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What builds a Nation?

By
Clinton Chidera
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1

Many people or individuals think that money is the only thing or the only source of Building a nation.

Yes! It is true that money builds a Nation, but money is a particle created by man for a particular purpose. Sequel to this, before money came into existence, the research, law, idea and the experiment had been done by men before it was useful.

But before money builds a Nation there are some theories, laws and principles that can be carried out for the effective use of the money.

Now, thinking that money builds a Nation without knowing that there’s a mystery that behinds the growth,establishment and development of a Nation is an illusion.

What is the mystery? The mystery is the Mind.

What builds a Nation first before thinking or talking about money is the” Mind”.

A Nation can not be built without exercising the mind and the mental state positively.

If the mind is exercised positively in building a Nation, it will uplift the Nation, but If it is exercised negatively in building a Nation, it will lead to the downfall of the Nation and also the destruction of the Nation.

So, these show that before you achieve a particular thing in life you must exercise your mind, depending on the area you ‘re heading to.

Now, you can see that a positive mind comes with positive structures, plans, ideals and initiatives.

So, it shows that the budget of a Nation can be surplus which is the money, but if it is not managed properly by not applying the principles, theories and laws that behind the uses of money properly, the surplus budget can’t build the Nation. That explains why the mind which must be exercised properly.

 

Week 2 – The Grand Playbook of Business – Ready For Monday

By
Ndubuisi Ekekwe
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0

My team has scheduled materials for Week 2 of the ongoing Tekedia Mini-MBA: 12 noon Lagos time on Monday.  Week 2 focuses on what it takes to start a new business (Founder) or lead a new product/service in an existing company (Project Champion). It is written as a manual, from the idea stage to the growth execution stage. It comes with 6 flash cases covering Jevinik Restaurants, Airbnb, mKopa Solar, Opay, Tinder and PhonePe India. To access, visit the Digital Board; week 2 will become active and clickable at the time noted. For new registrations, click here.

When you execute, you enable growth. Growth fixes or masks nearly all problems in a company division or a start-up. Growth makes you a good presenter before the Board or CEO. Growth makes your grammar to become flawless. Growth brings respect as you stand before the investors or promotion committee. Growth creates business legends and rock stars. When you grow, you are moving. It means you have momentum. The bigger the business size, and the rate of growth, the more is the momentum of the business (in Physics, momentum = mass x velocity; velocity is speed with direction). Maximal momentum is realized when you are increasing the size of the business (“the mass”) and doing that at the fastest growth rate (‘the velocity”).

From the Lecture materials

 

https://www.tekedia.com/mini-mba/

Arguments for and Against Paying Interns

By
Ozioma Okey-Kalu
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Arguments and counter arguments have arisen on why companies should pay their interns or not. Interns are very important in establishments. If not for anything, they provide the much needed extra hands at very cheap rates, though their mistakes can cost companies a lot. Interns are also easier to train, which means that if the company finally absorbs them into its labour force, they will become wonderful employees.

Today, college students and fresh graduates seek internship programmes. Most graduates are eager to go into this because it will avail them with the experiences that recruiters look out for during recruitment processes. Apart from that, they see internship period as the right time to prepare themselves for their desired career by acquiring and developing skills needed for their professions. As a result, most interns are not mindful of partaking in internship programmes that do not pay. Notwithstanding this, there is a need to critically review reasons behind the arguments for and against paying interns.

Arguments for Paying Interns

In Nigeria, there is no law that insists that employers should pay their interns. This means that those that pay do so because they wanted to. However, there are noted reasons why interns should be rewarded for the jobs they do.

  • Motivation

Interns are actually there to learn through experience, but they need to be motivated to increase their performances. Besides, paid interns are happier and less grumpy than unpaid ones. And when your workers are happy, your customers will be happy too.

  • Access to the Best Talents

Employers can find employees with exceptional talents and skills through internship programmes. This will happen more if they pay their interns because that will attract others. In other words, employers will have a greater pool of talents to choose from.

  • Encouraging Professionalism

The logic behind this is that interns that are paid are expected to work harder than those that are not paid. Employers that pay their interns assign them duties that are almost equivalent to that of full time staff, thereby giving them more exposure to the job. But employers that don’t pay their interns may likely not have a strong hold on them – the interns may come to work when they choose and may decide not to carry out any duty even while in office. By the end of the day, paid interns will be more professional than unpaid ones.

  • Reducing Poverty and Dependency

Though the amount paid to interns is small, they still go a long way in reducing their financial dependence. For instance, paid interns can pay for their transport fares and take care of their personnel through their allowances. Some can go as far as taking care of their dependents and/or setting up businesses for themselves. It can then be said that employers that pay their interns are engaging in community developments.

  • Maintaining Good Employer’s Reputation

Employer’s that do not pay their interns do not always have a good reputation; they are branded negatively. As words go out, other interns will avoid such an employer.

Arguments against Paying Interns

It will be good to look into why some employers insist on not paying their internship workers.

  • Internship is Part of School Curriculum

Most interns, especially college students, are reminded that they are there to learn and not to earn salaries. Some employers even demand that their interns pay them for the period of training instead of the other way around. Since these interns need to go back to school and continue with their classroom studies, as well as present evidence of completed internship, they opt for unpaid internship.

  • Service Period too Short

This is experienced by most Nigerian students that go for their 3-month Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). Most of the companies they apply to turn down their applications unless they (the students) are willing for unpaid internship. As the students said, these employers assert that the duration of the internship is too short for the students to learn and contribute towards the growth of the company. In other words, the students leave before they can practice what they learnt from the company.

  • Company not in Need of Interns

Some employers, especially in Nigeria, do not have provisions for more hands. These people already have enough workers so that interns are added burdens to them (and most of them do not want the burdens of training new hands every now and then). However, they take in interns because they want to provide them with avenues to learn more skills or to meet up with academic requirements. Some offices like this create redundant portfolios that might not generate extra income and that might be closed when the intern goes. For this, employers under this category don’t bother adding interns to their budgets though they (the interns) may enjoy other benefits that do not include fixed monthly allowances. The ones that perform well may be absorbed into the company’s labour force.

Conclusion

Whether interns should be paid or not is between the intern and his employer. Insisting that interns must be paid may mean that most of them will roam the streets in search of a place of internship without success. Let the companies that have provisions for internship programmes recruit, train and pay their interns (if they can afford to do so). Those that don’t have such provisions are encouraged to create them because internship has come to stay.

God’s calling supersedes our colourful academic career. An interview with Tayelolu, Ejire Kakaki Jesu

By
Chinedu Junior Ihekwoaba
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Passion still exists. I met Tayelolu Ayansola during my NYSC days in 2016. He is indeed a man of honour, dignity and vision.

He is a member of the group called, Ejire Kakaki Jesu, with his twin brother, Kehinde Ayansola. The duo put aside their colourful educational career to answer God’s calling.

Here’s what Joshua had to say about this decision:

Can you briefly introduce yourself to the audience?

I am Ayansola Tayelolu Joshua, a Sports  Psychologist by Training, but a Musician by Calling. I am from Osun State, Nigeria.

Music and Sports, that’s a good combination. Did you mean you studied Sport Psychology in school?

Yes, I studied Physical and Health Education for my First Degree (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife), and Masters in Psychology of Sport, University of Stirling (Scotland).

For you to have left your professional field for music after putting so much into it, says a lot about your passion for music. How did your music career begin?

Yes, I will say I had so much passion for Sports, but that of Music is a Calling, which supersedes my passion for Sport.

I am primarily an Evangelist with the tool of music, before having a Career as a Musician

I did notice that in you during the NYSC days. Since you immersed yourself fully into music, how has it been so far?

It’s been a worthwhile journey. It’s been myself and my twin-brother together with God on this journey.

We have an Album (Covenant of Grace), and about 15 Single tracks so far. 

We’ve been privileged to minister in songs in a number of Church programs and Music Concerts across south-western Nigeria and also perform together with our Live Band at several social functions including wedding receptions and birthdays.

Our full-time Music Career began in September 2017, and there have been no regrets whatsoever.

Thank God for keeping you guys. I must say, you have been amazing with your twin brother. How does it feel like running the same career and business together?

It’s been very smooth, and it has always been a plus to us. We have always worked together from very early in life, and even in career and business together, we have our complimenting features which have always given us an edge. 

Two heads are actually better than one.

African parents are known for prioritising education, only a few actually believe in answering a divine call. How did your parents feel about this (I mean your music career)?

We had an excellent First Degree. We both graduated with First Class Honors at Obafemi Awolowo University in 2014 (the only 2 first-class  graduates in the faculty of Education for that year). We got Commonwealth Scholarship for our Masters Program in the UK, and when we were to answer a call into Music, many including our Mum (Dad is late) and our siblings believed that we do have great prospect for Academics, and the best option will be for us to continue with a PhD program in the UK, but rather than coming back to Nigeria to fulfill a Music Calling. 

Although they had their opinions, clear instruction from GOD for us was prevalent.

Sorry to hear about your dad. I was never aware that he’s late. May he continue to rest in peace. It must have been a very tough decision for you despite your flourishing academic career. I do believe you can always continue your academic career anytime. So what’s the latest project you are working on?

Yeah, a bit tough, but we were so sure of GOD’s instructions, that made it a lot easier. Sometimes we have a colourful plan for ourselves, but GOD gives us a wonderful one instead.

Presently, we have a vision of “THE STREET PRAISE PROJECT”. It is an outdoor Evangelism project, our tool is music and we do it in well populated junctions, where we mount up our sound system and we do music that is not the usual church music/songs which attracts both the churched and unchurched people. We later gradually change the songs to songs telling about the power of JESUS to heal, safe, set captives free, and so on, and most importantly salvation songs. 

We do this in conjunction with Churches. The Pastor of the Church comes up later to give a very short sermon on Salvation and make an altar call to give people the opportunity to give their lives to Christ and also invite them to church.  The main reason why we do this in conjunction with churches is to have a church to direct these people to so that they can be grounded in faith. 

We have a vision of 20 of such Street Praise Projects (Different from the Traditional Crusade) this year, and we will be so glad to partner with any church that is interested.

Any plan to make collaborations with other artists in the industry?

I will be glad if a collaboration with Nathaniel Bassey is possible in the near future. I hold him in high esteem.

I definitely hope so too. Please, if I may ask, are you married?

Yes, I am by GOD’s Special Grace, myself and my twin-brother got married to another set of twin-sisters on Saturday, January 11, 2020.

Happy married life to you and your brother. One last question, what do you have for your fans?

We so much value their love and support. They should expect more motivational songs at the moment.

How can you be contacted?

I can be contacted through my cellphone: 07039882709.

Thank you, Tayelolu Ejire Kakaki Jesu, for your time. I wish you all the best in your career.

It is my pleasure. Thanks a bunch for the honor and kind wishes.

It’s been a great time talking to you.

Amazon Secures Court Injunction Stopping Microsoft’s Work on JEDI

By
Samuel Nwite
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0

On Thursday, a federal court in Washington ordered Microsoft to halt ongoing work on the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) project.

Amazon had in December last year, filed a suit challenging the process through which the $10 billion cloud-computing contract was awarded.

In response to the suit, Judge Patricia E. Campbell-Smith of the Court of Federal Claims, ordered work to stop on the project until the case filed by Amazon is resolved.

The military cloud-computing systems was a high priced deal that stoked the nerves between Microsoft and Amazon last year. Amazon was seen as the favorites to win the contract until the Department of Defense awarded it to Microsoft in October last year. Amazon’s web services (AWS) is the clear leader when it comes to cloud and IT services and storage space on the internet. The decision of the Department of Defense sprang protest from Amazon who alleged that the process was rigged in favor of Microsoft.

Amazon’s claim has emanated from its founder, Jeff Bezos’ soured relationship with Donald Trump. Bezos who also owned Washington Post has been indirectly attacked by Trump due to the newspapers’ critical coverage of his administration. Trump has accused it of being partisan and spreading fake news, calling it; “Amazon Washington Post.”

Amazon’s decision to challenge the contract was further fueled by details of former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’ book which alleged that Trump sought to screw Amazon by locking the company out of bidding for the JEDI contract.

At the news of the court ruling, Microsoft had lost $17 billion in value. The computing company stock which is valued at $1.4 trillion lost 1% of its market capitalization on Thursday. Amazon shares reportedly rose briefly before turning negative.

Amazon is asking the court to allow it to depose Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The internet giant said their testimony will help in determining if there is presidential intervention in the contract process. Although Esper had recused himself from the deal due to his son’s work relationship with IBM, Amazon is arguing that if there’s a foul play he’d be aware.

“The question is whether the president of the United States should be allowed to use the budget of D.O.D to pursue his own personal and political ends,” said an Amazon spokesman.

The Defense Department has denied the allegations and also frowned at the requested deposition involving Trump and Esper.

Microsoft said the process has been thorough and transparent, and they are disappointed in the court ruling that will result in delay of the contract execution.

“We are disappointed in the additional delay, we will ultimately move forward with the work to make sure those who serve our country can access the new technology they urgently require.

“We believe the facts will show they ran a detailed, thorough and fair process in determining the needs of the warfighter were best met by Microsoft,” Frank Shaw, Microsoft vice president said in a statement on Thursday.

The Defense Department has maintained that the bidding process violated no protocol to show favoritism.

“The acquisition process was conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. All offerors were treated fairly and evaluated consistently with the solicitation’s stated evaluation criteria,” the Department said in October.

The case appears to be escalating and would likely end in a major legal battle between Amazon and Microsoft. Amazon has made another filing this month seeking an injunction that will prevent it from losing the profit it would have made from the deal.

Judge Campbell-Smith has asked Amazon to pay a $42 million collateral deposit to the court in case it later determines that the injunction was wrongfully issued against Microsoft and it needs to be paid damages.

Daniel Ives, an analyst for Wedbush Securities with a keen interest in the JEDI contract called the preliminary injunction “prudent decision” and said the $42 million will not be a burden to Amazon.

Ives added that the JEDI contract will add $40 billion into the coffers of Microsoft in the coming few years. The US Government has been using computer systems dating back to 80s and 90s, and the modernization is crucial to Trump’s administration’s quest for a better equipped military.

It is unlikely the federal court will overturn the contract since Amazon is counting deeply on the testimony of White House witnesses – Trump and Esper.

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