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Top 10 Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria – To Make Money Easily

Are you a student in Nigeria but looking for a (legit) way to make money without any alteration to your academic life?

Let’s talk about these business ideas for students in Nigeria and from these businesses, I’m sure one out of them is going to meet your interest.

Students in Nigeria and some parts of the world need finances to power their academics or take care of their general upkeep. But having to combine academics and work may yield unfavorable results on both ends.

Bearing this in mind, it’s important I share some easy but also profitable businesses that will help you as a student make some money.

If you’re interested in making money while in school, join me as we take a look at the following profitable business ideas.

Ten (10) Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria

1. Organizing Academic Tutorials

Before you call me out that tutorials aren’t a form of business, hear me out. Truth is, there are lots of businesses out there for students to engage in. But sometimes, these businesses, though highly rewarding, tend to make students lose track of their primary goal.

But that’s not my aim with this post. 

This is made up of less distracting business ideas for students in Nigeria. Ideas that are easy and do not need to be present 24/7 to make some money. And this is where organizing academic tutorials come in.

Now, if you’re well versed in a particular course or subject, or even a topic, this could fetch you some money. You can do this for course/level mates and other students in the institution.

Sometimes, you can be organizing tutorials for JAMB, Post UTME and Direct Entry students.

Are you thinking of location? Well, you can find a good spot in your school or outside the school. And also, if you have the tools, you can run this tutorial service online.

I don’t know how you will charge them, but I’ve met someone who charges N2,000 per hour regardless of how many students. And some people might charge like N5,000 per month. 

You just need to experiment with what will work better for you.

The higher the number of students, the more money you stand to make. Only do this when sure of yourself about that particular field. Students attending your tutorial classes expect to get value for their money. 

If you can’t offer that, then you’ll have to watch them trickle out of your classes.

Give them value, and in return, they’ll give you money!

2. Catering Service (Soft drinks, Snacks, small chops, and foodstuffs)

Wait, I’m not saying catering is an ideal business ideal for students in Nigeria, as this will take your nearly 80% time if you want to make it big.

Here, catering services for students like you, isn’t about opening a store or getting a business location. The catering service I suggest here is much of a small scale service.

Students are either busy, stressed out, or just don’t know how to cook. All students fall into any of these three as such resort to junk food or fast food.

You can take that upon yourself to provide these food materials. Items such as small chops, snacks, and soft drinks are some of the better options to start with.

You can start making sales right from your house. You’ll just need to create awareness to your neighbors and fellow students.

Since the world is now digital, you can make this known by sharing it on your social profile to reach more people.

A good thing about this business is that it isn’t capital intensive. It’s easy to set up, plus you don’t need to do it 24/7. You’ll have some time to spend with your books.

Is it easy, of course, it is. Even if you’re not the best chef who makes those lovely doughnuts, you can buy in bulk and retail to make some money. Same applies to soft drinks as well.

You can hire a sales girl to stay in your “joint” on your behalf while you face your studies and come back when you’re done at noon. Hiring a (trusted) sales girl will really help your business and simplify your life.

3. Clothing

We all love clothes. It’s one of the necessities of life. Students want to look trendy and you can help them do that. As a student, you can start making money with the clothes retail business. 

No, I’m not saying you should go out there and buy a whole big chunk of clothes. Don’t do that. Instead, you buy in smaller chunks then retail at an inexpensive price. The best part about this business is that you don’t need to engage in it 24/7. 

This means you still get more time to look at your books and attend classes.

Just like Jumia and Konga, you can start taking orders from your social media profile. It’s pretty easy once you’ve got a hold of social media. 

Just gets lots of friends to follow you if you haven’t done that already. Then you can go ahead and start sampling your wares on your social profiles.

Once an order is received, both parties will agree on a delivery pattern. And as students, they might understand when delivery isn’t swift. With time, you can expand your business to non-students and even across the country. 

4. Makeup, Decorations, Hairdressing, Barbing & Event planning

Just like clothing, looking good is one of the underrated necessities of life. Because as you must have heard from the cliché phrase, how you are dressed is how you’ll be addressed. They work in tandem with each other — clothes and makeup.

You don’t have to do this daily. Even if you do, you could do this in the evenings and make some good money. But one thing is guaranteed. Your weekend won’t be for resting as is the tradition to get a new haircut (I just did), plait a new hair, or have our events on weekends.

But you can still make good money every weekend once you know and master your craft. These skills take some time to get good at them. If you can put in the time in learning, then earning money from it isn’t far-fetched. Also, consider a good location when starting. It’s everything.

A good location will in most cases, determine how well your business performs. And we all want our businesses to perform pretty well.

5. Dropshipping

I still think dropshipping is underrated in this part of the world. It’s a viable business idea if you look at it. From the few who’re already doing dropshipping, they’ve got no regrets whatsoever. 

As a student, this is the ideal business for you. All you just need is the capital to finance it at first which isn’t that big. 

You don’t need a physical space to conduct your business. You don’t even need to handle your wares physically. Since it’s slowly becoming a virtual world, you just need a virtual space.

Why is this business ideal?

First things first, it’s scalable and can reach millions of people around the world, unlike your physical space where you’re limited to those around your vicinity or social circle. Also, the business of dropshipping is portable. You can run this business from anywhere. 

If you’re thinking of getting started, we’ve got a whole lot of posts on dropshipping. Check the recommended articles below;

6. Start a POS Business

POS Business is very hot in the country and tapping into it now will be an advantage to your pocket.

As a student, you don’t really need to spend your 24/7 in the kiosk just to make sales, you can as well hire an attendant to handle it for you.

You may want to ask;

How can I start POS Business in Nigeria?

Well, I got you covered in one of my previous blog posts, kindly check the quoted link below:

How to Start POS Business in Nigeria

7. Become a Real Estate agent for students

I have a friend who’s a student and in real estate business. But not that big real agent you’re thinking of, here is how it works;

  • You look for new and vacant hostels in school area
  • You get in touch with the caretaker or the owner
  • You strike a deal to help the caretaker or owner find students who need hostel
  • You take commission on each student
  • That’s all.

But hey, real estate business is truly a profitable business idea for students in Nigeria but it requires “dedication” a lot.

You will need to trek a lot in search of hostels without an agent, speak with the caretaker and again look for students who need a hostel, show them the house and repeat every time and then.

If that’s what you can do, the two links below will help you become a successful person in this business;

8. Freelancing and Drop servicing

This should be my number one before all these profitable business ideas for students in Nigeria but here we are!

Freelancing as business is simply working (selling your skills) remotely to those who need it and in returns, you make money.

Before you can become a freelancer, you need to have a skill you’re really good at.

Check here for the hot-selling Digital skills you can learn.

And just in case you don’t have any skill but still want to make money as a freelancer, then you should start “drop servicing” business.

Drop servicing and freelancing are the best business ideas for students in Nigeria, because they’re not capital intensive, no location barrier, you determine how much you want to earn and how, when and where you want to work.

Here is how to start drop servicing business as a beginner.

9. MC and DJ Services

If you are good at anchoring an event or ceremony, or you can DJ either with deck or Virtual DJ, then you can make money from that as a student.

Also, these businesses will not disturb your academic as MC and DJ job gigs is usually available on weekends. SO, you have the rest of the week to study.

You don’t really need to buy anything as an MC than to work on your humors (i.e. Be funny enough to catch audience attention) and public speaking skill.

As a DJ, you need to have a laptop even if you can’t afford a deck yet. Also know the right songs to play at a particular ceremony.

10. FOREX and Cryptocurrency

This is not a financial advise!

I’m sure you’ve heard about FOREX and cryptocurrency before now. Well, it’s one of the lucrative business ideas you can venture into.

NOTE that FOREX and Crypto trading is very risky, you can loose lot of money and on the other hand, earn lot of profit if your analysis is correct.

I will never advise you to venture into FOREX trading as a beginner, you need to learn the nitty-gritty of how it works and how to trade it.

In the meanwhile, you can invest and make money  in cryptocurrency without trading it. Yes, it is possible. If you will like to know how, check this blog post on 8 ways to make money with cryptocurrency.

Again, don’t put your money in FOREX now until you know how it works!

Conclusion: Best Business Ideas for Students in Nigeria?

That wraps it for us on this post. You’ve seen some of the easy but profitable business ideas for students in Nigeria that can fetch you some bucks. 

But I’ll also like to hear from you if you are or were a student. What are you currently doing to make money? And if you’re no longer a student, what idea(s) did fetch you some money in your school days? Hit me up in the comments.

Kindly follow this blog on Facebook and Twitter.

8 Legit Ways to Make Money with Bitcoin (Cryptos) – No 2 is the Easiest!

I understand why you are trying to make money with bitcoin; you’re either tired of that job, that vocational skill that’s not giving you enough, you’re a student and you’re trying to start taking your own responsibilities or, you are just looking for a reliable side-hustle.

That’s quite good, I hate comfort zones too.

But you need to be very careful because you can easily be scammed due to your lack or inadequacy of knowledge about making money with cryptocurrencies.

Right in this blog post, I will highlight a few ways you can definitely make money with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. And I will also show you a few ways you can spot a scammer who’s trying to turn you into a prey.

Before we go into the pool, do you know what bitcoin or cryptocurrencies are?

Oh well, for the sake of those who need a brief introduction, let me say one or two things about cryptocurrency so that you’ll understand basically how it works.

What is Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency?

A cryptocurrency is simply a “digital money”.

Too quick right? Okay, let me explain further;

A cryptocurrency (“Crypto + Currency”) is a means of exchange or currency that makes use of digital files as “money”. These digital files are so secure because they’re created using a method known as “cryptography” and are decentralized.

Let’s me make it clearer;

Cryptography is the science of hiding information, meaning that you can visibly see the currency (just like the Paper notes or coins) but you can know how much of a cryptocurrency you have, you can send, receive and trade it.

“Decentralized” simply means it is under nobody’s control. 

This is the most interesting part of cryptocurrencies. Unlike the US Dollar, Japanese Yen, Nigeria Naira and other currencies that are being controlled by the government, nobody is controlling bitcoin or cryptocurrency!

What is bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency created in 2008 by someone or a group of people (anonymous) called Satoshi Nakamoto. 

Bitcoin is one of the cryptocurrencies we have, just like the US Dollar is one of the note currencies we spend in the world. Other cryptocurrency we have included Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), Monero (XMR) and so on.

Now that you know what bitcoin is, let’s talk about making money with it.

Kindly note that just like you can make money with bitcoin, you can also make money with Ethereum and other cryptos. 

Make Money with Cryptos: How to Make Money with Bitcoin

1. Trading

This is the fastest way to make money with Bitcoin and any other cryptocurrencies. 

Trading requires deep knowledge and insight about the crypto sphere. You need to learn how to do your Technical analysis, Fundamental analysis and sometimes, Sentimental analysis.

If Cryptocurrency trading is easy, everyone would have become a billionaire by now.

You need to invest in learning ‘how to trade crypto’ by paying a mentor who’s a lion in the space.

Note that Trading is risky, you can make a lot of money if your analysis is correct while reverse is the case if your analysis didn’t tally with the market.

So, you can learn how to trade, if you can afford the mentorship fee.

The mentorship fee varies from $200 (N100,000) upwards depending on the mentor’s package.

2. HODLing

You are wondering, what is the meaning of “HODLing”, isn’t it?

Well, HODL simply means “Hold”. 

HODL is a term used in cryptocurrency which means to hold a particular coin for a while, with the expectation that the coin will gain more value in the future.

A good example is when they told you to HODL Bitcoin.

One (1) Bitcoin was around $5,000 a year ago. Hadn’t you bought a fraction of Bitcoin that was worth $1,000 and HODL till now, you will be in massive profit.

Because bitcoin is now $60,000 (as at the time of writing this) – that’s 6 times increase… you will have more than $6,000 now.

HODLing is a safer way to make money with bitcoin and other cryptos. It’s just like saving money and you have nothing to lose.

HODLing is slow compared to Trading.

But I personally prefer to be on the safer side.

You can get crypto wallets to start your savings today. Below are the list of apps to help you get started;

Top Wallets to HODL (Save) Cryptocurrencies

  • 1. Binance
  • 2. OkeX
  • 3. Luno
  • 4. Buycoins (for Nigeria)
  • 5. Trustwallet

HODLing to make money with bitcoin doesn’t require a special skill. All you need to learn is how to create your account and verify it and finally, how to buy the cryptocurrencies.

3. Staking

Staking is a way to make money with cryptos.

Generally, staking is like a “BONUS” but more massive than a mere bonus you may be thinking of.

If you’re holding a particular coin, let’s say Ethereum…

You will have to just keep the Ethereum there and wait till the price pump (increases). But as a sharp guy, you are supposed to make money with Ethereum instead of waiting for the pump season.

That’s where “staking” comes in.

You can stake Ethereum to earn another coin for FREE.

I sometimes staked ETH and earned COMP for free. Later, the price of ETH and COMP pumped at the same time, that’s profit for me.

For instance, let’s say I staked $50 Ethereum to earn COMP.

After a month, I have earned a free 0.004 COMP… 

The COMP that I earned is FREE, and I will make money if I sell it. Note that my ETH is still there and its price is increasing as the market is pumping.

In essence, Staking is a 2-in-1 way to make money with cryptos. 

You can check on the likes of Okex, Binance and the BSC platforms for coin staking.

4. Receive Payment with Cryptos

A good but not common way to make money with Bitcoin.

If you’re a freelancer, you can simply ask your client to pay you in Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrencies. I prefer this option as a method of receiving payments from abroad as it is faster and safer.

If you worked for someone and the agreed price is $100, if you receive the money in fiat (paper currency), you can never have the same $100 in your Bank account. Why?

If you receive the money through PayPal, you’ll be charged by PayPal if you are withdrawing directly. And if you are exchanging the funds, you will lose some money due to the exchange rate and the exchanger’s commission on the transaction.

Same thing applies to receiving the money through a freelancing website, most of them charge 20% fee. That’s $80 left and the payment processor will still take theirs.

But if you receive the $100 through Bitcoin, Ethereum, you will have more than that $100 in a few days, if you can HODL and even proceed to STAKE it.

5. Become an Exchanger

There’s money in this business, but you need to have money to make the money.

Confused?

Some people want to SELL Bitcoin while some others want to BUY. What if you cover the distance between these BUYERS and SELLERS?

You buy from the SELLER at a particular price and SELL to the BUYER at a higher rate.

Let’s say you bought Bitcoin at the rate of P500 per USD, you can sell to the person that wants to buy Bitcoin from you at the rate of P540 per USD… Meaning, you will make P40 on every dollar transacted.

NOTE: P is your local currency such as Naira, Rupees, Cedis etc.

Let’s say you bought $100 worth of Bitcoin at P500, that’s P50,000 spent, right?

If another person comes to you to buy $100 worth of Bitcoin, and you sell at P540 per USD, that’s P54,000 – meaning you’ve just made P4,000 profits.

That’s just a peak of how a (local) exchanger like this TrueXgold.com makes money with Bitcoin and other cryptos.

Do you know that you can HODL and STAKE in the process (before someone shows interest in buying from you)…?

I once sold $60 worth of ETH because I needed money urgently. 

Do you believe that ETH pumped massively the second day? Hadn’t been I haven’t sold the ETH, I would have made more than $100 (about $40 profit).

Well, the exchanger got the profit.

Another great way to make money with Bitcoin as an exchanger;

If you have some money to invest, you can hire developers to develop an exchange platform like Binance, Hotbit, Buycoins etc., for you.

But it requires a lot of processes and money to be spent on the development and marketing team.

You should have a minimum of $30,000 for this project.

You can try the local exchanging business and see how it works.

6. Crypto Faucets

Without much ado, Crypto faucets let you earn FREE coins or tokens by completing a given task.

Sometimes, it can be to play games online and earn very small tokens as reward.

A good example of websites that offer this type of rewards is Freebitco.in where you will be given free satoshis (small amount of bitcoin).’

You can also get Brave browsers and engage in some of the opportunities that pop to you.

Do more research on this, there are many apps and websites that reward free tokens by completing simple tasks.

7. Crypto Mining Pool

Just like hidden treasures like Gold and Silver are mined, cryptocurrencies can also be mined but not with the spade or digger. You need strong machines and hardware to mine cryptocurrencies

Another best way to make money with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is to mine them.

Setting up this machine is a bit technical and expensive.

But, you can also find some platforms (websites or platforms) where you can mine cryptos or tokens for free without setting up any machine. 

An example is Stormgain, where you can start mining bitcoin with a small fee.

Do your research on this too.

8. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing needs no introduction, but if you don’t know anything about it, kindly read this post on what’s affiliate marketing and how to be successful at it.

The easiest way to make money with Bitcoin and other crypto is affiliate marketing.

You don’t need to spend anything than recommending a platform to someone through your unique affiliate link and you earn commission if the person takes action.

Almost all crypto exchange platforms have this feature.

For instance, Okex will give you $30 if you invite your friend to BUY cryptocurrency on the platform. Binance, Hotbit, Bundle Africa, Luno and others have theirs.

Imagine you referred 20 people to BUY their cryptos on OKEX with your affiliate link, and 5 people actually take action, that’s $30 x 5 = $150 for you.

Affiliate marketing in crypto is a side hustle though.

BONUS: 

You can also try Airdrops.

I don’t really want to talk about this because most of them are FAKE and others are pure scam. But nevertheless, some people who’re lucky enough, still make money with Airdrops.

So, DYOR (Do Your Own Research) on Airdrops and how to make money with it.

CONCLUSION: What’s the best way to make money with bitcoin (cryptos) in 2021?

I have highlighted 8 ways you can make money with cryptocurrencies and this applies to anybody irrespective of your location, either Nigeria, USA, India or Italy.

But try as much as possible to avoid being scammed.

If you don’t know something, Google is your friend, read and consume a lot of information online and if you have the money, get a mentor.

Kindly note that FOREX including Cryptocurrency trading or engaging in it is risky, so don’t borrow money to invest and don’t invest more than you can afford to lose.

Those are the ways to make money with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

If you found this content helpful, kindly subscribe to my newsletter and share with your friends by clicking on the floating social media icons. 

Don’t forget to follow this blog on Facebook and Twitter to receive updates of the future blog blogs. STAY SAFE.

How to Start a Drop Servicing Business: Make Money Online Without any Skill

Have you ever heard about Drop Service or Drop Servicing Business?

It’s one of the hottest business to make money online these days, even without any special skill than what you already know. It somehow works like a referral or affiliate marketing business but kind of different.

In this blog post, I will show you the nitty-gritty of what you need to know about running a profitable drop servicing business in Nigeria or anywhere in the world.

But before we get into it, let’s me introduce you to the business.

What is Drop Service?

This is the act of getting a service offer or job, and you hire someone to do it while you earn your own profit or commission.

Simply as that!

Let’s say you get a job to design a flier or banner (that cost $50), and you don’t know how to design anything, you can simply look for a graphics designer to do and you pay him or her about $30.

Then you get the final project from the graphics designer and deliver to the client.

You’ve just made $20… congratulations!

That’s just the simple concept of drop servicing business.

How Does Drop Servicing Business Works?

As explained above, drop servicing is simply by bridging the gap between the client and the freelancer who will do the job.

Note: You don’t connect, but you bridge or cover the gap between them.

The client believe you know how to do the job, he gave you the task, then you turn yourself to project manager and you get someone to do and finish up the task.

If you are familiar with drop shipping, you will notice that they’re of the similar but not the same concept.

Let’s talk about it.

Drop Servicing Vs. Drop Shipping: The Difference

Drop servicing business work more like Drop Shipping.

The difference between them is that Drop servicing deal with “SERVICES” and Drop shipping deal with “PRODUCTS”.

PRODUCTS involves physical shipping etc., but SERVICE doesn’t require that.

Although, you can do the same business digitally (on the internet).

But Drop shipping is not as fast as Drop Servicing when it comes to its versatilities. Why?

Because drop servicing business deals with hot services that business owners need to push their business forward. While in drop shipping, people might not necessary be interested in the products.

RECOMMENDED: How to Start a Profitable Dropshipping Business

Now that we are understanding, let’s talk about top services you can sell in drop servicing, then we will talk about how you can start a profitable drop servicing business wherever you are.

Hot Services to Sell or Render in Drop Servicing Business

  • Web Design and Development
  • UI/UX Design
  • Graphics Design
  • SEO Management
  • Content Writing
  • Copy Writing
  • Social Media Management
  • Virtual Assistance

And so on.

You may like to check these 18 hot digital skills to be familiar with these services.

The question you may want to ask is;

Is Drop Servicing a lucrative business?

YES! Drop service or drop servicing business is a very lucrative business.

I would have said it’s a lazy way to make money online without any skill, but not really because you’re still going to do the job in getting clients who need the service.

The best thing about this business is that, you can run it on your smartphone even if you don’t have a laptop and it is 100% online. So you don’t need to quite your job or drop out of school (happy?).

Personally, I’ve done this business before and it really paid off.

Although, I have the skillset to get some projects done, but there are things I don’t know but that will never stop me from taking the job from a client.

For Instance, I’m a web developer.

If a client said he need a website, I can handle that but If he says he need a logo for the website, I will still take the job though I’m not a graphics designer.

But I will outsource the job somewhere and ensure I make my profit from it.

You as a person, you can do the same…

You don’t necessarily need to know much about the service, just get someone who can do it.

I know people who make millions from this simple drop servicing business model and yours will not be strange or difficult.

Someone asked a question about this business, he said;

Is Drop Servicing Business Legal?

What do you think?

Drop Servicing business is 100% legal. In fact, it’s going to become a big industry very soon.

It’s a skill on its own, because hiring a talent to handle a project is not easy at all, but for you to get a job from a client, and get it delivered to him, there’s nothing wrong in that.

All you need to do is to be honest, don’t be greedy.

Now, let’s talk about starting, shall we?

How to Start a Profitable Drop Servicing Business

·       Choose a niche

I’m not going to talk too much on this.

Choosing a niche is the first thing you need to do before you can delve into drop servicing business.

What is a niche?

Simply put, a niche is an area you want to focus on. Or a place you can be found anytime, any day.

In this case, a niche is a SERVICE you want to specialize on.

A SERVICE. Remember you’re just starting out, so I will recommend you choose a service that is hot in demand as your niche for now.

It can be web design, product design, graphics design, content writing or whatever service you know that people need the most. Please do your research on this.

Note again, you don’t necessarily need to know anything about the service for now, just ensure it is hot!

·       Do your research on the niche

Okay, you’ve chose a niche, right?

The next thing is to sharpen your cutlass a little bit.

Let’s say you chose “Web Design” as a preferred service you want to render, you need to take a book and go to Google.com to do some research on “How to get web design job”.

Although the results might be a little bit tense or technical but don’t worry, you just need the theory, someone will do the actual job.

The reason for the research is to be aware of possible questions clients may ask from you.

Let me give you a clear template of the research you need to do;

  1. What are the requirements to do this (website, logo etc.)?
  2. How many days will it take me to do this…?
  3. What’s the minimum cost of completing this project?
  4. Do the requirements involve payment? If yes, how much?

Those are the basic thing you need to research on.

Let me take web design again.

Web design will require something that you must buy before you can build any website. This includes the hosting, domain, theme and logo.

Just do you research to know how much those thing cost, because this will help you to charge your client wisely.

In case you don’t really get it, the next point will help you.

·       Look for talents

This is the most crucial part of drop service and you need to be careful and smart at this, if you really want to launch a profitable drop servicing business.

Go online and look for those who are selling that service and make friend with them.

Maybe you want to be rendering Graphics design as a drop service, look for graphics designers.

Talk to them, ask them about the charges to make different designs and note them down.

If they tell you they charge N50,000 for a logo, note it down and you can tell your client that you charge N70,000 for a logo.

You’ll negotiate for sure and maybe agreed of N65,000.

You can now go back and hire that graphics designer, pay him N50k and you hold the N15k profit.

I was just using that as an example though.

What I’m saying is that you should make sure you have those skilled people who will handle the job at hard.

Even if a client asks you a difficult question, just copy the question and ask the talents.

So, look for talents either on social media or anywhere you can find them.

Note: Tell them you’re going to be giving them projects, so they should give you discount.

Important Information: You can refer any client that needs website to me and I will give you 10% of what the client pays. If this is a nice deal for you, here is where to contact me.

·       Join freelance websites

This will ultimately serve two purposes; to get jobs and hire talents.

There are tons of freelancing websites outside there to help you make your drop servicing business a success. I will not write too much on this as I have few blog posts on this topic.

Check here for the top 10 freelance websites to get jobs and hire talents.

Create your profile on these freelance websites and whenever you get a job, quickly check on another person on the same website or another one just to do the job.

Ensure you bargain the price with them.

For instance, it is possible to get a project for N150,000 and get someone to do it for N50,000.

I’ve seen someone who get a job for N2.5m and get it done with just N100,000.

So, it depends on how smart you are.

You may want to know the best freelance website, right? Well currently we have Upwork and Fiverr at the top, but Fiverr is the easiest to get approved.

Check the blog post on how to start your freelance career on Fiverr.

·       Start Acting It

You need to start acting according to your new business now.

Update your Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media platform. Tell people that you can help them get their website, or graphics design do.

Tell your friends to recommend you to those who need related service you’re drop servicing. But you don’t necessarily need to tell them you are into drop servicing business.

Do banners on Canva.com to advertise your new business.

·       Learn negotiation skill

In everything you’re doing in life, negotiation is important.

If you’re trying to ask a lady out and you’re serious about it, you need to convince here why she should accept your offer.

Same thing applies to businesses.

Remember that you’re still new in this drop servicing business, you don’t know how much this or that cost. That’s the reason I said you should do your research before fully delving into this.

And you need to send counter-offer to your clients.

What do I mean?

If you’re sure that $50 will complete the task the client gave to you, and the client said he will pay $70, you will make $20 profit, right?

Well, that’s cool.

But there’s a rule in business that you should never accept the first offer. Negotiate!

Tell the client to pay $100 and you will get the job done, and gladly the client might agree to pay $80.

Also, if the normal price to get the job done is $50, tell the person you want to hire to $40 from you and negotiate till he/she give you discount.

If you’re good at negotiation, you will make lot of money from drop service business.

·       Step up your game: Learn the skills

By now, you have known how to get projects and outsource it somewhere else.

And probably, the coming is coming is coming like “breeze” now. The next thing to do is to expand and grow.

If you’re been drop servicing web design and it really pay, why not learn how to design website and get the full payment instead of paying someone almost 70% of the money?

That is a great idea, don’t you think so?

Aside from learning the skill you’ve been drop servicing, you can learn the basics of other services too.

Maybe you’ve been doing web design, you can add graphics design to it and so on.

In everything you’re doing, look for a way to step up your game!

The next point will add some salt to this.

·       Start your own agency

What are you waiting for?

Start your full-fledge agency or company since you’ve known how the business work and you’ve built your reputation online or on the freelancing websites, you should expect more jobs.

As more jobs flow in, you will not be able to handle everything, so you need some people to help you.

And these people are no longer the talents you pay per project, but talents that collects salary or wage.

Let say you have five (5) people working for you in your agency, what you will be paying them per month will still at profit to you compare to those you previously pay per project.

You will although need to do more research on starting a consulting agency.

But note that you must been making money off that service you want to be selling before you transit to an agency owner.

Since you’re now serious with this, ensure you register business in your country. If you’re in Nigeria, you can register your business with Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.

Starting an agency will really expand your business and open many doors to you. For instance, business owners in your area, city or country will trust to give their project to you.

You can check out the top 10 digital agencies in your country to see if they’re really doing well ?

·       Don’t forget branding and marketing

You need to get people’s attention to be successful in consulting or drop servicing business.

And the best approach to this, is in two phases;

Branding and marketing.

Branding simply mean to great good online presence for your business. And this starts from your logo, website, social media handles and the type of contents you share.

Your branding needs to be unique, in the sense that when someone see it for the first time, it will create a patronizing impression on your business.

Branding is very important but often take for granted by some startups. So, go and do your research on creating the best brand identity for your business.

The next one is marketing.

Marketing will help drive sales and from that is where you can make money.

Learn how to run Facebook and Instagram ads. Then be relevant on other social media platforms.

Make money and invest on other business, maybe one day your name will enter Forbes list of rich men. Who knows?

That’s it – How to Start Drop Servicing Business and Make Money Online

If you’re reading this, you have read over 2,300 words which most people would have bounced off even before they get to 1,500 words.

I’m telling you this to remind you of your patience and tolerance.

Now, it’s time to take action.

Start today, start with your WhatsApp, Facebook account, Twitter etc.

Tell people you can help them get their website done. Start your drop servicing business with that smart phone.

Don’t forget that you just need to look for clients either on social media or freelance website and hire talents to get it done for you. And also, do your research on a niche before you delve into it.

If this is really helpful, kindly subscribe to my newsletter and subscribe to the blog’s feeds by clicking on the red bell at the bottom right-hand side of this page.

Kindly share this post with someone by clicking on the floating social media buttons below. Also, follow this blog on Twitter and Facebook to get the update fresh as it is.

Go and start the drop servicing business now and come back for your testimony.

How to Upload Your Song to Spotify in Nigeria – 2 Easy Ways!

Have you ever want to upload your song to Spotify in Nigeria, you’ve been looking for a sure plug to help distribute your music to digital music platforms like Spotify in Nigeria?

If that’s why you’re here, worry no more!

As an upcoming artist, one of your greatest goal is to make money from your music, right? But like I used to say, selecting the 20-in-1 DJ mix at the rate of N150 is not where the today’s superstars like Wizkid are making money.

They have streams of income which includes the royalty from streaming platforms like Spotify, iTunes etc.

But to be honest with you, it’s quite tedious (but not impossible) to get your songs on these platforms not to talk of earning any royalty.

So in this blog post, I will talk about the ways you can get your song on Spotify in Nigeria.

Quick intro to Spotify;

What is Spotify?

Spotify is a Swedish audio streaming platform and media services provider,  founded by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentz in the year 2006.

Spotify in Nigeria

Spotify was not available in Nigeria until 23rd of February, 2021.

Earlier before Spotify is made available in Nigeria, Nigerians stream their favorite’s songs on the likes of Apple Music, YouTube Music etc.

But why was Spotify not available in Nigeria until 2021?

The reason is not known, but a typical and smart Nigerian can simply discern the reason behind that.

It’s not because of economic, Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa but Spotify is available in other African countries except Nigeria until 2021.

Remember that Stripe (the present owner of the Nigeria’s paystack) is not available for Nigerians, and also PayPal, Facebook monetization etc., are not totally available in Nigeria.

But thanks to our amiable content creators and artists who are projecting our image to the World, Spotify is now available legally in Nigeria.

The question we have been asking is “How can you get your song on Spotify in Nigeria?”, that’s where I’m going to now.

But before then, I want you to believe whatever you read here and don’t fall for cheap scammers who are claiming to be “a good plug” for Spotify music distribution in Nigeria.

How to Upload Your Song to Spotify in Nigeria

There are two ways to get your songs on Spotify, as a signed artist or an Independent artist.

Let talk about these two;

  1. An Independent or Unsigned Artist

If you’re an independent or “unsigned” artist and you’ve been trying real hard to get your songs on Spotify in Nigeria, let me tell you this;

You cannot upload your own song to Spotify just like you are doing on AudioMack and other free music streaming platforms.

The only way to get your song on Spotify as an Independent or Unsigned artist is to get hire the service of a “licensed music distributor”.

Who is a music distributor?

A music distributor in this context is a company or an agency that has been licensed or authorized to publish contents on these Streaming platform including Spotify.

This will require you to pay a certain amount of money, because they’re working on your behalf with Spotify and the best part is that Spotify recognizes them.

So, if a cheap scammer has been sending you ridiculous offer to get your songs on Spotify, ask for his or her proof of being licensed first before you do giveaway for him (well, they’re usually “Him”).

The question you may want to ask is;

How can I get honest and Licensed Music Distributor in Nigeria?

The best way is to do your own research or ask people to refer a good music distributor for you.

Note that I asked you to request for proof that the person, company or the agency is licensed.

You can ask your friends who have gotten their songs on Spotify already. Never ask someone doesn’t have song on these streaming platforms.

To help you a little bit, below are few of them;

Uploading Song to Spotify: Top 5 Digital Music Distributor in Nigeria

Kindly note that I’m not standing for them or using my platform to promote them, I got them from my research on search engine, you can confirm them and also find more by doing your own research.

Friendly Reminder: I’m (or my agency) is not a licensed music distributor. So I can’t help you publish or upload your song to Spotify in Nigeria or anywhere. I have been receiving a lot of offer like this, but please I can’t do it.

What I can only do is Music promotion, you can contact me for this.

So, that is the only way you can get your song on Spotify in Nigeria as an independent or unsigned artist.

But hehehehe…..

There’s another way.

Oh, you’re curious to know right?

Well, that way is to get signed to a record label which I’m going to explain right now!

  1. Signed Artist

I don’t need to explain but let me just give an intro.’

If you’re signed to a recognized record label, then you don’t have to bother about having your songs on Spotify in Nigeria.

The record label will simply take care of it on your behalf.

Happy?

Ok. Also note that you don’t have direct connection with Spotify either your song is there through a distributor or your record label.

No no no… that doesn’t mean your craft, songs are not recognized by Spotify.

It’s just that your distributor or record label will be acting as bridge that cover the distance between you and the online streaming platform.

Your record label (according to your agreement) will pay you royalty but with distributor, you can have full control over your earnings.

See, don’t let this last part start beating in your mind.

I mean, don’t let the word “earning” burst your head. You’re an upcoming artist, work on getting your sound heard first.

Start promoting your songs now, who know maybe a record label owner might love your craft and sign you (I’m not assuring you of this), but the keywords I’m emphasizing on is “promote your songs”.

In case you need a plug for music promotion in Nigeria, you can contact me and I will get involved. But kindly note that my service fee starts from N50,000.

If you’re ready, click here to contact me.

The last part;

How to Make Money on Spotify in Nigeria

There are two clear way to make money on Spotify in Nigeria, or anywhere in the world. They are:

  • Get your songs on Spotify
  • Promote Your songs to gain more streams

The first part “getting your songs on Spotify in Nigeria” is what this page is all about. If you want to learn about the second way, check this blog post on how to promote your songs in Nigeria.

How Is Money Made on Spotify?

I know you have such an inquisitive nature (just like me *winks*), and I’m going to give you chill water to quench that thirst.

Before people can stream any song on Spotify, they would have register and subscribe to a plan.

Let’s say about N900 per month.

That money will be paid to Spotify. 

And remember that Spotify is not the owner of the songs, so they will have compensate the singers who did a great job.

But Spotify will not just say,

okay, we made $1b subscription this month and we have 50,000 singers, let share $800m between them and each singer will have $16,000 each…”

It’s not going to work like that… There’s nothing like equality in this world.

The world entirely live by “what you sow is what you’ll reap”.

So in essence, the more people stream your song on Spotify, the more you will be paid.

As an upcoming artist, if you hustled your way to get your song on Spotify, don’t think you’ve made it in life.

That’s why I said you should build your fan base first, let people know you – promote your songs!

Let assume that you have 500 loyal fans and 100 out of them pre-order your song on Spotify at the rate of N500 or $1 each. And you’re paid 70 cents ($0.70), that’s $0.70 x 100 = $70 for you.

That sounds like a good start.

What if you have 1 million people did the same, that’s $70,000.

Oh my God, superstars are really making money from their songs. That’s why they keep shouting “stream our new song” or “pre-order here”.

Well, you are just a step closer.

Kindly note that these figures are not real, I’m just using them as example to explain how money is made on Spotify.

But to be honest, money are made on these streaming platforms that offers premium plans.

Conclusion: How to Upload Your Song to Spotify in Nigeria

Remember that there are only two ways to get your music on Spotify, it’s either you:

  • – Get signed to a record label and your label will sort it out for you or,
  • – Hire the service of a digital music distribution agency.

Below are frequently asked questions regarding pushing music on Spotify.

  1. How much will I pay to upload my song to Spotify in Nigeria?

Answer: Uploading music on Spotify is absolutely FREE regardless of how many songs you’re uploading. But note that If you’re using a distributor, they may ask you to pay for their service and I hope that’s understandable.

  1. How does Spotify’s royalty work?

Answer: You will be paid per stream and that is $4 per 1,000 streams.

That’s it for now.

If this is helpful, then check this:

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Start a Business at Home: 7 Practical Business Ideas in 2021

CoronaVirus has changed the world forever! And the need to start a business at home is increasing daily.

With the world’s economy deteriorating by the day, and the unemployment rate is not getting lower anytime soon. A lot of us find ourselves struggling to get the bills paid due to insufficient funds. 

But what if there is a way out? What if I show you how you can start making some money from your home right now? 

We all like money no matter how small, or don’t we? We get this rush of dopamine each we receive an alert.  Without further ado, let’s get our hands working.

NOTE: These Businesses are either online or offline, so you can start with whichever is most convenient for you.

5 Business Ideas You Can Start at Home

1. Affiliate Marketing

In case you don’t know what affiliate marketing is, it’s one of the top 1% online businesses in the world. Affiliate marketing as a business has breed and currently breeding a lot of millionaires.

And you know what? It’s free to start.

All you need is your regular computer gadget (laptop or smartphone) and the internet connection.

What is affiliate marketing?

Simply put, it’s simply by referring people to use/buy/patronize a service or product and you earn a referral bonus in the process.

Confused? Okay, let me use a clear example.

AMAZON is a big e-commerce company, and they need to extend service across the world but they don’t want to start spending money on building offices in each country, so they use what we called “Affiliate marketing”.

Now the role of an affiliate marketer (YOU) is to be recommending AMAZON products to people (your friends, family and anybody) through your unique “Referral link”.

Once someone purchases anything through your link, AMAZON will pay you a commission to thank you for bringing a customer to them.

Let’s say the commission is 20% (varies) on a $200 product. That means you will be earning $40 on each sale.

Imagine 10 people buy a product through your link in a month, that’s whooping $400.

If you need a business to start at home, affiliate marketing should come handy.

But wait, It’s true to make money through affiliate marketer and you don’t need to register with money or tender your degree, but you need to master how it works thoroughly.

I have some blog posts to help you become a successful affiliate marketer even if you’re a beginner.

Now, let’s go to the next one.

2. Making Chops

This is the most underrated business to start at home in Nigeria.

Regardless of your view about chops business, I want to tell you that there’s money in this business. I’m sure of this, because I sold these chops when I was a kid. I remember how much I make per day and the profit made per day.

For instance, we can buy Flour: N1,000 – Yeast & Baking powder: N300 – Vegetable oil: N1,200 – Sugar: N500 and Nylon or Paper: N300.

That is approximately N2,500.

If you make BUNS and Puff-puff with flour worth N1,000 and you sell everything, you will be making about N10,000 per day. If you deduct the expenses, that’s N7,500 as profit.

Then let say you’re making at least N4,000 as profit consistently each day, that’s N120,000 per month. That’s 4 months of Nigerian average wage!

Wait, this is not flattering. I’m telling you that this is a real business you can start at home in Nigeria. But because of “what people will say”, it’s underrated and most people think it’s a business for the poor.

But ask me, why is this chops making business that lucrative?

Well, we all want to satisfy our cravings for food. It’s basically one of life’s necessities aside from oxygen. And you know what, the stomach rarely gets tired of taking food in. We all eat for many reasons. One of which is to survive – which is the most important. Also, to give us the energy we need to carry out daily tasks.

As an entrepreneur in the making, the surefire way to make money is by solving problems. Now we’ve identified an everlasting problem because it’s pretty obvious that as long as humans exist, they’ll have to take some form of food.

This makes chops making a very viable business idea. A business that isn’t capital intensive. And a business that doesn’t go out of fashion. 

The good part? 

Chops making business is multifaceted. You can start at home with small chops and snacks, drinks and beverages, or you could make it a full-fledged dish, or have a combo or all. It all depends on the capital you’ve got and what you feel is more viable in your vicinity.

In case you have some money as a capital to start a business, you can think of starting your own restaurant business. But how again(?)?

I got you ?

Read this: How to Start a Restaurant Business in Nigeria.

But hey, before starting this biz, it’s pertinent you know how to cook. If you’ve not yet attained that much-desired chef title, you can check out YouTube for some recipes. 

3. Laundry and Dry Cleaning

Laundry and dry cleaning is another wonderful business you can start at home. With the whole hustle and bustle, the whole industrial lifestyle, and the 9 – 5ers not getting enough time for themselves, someone has to take care of their laundry needs.

Having this in mind, you can start up this business right from home and start getting some residual income. Heck, some people have made a good amount of money and changed their lives for the better from the laundry business.

Thing is, you don’t need much to start up this business. Just a functioning pressing iron, some items like buckets for washing, a good source of water supply, and if possible, a good washing machine. You can start by getting clothes from those around you.

But before you go on to start taking orders, be sure you’ve learnt how to wash and iron. No, I’m not saying you don’t know how to do these things. But certain fabrics require some set of skills to remove those stains. 

A good example will be dress suits. You don’t handle the washing and ironing the way you’ll do to a dress shirt.

So it’s important to arm yourself with these skills before getting started. You don’t want to ruin someone’s expensive clothing, and in the process lose a potentially valuable customer. 

You don’t know how to start?

I have that covered already. 

4. Beauty, Cosmetics or Make-up Business

You can start this business in two parts: Either you sell make-up products or you render it as service.

Okay, let’s talk about its viability.

Despite the hustle and bustle and all the work that makes it seem as though people don’t have time for themselves, we still find a way to look good, smell good, and feel good. 

People will always find a way to look their best self either for work, school, or any special occasion. We all do this.

Now, here’s where you come in. 

There are lots of cosmetic items to get to make money from, and it applies to both genders, young or old. And that’s the sweet thing about cosmetics – people just want to appear physically better. 

So, what are the best cosmetic items you should be focusing on? We’ve got perfumes, they come in different types: oil perfumes, deodorant, body spray, and roll-on. We’ve also got soaps, make-up kits, body creams and lotions, moisturizers, and more.

Okay, you might be thinking? But this is going to be capital intensive. Nope, absolutely not. It all depends on how you get started. 

As a pro tip – even though this isn’t my field of expertise – it’s much better if you start up with one cosmetic product. 

Tunnel vision is important especially if you’re just starting a new business. Get a product, focus on that product entirely, get better at it, and then expand when you’ve made some headway. 

It’s hard to keep up with many products when starting, and I’m sure as hell you don’t want that.

If you are good at doing make-up for people, start it professionally dear. Don’t think it doesn’t worth your time.

Another tip: you can join a legit network marketing company that manufactures beauty products such as ORIFLAME and you help them sell in order to make profit (Although you will need to sign up with a token)

In case you’re interested in that, check here for some of these network marketing companies.

5. Fashion Design (and Tailoring)

Okey-dokey! Still on the topic of looking good, this is another good business to start at home and money. Yes, you heard me right and I’m here to show you how (in case you don’t know). 

Personally, I hate to admit that “tailoring” is a profitable business these days because it’s like the privilege is misused. Lot of them, you can find 10 different tailor’s shops in a small street.

But what if you think of a modern way of fashion designing instead of those over-crowded traditional tailors?

Just like every other business idea listed above, there seems to be an unending need for clothes – from suits to cooperate wears and down to the cultural attires. We always need clothing and that puts you — yes you — in the picture.

Being able to fabricate good-looking fashion items will make you some money right now from home. If you’re not already proficient in this skill, then you may experience some difficulty convincing customers for the first time.

But as the saying goes: “there’s always a first time!” And this is when digital technology comes to the rescue. If you’ve not designed any fabric before, there are lots of places to acquire this skill. 

After grasping this, go ahead and start making clothes for yourself, take pictures of the clothing, and leave them on your timeline.

No one hates beauty, we are all attracted to beautiful items — even though beauty can be relative. With time, if your fabrics look amazing, you should start getting orders. Because, we all want to, and always try to look good.

The big deal, you can start a fashion blog.

You say what?

Yes, fashion blogging is hot cake these days and there are ways you can make money from. I don’t want to stress this further but below is a blog post to guide you through:

How to Start a Money-money Fashion Blogging Business

Let’s go to the next.

6. Dropshipping

Saving the best for the… Not really but dropshipping is a pretty sweet business model that could give you some extra money or a full income source. Dropshipping will require some technical abilities but I’ll try to simplify things for you. ?

Dropshipping is among the top 10 hottest online businesses you can start at home and make a lot of money.

So, in case you’ve not heard, dropshipping lets you own and run your online store right from the comfort of your home. You don’t need a physical store, or a warehouse, or inventory, it’s purely virtual. But you make real money, not virtual money.

For starters, you’ll be needing a laptop or a good smartphone. This means you’ll be needing a good and constant source of internet supply. 

Next, you’ll be needing a good web hosting provider since your store will be hosted online. Be sure to get a good-looking theme for your site, be it WordPress, WooCommerce, or Shopify.

Just like a conventional store, profits across various products vary. Some products tend to be more profitable than others and you’re in this to acquire as much profit as possible. 

Ooops! Starting a dropshipping business is not as easy as that, but as always, I GOT IT COVERED!

Check the blog post recommendations below;

7. Freelancing

This should have been number 1 on this list, but well, “we move” ?

Everybody is getting into freelancing these days because as I said earlier, CoronaVirus has changed the world and that makes business owners hire freelancers instead of risking the chance of contracting the virus.

Freelancing is a lucrative business to start at home and make millions in your local currency. I’m sure of this because I sometimes freelance when the chances open.

But you will need to have a skill you can render, either web design, graphic design etc.

If you have a skill, then you can join freelancing platforms like FIVERR, Upwork etc., and start working from home.

In case you don’t have any skill, check my recent blog posts on 18 digital skills you should learn in 2021 or watch the video below the conclusion.

ALSO, check on the following recommendations in order to become a successful freelancer.

CONCLUSION: Start a Business at Home Now, Don’t Be Idled!

In case you’re reading this, that means you have read or skimmed through over 2,000 words and that’s just amazing. It shows that you’re earnest in starting a business at home.

Okay, there you go!

These are some of the best businesses you can start from home in Nigeria. And kindly be aware that these business ideas are 100% practicable and you can make money from them.

I’ve personally engaged in some of them and I know some people who are doing some. SO, if there’s no potential in them, I wouldn’t dare to list them here.

To enjoy free contents like this, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter by putting your email address and name in the form you’ve been shown above or below this content. 

You can also click on the RED BELL at the bottom right corner in order to be notified anytime I publish a new blog post.

Let’s know which of them you’ll be trying out in the comments. For now, stay safe and don’t forget to share this blog post with someone.

THE VIDEO: 18 Skills You Should Learn in 2021

Start a Business at Home: 5 Practical Business Ideas appear on GbolaMedia first.

#FinTech: 10 Best Personal Finance Apps in Nigeria

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Just like in different parts of the world, personal finance apps in Nigeria are capable enough to keep track of your business’ monetary transactions while maximizing the potential of making incentives on the way.

In a country that’s slowly catching up with digital trends, the citizens, who in search of money, have resorted to less prominent ways of making money and transacting business. The ease of setting up and running a profitable business is beginning to get better.

To make it much better, smart Nigerians have invented much better ways of facilitating business, carrying out financial transactions, or online money-making by creating suitable platforms to enable better businesses and most importantly, a good financial life.

Enter Fintech apps in Nigeria!

Today, I’ll be sharing the best 10 personal finance apps in Nigeria to take your finances to the next level. I’ve made more money by utilizing these apps. The good part is that they’re all available on your favorite app store, whether Android or iOS.

Before we dive in, kindly note that this post and the contents therein is not financial advice. You’re solely responsible for transactions or investments carried out on any of the apps below.

While this post stands to inform you, I also advise you to carry out proper research before making any investment or carrying out any transactions.

Now that we understand each other, let’s explore the top Fintech or personal finance apps in the country.

Best Personal Finance Apps in Nigeria – (Fintech apps)

1. Piggyvest

One of the best personal finance apps in Nigeria, Piggyvest is all you need to take your saving to another level. So basically, Piggyvest is a high-interest saving account that gives you more incentives than what you get from your commercial banks.

Piggyvest comes with many savings packages with interest rates ranging from 7 – 13% per annum. The Safelock feature lets you lock out funds for a long time. A similar thing applies to the Target Savings feature where you can incentivize your savings plan by setting a target.

These are two of the best saving plans on the Piggyvest platform but there’s more to it. You also get an investment option right at the heart of the app. With Piggyvest, you just can’t go wrong. Plus it’s got one of the best-looking designs which makes it much better looking and fun.

The best part of this app is that, you’ll be rewarded N1,000 if you join now and start saving money.

…and If you invite 1 person to use the app just like you, you will be given another N1,000 as referral commission. If you invite like 10 people, how much will Piggyvest give you as reward? Do the math yourself.

Note that the main purpose of this fintech app is to help you save and invest wisely, the referral bonus should be taken as ‘bonus’.

Click here to start using Piggyvest now!

2. Barter (By Flutterwave)

We all know Flutterwave, at least you should if you’re conversant with online payments over the last couple of years. But this is Barter, a really useful app for carrying out payments.

Paying for online services has never been this easier. Barter breaks the barrier of the dollar spending limit on Naira’s debit card. Its flagship feature is the ability to create and use Virtual Cards (especially dollar cards).

With Barter, you can pay for your favorite online services like Spotify subscription, Apple Music, and a host of other services. It cost just $2 to create a fully-functional dollar card, while $4 will give you a working Gift Card. 

Do check out Barter as a host of other amazing features awaits you on the app.

3. Bundle

Though they’ve been other cryptocurrency service providers in Nigeria, in just a short period, Bundle has taken the crypto space by storm. 

This is one of the best personal finance or fintech apps in Nigeria that lets you buy and trade in your favorite digital currencies with ease.

With as little as N1,000 you can state making from some crypto money from Bundle. The charges, as compared to other providers, are relatively cheaper. Plus, you also get your favorite cryptos like BTC, BNB, ETH, Doge, TRX, and more.

Bundle also lets you save in your favorite stable coins and earn some cool interests. There are Fixed and Flexible saving options to also make money.

Bundle is still in its early days, but with many subtle improvements in recent times, we can only expect nothing but the best in the coming years.

Click here to Join Bundle for FREE!

4. Invest Bamboo

Up until recently, there’s been this belief that it’s practically difficult to invest in the stock market due to its accompanying complexities. Well, that’s in the past and left for historians to add that to their history books. 

With the Bamboo app, investing in the stock market (U.S. Stocks) has been made much easier.

Bamboo allows you to earn commissions by investing in some of the top U.S. firms like Apple, Tesla, Google, and more. 

The app also features a watchlist to keep track of your favorite stocks. In the same light, you also get the latest news, information, and educational materials on better ways to grow your stocks. It’s another nice app to add to streams of income.

5. BuyCoins Africa

With cryptocurrency going mainstream in Nigeria, more and more service providers are springing up to make digital currencies more accessible to Nigerians. And this is where BuyCoins comes in!

BuyCoins_Africa is a traditional cryptocurrency app that allows Nigerians to buy, hold, and sell their favorite cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, LTC, USDT, USDC and NGNT. 

A good thing about the Buycoin app is its ease-of-use. Even a newbie will go through the numerous functionalities available on the app. To get the full benefits of the Buycoin app, you’ll need to provide valid documents such as BVN for verification purposes.

The best thing about Buycoin is the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) trading!

While it’s quite difficult for some exchange and trading platforms to quickly adapt to the CBN bans on Cryptocurrency in Nigeria, Buycoins is among the top platform that has been supporting P2P trading in Nigeria.

Asides the P2P trading, you can also use Buycoins’ sister app, SendCash_Africa to receive payments, especially freelancers who offer services to non-Nigerians. Your location shouldn’t be a barrier. You can add crypto as an option for receiving payment.

6. Kuda Bank

Digital banking is slowly becoming a trend in the Nigerian financial system. And Kuda Bank is at the forefront of it all. 

Also known as the ‘Bank of the free‘, Kuda is changing the way we carry out banking activities and this is why it is first banking app to make the list of this best personal finance apps in Nigeria.

Unlike what we have with conventional commercial banks, Kuda Bank is free of SMS alert charges, card maintenance fees, and other fees that we usually pay on using these banking services. 

Kuda also offers advanced levels of security to safely use your account. And as an extra, freelancers can easily receive their Payoneer funds by linking to their Kuda account.

The best part?

You don’t need to visit a physical office to own an account, you even get a free debit card once you open an account.

use “XN566F1L” to Join & Click Here to Start Using Kuda Bank Now

7. VFD Microfinance Bank

Not entirely a virtual bank, but VFD Microfinance bank does provide services in tandem with digital banks. VFD is quite new but has gained traction in just a few years of launching, and was even endorsed by Don Jazzy. 

VFD Bank provides all the financial services you also get from other commercial banks. No arrant charges, all transactions are almost free except what is beyond VBank’s capability such as the cardless withdrawal services and cable payment.

But the good thing is: you cut your losses on flimsy charges which you get from these other banks. But there’s more. VFD Microfinance finance bank also gives you wonderful interest on your savings if you choose to. 

You also get access to various loans like employee, travel, secured, or unsecured loan, if you meet the requirements. The mobile app also lets you pay for bills, flights, TV subscriptions, and many more. It’s a complete banking package you can’t resist.

Use this code “N8AXD” to Join VFD (VBank) Today & Start Enjoying Good Banking Transactions!

8. Chipper Cash

Making cross-border payments hasn’t been this easy. With Chipper Cash you can easily chip your friends, relatives, and business partners across Africa. You earn commissions for carrying out transactions. 

You also get to pay bills without any charges. Plus you get to make transfers across different African countries including Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda for free. 

To earn more, you can join their referral program to earn commissions as friends join and use Chipper Cash via your link.

9. Trove

Trove is quite similar to the Bamboo app I shared above. Trove is much robust in the sense that it lets you invest in both U.S. and Nigerian stocks. The app interface is pretty neat and categorizes everything into the right sections for easy navigation.

Trove will give you tips, news, and more about the stock market. There’s also a section on the app where you get to see the trending stocks to invest in, plus the latest news on your favorite stock.

Trove makes it easy to trade stocks and also earn commissions in the process. 

10. Rubies Digital Bank

Rubies is a fully digital bank that lets you carry banking activities right from the comfort of your smartphone without having to visit a physical bank.

With Rubies, you can pay your bills, buy airtime, and pay for services on your phone. You can also create a savings plan to gain more interest on your savings.

One feature to watch out for is Rubies’ flat fee of N10 for all transfers, no matter what amount. If you are into the digital side of banking – which you should – then you should try out Rubies today.

Personal Finance Apps in Nigeria – Are they worth using?

If you choose to make some extra money, then you should check them out. But as you do, please carry out extra research before investing in any of the above platforms. Feel free to share other platforms you use for personal finance. 

Also, feel free to share your experience with any of the apps listed above if you’ve tried them. 

So, there you go – the top 10 personal finance apps in Nigeria.

5 Best Countries for Real Estate Investment in Africa

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Are you kind of interested in real estate investment in Africa but don’t know which countries are the best hotspot for such investment? 

That’s why you landed here, I guessed.

But before listing out the African countries that have the best potential for real estate investment, I want to tell you that you’re actually making one of the best investment decisions in your business.

Because Africa countries are fast developing, and very small numbers of investors pay close attention to this, most people only think Africa is just a black people continent that breeds “scammers” and “corruption”.

Well, that’s a story for another day, but let’s talk about real estate investment in Africa.

While there exist many forms of long-term and short-term investments, some investments prove to be more viable than others. Over the past couple of years, real estate has been one of the most viable investment options in Africa and the world at large.

And just like most businesses, location plays a pretty important role in the growth of the business or otherwise. Certain destinations prove more profitable than others.

Bearing this in mind, I’ve decided to show you the most profitable African countries for real estate investment. More specifically, the 5 best African countries for real estate investment.

If you’ve been considering investing in real estate, then pay close attention as you’ll be gaining some insights on where to spread your net to catch lots of fishes. That being said, I think it’s time we get to it.

5 Best Countries for Real Estate Investment in Africa

This list is going to be in descending order. Check below, the top 5 countries for real estate investment in Africa:

#5. Mauritius

Mauritius is a small island country with lots of investment potentials. It’s a country on the rise – with rapid growth over the last couple of years and more opportunities lie beneath the crust of this seemingly small, yet beautiful country. Its capital, Port Louis is home to many tourist attractions in Africa.

With a population of less than 2 million, a huge potential for foreign investment awaits. But that’s not all you get. Perhaps the best part of it all is its multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious support. Or better still, the nice views, high rise buildings, and great recreational spots that have made this one of best countries to invest in.

Mauritius was also listed among the top 20 countries for business according to the World Bank. With a chunk of its GDP coming from tourism, a lot of gems settle for foreign investments. Foreigners are free to build and own properties with some added incentives. So you’re not only profiting from your investments, you’re also qualifying for extra benefits.

Investors qualify for permanent residency among other perks that come with investing in the beautiful island. It’s a win-win situation for you if you’ll be putting your money into properties in the “Continent Island”.

#4. Kenya

You can call them the giants of East Africa, you won’t be making a mistake. But attaining such a title wasn’t a fluke. Currently, Kenya is the fastest-growing economy in the continent, and among the fastest-growing in the world. Kenya is also home to top tech companies like Google, Coca-Cola, and more in Africa.

This shows the huge investment opportunities that await you, especially when it comes to Real estate investment in Africa. 

In terms of technological advancement, Kenya seems to be making headway, leading the rest of the park. In years to come, we won’t be wrong to call Kenya the Tech Hub of Africa. It’s only a matter of time before it becomes a reality. 

Kenya is shaping up nicely to be the next big economy in Africa. As an investor, you can take advantage of these opportunities that rest ahead. With lots of startups getting a head start from here, it would be wise to invest in real estate and other properties at this early stage.

Asides from being a technological powerhouse, Kenya’s tourism industry is quite profitable. With lots of wonderful sites and ever-growing infrastructure, the opportunities are limitless. The economy is built to support young businesses, retailers, and investors in general. 

#3. Mozambique

Currently ranked as the second fastest-growing economy in Africa, Mozambique has seen great growth in the past few years. We can attribute this to favorable government policies, the presence of natural resources, and a growing population. The real estate industry is an untapped resource at the moment.

With the quick economic growth, Mozambique is open to all forms of investments especially in the area of properties and real estate. Mozambique is blessed with good infrastructure and lots of classy properties. Currently, these are enjoyed by the few industrial bodies, companies, and its small population.

That being said, the demand for these high-quality properties is expected to increase in the next couple of years. This is a huge indication for investors like you who are looking for the best countries for real estate investment in Africa. The quick-growing economy makes it even juicier. 

Mozambique’s growth in the oil and gas sector has seen an influx of foreign investors. The government also plans on expanding the industrial power of its economy. All these are good signals as to what to expect. Ideally, we should see the building of newer facilities, properties, and infrastructures in the nearest future. You don’t want to miss out on this.

#2. Ghana

Right in West Africa, Ghana isn’t your best bet for any form of entrepreneurial activity. But in terms of investments, it stands out to be one of the best in the continent. The real estate sector in Ghana is still in its early days with huge potentials ahead. Obviously, the best time to invest is now, even though the room for expansion and growth is still wide open.

Economically, Ghana has grown consistently in the last decade. And such a trend is expected to continue seeing that it has good government policies that drive the growth of its small and stable economy. The same can be said about Ghana’s political and bi-lateral sectors. As compared to other surrounding nations, Ghana seems to be more welcoming to investors.

And with fewer political and social conflicts, it makes it more viable to invest in.

Owning a property in Ghana as a foreigner is hassle-free. Its capital, Accra, still begs for affordable housing and business structures. The constant increase in rural-urban migration translates to numerous opportunities.

Fields like technology, telecoms, finance, and manufacturing seem to be making a parabolic move. With these sectors opening up, we expect lots of expatriates and investors who would be seeking accommodation in the urban areas of the country. 

#1. Nigeria

Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa and is also blessed with numerous natural resources such as Gold, Crude oil, coal etc. 

It is also the most populous black nation in the world, with a population count of over 200 million people. The investment opportunities in such a large economy are enormous. Though its economic power has trickled down in the last few years, the need for industrial, commercial, and residential property is still on the rise.

With an ever-increasing populace, and the government’s resolve to rejig (organize) the economy, lots of money-making opportunities lie in wait for real estate investors. This makes Nigeria the best ideal country for real estate investment in Africa. 

The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is a gold mine for properties as the area continues to grow in population.

RELATED: How to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent in Nigeria

Same can be said about Lagos which is home to major corporations, companies, and industries. And with startups willing to take their businesses to LAGOS, the “Center of Excellence”, the demand for housing is quite high. 

In fact, Lagos Nigeria is the biggest city for investments (including real estate) in Africa.

Other cities are shaping up nicely to get attention from foreign investors and the likes, and this is an opportunity to invest now in some properties in Nigeria.

Which Country is the Best for Real Estate Investment in Africa?

Aligned above are some of the best countries for real estate investment in Africa. And with real estate being one of the best forms of long-term investments currently, it’ll be wise to make the move now. 

Put your money where your mouth is: it could be the fastest growing economy of Kenya, the island nation of Mauritius, or even better, the biggest economy in Africa – Nigeria. 

But one thing is that, you definitely need to do your homework before you partner with any real estate firm in these countries. 

In our next blog post under this category, we will discuss the best few real estate firms in Nigeria and other countries to partner with, as a real estate investor.

Don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends by clicking on the floating social media icons, and kindly subscribe to this blog’s newsletter.

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Do you have any question(s) regarding this topic, kindly use the comment box below and we will do well to give you the best possible reply.

Bitcoin Trading in Nigeria: How to Get Started & Everything You Need to Know

Bitcoin trading in Nigeria is one of the passive ways to make money in the country and I’m sure you’re aware of that, but what you don’t know is how it really works. That’s what we are to discuss right now.

Based on the recent happenings in Nigeria and the world at large, I decided to cover one of the trending topics today – Bitcoin. This post will introduce you to the ever-growing world of Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and Blockchain technology.

This post isn’t just for newbies, but also for those with existing knowledge of how Bitcoin trading and cryptocurrencies work in Nigeria. 

Join me as we venture into this new world of digital money. But first, let’s start with how it all began.

Evolution of Money

Any agreed commodity we choose to give value that can be used for the purchase of goods and services is termed as money. It began with brick and stones, then barter where we exchanged goods for other goods – based on the assigned value. 

We then moved to gold where we assigned some sort of value to them. And then came metallic coins.

Notice a trend? The physical size of what we call ‘Money’ overtime has continued to reduce. This solves the problem of portability which is one of its features. Metallic coins were physically smaller, but when accumulated, it’s nearly impossible to carry around. This gave birth to paper currency as we know it today.

Paper currency did solve the issue of portability, at least to a reasonable extent. But it did come with its problems too. More significantly is the issue of inflation. Also, it is owned and controlled by a government that regulates and controls its distribution.

ALSO READ: How to Get Canada Visa and Permanently moved from Nigeria

Now they could print as many currencies as they want, then push it out into the economy. This in itself among other factors leads to inflation which devalues such currency over time.

So how do we solve this problem? Thanks to technology which has been about improving every aspect of our lives, we now have digital currencies. Digital currencies are set to change the way money works, and it’s just getting started.

Meaning of Cryptocurrencies?

Cryptocurrency, otherwise known as digital currencies are here to stay. And Bitcoin is one of its forerunners. Unlike conventional money, cryptos are decentralized i.e. they are not controlled by a central body e.g. CBN. This is one of its major advantages.

Digital currencies are protected by cryptography which makes it nearly impossible to be destroyed or duplicated. This can’t be said about paper money which is prone to damages if not properly handled. 

And due to the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies, they can be sent and received by anyone anywhere in the world without restrictions. Naira as we all know can’t be sent to someone in the United States. Yes, there exist some ways of doing this, but it’s made easier by crypto.

Digital currencies have indeed solved some of the problems that came along with conventional currencies. But how are all these possible? What’s the technology behind digital currencies? Well, read along.

Meaning of Blockchain

The leaps we made in the world of digital money has been made possible by Blockchain technology. It makes use of cryptographic hashes to record each and every transaction in a database. Unlike other databases, the Blockchain stores transactions in the form of blocks.

Aside from this, the technology has helped greatly in the field of remittance across countries. Sending money via your favorite digital assets is made possible by Blockchain technology. Though remittance can be carried out using fiat currencies (paper money), this seemingly new technology has reduced the time, cost, and intermediaries needed to facilitate such transactions.

Different digital currencies are built on a different Blockchain network. Bitcoin was the first digital asset built on the Blockchain network by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. And today, it is the leading digital currency. This is why I’ll be introducing you to how to make money trading Bitcoin. So stay with me.

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin, you heard about it on the news, friends have spoken to you about it, you’ve even seen it on the internet. But what exactly is Bitcoin? I’ll tell you.

Bitcoin is the first cryptocurrency to have ever existed. Though other forms of digital money have been attempted, Bitcoin is seen and recognized as the first. It was founded by a Japanese who goes by the pseudonym Satoshi Nagamoto. It was all made possible through Blockchain technology. 

Bitcoin was created to solve the problems faced by fiat currencies. One of such problems has to do with control. And this was solved in two ways: first, it is decentralized which makes it free of control by anybody, the CEO, or a group of persons. Secondly, and also to curb inflation, Bitcoin has a limited supply of 21 million. In essence, we can’t have more than 21 million Bitcoin in existence. 

This leads to an increase in demand which will invariably increase its value over time. And so it has been from it’s all-time low of $0.003 to an ATH of $42,000 and currently at 40,000 USD. If you had bought it in 2008, you would have been super-rich by now. But it’s not too late to jump on the moving train, there are more ways to make money off Bitcoin. One of such ways is Bitcoin Trading!

How to Trade Bitcoin in Nigeria?

It’s simple, as conventional trading would suggest, you buy low, then sell at a higher price. That’s what we’ve grown up to know, but is that ideal in the world of digital currencies? To an extent, yes, but there are some variations. 

Ask yourself this, when do I know when to buy and when to sell. How do I know if the price is low enough? And if the price appreciates, how high is high enough to make profits? Though it’s an exciting world, the crypto space comes with many complexities which you’ll have to master. 

Here are certain things to factor in before getting into trading because I can tell you first hand, it’s not for the faint-hearted, it’s not for the emotional, you need lots of patience as this isn’t a get rich quick scheme. You need to know the basics, then walk your way up from there.

Bitcoin Trading is a skill to be learned, you can as well call it a profession. Just like the medical doctors who spend years to attain mastery in their craft, so is a trader expected to spend months, or probably years mastering the ins and out of the crypto space. As you learn the ropes, bear in mind that techniques will help you, but instincts will save your life.

There are different trading patterns, but learning the following will take you a long way:

  • Candlesticks
  • Risk management
  • Support and Resistance
  • Trendlines
  • Triangle patterns
  • Technical indicators
  • Entry and Exit strategy
  • Market structure

Armed with the knowledge of these, you should be well on your way to making money off Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. There are tons of free and paid courses that could help you level up. No course is perfect, no course is the best, just pick whatever works for you. Personally, I understand some tutors more than others. Because a course has the best reviews and ranks higher than the rest doesn’t mean it’s the best for you. It’s best you take out time to choose because sometimes, what’s good for the goose isn’t good for the gander.

Pro and Cons of Bitcoin Trading

So if you choose to begin trading after reading this post, make sure to bear the following pros and cons in mind:

Pros of Bitcoin Trading

  • Global payments made easy: Unlike fiat, you can pay for goods, services, or pay merchants anywhere around the world with just a few clicks.
  • Transparent: Bitcoin is open source. And thanks to Blockchain technology, you can view each and every transaction carried out using a Blockchain explorer. Anyone and everyone can see it too.
  • Secure means of payments: Cryptography makes it difficult for third parties to tamper with your money. You can send and receive money anonymously.
  • Low fees: This is relative. It also depends on what wallet or exchange you use. 

Cons of Bitcoin Trading

  • Volatility: The major problem that has hindered Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies from getting wide acceptance is their unstable nature. Fiat currencies do a better job in this regard.

Recommended Platforms, Apps, and Tools for Bitcoin Trading in Nigeria

So, if you’ll be going into trading of Bitcoin make sure to have the following:

  • A good laptop or smartphone (or both)
  • An exchange: Binance, Luno, Buycoins, Okex etc.
  • A wallet for storing your coin and tokens: Hot wallets like Trustwallet, Metamask, Atomic Wallet, Math Wallet. Or you could go for cold wallets (offline) like Trezor and Ledger.
  • A 2FA app: Authy, Google Authenticator
  • Extras: Coinmarketcap (app or web), Coingecko (app or web), TradingView (app or web)

PS: You need to be on different social media platforms to stay updated on the latest happenings.

Are you ready to get into Bitcoin Trading?

Are you? You better be because the world is moving at an incredible rate and it waits for no one. Bitcoin trading still remains one of the better ways of making passive income in Nigeria. If you’re yet to start, please do. 

In my next blog post on this category, I’m going to discuss a few ways you can make money with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

And if you’re already a trader, do well to share your experiences with us in the comments. 

Kindly FOLLOW this blog on FACEBOOK.

18 Best Digital Skills to Make Money Online in 2022

If there’s 5 lessons you’ve learned in the year 2020, number one should be how to make money online or acquire top digital skills that can fetch you some bucks without leaving your room or the comfort of your house.

Even before Corona Virus, learning a skill has been very essential.

Making money online is now the next big deal in today’s world. If you’re not equipped with any of these highlighted best digital skills or, you don’t have a business that can fetch you money online, then you’ve been missing a lot.

Today, we are going to talk about 18 digital skills under six big different industries you should master to make money online.

Before we get into it, kindly know that to making money online is entirely not easy, and I’m not giving you any impression that the digital skills aligned here are source of “get rich quick scheme”, financial freedom or buoyancy to everybody. You’re entitled to figure out what will work for you.

You can watch the video below and skip the reading, or you can continue reading if that’s okay by you.

Now, let’s go;

18 Best Digital Skills to Make Money Online (under 6 Industries)

A. Ecommerce Industry

Ecommerce industry is the fastest growing industry in the world, because people are now shopping most of their stuffs online ranging from groceries to furniture, gadgets etc.

I’m not saying you should start making these products before you can make money online with eCommerce. What you need is to master the skills under it.

Below are my recommended best digital skills you can master under eCommerce industry;

  1. Dropshipping

This requires partnering with the manufacturers of the products (E.g. Wears, Smartphones, etc.) and you help them resell. The more you help them sell, the more the profit you’ll made.

Note: You don’t need to buy the products, all you need is to setup a channel (it can be a dropshipping website or social media) where you can help the manufacturing companies resell the products.

Learn more about dropshipping business here.

  1. Mini Importation

Simply, importing of goods in “mini” or small quantities and you sell at your most satisfying price(s).

You can buy a bulky goods (containing 100 pieces of a particular product), maybe let’s say with just $100 that’s $1 per one product. Then when imported and delivered to you, you can sell at $10 per one products.

If you’re able to resell each product at $10 (or equivalent in your local currency), then you’re making at least, $7 profit per product.

And $7 x 100 products is whooping $700 as your profit!

To make money online by doing mini importation business is not that easy, that’s why you need to learn and master the skill. But to be honest with you, there’s money on it.

  1. Ecommerce Marketing

There are some businesses that have their own eCommerce stores, but they need the help of a digital marketer to assist them in driving sales.

If you’re good at digital marketing, you can focus on eCommerce marketing, you’re going to make some money provided you deliver what you promised to your clients.

Check here for the best freelancing websites to get job gigs related to this.

B. Programming & Tech

This industry has taken over. Almost all business owners are utilizing the power of technology or digital marketing in their businesses, and getting in this industry poise a great profit.

I’m not going to list all the best digital skills you can learn under Programming and tech but below skillsets are recommended;

4. Web Designing

I don’t think this digital skill is dying any soon. I’m sure you’re familiar with the term “Web Designer“, right?

Web Designers are those guys who design websites… Simply as that.

Learning how to design websites using different CMS (content management system) like WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Drupal and other platforms is a skill that’s going to earn you money as long as you’re in the right marketplace to get jobs.

5. Web Development

Web development is very different though, similar to Web Design.

When it comes to web development as a digital skill, you’re required to know how to use programming languages to build websites from scratch.

We have frontend developers who turn sketch or designs made by UI/UX designer to real website by coding it with HTML, CSS, JavaScript with other frameworks that can accelerate his job.

We also have backend developer who work behind the scene to give the frontend work some life and we have fullstack developers as well.

So, you can choose to learn how to become a frontend web developer, backend developer or a fullstack developer. You will still make money online with any of them.

6. Mobile App Development

Businesses, Organizations, Churches and different companies need a mobile application for one or two things.

If you can learn mobile app development, you’re going to make lot of money online from those who need your service.

Just like web development, you need learn some programming languages such as Java, Python, Swift, ReactNative and other languages used for developing mobile apps.

C. Graphic Design

One of the fastest growing industries in the world. Gone are those days when graphic designing is only about logos or making banners, but right now, smart and experienced graphic designers are making some bucks by designing for companies, businesses, organizations, and individuals.

Aside from logo designing, banner or fliers design, below are my two recommended digital skills that are more profitable in graphic design industry;

  1. Product Designing

This digital skill is trending really hot. People who are product designers are part of a successful startups and big companies. They are the architect behind that beautiful websites or mobile apps you’re seeing.

These people are good at User interface and User Experience (UI/UX) design and they make lot of money even from a single project.

You can learn how to use tools like Adobe XD or Figma. We also have other tools like Sketch and so on, but XD and Figma are the two kings for product designing.

  1. Branding

Branding is the marketing action to build your brand.

Okay, let break it like this;

Branding is a marketing action in which a company creates a “unique” brand name, symbol (including logo and icon) or designs only attached to that company. All companies in the world have their unique style of branding, and they spend lot of money to get the best designs.

All you need to do to master this skill is to be creative with graphics design.

Graphic designer who are good at branding is needed mostly at manufacturing companies or companies that produces physical products such as drinks, canned or packaged food, confectioneries and so on.

D. Foreign Exchange

Foreign Exchange is also known as ‘FOREX’.

FOREX is the biggest or largest market in the world, because we have thousand of big companies, central banks of all countries and big brands in this market trading stocks, bonds, securities, currencies and other assets.

Skill to learn in this market?

  1. Forex Trading

Like I said above big companies and institutions are in this market, you should not get into this market until you learn how it works because the market is very risky and also, you can’t enter the market directly without a broker.

The learning process includes how to get the best forex broker for you, how to analyze the market and place trades etc.

There’s money in FOREX but you must be careful, master the skill before you jump into it.

E. Information & Content Industry

Well, this is becoming an industry itself although, it is still under multimedia industry but let’s talk about the big deal here.

Have you ever heard of the saying that “content is the king”?

Yes, content is really the king, no matter how great your business idea, innovation, creativity and/or instincts are, without content to get in the heart of people, then you’ve switched off or ignore your financial progress.

But what digital skills should you learn here?

  1. How to Sell Your Knowledge Online

If you’re good at something and that “something” can solve one or two problems, then turn the knowledge to money making machine. That’s what most gurus are doing now.

If you know how to cook different food or snacks, sew clothes, write code etc., package that knowledge and sell.

This knowledge packaging can be inform of either;

  • eBook
  • Video tutorial
  • Or both
  1. Vlogging

Vlogging is also known as “Video Blogging”.

People are making money on YouTube, millions of dollars!

Almost all these YouTubers have a business or career aside from vlogging, but YouTube has become one of their sources of earning. But what do they do? They simply teach people what they know or catch fun.

Making money on YouTube is not that easy, you have to be patient and know your onions.

If you want to start vlogging, kindly be aware that you must reach a milestone before you start making money from YouTube. The milestone includes having at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours watch time – that’s when you can monetize your channel with Google AdSense.

  1. Blogging

Blogging is one of best digital skills to make money online under the Information and content creation industry.

Just like Vlogging, you teach people one or two things or share information with your readers.

There are many ways to make money blogging which includes Google AdSense as well. Read this blog post to learn about how to make money blogging.

  1. Social Media Influencing

If you good at something that can entertain people on social media, please start doing it.

Social media influencers are making money from that content you read or watch on their social media pages and just laugh.

We have some Instagram comedians and comediennes that have millions of followers on social media, and from that, different doors to make money online opens.

Recommended: 6 Ways to Earn Money on Instagram

If you’re good at anything that can entertain or catch the attentions of people on social media, it’s one of the top paying digital skills today, start doing it!

If you’re an upcoming Instagram comedian, I have an eBook that will teach you how to become a professional and money-making comedian, the book cost $7 or equivalent in Naira – contact me to get it

  1. Video Making & Marketing

Still on Video!

Personally, I prefer watching a long educative video than reading long content.

And that’s the same with most people in the world, that’s why YouTube have more than five billon viewers per day.

Aside from YouTube, some people focus on creating motivational videos such as Princea, or adventure (travel) videos such as Nas Daily.

If you can shoot a video about motivational content, adventures, or other stuffs to motivate and entertain people, start doing it.

F. Blockchain Industry

The last man standing, but the man that’s currently taking over.

If you’ve heard about Bitcoin before, then you have little knowledge about the Blockchain Industry.

We have lot of people making money in this industry, even the world top billionaires are now investing in this Industry.

But how can you make money online in this Blockchain industry? Let’s talk about mastering the digital skills involved;

  1. Buying or Trading Cryptocurrencies

This is the top way to make money online in this industry.

It’s just the same as FOREX trading but slightly different. If you can’t trade cryptocurrencies, you can buy and HODL (hold for some time to yield profit).

  1. Utilize Blockchain in Your Business

Simply, start accepting payment with cryptocurrency rather than your local currency.

  1. Blockchain Programming

If you are a programmer, you have higher chances of making money online in this industry. The reason is that Blockchain is open-source, you can create your own product or service and start making money from it.

Or you can work for startups or companies who are in this Blockchain industry.

  1. Affiliate Marketing

This is one of the top 10 ways to make money online and one of the sought-after digital skills in this age.

I won’t say much about this because I have more than 2 different blog posts dedicated to this. Read below;

CONCLUSION: Top Digital Skills to Make Money Online

That’s it!

Take one or two of the digital skills, master them and start making money online. You can start learning free on YouTube but I’ll advise you get a mentor as this will accelerate your progress.

If you really enjoy this content, kindly share with your friends using the floating social media buttons and don’t forget to subscribe to this blog’s notification and newsletter to receive contents like this.

In case you have any question, observation, correction or contribution, kindly use the comment box below and I will get back to you.

Canada Visa Application in Nigeria: How to Permanently Move to Canada

You definitely have a lot of questions about Canada Visa Application in Nigeria and how you can thereafter move to Canada (through the Express Entry Program) by taking the right and legal procedures.

Yes, I get it. Some of you would love to visit other foreign nations to explore the serene landscapes and captivating beauty. Travel for a vacation, or you just want to move over and live out the rest of your life. 

I know the rate at which moving to Canada from Nigeria was trending during the result of #EndSars protests, you’re aware of that too. But why Canada and not any other countries?

But Why Would You Want to Move to Canada from Nigeria?

I’m not going to start narrating the situation of this country called Nigeria, we both know what’s happening here. But here is the reason why some Nigerians and even foreigners want to move to Canada;

  • Job opportunities are so high in Canada for professional and skilled migrants
  • There’s trading opportunities in Canada
  • Canada has one of the best health facilities in the world at most affordable cost.
  • Education in Canada is very affordable too.
  • There’s no ban, embargo or restriction for anybody qualified to apply for Canada visa

But with all these benefits this country has to offer, that doesn’t mean Canada visa application in Nigeria is that easy, else everybody would have moved to Canada.

But today, we are going to talk about how to apply for a Canada Visa in Nigeria, the needed requirements and other important stuff.

SO, let’s start going to Canada!

But wait,

We need to know which type of Visa we will need before we can proceed to a Canada visa application in Nigeria because without it, we are just going to punch the air. Here are the different types of Visa in Canada;

Types of Visa in Canada

We have different types of Visas which serve different purposes. You need to be very careful when applying for a Canada Visa from Nigeria or any part of the world. 

Basically we have the Permanent and Temporary Visa (with Single or Multiple entry). But these Visas in Canada are splits into different types that may suit your purpose for visiting or moving to Canada.

Below are the type of Visa we have;

  • Student Visa
  • Visitor Visa
  • Express Entry Program
  • Business Class Immigration
  • Canadian Experience Class Visa
  • Work Permits
  • Federal Skilled Worker Visa
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Provincial Nomination Programs
  • Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)
  • Super Visas for Parents and Grandparents
  • Family-Sponsorship Program
  • Quebec -Selected Skilled Workers Program

And so on… Kindly get a good tour or travel agency to help you make the best decision based on what you’re going to do over there before you start your visa application.

Requirements for Canada Visa Application in Nigeria

This post is focused on those who choose to move to Canada from Nigeria permanently (Express Entry Program). So, let’s get our permanent visa, shall we? Here’s are your requirements for getting a Canada Visa in Nigeria:

  • Government-issued ID card

This is a no-brainer. If you’re looking to get a Canada visa, then you should have either a Nationality ID, Permanent Voters Card, Drivers License, and of course, your International Passport.

RECOMMENDED: Here is how to Apply for International Passport in Nigeria

  • Passport Photograph

Two photographs will be required of you when applying for a Canada visa. They shouldn’t be older than six months with a background color as white. If applying online, you’ll need just one passport.

  • Good health via Medical Examination:

Every nation has its own health challenges they currently face. While they try to fight these ailments amongst its citizens, it would be an exercise in futility if foreigners with illness are admitted into the country. So, be sure to make sure you’re physically and mentally sound before you jump unto the Canada Visa application.

  • Clean Criminal Record:

A clean criminal record is another determining factor if you’d be admitted into Canada or not. You’ll have to get police clearance from your resident country. And sometimes, a security clearance from other foreign countries you’ve lived in for at least six months.

  • Prepare the Canada visa fees:

Proof of payment for visa and Canada PR fees makes up the list of requirements. To make a payment, visit the IRCC official website. Here a sneak peek into what you’ll be paying for 

  • Processing Fee: ≈825 CAD or N245,000
  • Right of PR Fee: ≈500 CAD or N149,000
  • Biometrics Fee: ≈85 CAD or N26,000

IRCC advises that all payments should be made together. These fees apply to each individual. If you’ve got kids or will be traveling with a child, you’re charged ¢225 per child. There is a discount on biometrics fees when applying as a family with at least two people. 

  • Good Financial background or Backup

It’s expected that you have a means of income currently and in the past 6 months before your application. A bank statement will need to be presented alongside other important documents.

  • Ties to Nigeria

A very sketchy aspect of Canada visa application in Nigeria has to do with ties to your country, Nigeria. You’re more likely to gain admittance into foreign nations if you’ve got credible ties to your home country. A house, for instance, a business entity, and in some cases, family (immediate or extended). So, make sure you’ve got the necessary documents to show for this.

  • A Cover Letter

This is important and needs to be well-crafted. This letter would explain your reason for application. Travel agencies may help with this. Or better still, if you choose to craft one yourself, feel free to check out samples online for guidance. It should contain important details about your trip, its duration, and more.

  • Language requirements

Since you can read and write in English, then you’ve got an edge. Fluency in another language like French will give you more points.

  • Educational requirements

You’ll be needing your degrees along with transcripts. There are different tests you’ll have to take as well. First, you’ll have to take the questionnaire. This will determine what kind of job you’ll be offered. Questions are asked in different fields from age, nationality, education, occupation, and more. 

Though this on its own won’t hinder your chance of getting a permanent residency, your answers must be honest.

Next, you’ll have to take either the following English or French language test, or both, to stand a better chance. For English, we’ve got CELPIP (Canada English Language Proficiency Index Program) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System). 

The latter is popular in this part of the world and there are lots of blog posts, threads, and forum topics that would help you ace this test. 

For the French part of the test, we’ve got TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Being fluent in French will give you an edge if you passed the English test even though the French test isn’t compulsory.

ALSO READ: How to Get Travel Insurance in Nigeria

How to Apply for Canadian Visa in Nigeria (Express Entry)

  • Eligibility for Express Entry in Canada

Having all the requirements listed above doesn’t mean your Canada Visa application in Nigeria is done and dusted. Also, not everybody who applies for a Canadian Visa will be approved, so you need to check your eligibility before you start with your application.

How to be eligible to apply for Canadian Visa

Before you can be approved or eligible to apply for Canadian visa and move to Canada through the Express Entry Program, you must have; 

  • A University or College degree (or education system that is of Canadian post-education standards), 
  • At least one year of skilled or work experience in your field. 
  • And you must be good (not that perfect) in English, French or both.

Note that it is not enforced that you must have graduated from a University, but you must have completed post-secondary education which can meet up with Canadian standards… 

Use this tool to access your Educational eligibility

  • Applying for the Canadian Visa

We begin by applying as a skilled worker from Nigeria to gain permanent residence in Canada. 

Click here to register foe an IRCC account

For choice, you will be choosing the ‘Express Entry’ option on the official IRCC immigration portal. There are other options available, including family sponsorship, Caregivers, Provincial Nominees, Self-employed, Start-up VISA, and more.

Next, you’ll be creating an official account which you can use in signing in. After successful registration, go ahead and log into your account to continue the application process. 

After this, you’ll have to complete your profile. You’ll have to fill out facts about yourself ranging from personal, financial, educational, and more to get a good CSR score. This score is the “cut-off” that determines if you’re able to apply for permanent residency.

Creating an Express Entry account qualifies you for the bi-monthly selection where immigrants are chosen. The higher your score, the better your chances of getting selected. Depending on several factors, you could be picked between 24 hours and a year. If you’re not chosen after this time frame, you will have to create a new profile and re-apply. 

The cut-off CSR score will be posted on the IRCC website. If your score doesn’t meet the minimum score, you can take part in other activities that should improve your score while you wait. And when you finally get picked, you’ll be handed an Invitation to Apply for Canada PR.

  • THEN, Apply for Canada Residency

Once you get the invitation, you have a maximum of 60 days to apply. You’ll be needing all the requirements listed above. You can do this online or visit the nearest VFS to complete the application process offline. For an online application, you’ll have to scan and upload all required documents while you make payments through your debit or credit card.

Depending on when you’re reading this post, the requirements and prices may change. Also, note that fees for online and offline applications may vary. Whether you have your application online or offline, biometrics capturing will be carried out offline. 

After a successful application, you’ll have to wait for your international passport to be requested via email. This also comes with approval for your permanent residency. You may receive this within 30 days to one year. Once received, go ahead and send in your passport and get ready to jet off to Canada!

Frequently Asked Questions: Applying for Canadian Visa

  • How long does it take to get a Canadian visa from Nigeria?

It might take up to 3 months and more than that. But if you’re applying for Canadian visitor visa, it is faster.

  • How many years does Canada give?

You can get a work permit, student visa and other types of visas for as long as Ten years.

  • How much is a flight ticket from Nigeria to Canada in Naira?

To book a flight from Nigeria to Canada in Naira, you will need to budget N270,000 to N305,000 – That is between $720 to $800

  • How do I know if my Canadian visa is approved?

After you might have submitted your passport during the Canadian visa application, you should be expecting an approval stamp on your passport when you receive it back. If you see the approval stamp on your passport, congratulations, you can now move to Canada.

  • Does Canada have an embassy in Nigeria?

Yes, there’s a Canada embassy in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria… Check here for contact information

  • Can I marry in Canada on a visitor visa?

Yes, you can get married or marry someone while on a Visitor visa in Canada, it’s an option for everybody.

  • Is Canada a rich country?

Definitely, YES! Canada is a rich country , the fourth largest exporter of crude petroleum in the world, with GDP of over $1.6 trillion.

CONCLUSION: Canada Visa Application in Nigeria

That’s how you can apply for your Canadian visa in Nigeria and permanently move to Canada.

After Dubai, Canada seems like a liberal nation for now and everyone wants to go there. But due to the high influx of applications, the process usually takes time. It’s not difficult but it can be stressful sometimes. 

You’re advised to do your application online if possible. This will save you from the stress in the time taken to apply. Good luck with your application!

DISCLAIMER: I’m not a travel or tour agent and I’m not affiliated with any agency of such. This information is entirely meant to enlighten you and not to convince you. In case you have any correction or comment about this, kindly use the comment box below or contact me here.

Cardless Withdrawal in Nigeria: How to Withdraw Money from ATM Without Card

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(Learn how to use Cardless Withdrawal in Nigeria to withdraw money from your bank on any ATM gallery without your ATM card or making a bank transfer to anybody. This tutorial applies to all Banks in Nigeria)

You urgently need to withdraw some money but you’re not with your ATM card (MasterCard, Verve or VISA), does that mean there’s no possible way except you make a bank transfer or get your card?

Definitely No!

The Cardless Withdrawal in Nigeria got you!

Right in this blog post, I will show you how you can withdraw money from any ATM stand in Nigeria without your ATM card.

I’m not going to bore you with long text, but straight to the point. 

But before I start the easy tutorial, kindly note that Cardless Withdrawal is 100% legal and safe as long as someone who knows your banking details didn’t steals your phone to perform the transaction.

So, that’s a warning for you; don’t ever let anybody have access to your phone without your consent or lock your banking apps and ensure you don’t reveal your banking PIN to anybody.

Now, let’s talk about how you can withdraw cash from an ATM without using your MasterCard, VISA or Verve.

How to Use Cardless Withdrawal in Nigeria

I’m going to split this tutorial into two methods and you can choose (or use) any of them.

  1. Using Your Banking Mobile App
  2. Using Your Bank USSD Code

Basically, if you want to use cardless withdrawal, you need to generate a token or what is called Paycode. This paycode is what you will punch on the ATM with the selected 4-digits PIN and amount.

How much is the cardless withdrawal fee in Nigeria?

Kindly note that N100 will be deducted for using the Cardless withdrawal service in Nigeria. If you want to withdraw N5000, have it in mind that N5100 will be debited from your account.

How to perform Cardless Withdrawal Withdrawal via Banking Mobile App

Note that this cardless withdrawal procedure is the same for all banks (GTBank, First Bank, UBA, Diamond, VFD Bank etc.), although, it might be slightly different due to how the banking mobile apps are designed. 

And we are going to do this in two easy steps;

STEP 1: On your Mobile App

  • Open your banking mobile app (if you don’t have, go to Playstore or Appstore to download your bank’s mobile app e.g GTWorld)
  • Sign in with your preferred method
  • Go to your mobile app menu and click on Cardless withdrawal (on GTworld app, click on Cashout in the home screen)
  • Select the account to debit (simply select your savings account or account with money)
  • If your app ask for the cashout terminal (such as GTBank), choose ATM
  • Select or write the amount you want to withdraw
  • Choose any 4-digits PIN to authenticate the cardless withdrawal at any ATM stand
  • Click on continue or submit

That’s all you need to do on your mobile app.

Now an automated 11-digits number known as PAYCODE or TOKEN will be sent to your phone number attached to that account number. Now, the next and final step!

STEP 2: On the ATM Gallery

Please make sure you have received SMS that have your Cardless withdrawal Paycode or token. Open your message system app on your phone.

  • After getting your 11-digits PAYCODE or TOKEN for cardless withdrawal, click on any button on the ATM
  • Now, select Cardless Withdrawal or Paycode feature >> Click on PROCEED
  • Now, you will be asked to enter your paycode or token: Enter the long number sent to you from your bank correctly
  • Type amount (you don’t need to include the N100 fee, it’s automatic)
  • Finally click on PROCEED

The ATM will process your transaction and if the details you entered are correct, the money will be dispensed within one minute or less.

ALSO READ: How to Start a POS Business in Nigeria

That’s how you use cardless withdrawal in Nigeria via the mobile bank app.

But what if you want to withdraw money and the internet connection is poor or you’re not with your browsing phone? You can use the banking USSD, here is how;

How to Do Cardless Withdrawal Withdrawal in Nigeria via the Bank USSD Code

  • Dial the bank USSD code: In case you don’t know your Bank’s USSD CODE, check below
  • Choose Cardless or Cardless withdrawal (if you don’t see this option on first page, go to NEXT till you find it)
  • Select or write amount
  • Choose a PIN (4-digits)
  • Submit

An SMS will be sent to you within 3 seconds. The SMS contains your Paycode or Token.

If you have seen that, go to the nearest ATM gallery and follow the STEP 2 under Mobile app method above.

NOTE: If you have account with VERVE, you can as well use it to generate the cardless withdrawal token by logging onto the Verve mobile app or generate Paycode using *322*8*Amount#

Just in case you don’t know your bank USSD code, check them here:

Full List of Nigerian Banks USSD Code for Banking Transactions

  • Access (Diamond) Bank — *901#
  • EcoBank — *326#
  • Fidelity Bank — *770#
  • First Bank — *894#
  • First City Monument Bank (FCMB) — *389*214#
  • Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) — *737#
  • Heritage Bank — *322*00#
  • JAIZ Bank — *389*301#
  • Keystone Bank *7111# 
  • Polaris Bank *833#
  • Stanbic IBTC Bank *909#
  • Sterling Bank — *822#
  • United Bank for Africa (UBA) — *919#
  • Union Bank — *826#
  • Unity Bank — *7799#
  • VFD Bank  — *5037#
  • Wema Bank — *945#
  • Zenith Bank — *966#

Conclusion: How to Withdraw Money with Cardless Withdrawal in Nigeria

kindly be aware that I’m not a banker, an affiliate, partner or representative of any Bank in Nigeria. I’m just sharing the useful information you need, this may help you one day when you’re stranded.

If you have any questions, kindly contact the bank customer care and please don’t share your banking or confidential details here. I will not be responsible for anything that puts you into risk simply by putting your details here.

So, that’s all about withdrawing money from an ATM without your card.

If you have done this before, can you please share your experience on Cardless withdrawal in Nigeria with us? Mine has been so smooth and fast.

Help share this content with your friend also, so that they can learn how to withdraw money with an ATM card, you don’t know who this might help….

Teleconference Service: 5 Best Video Conferencing Apps for Meetings

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A quick question; do you really need teleconference service or video conferencing apps in 2021? 

Yes, you really need one.

One thing we have learned in the year 2020 is how to work remotely as a result of the Corona Virus pandemic. And that’s why business owners, religious organizations, government parastatals and other institutions are looking for the best and most reliable videoconferencing software for their meetings.

I know that’s why you’re here.

You’ve probably heard or seen some of these teleconferencing software, but you’re yet to choose one out of them.

In this blog post, I will show you top 5 video conferencing apps you should have been using for your business or religious meetings.

What is Video Conferencing?

Video Conferencing is a visual connection between two or more people over the internet, using a videoconferencing app or software to communicate remotely (without seeing each other face-to-face).

People who are in the same meeting can share presentations, discuss and even transmit audio and video in real-time through the internet.

I know you’re aware of this.

But before going into the real deal, check out the features you should be looking for, when you want to choose a videoconferencing app.

6 Essential Features of Video Conferencing Software

  1. Video Quality & Audio Output

Of course, you need the audio output to be the best and also the video quality should be in HD. If a teleconference service can’t provide this, then I don’t think such app is worth using.

  1. Chatting

In some cases, the admins or hosts may need to communicate with each other, or in cases when the guest needs to speak to the the host privately, they should be able to do so by chatting. 

  1. Screen Sharing

Just like the video & audio output is very important in video conferencing apps, so also do the screen sharing features.

Maybe during a webinar, the host may need to share infographics or presentation slides with the attendants. Some religion groups use the video conferencing apps to share songs and video too.

  1. Available on all Devices

If you choose a very good teleconference software for only iOS, Android or PC users, then you’re missing a lot. Because all fingers are not equal, some might not have that device you focus your product on.

So, it’s better to choose a web conferencing apps that is available on all devices, so that everybody in your circle will have no faulty reason on your side to complain.

  1. Recording

Not all your guests will attend your web conference, some might not even enjoy it due to network or service issue. And you don’t want to repeat the same thing again.

The best thing to do is to record your meetings live. If you can’t find a meeting recording features on your video conferencing apps, then it’s time to change to another one.

  1. Easy Users’ Interface

Everybody is not that tech-savvy, when you want to choose a teleconferencing software, you need to put your attendants and guests in mind. Choose a teleconference service that can be operated by another without prior experience or with little training.

Those are the features you must check out for, before you buy or choose any of the video conferencing apps in the market.

Now, let’s talk about these apps.

5 Best Video Conferencing Apps for Meetings in 2021

  1. Zoom

Zoom is the best among all other video conferencing apps as at the time of writing this blog post. 

According to them, they’re the leader in modern enterprise video communications with reliable cloud platform for audio and video web conferencing.

With over 300 million active Zoom app users as at April 2020, there’s definitely something special about this software. Before the Corona Virus pandemic outbreak, Zoom had 10 million users in December 2019 and this growth in numbers (and revenue) shows Zoom video conferencing app is the best outside there.

Personally, I attends a lot of virtual meetings even since March and Zoom app is what the meeting hosts use. I love it and I’m sure you’ll love it too.

Price of Zoom Video Conferencing Software

Zoom  have just 4 packages and one of them will definitely be okay for your budget.

  • Zoom BASIC Package is absolute FREE. But you’ll need to be logging out before or when it’s up to 40 minutes you’ve been on your virtual meeting.
  • Zoom PRO Package costs $14.99/month/host and you can do your meeting for 24 hours if you like, instead of 40-minutes cap on the Basic package
  • Zoom Business Package costs $19.99/month/host and you can have up to 10 different hosts.
  • Zoom Enterprise Package also cost $19.99/month/host and you can have up to 100 different hosts.

You can get Zoom on Google Playstore, Appstore and your PC’s store. Or go here to download.

  1. BlueJeans

About 5 months ago, I applied for a remote job as a frontend developer and the company gave me a date for interview. The company is in Canada and I am in Nigeria, how are we going to do it?

Yes, you get! We will use one of these video conferencing apps. 

That’s what we used. 

But this time, we use BlueJeans teleconferencing software.

BlueJeans is very very good and amazing. It’s very similar to Zoom but BlueJeans have better users’ interface.

Just like Zoom, BlueJeans claim to be the world’s leader in cloud video conferencing. But according to TrustRadius, “BlueJeans stands out when it comes to scalable web conferencing option“.

According to a user’s review, BlueJeans is a great video conferencing app for small group meetings.

My personal experience with BlueJeans app is very cool. And if your meeting is not going on well, you can switch to ZOOM from BlueJeans.

Unlike Zoom that offer free package for just 40-minutes which is still useful to some people, BlueJeans only have free trial of 7 days!

But BlueJeans is cheaper though.

Price of BlueJeans Video Conferencing Software

Unlike Zoom, BlueJeans have 3 packages; 

  • BlueJeans Standard Package cost $12.99/month and if you’re going to subscribe for a year, then you’ll pay $9.99/mon
  • BlueJeans Pro Package costs $17.49/month and you pay $13.99/month if you’re going to purchase the service for a year.
  • BlueJeans Enterprise Package is the third. But the price is not revealed, you will need to contact BlueJeans for the price.

You can learn more, or download BlueJeans app here.

  1. Google Meet

The next on this list of best video conferencing apps is Google Meet.

Google Meet is previously known as Google Hangouts Meet, an enterprise video conferencing software which is free to all Google users.

Note that once you have just one google account or Gmail, you have access to all Google products for FREE.

We all know Google for their amazing products. Well, unfortunately, the era of teleconference service met Google suddenly. But it’s never too late for the tech giant to join the list.

During this pandemic when Zoom is busy making huge amount of money for their amazing product, Google think otherwise and they had to add some features to make the Google Meet a standard and free among other video conferencing apps.

I’ve personally used Google Meet countless time to hold meetings with clients and I must tell you that it’s very cool. 

No hassle at all.

You don’t need to download any app, all you need is click on link to join either on your PC or smartphone and you can enjoy your meeting(s).

But you should only use Google Meet if you want to hold small meetings, maybe with friends or clients that are not more than 10.

Price of Google Meet Video Conferencing Software

  • Free Package: Google Meet is basically free for 1 hour (60 minutes) where you can have up to 100 participants. 
  • Google Workspace Essentials: But if you want to enjoy full features of Google Meet, you can simply subscribe for as low as $8/month. You can have up to 150 participants and 300 hours of meetings per month.
  • Google Workspace Essentials: You can have up to 250 participants here. You need to contact Google Meet for pricing.

You can download Google Meet app on all app stores or go here to download.

  1. Skype

Skype is an household name for business owners. It’s more like messenger app created for businesses to communicate than being a video conferencing app.

But we still have Skype on the list of best teleconference service. Because you can now do more than chatting or video calling, you can now host a meeting and anybody can join even without having a Skype account.

One of the benefits of Skype over other video conferencing apps is that you can still communicate with your employer, employee or colleagues even after meeting through Instant messaging.

Skype is very powerful ever since it was launched and I can categorically tell you that choosing or using Skype is also a wise decision.

If you subscribe to Skype premium package, you will get a private free phone number and other amazing features you will surely love.

Price of Skype Video Conferencing Software

  • Skype is FREE just like Google Meet. But to enjoy more features, you can choose any of the following;
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic: This costs $5 per month for each user.
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard: With $12.50/month and per user, you’ll get this package.
  • Office 365 E3: This package costs $20 per user for each month.

You learn more or get Skype here at their official website.

  1. Facebook Messenger Room

The last man on the list.

Facebook needs no introduction, as the brand itself is famous than any pandemic outbreak in the world. We know Facebook as social media or an Instant messaging app, but Facebook Inc., is changing or upgrading their game.

Facebook Messenger Room or simply “Messenger Room” is a video conferencing app which allow users or host to have participants up to 50 and the participants don’t necessary need a Facebook account. 

Users compare Messenger Room to be a compatible competitor with Zoom but I can’t personally testify to that. 

Can Facebook Messenger Room be connected with WhatsApp?

According WhatsApp Frequently Asked Questions;

You can access Messenger Rooms from shortcuts within WhatsApp that switch you to the Messenger app or the Messenger website in your mobile or web browser. Messenger is a separate app and website, so when you create a room, you’ll need to log in with your Facebook account.

I will recommend Facebook Messenger Rooms to those who want to hold a webinar or sell a product. Currently, Room is not up to the tasks those aforementioned teleconferencing software are capable of doing. But Facebook is trying to invest more on it.

Price of Facebook Messenger Room Video Conferencing Software

  • Facebook Messenger Room is totally FREE.

If you’re a active user of Facebook and you make calls on it frequently, you can stick to Messenger Room for your teleconferencing.

Those are the 5 best web conferencing apps!

Got any question on these 5 Best Video Conferencing Apps?

If you want to ask of the best among these 5 teleconferencing apps, the answer is Zoom.

Zoom is currently the best and undisputed video conferencing app as at now. But also note that Skype also got additional features that Zoom can’t offer such as Instant Messaging, private calling etc.

And Facebook Messenger Room is totally FREE, if you’re thinking of hosting a webinar for your Facebook students. 

We also have BlueJeans, a replica of Zoom on the list but cheaper. Finally, we have Google Meet which I will advise you check out too.

Which of these video conferencing apps have you been using and what can you say about it? Kindly give us the opportunity to learn from you by using the comment box below.

How to Start a POS Business in Nigeria – 5 Easy Steps!

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You’ve been searching online how you can start a POS Business in Nigeria or how you can become a GTbank, First Bank, and other financial institution’s POS agent.

You wonder why a lot of people are into this business these days. If you can count the kiosks or shops of those into this POS business in your street, you’ll be surprised. But why?

 It’s simply because the business is lucrative. I know you’re aware of that, that’s why you want to learn how to start a POS Business in Nigeria, right?

I will show you the easy step-by-step guide to start a successful POS business in your location and even, expand your business.

You see, despite the economic situation of the country, people still find a way to make good money. It could be online, or even offline. The question is, are you willing to use the information at your disposal to create money-making opportunities for yourself?

We live in an information-driven era. And this, if well utilized, is guaranteed to make you good money. Let’s cut to the chase and get into the information I have for you today. And that is how you can start and run a profitable POS business in Nigeria.

A Brief Overview of POS Business in Nigeria

For reference purposes, POS is an acronym for Point On Sale. But why is it becoming more rampant like a pandemic in Nigeria?

Well, with the ever-growing economy and advancement in technology, we need to go cashless and be able to transact (especially, to make a payment) with or without queueing in the Banking Hall. 

POS devices could be found across stores, shopping malls, and even small businesses. This created an avenue where buyers and sellers could transact and make payments without having to carry bulky cash around.

In a bid to make financial services reach places with no banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria in its wisdom introduced Agency Banking. 

So far, I think the CBN is achieving its aim. But at the same time, it’s also empowering young Nigerians. This adoption of Agency banking or POS service has become a lucrative and profitable business if, and only if, you do the right things which I’ll be showing you in a moment.

So, if you’re ready to get empowered, kindly take out time and follow every bit of information I’ll be sharing below. But before we head into the nitty-gritty of today’s post, here are the prerequisites for this business:

Requirements to Start a POS Business in Nigeria

  • Good or People-focused location
  • Business space (kiosk, store, or shop)
  • POS Machine (details below)
  • Patience:

Now, let’s get to it!

How to Start a Profitable POS Business in Nigeria

  • Get Your Your Capital

Of course, this is the first thing (after your business plan).

But how much does it cost to start a POS business?

To start a POS business in Nigeria, you should have a budget of 50,000 Naira to 300,000 Naira.

To be honest, this business is not capital intensive. It all depends on how you choose to start up. Ideally, you should be aiming at N50k to N300k. In essence, just a minimum of fifty thousand nairas could secure what you need to excel in this business. 

You will need to get the machine, get a kiosk, or rent a shop and make small furniture for your convenience. But just as many other people who are into this business, you can start with a kiosk, and later you can upgrade to a shop.

In certain areas of the country, housing is usually expensive. That’s why I advised earlier to be close to a commercial environment as the accommodation is less expensive. 

In fact, I know people who started with just their machine, a chair, a table, and an umbrella (some sat under a tree). That’s cool and it’s good especially for starters who are low on cash.

After getting your capital, the second thing is to register your business name.

  • Register Your Business Name

This is very important if you want to run a successful POS business in Nigeria. You need to register your business name to prove how serious and legit you are.

I won’t go deeper into this because I have a blog post explaining how to do this.

(Click here to learn how to register your business name in Nigeria)

The next thing is to get the machine!

  • Get the POS Machine

Contrary to what you’ve heard, getting a POS machine in Nigeria for your business is pretty easy once you’re able to fulfill certain requirements. 

How to get a POS machine in Nigeria

There are two ways to get this POS machine in Nigeria. The first way is through the commercial banks and the second way is through the dealers. You can choose any. It all depends on your preference.

But if you’re able to get from the bank directly, that will be great! But you need to prepare some kinds of stuff to be eligible;

Requirements to Get a POS Machine in Nigeria

Here are what you’ll be needing:

  • An account with the bank (current account preferably)
  • Recent passport photograph
  • A business location
  • A registered business name
  • Utility bill
  • Guarantor s) with a current account (usually two)

You can get the POS machine from some of the popular commercial banks in the country. Requirements may vary slightly from bank to bank. 

Some may require any form of account (e.g. GT Bank), some banks may require you have an account that’s 6 months old or higher while some may need less. After application, certain banks will give out the machine within 14 days. It may be more, or less, for others.

To get your machine for the POS business in Nigeria, you can simply walk into the bank and ask customer care for the procedure.

Banks that Gives POS Machine in Nigeria

But how much is it to get a POS machine from banks?

Don’t be scammed, getting a POS machine from commercial banks in Nigeria is free but there’s a caveat! Although it’s free, you still get to remit a certain percentage per transaction to the bank. It’s usually between 1.5% to 2.5% per transaction for life and varies across different banks. 

First Bank has the least charges so we highly recommend that.

For dealers, I can’t name any reputable brand here but you can carry out a personal assessment of dealers in your location. You have to meet the criteria of a dealer, then pay a one-time fee before you get your device. The price starts at N45K but could rise to N200K depending on the specifications of the device you’re getting. 

The machines run usually on Android. It could be a touchscreen or button. Battery capacity also varies just as you have with conventional smartphones. 

Another factor that influences the price is the network specification: we’ve got 2G, 3G, and 4G. The more advanced, the more expensive the device.

And just to wrap this up, make sure your carrier (provider) is Quickteller especially as a beginner. 

The next is to get the location for your business.

  • Getting the Ideal Location

Please take this part very seriously. If you get this part right, you’ve gotten a good head start. And this will determine if your business soars to great heights, or falls by the wayside. 

In essence, your location as an Agency Banker or someone engaged in POS business in Nigeria is directly proportional to how much profit you can make.

Now when choosing your location, bear these three things in mind.

  • The proximity of the location to commercial centers or market places.
  • Proximity to banks.
  • Population density

I’ll explain it.

  • Factor 1 to choose a location for your POS Business

How close should your location be to a bank? 

Not close at all! You are supposed to serve as a replacement (to an extent) to banks. And having a location close to a commercial bank defeats the purpose of your business. It also determines how much you can charge for transactions. 

If you can visit the nearest bank in your location by walking down, then you need to extend the distance or change your location.

  • Factor 2 to choose a location for your POS Business

The next factor to keep in mind is how close you are to commercial centers. Just so you know, on average, an Agency Banker is at an advantage when he/she is domiciled in a commercial environment. 

If you can, try to aim for this first. This should be your ideal location but it’s hard to come by. But if you can pull this off, and remain committed and consistent, congratulations, you’ve already succeeded. 

  • Factor 3 to choose a location for your POS Business

This final part ties the two factors above together. 

A quick question

Should you choose a location with 500 people living and doing business or a location with 2000 people living and doing business? 

ANS: If you can, and if the opportunity presents itself, assuming factors 1 or 2 are met, then combine them.

Okay, here are places I’ll recommend;

  • Hot selling locations for POS Business in Nigeria

  1. A rural area or village
  2. A community or street very far to the bank
  3. In or very close to the market area
  4. Very close to supermarkets or shopping malls
  5. Very close to big restaurants 
  6. Very close to the bank which is the only one in the whole town.

5. Create Awareness and finally Expand Your Business

You don’t need to start doing jingles on the radio or making posters. All you need is a banner like you use to see. The banner will not cost more than N5,000

Now, If you’ve been making some profits, you can get another location and find a salesgirl to help you handle the place. That’s what most people I personally know are doing.

Aside from starting the POS business in different locations, you can add other related businesses such as selling recharge cards, data, VTU, etc., this will really help you build a solid business.

(Check here for other business ideas in Nigeria)

Just in case you’re interested in the recharge card selling, why can’t you learn how to print it yourself? Sounds cool, right?

Okay, click here to learn how to start a recharge card printing business in Nigeria.

That’s all!

CONCLUSION: How to Start a POS Business in Nigeria

Just in case you have any questions, you can use the comment box below and I will be very glad to answer your question to the best of my knowledge.

Do you really enjoy this blog post? If yes, kindly help me share with your friends to enjoy also and maybe buy me a bottle of malta Guinness ?

So, that’s how to start a POS business in Nigeria. 

NOTE: Do not copy my contents and use them without my permission to avoid trouble, read, and digest.

How to Link Your Phone Number with NIN – 2 Easy Steps

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You need to urgently link your phone number with NIN now because, the Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC directed all Network Providers to block or deactivate SIM cards of their subscribers who have not link their National Identity Number (NIN) with their active phone numbers.

This Order by NCC created panic as this will result to millions of SIM cards to be blocked. The federal government is trying to have database of all Nigerians, and maybe to also combat any issue of fraud. Why? Because during SIM card registrations, all you need to do is to fill the KYC form with your details and the SIM reg. will register your SIM card for you without asking for your National ID card.

And according to federal government, the reason while the NCC partnered with Network providers and NIMC (National Identity Management Commission) to deal with it once and for all, is to cut theft, terrorism and kidnapping in the country.

They added that, the new development will make it possible to trace anybody they want to trace when needed.

In fact, some of these SIM registration agents will not ask you a question than your name, and they’ll input what they like in the SIM registration portal. The SIM card I bought last is an example. The SIM reg. agent do the biometrics himself and when his device camera couldn’t accept my picture, he snapped a lady in his shop.

Almost all SIM cards owners in Nigeria are victims.

But don’t panic, you’ll learn the right way to link your NIN with your phone numbers without paying a dime to anybody or going to any Network provider’s business office.

How to Link Your Phone Number with NIN in Nigeria

Here are easy ways to link your NIN with your phone numbers.  (Note that the steps varies with respect to your internet provider).

1.      Get Your National Identification Number (NIN)

This is of course the first attempt. If you have your brown NIMC paper, you can easily find your NIN at the left side of the paper slip just below your bio.

Just in case you haven’t got the brown NIMC paper or you misplaced it, you can easily get your NIN in two different ways:

How to Get Your NIN through SMS

By dialing this code >> *346# <<< on the number associated with your National ID card (the number you gave to the NIMC agent when you enrolled for NIN).

If you dial the code, select “NIN Retrieval” from the options by replying with “1” but, Select “NIN Search” from the option again (if you lost your details).

Your NIN will be displayed, note it down

Note that only MTN, GLO, Airtel and 9mobile subscribers can get their NIN through this SMS method. And ensure that you have up to N20 or more on the phone number you want to use.

ALSO READ: How to Get Your International Passport in Nigeria

After getting your NIN, the next thing is to link;

2.      Link Your Phone Number with NIN According to Network Provider

Here is where we are actually going to;

·       How to Link Your MTN Number with NIN

The first method is to use USSD code which is pretty easy.

Simply dial *785# and put in your NIN in the textarea that will appear.

You’ll receive a response that your NIN has been received successfully but still undergoing further verification. If you’re verified successfully, MTN will send you a message to notify you.

The second method is to use your browser. Ensure your data connection is active.

Go to https://www.mtnonline.com/nin

Fill in your details and click on “Submit”.

·       How to Link Your Airtel Number with NIN

Dial *121*1# on the Airtel phone number you want to link with NIN, Type in your NIN and that’s all.

You can also use the online portal.

Go to https://www.aitel.com.ng/nin and follow the instructions.

·       How to Link Your GLO Number with NIN

You have to send a short message before you can link your GLO number with NIN unlike MTN and Airtel.

Here is how to do it;

Send “UpdateNIN NIN FirstName LastName” to 109

Note: You must type the “UpdateNIN”

Then replace the next (or standalone) NIN with your National Identification Number as shown on your ID card.

Then your First Name and Last Name.

E.g I will send >>> UpdateNIN 23457788939 Stephen Gbolagade <<< to 109.

·       How to Link Your 9Mobile Number with NIN

Code coming soon.

But for now, visit the nearest 9mobile office with your National ID Card to link your 9mobile Number with your NIN.

Frequently Asked Questions on Linking Phone Numbers with NIN

  1. How many days do I have left to link my phone numbers with NIN?

You have just less than 2 weeks left before they deactivate your phone number for failing to link your NIN as warned.

  1. Can I link more than one number to my NIN?

Yes, you can link more than one phone numbers, just ensure you follow the right procedure aligned above.

  1. Can I go to the Telecom office to link my NIN?

Yes, you can simply go there along with your National ID card or that brown slip to link it.

  1. Can I use my BVN instead of linking NIN with my number?

No, NIN is different from BVN. In fact NIN is linked to BVN too, so get your NIN and link your phone number before deactivation.

 

Don’t forget to share this information with your friends by clicking on the floating social media icons. And you can subscribe to receive free updates like this.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Full Speech on #EndSars Protest

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Have you watched the broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari’s full speech on the #EndSars protest? Well, many of us are opportune to watched it live on NTA (their YouTube channel).

We all know what’s happening in the country since two weeks ago and the President hasn’t until today, address the citizens of Nigeria. Before he went live to deliver his speech, Nigerians had set their expectations so high to listen to see what Mr. President planned to do with Lekki Toll gate’s Massacre, Police brutality, bad government, corruption and other things happening in the country.

But, well… Nigerians are left disappointed.

I know by now, you have being seeing some posts on social media by Nigerians, saying they need need to leave this country and travel to Canada and sort of cruise like that regarding President Muhammadu Buhari’s full speech on #EndSars protest.

You’re eager to listen to it right? Worry no more! You can watch the video below or read the speech.

VIDEO: Full Broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari on #EndSars Protest

You can read the speech speech below;

ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE ENDSARS PROTESTS, 22ND OCTOBER, 2020

Fellow Nigerians,

It has become necessary for me to address you having heard from many concerned Nigerians and having concluded a meeting with all the Security Chiefs.

2. I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine and well – intended protest of some of our youths in parts of the country, against the excesses of some members of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

3. On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of SARS.

4. The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within the law.

5. As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth.

6. On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive Police reforms.

7. Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.

8. The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have been lost; acts of sexual violence have been reported; two major correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of the Palace of a Peace Maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated. So-called protesters have invaded an International Airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and our visitors.

9. All these executed in the name of the ENDSARS protests. I am indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost. These tragedies are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our country.

10. The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the social media in particular, that this government is oblivious to the pains and plight of its citizens is a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour.

11. On the contrary, both our deeds and words have shown how committed this administration has been to the wellbeing and welfare of citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

12. Government has put in place measures and initiatives principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in our society. These included our broad plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years; the creation of N75 billion National Youth Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the youths and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund, through which government is:

a. paying three months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro, small – and medium – enterprises,
b. paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the Corporate Affairs Commission,
c. giving a grant of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans; and
d. guaranteeing market for the products of traders.

13. These are in addition to many other initiatives such as;
a. Farmermoni,
b. Tradermoni,
c. Marketmoni,
d. N-Power,
e. N-Tech and
f. N-Agro.

14. No Nigerian Government in the past has methodically and seriously approached poverty-alleviation like we have done.

15. With regard to the welfare of police personnel, the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite action on the finalization of the new salary structure of members of the Nigeria Police Force. The emoluments of other paramilitary services are also being reviewed upwards.

16. In order to underscore the importance of education in preparing youths for the future, this administration has come up with a new salary structure and other incentives for our teachers.

17. Let me at this point reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the unity of this country.

18. We will continue to improve good governance and our democratic process, including through sustained engagement.

19. We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected.

20. But remember that government also has the obligation to protect lives and properties, as well as the right of citizens to go about their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence.

21. To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements.

22. In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.

23. For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated.

24. I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions. Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.

25. And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, and enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect. Let me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.

26. I would like to thank those state Governors, traditional and religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint. I also thank youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their hands.

27. This government respects and will continue to respect all the democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation.

Thank you all. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

That’s the full speech of President Buhari on #EndSars protest ?

I don’t know what to say on this… But someone commented on Twitter that the President Buhari’s speech make the whole country “speechless” — Maybe that’s why I don’t know what to say.

But I know most Nigerians are disappointed.

But just in case you’re thinking of traveling out of the country and you don’t know how to start, here is how to get your international passport in Nigeria

What do you think about the 10 minutes speech? Kindly use the comment box below.