Malaria: A big deal and a killer

Malaria: A big deal and a killer

You feel feverish, cold and have lost appetite for food. You know you’re sick. But you must give a name to this sickness.

So, like a genius, the lightbulb comes up in your head and you conclude it must be Malaria. That disease is so easy to diagnose, you think. And so easy to treat. Without thinking, you take a quick trip to Oga Chinedu’s chemist and ask him for ‘malaria medicine’.

But wait a minute. What do you really know about Malaria?

Did you know that half of the world’s population is at risk of this disease? That’s how big a deal it is. In 2015, there were roughly 212 million Malaria cases and an estimated 429,000 resultant deaths.

Among those at high risk of this disease are pregnant women and children. As always, prevention is better than cure. It is necessary that you understand the risks of this illness and make adequate efforts to prevent it.

According to facts published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Malaria is the cause of spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth, and severe maternal anaemia. This fact sheet also reveals that children under five are particularly prone to infection, illness and death. Scary, right? But hey, facts don’t lie.

How well do you protect yourself and children from Malaria?

Now, don’t just move along believing that Malaria is ‘easy’ to cure. Stop and think about how it weakens your immune system and that of your child(ren). When your immune system is weak, your body is open to other types of infection like typhoid and the likes.

Diseases and death can be reduced by proper diagnosis and treatment of Malaria. Knowledge about these preventive, diagnostic and treatment measures is vital.

Tune in to the ARM Living benefits show this Wednesday on Smooth FM 98.1 from 6.40pm to 6.55pm for an in-depth talk on dealing with Malaria

You don’t want to miss it!

 

 

 

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Job Hunting tip – Research like a private Investigator

Job Hunting tip – Research like a private Investigator

Your resume is great, so what? Your resume is important but it won’t speak audibly on the day of your interview. But what happens if you don’t have the right words to speak? You don’t want to be that person in your job hunting quest who goes in for a job interview unprepared and searching the ceiling for answers.

Research the organization’s history, culture and core business before going for an interview.

No company will smile at an applicant who has zero information about an organization he wants to work at, especially with the ease of assessing information through the internet. Don’t be like ‘Fish’ in this week’s edition of ‘Diary of a Job Seeker’ who wasted his interviewer’s time while sounding and looking clueless (Not seen it yet? Click to watch).

Before you walk in to face your interviewer, you should be prepared. You should know what the company does, it’s history, culture and core business. Reason for this is that most companies want to know if you’re even vaguely aware of the business you wish to be a part of. With the tap of your phone, you can get all the information you need on the company’s website. Get into the website and literally dissect it and eat up all the information you can find on there.

You can also go a step further by going to the company’s social media pages to get a feel of their communication style and persona. Even if these questions don’t come up during your interview, you’ll at least walk in for your interview with confidence and added knowledge especially if you end up working with the organization or their competition. Always remember that no knowledge is a waste.

Arm yourself with research about the company you will be interviewing with to show your readiness and enthusiasm to bring a positive impact upon eventual employment.

Follow the Diary of a Job Hunter series to get more helpful tips as you search for your new job. We keep our fingers crossed with you that your wait and preparation in that job hunting quest will result in the job of your dreams. We will be happy to speak with you about the Pension options and benefits available for you.

Have an interview? Find out what to avoid in this hilarious video.

Stop over next Friday for job seeker tip four, see ya!

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In the news: Naira reverses gain

In the news: Naira reverses gain

Punch

Naira reverses gain, closes at 370/dollar

The naira closed at 370 per United States dollar at the parallel market on Friday, reversing the modest gain it recorded on Thursday.

Forex: 700 BDCs under threat over low patronage

No fewer than 700 Bureau De Change operators have come under threat as purported uncompetitive exchange rate continues to hit their bottom line.

Raw materials’ imports gulp N19.5tn in seven years

Although Nigeria and many of the African countries are admired for being commodity markets, a study of importation in the country shows that Nigeria has spent as much as N19.5tn on the importation of primary raw materials into the country in the past seven years.

This day

 External Reserves Chalk up $1.26bn as Shale Oil Threat Persists

The accretion of Nigeria’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves has continued, as figures released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have shown that reserves had grown by $1.263 billion this quarter to $31.551 billion as of August 16, compared with the $30.288 billion on June 30.

 FMDQ OTC Exchange Records N78.9tn Transactions in Eight Months

The fixed income and currency markets operated by FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange have recorded transactions worth N78.90 trillion between January and July.

The Guardian

Three tiers of government shared N2.8tr in six months, says NEITI

The three tiers of government shared N2.788 trillion between January and June this year, which represents a 38 per cent increase on the N2.019 trillion shared within the same period last year.

Telecoms operators lament falling revenue over OTT platforms

Telecommunications operators have lamented diminishing revenue caused by the operations of Over-the-Top Platforms (OTT).

Bloomberg

Nigerian President Buhari Vows to Intensify War on Militants

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to step up the fight against the Islamist militants and proponents of secession in his first speech after returning from three months of sick leave in London.

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A rewarding investment…

Educationtrust

August heralds a new school year. A time to travel with the children, put them in summer camps or have those schooling abroad come home for some family time. While engaging the children during the holiday requires a bit of planning and budgeting, we are relieved the children are returning to school, but we are also aware of the financial commitment that will accompany the new school year.

In less than a month, school fees, hostel fees and other educational levies must be paid. If we are at that stage where the children are going off to university or secondary school next year, we may want to start planning now. It is never early to start planning for the years ahead. You might want to buy property in the country where you would like your children to school or put funds away for retirement.

Although you might not consider it as such, but the thousands of Dollars/Pounds or millions of Naira you shell out regularly to finance your child’s education is in every way an investment. It is an investment in your child’s ambition, a deposit made into their future. While the returns may not be measurable in currency notes, this investment is by all means the most rewarding of your investments and should not be handled with levity.

An investment of such great magnitude deserves to be protected in every way possible. It is important that regardless of the turn of events, your child is able to get the quality of education you desire for him/her.

Whatever stage your child is on the education ladder, a Trust is extremely beneficial. You could want to build up funds for your child’s education in the future or ensure continuity of the same quality of education in the face of unforeseen circumstances. There is so much you can benefit from setting up a Trust.

Wondering what a Trust entails and how it can benefit you particularly? Talk to us today, let us collaborate with you to map out a fool-proof plan to finance their education and secure your children’s future.

Click here to schedule a meeting with your Relationship manager.

 

Fire your Landlord- own your own home!

Fire your Landlord- own your own home!

Ordinarily, Fred’s family and the landlord’s should not have any reason to clash since both duplexes were detached with a separating wall and different gates. However, it seemed like they were still too close.  The complaints never ended, from accusations of noise disturbance to exposure to danger because of Fred’s frequent late return from work. One time, the landlord’s wife told his wife to dismiss the new help she recently employed because she dreamt the lady was fetish. Even Fred found it difficult to believe that conversation really held.

Not long after, he got a first-hand experience of the landlord’s drama. It was a public holiday that day and Fred was enjoying a beautiful afternoon. Two of his friends had come visiting and his wife also had a few friends over since she loved to entertain. Naturally, the guests had found comfortable spots to park outside the compound. Unknown to Fred, one of them had parked extremely close to the landlord’s gate. The landlord however noticed as he drove in and was enraged beyond reason. He stormed to Fred’s part of the house and made his displeasure known in more than a few words, particularly pointing out that if Fred wanted to throw parties every two days, he would have to build his own house and secure parking space next to it. All of Fred’s attempts to curtail the situation and placate the angry man were futile. A few of the guests had even come out to intervene in the situation. It was quite embarrassing to both Fred and his wife.

That night, Fred made up his mind, he was going to get his family out of this house.

As if the universe could feel his pain, later that week, accumulated arrears from contracts he had executed in the previous year were paid. It was clear the money had to be invested in a good property. What options were available? Purchase landed property and build or buy an already finished house? The decision was hardly a tough one, once he came across the offer, he just knew it was for him. Tastefully finished terrace houses, situated in a serene environment, easily accessible and properly secured. Not to talk of the play garden available to the children and spacious driveways suitable for early morning jogs. To cap it up, there was even a twenty percent discount on the properties. Wow! Talk about ticking all the boxes. His wife agreed with him at their first visit, they had found the perfect place to call home.

No one enjoys the discomfort that often accompanies living in a rented house. If like Fred, you are looking for a way to fire your landlord, now is a good time to put together a concrete plan. As the year winds down, bonuses and allowances are often paid among other unexpected income that trickle in. If you put them all together and channel the bulk of it towards getting your property, you might find that you have enough to make that leap. Especially if you take advantage of price promotions or spread out payment-plan options available. Even if you do not have enough funds just yet, it is a good time to start planning  towards owning your own home. Nothing says ‘security’ like a home to call your own.

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FOMO: Should we really be afraid or not?

FOMO: Should we really be afraid or not?

F.O.M.O     /ˈfəʊməʊ/  

(fear of missing out)

An all-consuming feeling that you’re missing out on something your peers are doing or are in possession of, often aroused by posts seen on social media.

FOMO is such a global phenomenon that it was added to the Oxford dictionary in 2013. That’s just how big a deal it is! Human beings are social creatures, whether we like it or not. Nobody likes to be left out of a fun event; we all suffer from FOMO one way or the other.

Commonly seen in people aged 30 and under, its symptoms include squandering money and time that should be dedicated to more important things in the name of feeling among. The advent of social media has also created a need for social validation, thereby contributing to social anxiety.

Imagine scrolling through your Facebook or Snapchat and seeing your friends partying without you. That has to hurt a little, right?  Or when everyone is tweeting about the newest bar in town and you know your pockets can’t afford it, but you want to go still.

These are only just some of the problems we face today with social anxiety. We see social media posts of what people are constantly buying and experiencing; leaving us with a feeling of emptiness and a need for inclusion.

We then want to live like they’re living, so we can post on social media like they’re posting. We dig into our pockets in a bid to “feel among” and “look cool”, without realizing that we’re only digging ourselves deeper into a hole of depression and insufficient funds.

If you spend all you have now without a thought for the future, what is going to happen when you retire and your savings are not enough? Do you want to risk waiting till then to realize just how broke the FOMO is making you? Saving might not sound cool but it has been saving lives since 1801.

Now, is this the fault of social media? No. Should we delete our social media? No.

Social media does not force FOMO on us. We are the ones with the power to choose just how social media posts make us feel.

Channel your FOMO into JOMO – Joy Of Missing Out.

 

Photo credit: http://smurfitschoolblog.com

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In the news: Oil production cost drops by 71%

In the news: Oil production cost drops by 71%

Guardian

CBN’s power, airline interventions hit N277 billion

Development interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the power and aviation sectors have reached N277.4 billion cumulatively between September 2016 till June 2017, with repayments by the operators trailing progressively.

London stockbrokers eye investment opportunities in NCM

Stockbrokers on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) may be warming up to take advantage of Investment opportunities in the Nigerian Capital Market (NCM) to leverage its fast growing profile.

CBN to license stockbrokers to access liquidity window

Efforts by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to address liquidity constraints in the capital market heightened yesterday, as the Commission unveiled plans to seal agreement with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a dual- licence model to enable Capital Market Operators (CMO) access the CBN window.

Punch

No audit report on N4.2tn TSA two years after –AGF

Members of the House of Representatives were in shock on Wednesday when the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Anthony Ayine, disclosed that over two years after the Treasury Single Account policy came into operation, it had not been audited.

Oil production cost drops by 71 per cent

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Wednesday said it had driven down the cost of crude oil production from $78 per barrel as of August 2015 to $23 per barrel, representing a 70.5 per cent fall.

TSA: Govt saves N108bn from bank charges

The Federal Government has saved a total of N108.1bn from charges imposed by banks for managing funds belonging to its ministries, departments and agencies since the commencement of the Treasury Single Account in September 2015.

MTN wants electronic listing, reopens talks with SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission has resumed talks with MTN Nigeria over the telco’s planned listing on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

This Day

Equities Market Falls Further on Continuing Profit Taking

The Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index (NSE) ASI fell by 2.68 per cent yesterday closed lower at 36,102.38 as profit taking persisted on the bourse. After hitting a record high last week, investors moved in to lock in part of the gains recorded in the past months.

Finally, Osinbajo Assigns Portfolios to New Ministers, Swears in Perm Secs

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo wednesday assigned portfolios to Professor Stephen Ocheni and Mr. Suleiman Hassan, three weeks after swearing them in as ministers.

Vanguard

Senate probes Total E & P over 42km gas pipeline project in Rivers

Worried over the alleged $1billion spent so far for an itch in the construction of Obite- Ubeta- Rumugi 42.5 kilometre 42″ Gas Pipeline Project(OUR) in Rivers State, the Senate has begun a holistic investigation of Total E&P Nigeria Limited, TEPNG.

Naira appreciates to N359.7/$ as External reserve hits $31.35bn

The naira yesterday appreciated below N360 per dollar for the first time in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window due to increased dollar supply.

Business Day

FG seeks new economic frontiers on $41 billion rail modernisation investment

Nigeria’s quest to explore new areas of revenue generation and diversification of its economy from oil is gaining traction, as the country seeks new opportunities through massive investment into the rail sector.

The Nation

Pan Ocean’s pipeline ‘ll boost crude export by 160,000bpd

Pan Ocean Oil Corporation (POOC), an indigenous exploration and production company and operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Pan Ocean Joint Venture, has awarded a pipeline contract to a local firm to create an alternative export line to avoid attacks by Niger Delta militants.

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Source: Blog

In the news: Nigeria-India Trade Volume Hits $10bn

In the news: Nigeria-India Trade Volume Hits bn

Guardian

CBN injects $364m into inter-bank forex market

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday intervened in the inter-bank foreign exchange market to the tune of $364 million in a bid to sustain liquidity.

Nigeria’s mutual funds attract local, foreign investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said the total Asset Under Management (AUM) of mutual funds in Nigeria topped N300 billion for the first time.

GTBank records 18% increase in profit for mid-year

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) says it has recorded an 18 per cent increase in Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the financial half-year ended June 30, 2017.

Modular refiners to get pioneer status, duty waivers

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to assist investors in modular refineries to obtain pioneer status, secure various duty waivers, import facilitation of equipment and engineering review to enable Nigeria become self-sufficient in petroleum refining.

Punch

Stocks fall by N294bn, near two-week low

The Nigerian stock market recorded a N294bn decline on Tuesday, nearing its lowest level in two weeks.

Naira drops to 370 on lack of dollar supply

The naira depreciated against the United States dollar at the parallel market on Tuesday to 370, down from 368/dollar on Monday.

Fashola makes a U-turn, says consumers can pay for meters

The Federal Government has said that it will not oppose the wishes of electricity consumers that are willing to pay for meters from their distribution companies based on agreement between both parties as endorsed by the power sector regulator.

The Nation

Dangote to sell N200b shares in block divestment

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), the majority core investor in Dangote Cement Plc, plans to sell shares valued at more than N200 billion in a partial divestment that will widen the float for Dangote Cement.

NCC: Telecoms sector FDI hits $68 billion

Prof Umar Dambatta, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO who spoke during a sensitization workshop on code of corporate governance for the telecoms industry at the Derenassance Hotel, Ikeja, said these achievements were accomplished in spite of the crushing recession ravaging the economy.

This Day

Nigeria-India Trade Volume Hits $10billion

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nagabushana Reddy has disclosed plans by his country to organize an international expo on Information Communication Technology in Nigeria as part of efforts at deepening bilateral relations with Nigeria, even as trade relations between Nigeria and India increased to $10 billion in 2016.

Reuters

Protesters drag Shell Niger Delta oil facility shutdown into fifth day

Protesters on Tuesday dragged the shutdown of a Shell crude oil facility in the Niger Delta into its fifth day, after storming the flow station demanding jobs and infrastructure development last week.

Business Day

CBN eases port charges paid by oil marketers

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Tuesday, says payment for port charges to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other agencies by oil marketing companies can now be accommodated by the Bank using Form ‘A’.

Nigeria retreats to coal while rest of the world moves on

A new report by the International Energy Association, (IEA) a Paris-based energy sector think tank, shows that global coal production fell by 458 million tons in 2016, but Nigeria is incentivizing coal producers, putting coal top on a list of industries to be granted pioneer status.

 

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Nigeria’s Socio-Political Milieu: Just before that sigh of relief

Nigeria’s Socio-Political Milieu: Just before that sigh of relief

Take nothing away from Niger Delta and North-Eastern milestones

After stalling for months, the National Assembly finally passed the nation’s 2017 budget in May 2017—albeit coming after a slight alteration in size to N7.44 trillion (vs. N7.28 trillion in FG’s initial recommendation). In line with clause 11 of the bill, the budget is also expected to run for twelve months after presidential assent is effected. Amidst its many provisions, the inherently higher allocation to the Niger Delta amnesty programme (+15% from prior proposal to N75 billion) was particularly notable from a socio-political and economic standpoint—especially in view of its intersection with a period of relative peace in the volatile oil-rich region.

Precisely, after enduring sizable production shut-in’s due to militant incursions for extended periods, improved government conciliation translated to both greater tranquility and the eventual lifting of force majeure on Trans Forcados1 in May 2017 to put an end to 15 months of nonoperation. Pointedly, owing to FG’s increase in amnesty allocation and painstaking conciliation that involved the acting president engaging several militant power-houses, the latest re-opening has been greeted with greater optimism compared to the previous attempt to resume production in November 2016.

That said, despite the oft-associated YoY reduction in the number of pipeline vandalized points (-62% YoY to 82 in April), NNPC’s data indicated another spike in the metric from its lows in December 2016 as early as March—suggesting that the delicate issues of militancy are not entirely dead and buried in the Niger Delta.

Beyond the gains in the Niger Delta, the release of 82 kidnapped Chibok girls from the jaws of Boko Haram in May highlighted a further milestone from FG’s non-militant overtures. Though the release was purportedly secured via a prisoner swap deal, it provided credence to one of the promises of the president’s pre-election campaigns which was unambiguously defined as a commitment to put paid to Boko Haram activities and return kidnapped Chibok teenagers to their parents. Whilst the latest release marks a milestone with the latter part of the objective, large parts of the north east still live in fear of guerilla attacks from factions of the insurgents despite increased territorial gains by the Nigerian military.

In view of this, farming and agricultural activities have remained largely muted in the region with knock-on effect of imminent famine as 4.7 million inhabitants are reportedly dependent on food aid.

 

View complete report here

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Source: Blog

JOB HUNTING TIP 2: Say the truth and nothing but!

JOB HUNTING TIP 2: Say the truth and nothing but!

Dear job hunter, are you prepared for that moment in your job hunting quest you sit face to face with an intended employer?

Preparation involves crossing all your Ts and dotting all your Is; and one of the first things to get sorted is the accuracy of the information on your documents/resume.

In this video, job hunter Fish wants a job so bad but endangers an opportunity he had to get it. Why? His information on paper didn’t tally with his answers.

Don’t be put in this precarious situation.

Ensure that all information on your documents are up to date and accurate.

Don’t search the ceiling for answers when your interviewer asks if he can call one of your referees, and his choice happens to be that one referee who passed on three months ago but you forgot to edit your resume and replace his name.

Don’t be tempted to lie about your age just because you’ve searched endlessly for a job and the organization specified a certain age which is above or below your current age. You may end up blurting it out during your interview under pressure and spoil any chance of getting hired. Bottom line, be truthful with every information you share whether written or verbal. Lies always have a way of coming back to bite you.

It’s a tough world out in the labour market. When job hunting, make the best of an opportunity you get for an interview by doing a basic cross-check and a few necessary edits.

Need more helpful tips as you search for your ideal job? Then follow the Diary of a Job Hunter series every week. You’ll learn a few things that will come in handy when that job interview email, call or text hits your phone.

Meanwhile, watch Fish’s interview blunder in this funny video and don’t forget to stop over next Friday for job seeker tip three. Till then!

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Source: Blog