the high commission on your visa applications?

The issue of visa has always been a problem for as long as I can remember. When I went in 1989 to apply for visa to the United Kingdom, I met the problem on ground. For people going to UK, it is almost getting worse.

Q: What is your message for Nigerians seeking greener pasture in the west?

“From my personal experience, contacts and friends, things have really changed from what it used to be. It is no longer a bed of roses. I is almost very hard for me to actually advise an intending traveller owing to my achievement through this same subject so it will not look like I am selfish or do not want other people to progress but if I want to be honest, I will advice don’t go if you have any tangible work here. Many professionals are regretting haven taken that decision and they are finding it hard to return home. It is most miserable with many who ignorantly took the bold steps and found themselves where they are today.
“We left with a visiting visa and converted to resident visa then. September 11 changed the whole story when the arabs attacked United States of America. Restrictions were place on many things including employment and access to medicare. If you do not have proper visa, you will be surprised of what you get.
“The jobs are no more there. You documents must be in order to do anything in the UK. The summary is that illegal immigrants are finding it tough.
“My investigation shows that a lot of Nigerians really want to come back but there are impediments to their decision to return home if given the resources. Some of the problems they encounter when deciding whether or not to return are: What work is there readily available to do in 9ja? Is there guaranteed security for them? Electricity still remains a riddle that has no solution, how can they survive in making headway in a country where a huge amount is needed to service investments? How much money will they have to gather to be able to brake the jinx of numerous forces that is in battle with people and business and live an exemplary life they have been exposed to?
“Many have made up their minds to come back home but they wont do it hastily. They want to have series of trial visit to fashion how, where, when and to test-run their ability to adapt with the harsh conditions and to find possible ways of securing their decisions. They also come around to find opportunities to invest in a sustainable business. Many of us in the UK are not stupid, we always want to be realistic in the way we do things”.

Q: If you come across a phrase like this: “Stop dying in the deserts and on high seas”. What will be your reaction to Nigerians who take the deadly routes to go to Europe and America?

“Stop it, is not worth it. That will be my quick reaction. Though it is difficult for somebody like me to tell someone to stop the useless plan seeing what my achievements are. What they fail to realise is that the world has really changed. To achieve something worthwhile today you cannot apply yesteryears approach and get same result anymore. God has plan for everybody, this I know, haven said that, it is always better to allow people to experiment and follow their mind. I will only say, do the right thing and follow the legal route, the situation awaiting you abroad does not deserve or worth dying for anymore.
“If you have to travel and you can not help it, there are a couple of travel windows. Look the way of U.S Visa lottery, check the U.K’s highly skilled visa programme and many others like that for intending travellers could explore”.

Q: What are the values that was added to you through your overseas trips?

I thank the Almighty God for the opportunity to see the other side of the world. Living abroad for some time really exposed me to paying attention to details and how things are supposed to be done. I gained a lot on the way to live, tolerate, respect and treat one another.
“There are a lot of things I have to adapt to in Nigeria. If you know you can not live with injustice, Nigeria is not a place for you to live. You live with it and accept to cope with it. You can not stop it.
“On the other hand, living in the U.K really opened my eyes on the values being placed on human lives. Speaking on business, I was exposed to the way customers are made to feel important and being valued. I learnt about proper customer treatment. You have to give the proper advice to your customers with special attention to his needs.
“I can remember my experience with the food restaurants here in Nigeria, the Cashiers usually feel that you are troubling them by placing your order. The employers also neglect regular and proper training of their staff. It remains a global rule in business that a satisfied customer will always come back. These are areas I want to look into in my business so that my customers will always return after a valued service they enjoy now and then”.

Q: What can you say about the loyalty of Nigerians to your plans of establishing here?

Staff loyalty is one of the problems the employers are facing in Nigeria. Having critically evaluated the situation while doing my research before establishing in Nigeria, I discovered with amazement that many employers are the architect of their fortune in the hand of disloyal staff. Many employers in Nigeria do not look into the issue of their worker’s welfare. Many of this workers will work hard and get nothing to show for it at the end. No compensation is paid to hard working employee to encourage him or her. Many of them are left to live from hand to mouth. This is the case of many people who once are loyal but suddenly become disloyal.
“I want to work out proper training and good incentive and making my worker feel like the business belong to them. When their effort and hard work is made to reflect in their take-home, pay slip and life disloyalty will become useless to them. I wish my workers also grow with the business.
“A lot have been said about Nigerian workers been bad and unjust. You can not divulge satisfaction from reality of life. Some are born to be disloyal but many are made to be disloyal by the way life is been presented to them. The bottom line is that they are not being encouraged. Imagine businesses making profit in the realm of millions even billions with workers badly paid. They are here in Nigeria and nothing is done about that.
“In the U.K if business performs well, workers are compensated at the end of the fiscal year”.

HOW U.S EMBASSY REJECTED MY VISA APPLICATION IN GHANA Steve, Ghana

I am a Nigerian, a computer engineer with a registered business in Ghana. I use the internet effectively to advance my work as an engineer and as a computer merchant. I was privilege in 2008 when I got the knowledge of an event organised by the U.S. Embassy in Ghana for people in computer field. I followed it up with a couple of colleagues who also joined in the adventure to travel for a seminar in the United States.
It was fun all though the entire period of planning. We were hosted to a dinner party in the Ambassador’s house where he issued a letter to back our invitation letter. We were to attach this with other documents to the consular on the day of our interview.
I did celebrated and my dreams at that time was all about the United States. On the D-day, I went to the embassy with optimism. I had no problems with the kind of confidence radiating from my inner mind. I matched forward to meet the consular who examined my application and documents. He found my resident permit in Ghana indicating that I have legalised my stay in Ghana as a Nigerian living in that part of the world.
The consular actually said nothing to me. Right inside me I was agitating for answer in the positive. My confidence grew bigger. Suddenly, I saw him turn inside leaving me at table. There I stood reflecting on my journey to and from the land of unlimited opportunities.
After a while he emerged, I tried to study his countenance, but nothing was written in those innocent little balls.
“Sorry, but we can not allow you Sir”. Those words sounded like an alarm inside my ear drum. I stood still, no utterance, I lost in the thoughts that ran Olympic in my medulla. Can’t this gentle man see the serious homework I put into this? Can’t he see the genuine documents? Can’t he see the letter from the ambassador? Can’t he...can’t hee.
It took a brief while before I recovered and asked gently, “but why”
“We have the discretion to either allow or reject you from travelling to our country”. I stood, no affirmation sign from me and he continued, “you also know that there are many fake companies in Ghana” he concluded.
I was momentarily furious but I consume my anger only to argue briefly that my business is legitimate and is documented with all my registration papers attached, can’t you see them?
“But I am sorry Sir”. That was the last words I heard from him and I sluggishly returned home. Shortly after, I found myself lying flat with agonies running within my veins. I had no rest but to walk to and fro inside my seating-room. There was a trail of sweat running down my forehead and my arms were wet at the realisation that I was the only one among the company of eight colleagues.
What have I done? Who did I offend? Who is the beast following me? What kind of ill-luck is this for goodness sake? My head ache, almost about to burst.
I can not understand why, is God there? Why did you forsake your son at this moment of crossing over? Are you still there, God? Can somebody help me out...? I was weigh down by many why...why...
When finally I recovered from the realm of thought, I switched on my phone which had been off at the instruction of the security men at the embassy. I went for my second phone which I left on my table when I was going to the embassy to monitor my calls.
So many missed calls, I scrolled down to see who to call back. I found a strange number, a land line. I kept my attention on this number for a while, then brought out the paper containing my refusal and alas! this is it.
The consular had left me to call my office numbers which was boldly written on my company’s letter head. The one in my pocket was off by instruction and the other on my table rang but no answer. There couldn’t have been answer because I was working alone at that time, no secretary or assistance. If I had known...
I called the number immediately to ask for clemency and a lady’s voice cracked through the phone.
“This is American embassy in Ghana” she said.
“Please may I be on to the consular that called this number? I was interviewed this morning, my name is...
“Sorry, I don’t know who among them called your number...I can not help you”. The phone went dead.
I have been living in Ghana sine 2003. I legalised my stay and have a registered company.
My desire to attend the conference was actually to add value to my business in Ghana. If I had got somebody to pick the phone when the consular called to say, “hello, this is Smile systems” that would have been enough. The story would have been positive.
This is how I lost the trip which gave astronomical growth to my colleague’s businesses when they returned.

TOURISM WINDOW- NIGERIA TOURISM SITES

By Musa A. Koleoso

It is the believe of this publication that Nigeria should have harnessed her tourism potentials to an appreciable level by the year 2020. Nigeria has all it takes to become a big tourists destination. She has several tourist sites, natural and human resources. All the 36 federating units including the federal capital, Abuja have different tourist sites. They have natural sites as well as those that could be developed to tourists delight.
Nigeria is part of Africa being referred to in my poem as:
Land of shining sun,
And the weeping sky,
Of rivers, valleys, mountains,
Falls and plains.
And the creepers, and the trees,
And beasts and mankind.

Land terrain of interesting topography,
With beautiful seascape,
Giving way to lowlands,
Gently overtaken by hills,
A rhythm punctuated by plateaus,
Rising northerly.

Scotched brown grass of the dry season,
Lush one of the wet season,
Coasts of floral weeds,
And whispering palms,
Swamps full of reeds,
Forest of evergreen flora,
Wilddy and daintily flowered,
With fruits of diverse hues.

Nigeria is one of the artistically rich countries in Africa. She consists of many tribes, languages, dialects with different cultures.
Nigeria had the tradition of extensive pottery manufacture among the Nok and Ife. Pottery is widely spread all over Nigeria today. There was also brass-casting tradition in Ife, Benin, Nupe and Igbo-Ukwu.
The Esie people of Kwara State and Ekoi people of Cross River had the tradition of stone images sculpture. Apart from these, wood carving, cloth weaving and cloth dying industry were practiced. There are selected locations of the works in the west, east, west and south-south of Nigeria.
The country side is a beauty to behold, especially when travelling by road at the change of season from dry to wet raining season. The forest explodes with the stubble, buds, embedded seeds and droppings bursting into life. The blessings of nature is quite interesting as one moves from the coast to the inter-land of the south towards the north or from the west to the east. The mangrove and the rain forests are beauty to behold. The mangrove presents something like art works from the studies of the abstract impressionists with its ‘states’ of mud with cracks where dried, glassy surface where it is wet and the water trees with their new network or roots from their branches in silhouette. The rain forest is always dense with tall and very big trees.
Opening s in the forest is usually signs of logging. Bridges over big rivers give one the opportunity to see the rivers flow. The valleys are strewn with trees and thickets. The hills have interesting peaks, some bald and some with plants.
Some of the trees are of leteritized quartizitic matter while others are crops made of granite towering over the surroundings. I have watched some of them thrown to the background and hazy under the smoke screen of early morning cloud and mist.
The existing tourists sites include Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross Rivers state, Gurara Fall and the Plateau in Jos, Erin Ijesa Water fall and Osun Osogbo groove; Kanji Dam; Suma Rock; Rock Painting sites at Igbara-Oke in Ondo state, also in Igbeti Oyo State, in Birin Kudu, in Geji, in Bauci State and maudara Hill in Borno State.
Important place taht could be visited and watch wonders of nature include the IITA, international institute for tropical Agriculture at Ibadan in Oyo State; National Cereal Research Institute, Badeggi, Niger State; National Roots and Tubers Research Institute, Umudike in Imo State; Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin in Edo state; Oyo North Game Research, CRIN, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Moreplantation Ibadan.
Other places of tourists interest are national Archives at University of Ibadan wit branches at Enugu and Kaduna; Natioanl Museum, Onikan in Lagos; Benin museum, Benin; Esie Museum Igbomina in Kwara state; Jos Museum, Jos for ethnography and archaeology of Nigeria, terracotta, Nok figurines, modern and traditional Nigerian pottery; Ife Museum for fossil objects such as bones, ivory, seeds, plants, shells; Historical Museum at Badagry in Lagos state and University of Ibadan in Oyo state for notes, scrap books, written records, reports, currencies, postage stamps, slave chains; National Museum in Kaduna; Oran Museum for stone-age and iron-age objects, hardwood carvings, raffia artwork, traditional textiles and bamboo carvings; Owo Museum, Owo in Ondo state; Caidan Makama Museum, Kano; Narafuta Leather work in Jos; Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre at Abuja; Bower’s Tower, Oke Sapati in Ibadan; Ebute Oni Water Front, Olumo Rock, Birikisu Sungbo Shrine all in Ogun state.
There is a lot more. There will be an exposition of all the country’s tourism spots on geo-political zones basis as from our next edition. Please book your copy.
Comments and more information could be sent to us through our mails and postal address.

THE IDEAL TRAVELLING BAG

Some travelling bags are built with wheels to make walking through the airports and the runways easy and stressless. Needless saying that the body materials defer and range from 100% leather to various other leather and animal skin materials with different colours you can conveniently select from.
If you desire a fabulous maneuverability and convenience of travelling bag then you owe yourself the forethought of an ideal selection.
When you choose a collapsible bag, you get pleasure from ease of folding it when gate checking it when travelling by airplane, bus, train or boarding a ship. On the other hand, collapsible bags help to protect damages often associated with baggage handling.
It is therefore necessary to shop for the most ideal travelling bags when comfort and ease of movement is desired. Do not select without first considering what you actually desire to achieve.
All you need may just be a small size, medium size or a big travelling bag to meet your travel concerns. Your travel plan will always play a good role in making your various choice of the size and type of bag that will most suite your trip. If you choose a small bag instead of a big one or vice versa the consequences may be uninteresting anytime.
You may plan to go empty and return loaded or go loaded and return empty, it is all up to individual plans and travel needs.
So when making that most important decision, consider what your travel plans are.

WHAT MOST PEOPLE PACK FOR TRAVEL

Packing list of travellers differ in many ways, just as there are differences in the reasons why people travel and why they choose to travel west and not east, north and not south.
A businessman’s list will ultimately be different from what a tourist will consider important. It may be taken as irrelevant what somebody travelling to Iceland packs compared to what the traveller to South Africa packs for his trip. A student may consider certain stuff as unavoidable in his list but may be immaterial to someone on holidays or attending conference. What you wish out of your packing list may be the number one on the scale of preference of another traveller.
In anyway, there are some necessary items that is required by any traveller regardless of the purpose of travelling. Every traveller need a list at least to meet the day to day needs. Here we provide you with some guidelines on various items to be considered in your packing list depending your travel plan.
Remember to obey the rules pertaining the carrying of liquid, gel and earosol products aboard commercial aircraft. You can also buy shaving soap instead of its equivalent cream. Buy powder toothpaste instead of tube paste. This is necessary when packing your stuff.
Starting from the hotels, they may not have the right type of plugs you to charge your mobile phones and laptop or to connect your shaving machine. You will not like to forget your Power Adapter. Do not forget that European power sockets are different from Americans.
A businessman will want to make provision for his notes and storage facility for the business cards he collects, he will therefore like to add a quart sized plastic zip bag or business wallet and writing pads in his list.

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