Man explains how Friends Nearly Ruined My Life and Business

This is a sponsored post...

Adulting is very hard o! Entrepreneurship is even harder. Kai! Chasing your debtors is a full-time business. Please if you’re like me and you cannot pursue people for your money, just rethink am. Entrepreneurship is not your blessing.

I make shoes for a living and I spent a lot of ‘join join’ money from family and friends, to train myself. I worked overtime and delivered my first set of orders within a month of finishing training! Only for most customers to tell me that they will pay later. Later, when you are already wearing my shoes, are you mad ni?

Before I knew it, money was flying out and nothing was coming in. I was now begging people. (If you owe someone how can you be balling on Instagram for God’s sake!) Before I could say ‘mogbe o’, only 525 was left in the akant. Don’t ask me how but that was the day that all hell broke loose.

I was calculating whether to enter one shop, buy a plate of rice and a bottle of soft drink with my last money and wait for hunger to kill me or whatsapp my debtors. You don’t know how good your mathematics is until you don’t have money. That’s how mega-calculation began.

I decided to WhatsApp my people with an epistle of my life and I waited for 2 hours after, no alert. Yepah! I was checking my texts every 1 minute for a bank credit alert when I found out that I had extra N50 as airtime. Issalie! So, I sat down on the floor of my room and spoke to God please lead me to the right person that will hear my voice and break.

I called 1 woman who bought shoes for her entire family of 7.

 Kai! Aunty began apologising and explaining that she had been out of the country. 20 minutes after and ‘ping!’, I don get alert God win!

It was later I found out that the extra 50 bucks was not magic or misplaced credit. Apparently, you get like an extra 5% or 10% on MTN if you buy credit through your bank’s ATM, or via text.

Lucky me, abi. (Since then I don’t use the scratch card or paper. That extra is smart money. That’s gist for another day). Plus, I have wisened up o, I now demand 50% upfront payment on all shoes. I cannot comman go and die, na Lagos we dey.

- Rita Effiong is a budding shoemaker in Lagos

Man explains how Friends Nearly Ruined My Life and Business

This is a sponsored post...

Adulting is very hard o! Entrepreneurship is even harder. Kai! Chasing your debtors is a full-time business. Please if you’re like me and you cannot pursue people for your money, just rethink am. Entrepreneurship is not your blessing.

I make shoes for a living and I spent a lot of ‘join join’ money from family and friends, to train myself. I worked overtime and delivered my first set of orders within a month of finishing training! Only for most customers to tell me that they will pay later. Later, when you are already wearing my shoes, are you mad ni?

Before I knew it, money was flying out and nothing was coming in. I was now begging people. (If you owe someone how can you be balling on Instagram for God’s sake!) Before I could say ‘mogbe o’, only 525 was left in the akant. Don’t ask me how but that was the day that all hell broke loose.

I was calculating whether to enter one shop, buy a plate of rice and a bottle of soft drink with my last money and wait for hunger to kill me or whatsapp my debtors. You don’t know how good your mathematics is until you don’t have money. That’s how mega-calculation began.

I decided to WhatsApp my people with an epistle of my life and I waited for 2 hours after, no alert. Yepah! I was checking my texts every 1 minute for a bank credit alert when I found out that I had extra N50 as airtime. Issalie! So, I sat down on the floor of my room and spoke to God please lead me to the right person that will hear my voice and break.

I called 1 woman who bought shoes for her entire family of 7.

 Kai! Aunty began apologising and explaining that she had been out of the country. 20 minutes after and ‘ping!’, I don get alert God win!

It was later I found out that the extra 50 bucks was not magic or misplaced credit. Apparently, you get like an extra 5% or 10% on MTN if you buy credit through your bank’s ATM, or via text.

Lucky me, abi. (Since then I don’t use the scratch card or paper. That extra is smart money. That’s gist for another day). Plus, I have wisened up o, I now demand 50% upfront payment on all shoes. I cannot comman go and die, na Lagos we dey.

- Rita Effiong is a budding shoemaker in Lagos

NUPENG issues 7-day strike notice to FG

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday, issued a seven-day strike notice to the Federal Government to compel Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to honour the agreement it reached with the union on June 20, failing which members would down tools and begin an indefinite strike.

In a statement signed by the President and General Secretary of NUPENG, Prince Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, the union said :

“NUPENG, with deep frustration and worries, would like to alert the general public and all relevant authorities of the blatant violation of agreement reached between Chevron Nigeria Limited Company and unions in the industry.

“It is public knowledge that unions in the oil and gas industry had a protracted negotiation with Chevron Nigeria Limited over 70 per cent labour manpower reduction which it (Chevron) claimed was required in view of reduction in their operations in the oil and gas Industry. After up to one year negotiation, brokered by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, and Ministry of Labour, it was agreed that considering the intervention of all the institutions mentioned above and the various justifications made, only 30 per centof the Labour Manpower Contract Workers will be relieved.

‘’Of the 1,856 contract workers in the company, NUPENG has 1,120;

 PENGASSAN, 213; and non-unionised, 523. It was agreed that the 30% reduction shall be spread in equal percentage among the three groups. It was also agreed that union executives (NUPENG and PENGASSAN) will not be affected by the reduction, that Chevron Nigeria Limited will not in any guise change the Labour manpower to service contracts.

‘’It was also agreed that anyone that voluntarily offers to go will be counted as part of the agreed 30%. Unfortunately, immediately after the agreement was reached, Chevron started executing the exercise in blatant violation of the agreed terms, ostensibly to either put NUPENG in bad light as troublesome or for extinction because only NUPENG members have been exited from work, leaving behind the Non- Unionised workers and PENGASSAN members.

‘’It is further embarrassing to see that NUPENG executives are also part of those already locked out. From our record, over 500 of NUPENG members are being sacked. We further learned that the intention of Chevron is to change the contract to short term service contract and we see this as unfair and a breach of agreement reached with us in bad faith.

“All NUPENG executives should be called back to work, the percentage of reduction agreed should be spread to the three groups as agreed to avoid creating the impression that NUPENG was the target of the exercise. The good disposition of the new leadership of NUPENG should not be taken for granted. Chevron should not be allowed to use this exercise to change the Labour Manpower contract to service contract in a disguised manner.

“Consequent on the above demands and having been pushed to the wall, NUPENG, hereby, puts all our members on red alert should Chevron Nigeria Limited and its contractors fail to honour or comply with our demands within the next seven days, we would also not hesitate to take all necessary legal options available to us, including industrial actions, to press home our legitimate demands.”

NUPENG issues 7-day strike notice to FG

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday, issued a seven-day strike notice to the Federal Government to compel Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to honour the agreement it reached with the union on June 20, failing which members would down tools and begin an indefinite strike.

In a statement signed by the President and General Secretary of NUPENG, Prince Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, the union said :

“NUPENG, with deep frustration and worries, would like to alert the general public and all relevant authorities of the blatant violation of agreement reached between Chevron Nigeria Limited Company and unions in the industry.

“It is public knowledge that unions in the oil and gas industry had a protracted negotiation with Chevron Nigeria Limited over 70 per cent labour manpower reduction which it (Chevron) claimed was required in view of reduction in their operations in the oil and gas Industry. After up to one year negotiation, brokered by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, and Ministry of Labour, it was agreed that considering the intervention of all the institutions mentioned above and the various justifications made, only 30 per centof the Labour Manpower Contract Workers will be relieved.

‘’Of the 1,856 contract workers in the company, NUPENG has 1,120;

 PENGASSAN, 213; and non-unionised, 523. It was agreed that the 30% reduction shall be spread in equal percentage among the three groups. It was also agreed that union executives (NUPENG and PENGASSAN) will not be affected by the reduction, that Chevron Nigeria Limited will not in any guise change the Labour manpower to service contracts.

‘’It was also agreed that anyone that voluntarily offers to go will be counted as part of the agreed 30%. Unfortunately, immediately after the agreement was reached, Chevron started executing the exercise in blatant violation of the agreed terms, ostensibly to either put NUPENG in bad light as troublesome or for extinction because only NUPENG members have been exited from work, leaving behind the Non- Unionised workers and PENGASSAN members.

‘’It is further embarrassing to see that NUPENG executives are also part of those already locked out. From our record, over 500 of NUPENG members are being sacked. We further learned that the intention of Chevron is to change the contract to short term service contract and we see this as unfair and a breach of agreement reached with us in bad faith.

“All NUPENG executives should be called back to work, the percentage of reduction agreed should be spread to the three groups as agreed to avoid creating the impression that NUPENG was the target of the exercise. The good disposition of the new leadership of NUPENG should not be taken for granted. Chevron should not be allowed to use this exercise to change the Labour Manpower contract to service contract in a disguised manner.

“Consequent on the above demands and having been pushed to the wall, NUPENG, hereby, puts all our members on red alert should Chevron Nigeria Limited and its contractors fail to honour or comply with our demands within the next seven days, we would also not hesitate to take all necessary legal options available to us, including industrial actions, to press home our legitimate demands.”

Meghan Markle is to launch her own line of women's clothing in aid of charity

Meghan Markle is set to launch her own women’s clothing line in aid of charity.

The Duchess of Sussex revealed this in the new issue of British Vogue which she guest edited.

The new mum has persuaded major British retailers Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Jigsaw - along with her designer friend, Mischa Nonoo - to create a

 "capsule" collection of women’s workwear which will benefit Smart Works, a charity helping women back into the workplace. 

Each time a piece is bought from one of the retailers, a "like for like" item will be donated to the charity.

Smart Works, one of Meghan’s first patronages, helps women from disadvantaged backgrounds get interview-ready by providing them with a new outfit and coaching from a team of volunteer mentors, according to Daily Mail.

Meghan writes in the September issue of British Vogue: "When you walk into a Smart Works space you’re met with racks of clothing and an array of bags and shoes. 

Sometimes, however, it can be a potpourri of mismatched sizes and colours, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.

"To help with this, I asked Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and my friends, the designer Mischa Nonoo, if they were willing to design a capsule collection of more classic options for a workwear wardrobe.

Meghan Markle and friend designer Mischa Nonoo in 2015

"Taking the idea further, many of the brands agreed to use the one-for-one model: for each item purchased by a customer, one is donated to the charity. Not only does this allow us to be part of each other’s story, it reminds us we are in it together."

A royal source confirmed the idea had been Meghan’s and said the collection would be available later this year but no further details could be given at present.

While still working as an actress on the legal drama Suits in Toronto, Meghan had her own clothing line with local retailer, Reitmans, featuring vegan leather trousers.

Meghan Markle is to launch her own line of women's clothing in aid of charity

Meghan Markle is set to launch her own women’s clothing line in aid of charity.

The Duchess of Sussex revealed this in the new issue of British Vogue which she guest edited.

The new mum has persuaded major British retailers Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Jigsaw - along with her designer friend, Mischa Nonoo - to create a

 "capsule" collection of women’s workwear which will benefit Smart Works, a charity helping women back into the workplace. 

Each time a piece is bought from one of the retailers, a "like for like" item will be donated to the charity.

Smart Works, one of Meghan’s first patronages, helps women from disadvantaged backgrounds get interview-ready by providing them with a new outfit and coaching from a team of volunteer mentors, according to Daily Mail.

Meghan writes in the September issue of British Vogue: "When you walk into a Smart Works space you’re met with racks of clothing and an array of bags and shoes. 

Sometimes, however, it can be a potpourri of mismatched sizes and colours, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.

"To help with this, I asked Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and my friends, the designer Mischa Nonoo, if they were willing to design a capsule collection of more classic options for a workwear wardrobe.

Meghan Markle and friend designer Mischa Nonoo in 2015

"Taking the idea further, many of the brands agreed to use the one-for-one model: for each item purchased by a customer, one is donated to the charity. Not only does this allow us to be part of each other’s story, it reminds us we are in it together."

A royal source confirmed the idea had been Meghan’s and said the collection would be available later this year but no further details could be given at present.

While still working as an actress on the legal drama Suits in Toronto, Meghan had her own clothing line with local retailer, Reitmans, featuring vegan leather trousers.

Breaking; Fire outlet at Owode Oniri market where 20 vehicles and 10 shops burnt(photos)

Fire destroys 20 vehicles, 10 shops at Owode Onirin market in Lagos

On Monday night, July 29th, fire swept through Owode Onirin, the popular auto parts market near Ikorodu destroying over 20 vehicles, 10 shops and belongings worth millions of naira.

Also destroyed were buses, bonnets, vehicle engines and cash kept in some shops. The inferno, which destroyed Line M of the market, started around 9:30pm as some residents said they saw flames and heard sounds, which forced them to run for safety.

They said they later got water to put out the fire. A business owner in the market, Mr. Wasiu Bello, alleged that the fire was caused by the carelessness of a food seller, who left a burning coal in her shop. Bello lost his shop and belongings to the inferno. He alleged that the fire started from the food seller’s shop. He said he lost some vehicles to the fire, a bonnet worth N1.2 million that had been sold, but yet to be taken away by the buyer.

Another victim, Olamilekan Semiu, alleged that the night guards had not been performing their duties efficiently.

“If they are efficient, they ought to have noticed the fire before it became wild, ” he added.

Semiu urged the community’s leaders to take steps to prevent a recurrence. “New guards should be employed and a security house built close to the line to ensure observation of the vicinity. We will enact a rule that no food seller will be allowed to own shops in the market, because nothing else could have wreaked this havoc if not for their fire,” he said.

An eyewitness accused the Lagos State Fire Service of late response to the emergency call. “They put out the fire at about 11:30pm after using a full water tank,” he said.

Breaking; Fire outlet at Owode Oniri market where 20 vehicles and 10 shops burnt(photos)

Fire destroys 20 vehicles, 10 shops at Owode Onirin market in Lagos

On Monday night, July 29th, fire swept through Owode Onirin, the popular auto parts market near Ikorodu destroying over 20 vehicles, 10 shops and belongings worth millions of naira.

Also destroyed were buses, bonnets, vehicle engines and cash kept in some shops. The inferno, which destroyed Line M of the market, started around 9:30pm as some residents said they saw flames and heard sounds, which forced them to run for safety.

They said they later got water to put out the fire. A business owner in the market, Mr. Wasiu Bello, alleged that the fire was caused by the carelessness of a food seller, who left a burning coal in her shop. Bello lost his shop and belongings to the inferno. He alleged that the fire started from the food seller’s shop. He said he lost some vehicles to the fire, a bonnet worth N1.2 million that had been sold, but yet to be taken away by the buyer.

Another victim, Olamilekan Semiu, alleged that the night guards had not been performing their duties efficiently.

“If they are efficient, they ought to have noticed the fire before it became wild, ” he added.

Semiu urged the community’s leaders to take steps to prevent a recurrence. “New guards should be employed and a security house built close to the line to ensure observation of the vicinity. We will enact a rule that no food seller will be allowed to own shops in the market, because nothing else could have wreaked this havoc if not for their fire,” he said.

An eyewitness accused the Lagos State Fire Service of late response to the emergency call. “They put out the fire at about 11:30pm after using a full water tank,” he said.

Disney Star, Cameron Boyce's death was 'sudden' and 'unexpected,' coroner says

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has said that Cameron Boyce 's cause of death was "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, the Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed the death of the actor who died at the age of 20.

“ The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner determined the cause of death for actor Cameron Boyce was sudden unexpected death in epilepsy,” the coroner said in a statement.

“ On July 8, an autopsy was performed, and the cause and manner of death were deferred.”

“After additional testing, the cause of death was determined to be sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.”

The star’s “manner of death was certified as natural ,” the coroner concluded.

On Saturday 6 July 2019, the actor was found unresponsive by his roommate after suffering seizures in his sleep which was triggered by his epilepsy.

Cameron who rose to fame at the age of nine went on to appear in horror film, Mirrors, as well as mystery-thriller film, Eagle Eye. In 2010, Cameron played the son of Adam Sandler’s character in the comedy film, Grown Ups.

He was also a cast in a co-starring role on the Disney Channel comedy series Jessie in the role of Luke Ross. After that, Cameron played Carlos in Disney film Descendants and reprised the character for the animated shorts Descendants: Wicked World and in the 2017 sequel Descendants 2.

Disney Star, Cameron Boyce's death was 'sudden' and 'unexpected,' coroner says

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has said that Cameron Boyce 's cause of death was "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, the Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed the death of the actor who died at the age of 20.

“ The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner determined the cause of death for actor Cameron Boyce was sudden unexpected death in epilepsy,” the coroner said in a statement.

“ On July 8, an autopsy was performed, and the cause and manner of death were deferred.”

“After additional testing, the cause of death was determined to be sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.”

The star’s “manner of death was certified as natural ,” the coroner concluded.

On Saturday 6 July 2019, the actor was found unresponsive by his roommate after suffering seizures in his sleep which was triggered by his epilepsy.

Cameron who rose to fame at the age of nine went on to appear in horror film, Mirrors, as well as mystery-thriller film, Eagle Eye. In 2010, Cameron played the son of Adam Sandler’s character in the comedy film, Grown Ups.

He was also a cast in a co-starring role on the Disney Channel comedy series Jessie in the role of Luke Ross. After that, Cameron played Carlos in Disney film Descendants and reprised the character for the animated shorts Descendants: Wicked World and in the 2017 sequel Descendants 2.

US house of congress Speaker, Nancy Pelosi arrives Ghana to mark the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans landing in America

United States House of Congress Speaker, Nancy Pelosi and her delegation have arrived in Ghana to mark the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans landing in America.

They were received at the Kotoka International Airport by Prof Ocquaye, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan, Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S., Dr Baffour Adjei-Bawuah and some Members of Parliament.

Pelosi made the trip with 12 members of the Congressional Black Caucus and will meet with President Nana Akufo-Addo, Speaker Mike Oquaye and other senior government officials.
A statement from her office prior to touching down in Ghana said the delegation will pay respects at Cape Coast and Elmina Castles and the “Door of No Return,” to observe the 400th Anniversary of the First Enslaved Africans Landing in America.

“As we face evolving global security challenges, our delegation will thank our men and women in uniform and receive briefings from U.S. military leaders at U.S. Army Africa headquarters,” Speaker Pelosi said.