BUSINESS

What to do if you lose your job after Covid-19

Published

8 months ago

May 14, 2020

editor

The coronavirus is still ravaging the entire globe, throwing up new cases and deaths almost every minute of the day. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicted that at the end of this pandemic, Africa alone would have lost close to 200,000 people.

The deaths are not the only things to be lost to the novel coronavirus as experts warn that up to 5 million jobs may be lost at the end of the day, owing to the pandemic. Already, many employers are beginning to shed weight by either slashing salaries into half or lesser and in many cases, outrightly sacking their staff in places where they have not been asked to proceed on compulsory leave without pay.

A top bank who recently acquired another bank has been in the news with its announced plans to sack some of its workers amidst the pandemic. Although this has attracted widespread reactions, one cannot pretend to say all is well with all businesses and employers in Nigeria.

So, the question to ask yourself at this point is, what happens if I end up being one of those that will lose their jobs at the end of this coronavirus era? What would i do? What will i fall back to? How will i cope with my bills and responsibilities?

These and many questions should be racing through the mind of anyone who earns a salary today in Nigeria because as long as the business is not your own, you are bound to be separated from it at some point in life, whether you like it or not.

The first thing you are advised to do, if the eventuality eventually happens, is to see how to convert your skills into something that can earn you money, no matter how small.

That thing that has always attracted your employers to pay you regular salaries, is what i am talking about here. It may be your creativity, it may be a secret that you have always applied in your role as an employee, it may be a skill you learnt but you have not been using, it may even be a trade secret you have mastered during your days as an employee…. it could be anything!

Think about how you can apply such skills as a money making venture.
Another thing to do,is to engage yourself in a brainstorming session with the motive of identifying and outlining on a piece of paper, what you think are the problems or challenges of people around you. That problem is what you are interested in identifying and then search for a solution to the problem. Now, offer the solution and you are in business!

Note here that you really do not need to be solution provider yourself, but you can be the link between the solution provider and the people with the problem or challenges. That can make you a regular earning too.
Yet another thing to do, is to start a freelancing or consultancy business.

Remember the skills we mentioned earlier? That is the most important thing you need to do this. Look around for established businesses (including your last employer, if possible), give them your complimentary cards (it is not difficult or expensive to design and print one in your new business name) and share to those you have identified, telling them you can render the service at a reduced rate, if they are interested.

Trading is another thing you may want to consider. All you have to do, is to look for where you can buy what you think people need at a subsidized rate and sell to those who need or want them. You may not need too much money to start this as the commodity you want to trade will determine what amount you need to put into it.

You may want to build on any of the foregoing and come out with what best suits you.

Drop other ideas below in the comment section, if you have them.
Thank you for reading

BUSINESS

If you’re African and use WhatsApp, you need to read this

Published

2 weeks ago

January 9, 2021

editor

A new app built by an African for Africans is out. Its name is SupFrica!

The app, just like WhatsApp, has all the features that WhatsApp has. But one thing that it has that WhatsApp doesn’t is, it’s 2× faster than WhatsApp.

Sending a message on Supfrica is faster than sending a message on WhatsApp, the report claims. You can add up 2348055441309, after installation for a test. The voice and video call in Africa is of high quality just as WhatsApp. This is the time to embrace our own. It is proudly made by a Sierra Leonean!

The company, Techfrica, which is owned by Mr. Hassan Hafiz Bakarr-Kanu Sr., released the app on Google Play Store on December 11, 2020, with fewer downloads.

The app is also amazingly rated number 1 on Google Play Store Top Free Apps; leading the world’s top messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, Telegram, WeChat, etc.

You can forward messages to more than 20 contacts at once, unlike WhatsApp. With Supfrica, you can create a Supfrica group and add an unlimited number of contacts to your group, unlike WhatsApp. You can add up 2348055441309, after installation for a test.

BUSINESS

Alaba Amalgamated Council commiserates with Ojo police station, donates items for rebuilding

…thanks Gov. Sanwo-Olu for re-opening Lagos markets

Published

3 months ago

October 29, 2020

editor

By Adeola Oluwaseun Oluwole

A week after a widespread arson which left many public utilities burnt in Lagos including police stations, the Alaba Amalgamated Council of Sectional heads have commiserated with Ojo police station and donated items to fast-track the rebuilding of the station.

The Council which visited the dilapidated police property on Tuesday 27th of October, 2020 to see the level of damage and to show their support to the command also facilitated the re-roofing of the station

The council of sectional heads led by the president Ichie Fabian E. Ezorjika donated office tables, chairs, electronics and a power generating set to the station.

Also, the roofing of the police station was changed and sponsored by Evang. Paulilus Ugochukwu ( a.k.a Sound Prince).

Ojo local government Chairman Hon. Rosulu Idowu donated and an Ilux van to the station as their patrol van was also burnt during the incidence.

In another development, the Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association (Council of Sections) has expressed appreciation to the Lagos state government, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the promptness in re-opening markets in the state after last week’s riots.

Th association commended governor Sanwoolu for yielding to the cries of its members on the inconveniences the one-day on, and one-day off pattern characterized by the pandemic caused them economically.

They promised to adhere to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)’s rules guiding against Covid-19 and ensure full compliance of traders in tax payment.

BUSINESS

ALERT: Panic buying in Lagos as fear of petrol pump price hike grips residents

Published

6 months ago

August 5, 2020

editor

Lagosians this morning embarked on panic fuel buying as petrol stations across the metropolis become crowded with vehicles and people who want to buy the product in jerrycans.

This may not be unconnected with the Tuesday’s announcement by the the downstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, which fixed the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, at N138.62 per litre

When asked why the panic buying, some motorists who spoke with GidiNews blamed on it on the inconsistency of the government over the fixing of petroleum pump price in recent time.

“We are not sure what could come up next and so, one has to prepare well for every eventuality that may occur. I am a businessman and I cannot afford to look on, while my investments are always affected by unpredictable government policies. I need to fill my tank, at least for the rest of the week and that is why I am here” A motorist told our correspondent in Ogba Ikeja.