SKILLS YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF
VOL 2 NO. 3 N300
BEYOND “SAKA” THE MAN BEHIND THE SCENE
NOLLYWOOD BILLIONS DISCOVER YOUR TALENT AND GO FOR YOUR SHARE
EMMPPEK ENGINEERING CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SKILL TRAINING HEALTH AND WEALTH HOME AND GARDEN ENTREPRENEUR FASHION AND BEAUTY MOTIVATION INTERVIEW SPEND LESS ON EVERYDAY EXPENSES THE EASY STEPS
HOW TO
D DEVELOP GOO ITS DRIVING HAB THIS SON FESTIVE SEA
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For more info on how to be one of our models call: 07067770261 08051539060
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Skills Magazine
Our highly esteemed reader, it good to know our hands of friendship are still linked together as you kept a date with us in this issue of Skills magazine. Our focus always is to motivate you to acquire a skill, hone it and share with others. In this issue, we are bringing you stories of real life people who have made something of themselves through the skills they acquired. We hope it inspires you to act. We are also bringing you different skills you can learn. We hope you are able to do something with it. There are also useful tips on health, safety, fashion that can help improve the quality of your life and of those around you. But if you have any skill you would like to share or to learn, please let us know about it. Don’t be afraid to do something new because Dale Carnegie once said “we have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do." So don’t hold back on yourself. Dare to do something new and different, persevere and success will trail you. We hope this issue of Skills magazine motivates you. Enjoy David Edojah
Skills Magazine Team
Editor-in-chief Kieni Edojah
Edith Osaye Ayanate B. Douglas Lut Haruna Benita John Destiny Mordy A
Website David Edojah
Make -up Artist Ayanate B. Douglas
Art Director David Edojah
Advisory Support Imoh O. Brown
Editorial Support Kieni Edojah Edith Osaye Destiny A Mordy Naomi Itukpe
Magazine Distribution Christian Chigoziem Williams
Publisher David Edojah
Contributing Writers Kieni Edojah Kazeem Adebiyi
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ISSN: 0795 - 3038
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Skills magazine is licensed under TUSBORN GLOBAL SERVICES LTD 15 Uyiehierobo Street, Off Alohern Street, Off Dumre 2 Road, Benin City, Edo State. Office Address: No. 1a, Elijiji Avenue, Woji, Port Hacourt, Nigeria. For advert and feedback please call +234 813 784 5812 or email us at info@skillsmagazine.org david_insh@yahoo.com November 2013 Do you have views, comments and suggestions concerning our stories or any important issue? HOW TO please feel free to share REACH them with us, we would US like to hear from you.
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SKILLS
CONTENTS
G e n e r a l
34........... 37......
Nollywood Billions Discover Your Talent And Go For Your Share
6 Study Skills You Should Have
40 ..........
The Nine Mental Skills Of Successful Athletes
Cover Feature
The Girls Show
Beyond “Saka” “Popularly known as Saka, who is the man behind the character? What does it take to be like him?”
22
Emmppek Engineering
“Learn about this platform created to empower young women to live fuller, healthier lives”
32
Contributing to the advancement of the Nigerian Society.
41
Events
Quaterly Poetic Gathering In Ibadan
Photo Speak:
“where talent in music, poetry and more are discovered”
2nd Rivers State Youth Summit 2013
7
21
Health and Wealth
Training
29........................ 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Maize Driving Skills And Tips How to form good driving habits.............................8 30............... How To Spend Less On Everyday Expenses Intro To Screen Writing ...................................... 10 Decorating Cakes ............................................. 13
Entrepreneur Easy steps to Networking..............................................15 5 ..................... 12 Dos and Don’ts for an Entrepreneur
How to improve your drawing skill...................... 16
6 .............. The Value of Skills - an entrepreneur’s story
Fashion and Beauty
17......................................................A Look At interior Design
The “No Makeup” Look ..................................... 10 Do You Want To Become A Model? .................. 38
Home and Garden Motivation 28 ................ How To Create And Manifest Your Desires
Tips For Growing Tomatoes ...............................20 Cutleries Delight: Proper Table Setting ............. 26 Connect your skills..............................................31 Skillscolumn
Skills Entrepreneur
12 DO’S AND DON'T’S FOR AN
ENTREPRENEUR By Ayanate B. Douglas
1. HAVE AN ANSWER Be able to tell why you want to be in business for yourself. You have to have a good reason why you want to get involved in a business of your own. 2. MONEY MOTIVATION Don't start a business venture with the only motivation being that of getting rich fast regardless of how interesting or lucrative the business appears to be. 3. HAVE A PLAN Don't start a business just because you are tired of working for someone else, you should have a plan for yourself. 4. CAN DO SPIRIT Have your heart and soul in the business. If you don't believe in it no one else will. Put up the spirit of work so that others can join.
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5. STOOP TO CONQUER Don't be too proud, arrogant or pompous to ask for help. There is no age-bracket in learning. 6. NOT A CHARITY Don't forget that you are running a business. It is not supposed to be a welfare agency or a hobby, make sure you don't turn your business to a charity organization. 7. WHAT REALLY COUNTS The level of passion and commitment is one of the distinguishing factors between business for personal reasons and who is in it simply because it seemed like a good idea at a time. 8. HIGH STAKES . The business should be something you will naturally like to do even when money is not involved. The level of effort, risk and commitment are so high that the business needs to be something that fulfills more than
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economic issues. 9. FORGET IT Forget about having a life or money in the opening phases of the business; do not expect much money in the opening phase of the business 10. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN Be prepared to lose all of the money that you invest in the business. It is not anyones wish but it does happen- the unexpected. 11. FIRST THINGS FIRST Set a minimum before you start, set a standard before you start the business. Realize what return will be acceptable before you start, so that you can reach an equilibrium. 12. BALANCING ACT Don't go too far with the personal sacrifices try hard to maintain some balance in your life. [S]
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Skills Entrepreneur
As inflation infiltrates all sectors of the economy, having a firm hold on an employment is counted as a piece of fortune, let alone finding one. In view of this, some have put their potential to good use by developing and using it. Comrade Abdul Afegbua, born about 46 years ago is one of such. He hail from Etsako East Local Government of Edo State and is a Professional Air Condition Engineer. Join us as he speak with Skills Magazine .......... How far have you gone with secular education? I acquired my BSc from University of Port Harcourt and thereafter got my Master Degree in Economics in 2009 from the same institution. Did you have this skill before going to the University? Yes. After my secondary education in 1985, I came to Port Harcourt. Then I started looking for a white-collar job according to the norms then, since my father could not finance my tertiary education. I wasted a whole two years without getting a good job. I had to enroll in a skill acquisition programme; cooling system and electric appliances for three years. Thereafter, I went to Kano to acquire more skills in Electrical installation; domestic and industrial. Today, I am versatile in all electrical appliances. I am managing my own establishment. Abdul Technology which was registered in1992.
So far, what are the number of students you have successfully trained over the years? From 1991 till date, I have trained up to 64 boys who are doing well today. Tell Skills Magazine a little about this aspect of engineering Cooling system is a vast engineering sector. It involves refrigerator, air conditioning, cold room and even ice block machine. We are even manufacturing local ice block machines here, using condemned refrigerator and condenser from air conditioners as the materials. The training acquired here enables us to take care of dry cleaning machines, dryer and washing machine. We takes care of kitchen equipments and also into domestic and industrial electrification.
All these you just mentioned, do they really put food on your table? I mean, are you financially comfortable with this skill. Well, I have to tell you the truth. I Do you also train people? Yes. cannot really tell you how much I earn per week. But like I have told you, I How long does it take to learn cooling have Master degree and this is what I used to sponsor myself. It has been system It depends on the individual’s ability. If putting food on my table. In fact, I am you are smart, two years is enough, but comfortable. the maximum period is three years. So you can confidently tell others that Please what are the requirements to the skill is worth acquiring? What are you talking about? I have become one of your student? One must be literate with at least four cars from here, I have built O’level. houses, I am training my children. In fact, I am even making plans so that it
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will be considered in tertiary institution as a discipline. Has this been your dream career? No. since there was nothing I could do, I had to get my hand on something that would keep me going. All glory to God, today, I can proudly say that I have two careers; I am a technician and an economist. Aside these, do you have any other skill(s) you would want to bring up in the future? We are even incorporating other skills into this sector. For instance, when someone brings a fridge with dents, we do not take it to ‘panel beater’, we do that ourselves, weld, fill and spray it. Would you want your child to acquire some skills before going to the tertiary institution? Em… you see, necessity is the mother of invention. If there is no fund to finance tertiary education, there is no point wasting time. What if the money is there? In that case, well, because of what they will perceive as child abuse, I would send them to tertiary institution. But even at that, I would advise them to use their vacation to acquire a skill of any interest to them, because what we need in this country is not certificate but what one can do to provide for oneself. I must tell you confidently that I am not regretting anything with regards to my career now.[S]
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Skills Event
QUARTERLY POETIC GATHERING IN IBADAN
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he serene environment of Zoological gardens, University of Ibadan, came alive on Saturday 13th July 2013 when some of the most creative youths of our time gathered to showcase their talents. The event tagged “BE BLESSED: Season 3” is a quarterly poetry and sundry talent event organized by EGC in partnership with ORDER! The aim is to promote discovery and utilization of various talents in poetry, spoken word, music, comedy, etc. It started with children from power Cathedral Oke-Ado who were on excursion to the Zoo reciting second stanza of Nigerian National Anthem. It also featured spoken-wordpoetry and music from acts such as Enigmatic Olumide, Soonest Nathaniel, Street Poet, Lumynos, G-Sam, Ronke O'tega, Eagles Voice, Clementina, Ateli Opuiyo, Yomi Akinlaja, ThickCode, and many more. It was an avenue for already known performers to inspire upcoming ones and for those who performed/read their poems for the first time to acquire needed experience in Ibadan. A typical example was a budding poet who said, “This is the first time in my life I would be in a gathering like this, after been told several times by my mum that I'm wasting my time by indulging in fantasy (poetry). I now believe I'm on the right path…” The event was witnessed by both people who went to UI Zoo for excursion and those whose purpose was solely for the event. Attendees who have talents were also given room to showcase themselves. Though it started as a sitting room talent show, the organizers hope it will someday gather all creative minds from Nigerian and abroad in Ibadan. The next edition of the BE BLESSED will be held second Saturday in October 2013. It will be another avenue for both known and upcoming talents to display their talents. [S]
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DRIVING SKILLS AND TIPS
How to form good driving habits www.keys2drive.com.au
Part of the task of great driving is mastering the art of good driving habits. It's easy to pick up habits from watching others and doing what they do; be discerning - make sure you are influenced only by quality driving habits. We’ve put together a list of good driving habits for your reference, or you could ask a professional instructor to help you make your own list. Form habits through correct repetition Aim to do things the correct way, many times, and don’t be satisfied with sloppy performance. If you do something a number of times
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correctly, it will begin to become a habit that works reliably. If you make a mistake while you are developing your habits, work out why, fix that problem, and keep doing it again the correct way. Test your habits While you are using the habit, say random odd numbers between 1 and 21 (e.g. 3, 7, 19, 15). You’re doing well if the habit works while your mind is thinking hard about something else. Alternatively, have someone else test you - ask someone who knows what the correct habits are to watch you drive in an unfamiliar situation or while you’re distracted. >>
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Here is a list of driving actions that form the basis of good driving habits.
Look in your mirror before you put your foot on the brake. Indicate before you brake.
Opinions differ on what's 'correct' when it comes to driving habits; this list conforms to what most professional driving instructors teach. Preparing to drive Adjust the seat for effective control and comfort. Adjust all three mirrors for the best view. Fit and adjust your seat belt and head restraint. Check your passengers are safely seated.
Look around you Slow down if you can't see what's happening five vehicles in front of you. Slow down at intersections and look for other cars even if you have right of way. Look into intersections regardless of having right of way. Keep your eyes scanning the situation all around you. Look over your shoulder (headcheck) before beginning to change lanes and in other situations where vehicles could be in your blind spot. Don’t bend the rules Come to a complete stop (no rolling) at stop signs. Ensure your maximum speed is always slightly under the speed limit. Stop for green lights when traffic in front of you is not leaving the intersection. Stop for amber lights unless it is not safe. Indicating Be a careful driver Indicate for at least five seconds before you pull out from the kerb. Indicate for at least three seconds before turning. Indicate for at least two seconds before beginning to change lanes. Indicate before you steer off roundabouts (wherever practical). Look in your mirror before you indicate.
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Stay at least three seconds travel time behind the car immediately in front of you. Leave a space, when stopping behind a vehicle, to drive around it if you have to. Change lanes as little as possible. Slow down when approaching green traffic lights and check to make sure no one is running a red light. [S]
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THE “NO MAKEUP” LOOK; THE SILENT NOISE The “silence” of soft makeup is noisy enough to attract an audience. It is unbelievable how little makeup enhances your best features and makes you look effortlessly beautiful. It is an undisputed fact that less is more. By Honeyluks.com
WRITING WRITING WRITING WRITING
Intro to ScreenWriting by Destiny Mordy
So, you're going to write a screenplay. This is awesome. And if you're a little nervous about it, that's awesome too, because it means you're not alone. After all, screen writing isn't something that we learn in grammar school or do at dinner parties. It feels more like a mysterious dark art practiced by reclusive alchemists who only emerge from their caves for all-too-brief Academy Awards appearances. Indeed, if you've ever told a story in your life, you already have the basic knowledge needed to write a movie. That said, we've included a few tips that might help you wrap your brain around your screenplay and make your first draft go a little more smoothly. These are just to get you started; as you get into the thick of writing, your intuition help you along the way. 1) Support the draft The entire month will be largely delightful if you just repeat these words each morning in front of a mirror: "This is a draft. It is only a draft." After all, they're true. You are writing the first, messy, flawed, why-not-try-this-crazy-idea draft. It's a time for experimentation, risk-taking, and wonderfully low standards. You can go back to pinched perfectionism and painstaking caution later. Or never again. >>
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Think about those semi-apocryphal stories that professional writers love to tell, about how their stacked screenplay drafts reached as high as their chins, or how they were rescued by the fire department after towers of rewrites collapsed and pinned them to the floor. The point is: Even the pros write and rewrite and shape and massage for a long while before ever getting to the deceptively easy-looking brilliance of a great screenplay. Right now, you and your screenplay are just starting down the road, looking fondly at one another, thinking, "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”
efforts. It's just easier to write familiar settings and characters than to invent realistic NASA jargon or authentic details about a wildebeest stampede. That said, you're writing a screenplay to explore something new, to have an adventure, to step outside your everyday life. You—and your characters—aren't going to make it through 30 days and nights of screenwriting if your subject matter is so familiar it puts you to sleep. Besides, there aren't enough androids, dwarves, psycho killers, and criminal masterminds around to write all the needed sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and heist films. Someone needs to cross 2) Start reading movies over. Most of us can talk tirelessly about our So write a story that excites you, one favorite movie scenes, plot twists, and that you want to tell to your friends, happy endings. So why, when it comes one that you can't stop thinking about, to writing a film, do we feel we're on one that would be a movie you'd love completely unfamiliar ground? Could to go see. Don't worry if it's weird, it be the fact that very few of us have not in fashion, or doesn't have a builtever actually read a screenplay? Why in audience. The best thing that you yes, it could. and your script can possess is First, try reading the screenplay for a passion. movie you know and love. Pay attention to how the familiar elements 4) Practice the three P’s (Plan, in the film—plot, character, Pitch, Pre-visualize) setting—were initially described using While some professional text. You'll probably be surprised at screenwriters map out their entire how lean and efficient a screenplay is, movie in amazing detail before typing how it includes only the information a single word, this type of planning needed to tell the story. Stripped of all isn't necessary to have an awesome its audio and visual embellishments, Script Frenzy experience. Besides, if the structure of the film will also be this is your first screenplay, that level more easy to see. Look at how scenes of pre-planning probably won't be relate to one another, how the dialogue particularly valuable, considering flows, how obstacles are created and how much you're going to learn about overcome. pace and structure just by writing Next, read a screenplay for a movie (and how much you're going to want you've never seen before. Try to to change later on). imagine the finished film in your head. That said, it helps to know the Then watch the movie and see how the general story you're telling before you text was translated into a visual begin. It can be as simple a plan as: medium. Begin to understand the "When a young man loses his home relationship between text and film. and family, he joins a group of Start to learn the shape of a screenplay. embattled rebels and eventually Do this again and again and again, and brings down an evil empire by you won't need any more tips. You'll tapping into an internal, universal feel screenplays in your bones. force.” As long as it has a beginning, middle, and end, you're off to a good 3) Choose an idea that excites you start. To some extent, the old adage of (Incidentally, these three parts "write what you know" applies to correlate with the three-act structure screenplays, especially first-time that so many screenplays are based
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around. For fear of permanently stunting your originality, we're not going to say too much more about three-act structure—or seven-act structure, or one-act structure, or any of the other structures that you can read about online and even learn about at N15,000 seminars. Just remember: You need a beginning, middle, and end. Like a good joke). One way to hone your storyline is to describe it to people. Come up with a 1- to 3-minute version of the plot and tell it to your spouse, your friends, your dog. Notice what excites them (and you), what areas feel vague, where you lose their attention, what questions come up. This is a form of pitching, and while pitching usually is used in Hollywood to sell a script, it's also a good way to determine whether you understand your story and whether it can stand the test of a little scrutiny. If you find yourself saying "…I don't know, then something happens that changes everything," you might want to sit down and brainstorm about what these "some things" and "every things" are. Once you have your basic story plan, there are plenty of fun ways to begin thinking about it in terms of major scenes and turning points. One is previsualization. Try sitting down and imagining the trailer for your movie on the screen. What are the opening images that set the tone? How do we meet the main character? At what point is a problem or issue introduced? What next? Are there tense moments? Snippets of funny, revealing dialogue? What hint of resolution wraps it all up and leaves the audience hungering for more? If you have time, pick out a song or score for your imaginary trailer (or your whole film). Or clip images from magazines to make a movie poster for your film. Anything that gets you excited.
Practice the three P’s
5) Get to know your characters People don't go to the movies to see scary, romantic, or exciting situations; they go to see memorable human beings reacting to scary, romantic, or exciting situations. >>
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Which means your big goal as a screenwriter is to create real characters that the audience will want to watch, whether they're falling into volcanoes or falling in love. No idea how do this? It's okay to start with just a basic picture of your character: early 20s slacker female who lives for dirt bike racing. Mid50s Oxford rhetoric professor who dreams of being a rap star. Aging, streetwise hustler with a soft spot for children. But don't stop there and miss all the fun. Try actually stepping into your character's skin. Imagine you're your main character and fill out those goofy questionnaires in Cosmo. Write a personals ad. Take a Meyers-Briggs personality test. Fill out a job application. Ask yourself, what does this person eat, wear, and listen to on the radio? How would she react to winning the lottery or coming home to find a thief in the house or ripping her pants in public? What does he despise? Love? What would he die for? Kill for? How did she get to the place in her life where the film starts? In creating characters and filling out their personalities and pasts, don't be afraid to add major flaws and foibles. Unless it's up on a catwalk, perfection is boring to watch. In fact, the best movie moments usually occur when a character comes face to face with his or her flaws and fears. Unflappable Indiana Jones? Terrified of snakes. Lovable Annie Hall? Neurotic and spastic. Hannibal Lecter? Unfortunate taste in comestibles. Finally, don't focus exclusively on your hero and leave the rest of your cast stranded in Stereotypeville. The best villains possess a rich history and complexity; even supporting characters are worthy of unique obsessions and quirks. 6) Give your story a horsepower engine As you're working with your characters and plotline, it's helpful to remember that what you're writing will ultimately be viewed in a single 2 to 2.5-hour sitting. Your film has a lot of ground to cover in a very short chunk of time, and it has to hold the
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audience's attention for the duration! Given these parameters, your story doesn't have much time to dawdle or drift. What it needs is a tuned-up engine that can go from 0 to 60 in the first act, up and over a whole mountain range of obstacles and setbacks in the middle section, and maintain enough speed to cruise right into the dramatic conclusion. Luckily, you can help jump-start this engine by putting powerful, significant, or extreme situations and motivations into your script. 7) Embrace change Whether you're consciously aware of it in the theater or not, change is usually what makes movies so emotionally satisfying. The thrill of Spider-Man isn't in watching a practiced superhero swing from buildings and kick bad guys' butts; it's in watching a geeky, fumbling manchild gleefully transform into a superhero who swings from buildings and kicks butt. The power of As Good As It Gets isn't about seeing a misanthropic Jack Nicholson kick dogs around, but in seeing his awkward growth in response to love. And even though Schindler's List is set against the vast, gripping reality of the Holocaust, its drama still flows from a single man's change of heart. Change, or the lack of change, is also one of the best ways to reveal character to your audience. When the actor in Tootsie faces countless hurdles while posing as a woman and still perseveres, this lack of change reveals his complete commitment to his craft. When he casts off his disguise at the height of his career, this 180 degree shift proves the depth of his love for his co-star. He's completed an arc from self-absorbed and desperate to self-realized and compassionate. And it's amazingly compelling to watch. Given this importance of change, it's not a bad idea to stick a GOT CHANGE? Post-It to your laptop or forehead. As you're writing, go ahead and put your characters in tough situations that force them to choose. Don't let them off easy: Throw them curveballs, saddle them with
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setbacks, put them in the path of some serious emotional oncoming traffic. Do they change or not? Why? If you've given them a strong enough drive, they'll make some pretty interesting choices. If you've provided them with flaws and failings, they'll have plenty of room to grow. And the audience will love being along for the ride. 8) Action: Write a blueprint Unlike a novel, an essay, or poem, which are fully formed entities, a screenplay is a plan for a future movie. It is to film what sheet music is to a symphony concert or an architectural blueprint is to a building. It comes to life later, in a completely different medium. What this means is that when you start writing, all the information in a screenplay must eventually translate into images or sound, the twin languages of film. This is fairly manageable when writing dialogue, since people talking translates rather nicely to an image and a sound. But writing action and description can be a different story. Especially for those of you who have written a novel or other prose, this translation process—and its pitfalls—can take some getting used to. It goes something like this: You write: Sarah stands at the window, thinking about what Jeremy said in the grain silo. The way he'd stood there, nervous, with one hand idly scratching the back of his head would always make her want to kiss him. But she couldn't anymore. Not now, knowing he was the one who'd kidnapped the wiener dog. The audience sees: Sarah standing at the window, staring for a while, and then frowning. You get the point: If it's internal dialogue or a thought process or a memory or anything else that goes on inside someone's head, it isn't going to end up on screen unless it's translated into an image or a sound. But don't panic. If you happen to write internal thoughts in your screenplay, you can always go back and translate them to visuals or sounds.[S]
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DECORATING CAKES By Ruth Akorhe -Ruthies Oven
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end to end. Measure the rolled out sugar paste to ensure that it can completely cover the cake. Lift the pendant gently with the rolling mat and place over the cake making sure it is centralized and covers COVERING THE CAKE The un-iced cake should be placed on the edges of the cake a cake board. A cake could be covered properly. with either butter cream icing, royal Please note that for the sugar paste or icing or sugar paste icing. However pendant to adhere to the cake and stay for a beginner, sugar paste icing is the firmly on it without slipping or sliding easiest to master. So we will discuss off, you should coat the cake this method alone. BEFORE placing the pendant on it You will need the following: with either of the following i. A smooth surfaced table a. A light coat of honey ii. A rolling pin b. Light coating of butter cream iii. A rolling mat icing iv. A smoother v. A pizza cutter Finally, smooth the icing over the cake using the smoother. This is to Method - Dust the worn table liberally with icing sugar. - Knead the sugar paste until smooth and pliable. - Place the sugar paste in the centre of the rolling mat and begin rolling with the rolling pin till it spreads make sure that there are no air pockets to a in between. thickness of about Trim the excess pendant off the edge ½ of an of inch. here are 3 basic steps to cake decorating 1. Covering the cake 2. Creating a beautiful boarder around the cake 3. Decorating the cake
At this point, you measure your cake from
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the cake. Trim along the board using the pizza cutter. This tool helps you to do this job as neatly as possible. After a cake is covered, it should be left to dry for about 10-12hrs. This helps the icing to harden and makes it easier for the cake to be handled. At this point you are ready for the next stage. CREATING BEAUTIFUL BORDERS Boarders can be made with royal
icing flowers or ribbons, the sugar paste gum etc. It all depends on the creativity of the decorator. The equipments needed are; i. Crimpers ii. Embossers iii. Piping bags iv. A set of piping tips v. Flower cutters vi. Ribbons vii. Sugar paste gem>>
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Simple border can be made by stretching a colorful ribbon around the sides of the iced cake. To make
Pipe designs. There are many different and creative ways to decorate a cake with piped designs. An important point to consider in mastering this art of cake decorating is to practice often. Basic tools needed: I. Piping bags ii. Nozzles iii. Capliers iv. Syringes v. Icing (Royal or butter icing
the ribbon stick to the cake, edible gum is used, edible gum is made by mixing one teaspoon of CMC with Âź cup of water. Another simple boarder can be made using Sugar gum. The sugar gum brings out a variety of decorative sugar paste recipes that can be fitted around a cake to create a beautiful border. The most beautiful designs in cake boarder however are made with royal icing using the piping method. This method is used not only to decorate the boarders, but can also be used to decorate the entire cake.
DECORATING THE CAKE This is the final stage and requires a lot of imagination and creativity. A message can be piped on the cake, indicating the purpose for which the cake is made (e.g. Happy anniversary) a painting can be made on a round cut out piece of sugar paste and placed in the center of the cake. A bouquet of flowers can also be placed on the cake. These flowers could either be real or artificial. Of course sugar flowers can also be made using gum paste or flower paste. This however is a completely different area of cake decorating and may be dealt with in a future article. [S]
Types of piped designs i. Reverse shells ii. Plain shells iii. Raised stars iv. Rosettes v. Drop flowers xiii. Straight line xiv. Corneli lace xv. Sotas xvi. Filigree icing xvii. Basket weave
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EASY STEPS
TO COMPUTER NETWORKING Computer networking has been one very key aspect in the world of Information Technology. The knowledge of networking will save you money, save you troubles from disappointing IT engineers, improve your worth in your office environment and also put some money into your pocket as an IT engineer. Students having computer networking as a project will also find these course helpful. This course is completely free and offers you flexibility and choice without any long-term commitments In this edition, you will learn how to crimp and connect network cable And in our next edition, you will learn 1. How to setup a network and 2. How to share files and resources Let’s get started.... Get a LAN cable. CONNECTING YOUR CABLE We have 4pair of strands of copper wire
crimpping tool and crimp carefully and firmly
Carefully spread out the cable as shown in the diagram. This should be your result.
Get your RJ 45 connector Plug in the cable into the RJ45 connector carefully. Insert the cable into the LAN port behind your desktop or laptop computer.
Get your crimping tool
Make sure the cable gets to the end of the connector. See you soon!!! [S] Next, position the connector into the
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How to Improve Your Drawing Skills Drawing can be hard, it is for everybody at first, but who knows, maybe you're the next Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci! 1.Try practicing shapes with shading and experiment with different tools. Try to do this in any spare time. 2. Draw simple designs. After you get used to shading with different tools, start drawing simple designs and things like plants or something you see around you laying on a table. (Remember that if it doesn't start out good you can always erase it, but try to finish what you started and then make changes to it later.) 3. Draw vivid designs. Now you can start drawing something more alive with expression and eyes. (You can choose if you want to start with animals first or humans.) Try looking at a photo or go buy a drawing book (suggested) and start off with easier, less detailed things like a fish, a perched bird or something that isn't furry and/or in too much motion. 4. Be self-confident about your drawing skills. Always encourage yourself to draw and praise yourself to keep practicing until you get it right. 5. Graduate to more complex drawing designs. After you are used to simple animals try to draw detailed ones. Always take your time drawing details; rushed details do not look effective. The best way to make detailed drawings is to start off with the outline (the way you just learned). Next do the details, such as eyelashes, freckles, noses, fingers, shading, clothes wrinkles, etc. For animals, add stripes, spots, scales, shine, long coats and background.
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TIPS · Never give up drawing if it is truly a good hobby to you. · Practice. · Ask for some constructive criticism (note: this means ask someone if they can point out a few flaws in the drawing, but also ask them if they know any ways to improve it so the flaws can be fixed or minimized).
Art by Mike Edojah 08140948047
· Drawing is NOT a competition and you are doing this to have fun. · Don't stick to one medium all the time, experiment with whatever you can get your hands on. · Don't compare your drawings to the work of a famous artist. Remember that they are professionals and have been practicing their whole life. · Shading in one direction (as in a straight line) is good for most objects, but for things like animals or leaves shading along with the curves of the object will help it pop out even more. · Experiment with different paper types and textures. Pencil on Bristol board has a different look and feel than pencil on cotton fiber paper. Find a surface that appeals to you.
Art by Mike Edojah 08140948047
Warning · Don't take it hard if somebody says your drawing stinks. Just keep trying. · If your drawing didn't turn out well, recognize it's flaws and try to improve in the future. ·Sometimes it's just hard to draw, and you feel like you've lost any skills in drawing, otherwise known as Artist's block. It's very normal even for the best of us, so don't let it get to you. Try finding a way to 'beat the block' that works for you. · Do not practice until your fingers fall off. · If you have a friend who can draw better than you, don't let it get to you. Try and improve, and maybe you might get even better than them! [S]
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A LOOK AT INTERIOR DESIGN
T
he design business enjoys strong demand as people continue to buy or move into new homes, and remodel old ones. The interior design business is a go-out of your house kind of home business. While doing the business aspects inside the home, most of the sales will be done at the client's home or office as you evaluate the space, match color swatches to existing furniture and
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measure windows for draperies, etc.
INTERIOR DESIGNER OR DECORATOR? An Interior Designer is someone "professionally trained to create a functional and quality interior environment. Qualified through education, experience and examination, a professional designer can identify, research and creatively resolve issues and provide a healthy, safe and comfortable physical
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environment." The keywords here are "professionally trained and qualified." It is expected that only those who have met or exceeded a certain level of accredited education, and in some case are licensed, can be called an Interior Designer. If you do not have the qualifications and education, you can still work on the interior design business but you would call yourself as a Decorator instead.>>
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TYPES OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS specifying of interior materials and The design business is multifaceted. You can either work as a product-driven designer or as a design consultant. The product-driven designer is a hands-on designer who combines the task of conceptualizing the look of the given space with marketing a wide variety of products. This is the common track of start-up designers. The designer often markets various products and even offers free design advice if the client buys all of the products from him or her. Buyers of their products are often allotted a certain number of hours of free design advice; if more time is needed, a per hour fee is charged. A product-driven
products used in private residences. In terms of scope and contract amount, residential jobs are often smaller, but offer a higher profit margin particularly if you are marketing the products to be used in designing the rooms. Commercial jobs, on the other hand, are often much bigger in scope but the bidding that often accompanies the contract can push down your profit margin. Commercial design covers a wide variety of specialties, such as entertainment (e.g. movies, theater, videos, theme parks, clubs, dramatic and musical theater); facilities management (e.g. office moves or expansions);
You also need to buy books of samples, which are the lifeblood of a design business. Manufacturers of wallpapers, paint and carpets produce samples costing about N4000 to N6000 each representing various products in all sorts of design and colors. Try negotiating with sales representatives, as they can give some of these sample books for free, particularly if they see the potential that you can sell their product. When looking for samples, be careful of companies that will require you to purchase preselected samples on a monthly basis - even if you don't need it. The assumption is that you run a showroom to keep all the unused samples. Wallpaper and large fabric companies are particularly notorious for this practice.
PRICING STRUCTURE
designer also charges a per hour rate to customers who seek their advice but buys products from another company. A hefty percentage of the designer's income is generated from product sales. If you have worked in the business for a long time with an established reputation and a long list of references, you can focus on offering design-consulting services instead. You will not sell or market any product, but instead offer advice about the design of a room or an office. You are selling your design expertise, and not any product.
MARKET FOR INTERIOR DESIGN There are two types of market for interior design: residential and commercial. Residential interior design focuses on the planning and/or
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government/institutional (e.g. government offices, embassies, museums), health care (e.g. hospitals, nursing homes, long term care facilities); retail or store planning (e.g. boutiques, department stores, malls, food retailing centers); hospitality/restaurant (e.g. country clubs, hotels, cruise ships); and offices
START-UP COSTS An interior design business requires basic office supplies and equipment such as computers, telephones, and fax. In addition to the standard word processing and spreadsheet software, invest in AutoCAD software to present more professional looking design solutions to clients with threedimensional realism. AutoCAD software can cost from N1000 to N2000.
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Fee structures vary widely, depending on the designer, complexity of the project, geographical location and a host of other factors. Some of the ways interior designers charges for their services include: 路 Fixed fee (or flat fee) -- The designer identifies a specific sum to cover costs, exclusive of reimbursement for expenses. One total fee applies to the complete range of services, from conceptual development through layouts, specifications and final installation. 路 Hourly fee - Some designers charge based on the actual time spent on a project or specific service, with fees ranging from N15,000 to N30,000 per hour. 路 Percentage fee -Compensation is computed as a percentage of construction/project costs. 路 Cost plus -- A designer purchases materials, furnishings and services (e.g., carpentry, drapery workrooms, picture framing, etc.) at cost and sells to the client at the designer's cost, plus a specified percentage agreed to by the client. The service charge often varies.>>
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路 Retail - Others charge their clients the retail price of furnishings, furniture and all other goods they get wholesale, keeping the difference as designer's fee and services. Retail establishments offering design services commonly use this method. With this method, clients get the designers services at a price no greater than he or she would have paid for the products at retail. 路 Per square foot - Often used for large commercial properties, the charge is based on the area of the project. Some other designers require a retainer fee before the start of a design project. A retainer is an amount of money paid by the client to the designer and applied to the balance due at the termination of the project. Designers that offer free cost estimates charge for the measurements made, if customers do not intend to use the designer plan and request for the measurements.
INCOME POTENTIAL What is unique about the interior design business is that you never do the same job twice. It will be hard to place a specific price on individual projects. What you will earn from a job that requires redecoration of an entire room from the carpet, wallpaper to upholstery will be different from a job that requires you to put up drapes to ten windows.
MY MARKET STRATEGY: If you are trying to create a message that appeals to anyone that may be interested in any form of Interior Design, you are spinning your wheels and wasting your resources. The best way to gain awareness is by marketing through the strategy of developing your niche. The biggest objection most have to this idea is that they do not want to box themselves into a narrow offering. However, this is not the case when you use a niche to create awareness. I have a list of 5 different strategies to develop a niche: 1) By Industry There are dozens of industries that you can focus on to develop a market for your company. Here are only a few: Law offices, medical offices,
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health care, hotels, restaurants, day care centers and much more. 2) By Product Office Furniture, Kitchen Cabinets, Window Treatments, Color, Antiques, Artwork and Residential Furniture are just a few that fall under marketing with a product focus. 3) By Style When you sell by style, you sell based on your own unique talent. Examples of style include: Modern, Traditional, Classic, Youthful, Tailored and Elegant. 4) By Demography You can target a certain group of the market such as: Retiring Baby Boomers, Newly Divorced, those relocating for their work, Those moving to a new apartment and those planning for occasion. 5) By Solution A clever way to finding your niche is through offering great solutions to common and difficult problems. You can specialize in: Home Staging and offering solutions to the Disabled, assisting in decoration that is not yours. Now let's address the objection of limiting your offerings and narrowing your market
Niche Marketing Creates Awareness I propose that you look at each of these niche opportunities as potential marketing strategies rather than a narrow product offering. You can actually have several marketing strategies working at the same time. Your decision to choose any one of these niches is not a lifetime decision. If you find that a particular niche is unsuccessful; you can cut your losses and focus on a new strategy. In fact, as you will soon see, you will want to rotate your niche strategies in order to grow your business. The idea of having a niche is to create awareness about your company, and awareness happens when you can create a story. It's a fact that stories sell, just providing information does not. The beauty of working with niches is that you can create awareness on several fronts at the same time. It is a marketing strategy, not a straight-jacket. Let's try putting together a few marketing strategies based on the above options. You can put together a campaign that appeals to the Retiring
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Baby Boomers with a message about the importance of color in the home. You have a great demographic and a message about color that will create awareness about your company. How about appealing to Realtors with the concept of Home Staging? This is a great way to network with Realtors, a great source of potential referrals. Even if you do specialize, in let's say window treatments, you can generate awareness by taking advantage of the growing interest in smart homes. As you can see, using a niche as a way to develop a market strategy is an effective way to bring awareness to the target market that you exist. Look at your strengths and find a strategy that will make the world take notice.[S]
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Skills HOME AND GARDEN
Tips for Growing Healthy Tomatoes W
hile tomatoes are the most commonly grown vegetable, they're also one of the most problematic. A wide range of pests and diseases can attack tomatoes, ruining your plants before you get to enjoy a full harvest. Here's help. Choose Good Growing Conditions Tomatoes, like most vegetables, grow best in a spot with full sun and welldrained soil. They'll be more prone to disease if you plant them in heavy clay soil or shade. Also, it's helpful to plant tomatoes in a different part of the garden each year as diseases can build up in the soil. Stop disease from building up in the Soil If you have poor soil or don't have the option of planting your tomatoes in a different spot each year, try growing them in containers. Most tomatoes do really well in large pots filled with a potting mix designed for containergrown plants. Just be sure you have a big-enough pot -- at least 12 inches in
diameter -- many tomato varieties can grow 6 feet tall by the end of the season! Select Varieties for Your Situation There are literally hundreds of tomato varieties on the market. Different types are best adapted to different areas. For example, the University of Florida has released varieties such as 'Solar Set' that thrive in hot, humid conditions. Other areas, such as 'Northern Delight', have been bred to produce fruit quickly and are best for short-season areas. Check with local experts, such as your county extension agent, for recommendations. Another key to preventing disease is to select disease-resistant varieties. These will often have a letter, or series of letters (such as VFFN), on the plant tag or in the seed-catalog description. These letters stand for different disease strains.
plants and make them targets for disease. So make sure your tomato plants are well watered during dry spells and well fed during the season. To help cut down on competition from weeds and to help the soil hold moisture better, spread a couple of inches of mulch over the soil surface. Mulch can also create a protective barrier that helps stop soil-borne diseases from splashing up onto and infecting plant leaves. Wet foliage can encourage fungal diseases, so it's especially helpful to water your tomatoes with a soaker hose or drip irrigation instead of with a sprinkler or spray nozzle on your garden hose. If you have to water from the top of the plant, do so before noon so the leaves have plenty of time to dry before temper atures cool down at night. [S] By Destiny Mordy
Give Them Good Care Stressful growing conditions weaken
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2nd Rivers State Youth Summit -2013
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BEYOND
“SAKA�
Hafiz Oyetoro popularly known as 'Saka' of the T.V comedy soap 'House Apart' is a man of many parts. Born to humble farmers from Iseyin in Oyo State, a Theatre Arts graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, a Masters Degree holder in African Studies from the University of Ibadan and currently running a PHD programme. Mr Hafiz Oyetoro is surely a man that gets you curious about him. Excerpts:
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So tell us Mr Hafiz Oyetoro, where did it all start? When I was in primary school I used to take part, active part in drama presentation. Then later, when I got to secondary school, I became a very active member of the dramatic society. You know, back then we used to see a lot of planes flying over the school so I actually wanted to be pilot. But having gone through secondary school and realising that my passion was in acting, I decided to study Dramatic Arts at the university. And immediately after my first degree, I became a professional theatre practitioner, doing it full time as a qualified professional. So that is what I've been doing since 2001 when I joined Adeniran Ogunsanya Collage of Education as a lecturer of Theatre arts. Some assert that if you don't study theatre arts, you will not be able to do television very well. Is it true? No, no. So many people who are on the screen now did not go to the university. They are professionals in the sense that they must have gone through some form of training. There are various drama schools like that of Wale Adenuga and other workshops. There are some people who actually went through the training informally. People like Baba Ogunrinde, Baba Miro, Ojo Ladipo, Oga Bello, all those heavy, heavy theatre practitioners in the Yoruba movie industry. You know they have been here and they have gone through various degree of training informally. These are also professionals. The idea is, to be a professional, you must learn a trade. So you must go through a sort of training that qualifies you to practice it. So for people like these people who did not go to the university, but who have gone through training, either formally or informally, I can refer to them as professionals. They are professionals. What does it take to be a professional actor? One, you must identify and be sure that you have the potential for acting. Everybody has a God-given gift.
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Some have the potential for football, some have technical potentials, and some have for engineering. You must first and foremost identify that potential. Do I have the talent to do this? Do I have the ability? Not because other people are doing it. Once you are able to get it, fine. After identifying your potentials, you go for training, because our talents and potentials that we have from heaven are like raw material that needs to be polished. You can only polish all those potential and talent through training. It is when you are trained that you will have technique of utilizing those potentials effectively. That is the essence of training. When you identify that you have the talent for acting and you go for training and are well trained, then you can become an actor. For me there are two major categories of tools that you need: 1. Acquired tools. 2. Natural tools. The natural tools are the ones that you are given by God, like body, talent, voice, brain, ok? You have all those ones from God. Generally, everyone has those. The acquired tools are the ones that you train to acquire. When you are born then you say, ' I want to be an actor. I have the talent.' Then you go to a school of drama. All those things that you get there like technique, discipline, style, commitment, all those things you acquire during your lectures, rehearsals, reciting here and there, those are the acquired tools that an actor needs to be a good actor. Having gone through that, you will definitely be a good actor. Now during all these training, you will learn to be patient, to endure, to be punctual at rehearsals and production meetings, you will learn all rudiments of production. You will have gone through all the departments and the process of production, from concept to performance. From script writing, reading, rehearsal, costuming, makeup, sets, technical design. You
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will have got all those tools during the training so much that when you come out exhibiting your talent, it will show. It will not be like just any other raw material. Talent is like raw gold, ordinary stone. But when it comes out and people polish it, it becomes shiny and attractive and a lot of people will like to get it. That is the essence of training the talent. Does the duration of training really matter? Yes it matters. What kind of training are you talking about? It can be both university and school of drama. What the university has is the fact that you now have a certificate bearing the name of the university. But people can still be trained privately by professionals. Do you think of helping people developing the skill of acting? If so, how? As a teacher I train people. I am a lecturer teaching Theatre arts. That is what I teach. A lot of students have passed through me in the past 16 years. What are the differences between theatre and screen? Well, screen is also part of theatre. We have the screen, the stage, the radio, the film. Screen is the most popular today. Let me tell you something. The stage tradition is the oldest, and the most effective. The most embracing. In fact, it's the mother of all the theatre professions. You have to go through rehearsals, you have to learn your lines and the performance is one on one with the audience. It's direct, flesh to flesh. It's time consuming. it's demanding. It trains every part of you. It exercises you in the area of relaxation, flexibility, obeservation, intelligent body carriage. It touches every part of you. Your physical, spiritual and psychological aspects are touched. Stage performance is like manual. Almost 99% of the things that happen on stage are done by the actor himself. No editing.>>
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So when you are coming from that tradition, there is hardly any aspect of theatre that you will not be able to fit into. When it's radio, you'll get it; when it's television, you'll get it. The screen is one of the easiest way in the theatre. Ironically, that is where the money is. You go on set, you don't have to rehearse so much. You don't have to train your voice so much. You are not dealing directly with the audience, you are dealing directly withe the camera. The director shows the audience what he wants them to see. So if the actor makes several mistakes, they'll say 'cut, take it again. Cut, take it again.'After filming, they take it to the studio and edit what is not good there and leave only what is good. So you can start a film from the end, come to the middle, go back to the end, go to the begining. Do it hapharzadly like that and then you take your time to go and join them together at the studio. You can't do that for stage. It has to start from the begining, to the middle, and then the end. So stage production is professionally more demanding than any other one. And that is why an average stage trained performer will fit into any aspect of the theatre. In the areas of character interpretation, character creation, movement, facial expression. Once you are good on stage, then you will be good anywhere. But then there's more money on screeen than on stage. That is why people rush to the screen. And also because it is not as demanding. It does not really call for professionalism. Do you act purely on script or you sometime introduce your own action into the script? Of course I do. That is where character interpretation comes in. When you give me script, I'll go through it and put my own interpretation into it. A good actor must not disobey the artistic director. The artistic director is the alpha and
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omega of the production. But the relationship between them is not master servant relationship. They are partners in artistic business. So they go together. But you must respect the idea. Whatever opinion an actor has, it has to be approved and reconciled with the interpretation of the director. So most of the time when an actor is given a line, you do it according to what the director says. But in the process of doing it, you put your own personal initiative, creative initiative into it to make it more interesting and more entertaining.
But when you talk of professionally challenging and rewarding, it is a production that I took part in, 'Head of State' produced by Uncle Jimmy. It was one of the most professionally fulfilling experiences that I have ever gone through in my life because of the experience I gained there. As at the time I got there, I was already a Lecturer, a Masters and PGD holder. But when I got there, I saw another technique of writing, of lines delivery, of acting. It took a long time to do but when I saw the production I felt fulfilled. I learnt so much there.
What is your biggest project so far? The biggest project so far is the Saka project. It started in 2004 when we started the TV series and I played the role of Saka. I was part of the creative group. As a matter of fact Gbenga Oyedapo and I created and developed the concept in conjunction with Mr Greg Odutayo who directed and produced the series. Mrs Debbie Odutayo was the producer then Greg Odutayo was the director and the executive managing director of Royal Roots Communication Ltd. They produced it. And then it was transmitted all over the place and then the drama itself became very popular. And so Saka as one of the characters in the series also became very popular.
Any award so far? Yes. I have gotten about five international awards. Several local awards. I have been nominated several times locally and internationally.
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Is Hafiz Oyetoro at the peak of his career? No. If so, what more are your fans expecting from you in the next five years? I still have a long way to go. I want to be a superstar. I still believe that I have just known several parts of acting. In the next five years I want to be a superstar. I want to be one of the best theatre practitioners >>>
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know we have several houses, but few homes. I have my home. She has helped me to change that impression that the artiste does not have a stable home. Me, I have a very reliable, stable and very interesting home. So when I get home, I'm at home. When I'm not at home, I'm also at home because my wife is at home taking care of everything. So when I leave location, once I finish whatever I'm doing outside, I always like to go home. My marriage is 10 yrs old this year. I have never had any extramarital affair with anybody. I feel comfortable. There is this trust that my wife have for me and that trust has been a driving force for me. She is wonderful.
Any word for your fans? I want to thank my fans. I want to thank God for their lives. I want to pray for them that they will continue to be blessed by God Almighty. I want to thank them for being with me, supporting me, encouraging me. I know that there are people who are much better in the real sense of it. There are so many actors or actresses who are much better than I am. But my audience, my fans keep supporting me despite the fact that they know. I thank them for encouraging me and I am promising them that I will What is your contribution to the not disappoint society? them. I want to Well, first and foremost, as an apologize if in entertainer, I believe that I have added any way I have value to the society. Psychologically, offended any of Who do your family see you as, my entertaining them is a source of them. I got to relief to them. When people watch my Saka or Hafiz? When I at home to my wife I am know that some movies, my performance, either live of my fans told or on screen, I believe it adds value to Hafiz, darling husband. And to my children I am Daddy. As a matter of on journalist that their lives. And as a teacher, I have fact, my wife and I together with our I snob them. I am sorry if I have trained so many students who have done that. I am no I am a very shy passed out. I think I have added value children, we sit down to watch Saka. We watch Saka, we laugh at him, and person. Apart from the screen and to their life. And they are in the then we come back to Daddy. God has on the stage, once I get out, I society also contributing their own given us the grace to define Saka from become ill at ease. So once I'm on quota to the development of the the street and people are greeting society. Personally, I have been able to Hafiz, Daddy, and husband. me, I feel so shy. I just say 'hello, do one or two things for some people, As a lecturer, how do you make sure hello, hello' and just find a way of which we don't need to talk about. In escaping. They must be assured that your students don't see you as the next five years, I want to have a any time they greet me, or anytime foundation that will cater to upcoming 'Saka' in the class room but as they say hello, I am saying one talented artistes. The idea is to gather Hafiz Oyetoro? The theatre arts students know the million hellos back from the deepest raw material, which is raw talent. difference between the role and the part of my mind. I want to thank all Hunt for them, train them, develop my teachers too, from primary them and make them superstars. There person. When I am teaching them, they know I'm teaching. And when school all the way to the university. are so many talents that are wasting I'm acting, they know I'm acting Specifically, Mr Chuck Mike. You away, not because they are not ready, know, when I got to the university, I but because they don't have the Apart from acting, what else do you was not good enough. I had speech opportunity. >> problems because of my You are married with kids, right? do? I make money from writing. I write background. I had all those Can you tell us little about your scripts. People send briefings to me. I challenges. Mr. Chuck Mike took family life? I have a very wonderful wife. She is write scripts for television, for film, me to the University of Ibadan. He not just an ordinary wife. My wife is a for stage. You know the world has spent his money, his time and very loving, very understanding become a small global village where whatever I am doing today, when I person. She is more of my father, my you can interact on the internet. So I am writing the history of my career, mother, my aunty, my sister, my very write, I send scripts to places all over apart from God, I will mention Mr. Chuk Mike. I want to thank all my close friend. A beautiful woman who the world and as long as my account is also the mother of my children. is credited, I go on. I write, I direct. I friends who were there when I was There's no hardship, no crisis, no cannot sing, but I compose songs. I not good, they have been supporting tension at home. As I'm sitting here compose songs for all my plays. me. So I thank all of them and I now I don't have any problem. When Practically almost every aspects of the pray that God will continue to I'm going home, I'm going home. She theatre I do it. For make up for support all of them and favour them is a woman who has turned an costuming. I manage productions. in their own endeavours. [S] ordinary house into my home. You fWhat has been the motivating force behind your success today? God Almighty, my friend, my wife. Producers, and directors who have worked with me. who have spent their time. My fans who were always there to support me, who are still there supporting me. Those are the driving forces that have given me the inspiration to go on. It is a sign that I am on the right track. When you look left, right, and centre and you see people encouraging you, you move ahead.
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Skills Home and Garden
CUTLERIES DELIGHT: Proper Table Setting - How to Set a Table Learn How to Set a Table for Your Next Formal Dinner
P
expensive tableware or silverware. Arrangement and creativity are the key to a pretty place setting. You can also Napkin placement depends on your add a plate charger to each place preference and there are many folding setting. They tend to add glam to a variations. As a default, it can be boring table. Adding a table placed in the water glass, folded on the centerpiece can finish the decor. dinner plate, or beside the flatware to the left. Some tableware pieces may of A centerpiece can be either a Our lives are pretty hectic, and since purchased item or as original as you 'tv' dinners have become the norm for course be optional, depending on the dinner to be served. want. Being creative with the decor some of us, it's easy to forget how to will help bring out your personality set a table and the proper table Setting a beautiful table is not difficult, and set the mood for the table. [S] placement of tableware and cutlery. So nor do you need here's a quick refresher to help you lanning a dinner and need a reminder of how to set a proper table setting and where the cutlery should be placed around the tableware? Forget which side the water glass goes on or where the napkin should be placed?
learn how to set a table for that 'perfect' dinner setting.
APPETIZER SETTING
FISH SETTING
COFFEE OR TEA SETTING
GENERAL TABLE SETTING
SALAD SETTING Page 26
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Skills Magazine
Skills Motivation
HOW TO CREATE AND MANIFEST YOUR DESIRES (Part 1)
If you have not already realized it, you have already been creating your desires everyday. How is that possible? you may ask. It is because you have been manifesting whatever your mind is focusing on.
something that is vividly imagined. By using the power of imagination and mental pictures, creative visualization enables your subconscious mind to manifest your desire. It is the art of seeing with the mind's eye, “seeing your It is said that a picture is worth a future as you want it to be.” It is thousand words. Psychology tells us only with the heart that one can that the human mind operates with see rightly. What is essential is pictures and that every thought is invisible to the eye. conveyed inside the mind as a picture or a series of pictures. The This drives home the principle that subconscious mind is more easily all things are created twice- the influenced by pictures than words. mental or first creation and the The pictures that we hold in our physical or second creation. The mind for an extended period of time physical follows the mental, just tend to manifest themselves. as a building follows a blueprint. You have to make a conscious As Henry David Thoreau puts it, effort to visualize who you are and “The secret of achievement is to what you want in life, because if hold a picture of a successful you don't, then you empower other outcome in mind.” What you people and circumstances to shape imagine is what you will become you and your life by default. and it is fun creating your own When we visualize and expect reality. Imagination activates the intentionally an event or action we power of your thoughts. When you are doing more than just an act of take charge of your thoughts, you visualizing. It is an act of creation. take charge of your life. When Creative visualization allows you you visualize your desire you to alter the direction of your life are shifting yourself from where and cause it to go where you are now to where you hope to really desire. You can have be. Creative visualization is a anything you desire- happiness, very powerful process that is good health, healthy relationship, unfortunately kept in the few. prosperity, etc. This process has But if you use it, you can get been used by some of the world's anything you desire. Creative most successful people in many visualization is the key to fields such as the arts, sports, intentional creation because business and it is known to be a your mind thinks in pictures and faster way of realizing your images. dreams.[S] As you visualize, you are programming your subconscious mind. As you create a clear mental picture of your desire, you employ the latent power of visualization to manifest what you desire. This process is so powerful because our subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between something that is real and
For more on creating and manifesting your desires, look out for part 2 in the next issue of this magazine. Kazeem Adebiyi Life coach/ author: failure is not and option. 7 positive steps to greatness. 08068738091
“if you build it, they will come” - Field of Dreams
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Skills Magazine
Skills Health and Wealth
5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD EAT MAIZE
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n Nigeria, maize is also popularly known as corn. Most people love to eat it. Have you ever wondered what your body gets when you eat maize? Well, here are 5 reasons why you should regularly eat maize.
Improved Digestion: Maize contains insoluble fiber which absorbs water, which then swells the stool and speeds its movement. It can help in tackling common digestive ailments such as constipation and hemorrhoids.
1 3 Prevents Heart Disease: Folic acid is also important in preventing heart disease. Recent studies have shown that folic acid can help prevent a buildup of homocysteine, an amino acid, in the body. Long-term elevation of homocysteine has been linked to increased rates of heart disease. Folic acid helps break it down
Reduces Risk of Developing Cancer: Cancer rates have risen dramatically throughout the past century and is expected to nearly double within the next few decades. But maintaining healthy magnesium levels in your body can greatly decrease your risk of developing cancer. A study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that for every 100-milligram (mg) increase in magnesium intake, a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer (also known as colon cancer or bowel cancer) drops by about 13 percent. Guess what? Maize is high in magnesium.
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2 Prevents Birth Defects: The folic acid in maize is now known to be an important factor in preventing neural-tube birth defects. So if you are pregnant, regularly including corn in your diet will help you have a healthy baby.
4 Skin Care: Maize is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, plant pigments which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants help in keeping the skin looking younger.
If you haven't already incorporated maize into your diet, now is a good time to start.[S]
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Skills Magazine
Skills Health and Wealth
How to Spend Less on Everyday Expenses
T
oday the cost of living is rising and in difficult economic times it is important to know how to cut back on your everyday expenses. Read this article to learn about four useful tips that are very easy to apply and will save you a significant amount of money as time goes by. Consider Purchasing Second Hand Goods When looking to buy larger items why not do a little research on e-commerce sites for second hand things. For example if you’re looking for furniture, appliances or even second hand cars, you can find objects in good shape on your local free-classifieds website for much less.
Cultivate Your Own Fruit and Vegetables If you have a little time on your hands and space in your garden, why not consider growing your own fruit and vegetables? Seeds are cheap and those of you with green fingers can save significantly whilst engaging in a pleasant recreational activity.
Spend Less at the Supermarket Always make a shopping list and stick to it. It is important to be able separate your needs from your wants. Think healthy as you buy by cutting down on costly snacks and purchasing healthy, yet substantial food. Consider buying supermarket brands as these are much more pursefriendly and their just as good.
Stop Impulse Buying Do not shop when you feel depressed as you are more likely to impulse buy for a quick fix. Don’t be taken in by devious offers which persuade you to part unnecessarily with your cash. It’s good to take some time to think about if you really need the goods you want to buy.
In the next issue look out for three more tips on how to spend less on everyday expenses.
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Skills Magazine
SkillsColumn
SKILLSCOLUMN Connect your skills Skillcolumn is transforming the way people with skills connect to the people who need them. The platform gives the public the opportunity of finding skilled people they can trust and also to get found by people who need their skill. Skillcolumn makes it effortless to find skilled people. so you can simply pick the perfect person closest to you.
Preclins Ochuko E. Designer Call in for your Interior/Exterior Designs 07037121819 - Delta/Rivers State
Bob E. Akpotu Website Designer Call in for your professional website 07067153242 - Port Harcourt
_______________________________________ To add your skills in our skillcolumn, send your picture, your skill and location to info@skillsmagazinee.org08137845812 BB PIN-25BB10D2 Cost- N3,000 _______________________________________
Ruth Akorhe- Ruthies Oven CAKE AND CATERING Call in for your Cakes and Catering Service 08136087295- River State
Chibuike Okedem Chibitex Professional Welder Call in for your Welding services, Steel fabrications, Supply and installation of all kinds of iron work
08060797258 River State
Mr. Obinna Nweke CEO Obi Fishes Dealers in all kinds of fish Igbo Etche, Rivers State 07037259205, 08122156945
Mike Edojah Artist Call in for your Artwork (Drawing) 08033850566 - Delta State
A MAN OF MANY PARTS! Ngozi Akuweke is a multi-talented young man; Jam packed with a whole lot to offer and impact this generation. He’s a prolific Songwriter and a Musician. Graced with the needed spice and flavour for your events. He newly released his first single titled, “SHAIYE”. He’s very lively and fun to be with. There is no dull moment with him! Contact:- 08029305883 Follow him on twitter @Nglassy
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I
nformation is power, and we cannot speak of empowering young women in Nigeria without providing them with quality, helpful information. THE GIRLS' SHOW was created to bring empowering information as closely and affordably as possible to young women in Nigeria. THE GIRLS' SHOW began operation from a radio platform on Unilag Radio 103.1fm as a weekly phone-in radio show which first aired in April 2012. It began as a platform for informing and empowering young women in Nigeria through the use of role modeling, interviews, debates and sharing real life stories. Focus areas include health, fitness, leadership and career and family success. The need for these in our nation today cannot be over-emphasized especially in a nation where young women experience gender discrimination, poverty, human trafficking, domestic violence, abortion, prostitution, HIV/AIDS, etc. It is the desire of The Girls' Show Team to help young women realize their potentials and live positively through adequate information. Join Skills Magazine as we interview the founder, Olamipeju Lawal. Excerpts: VISION To empower young women in Nigeria to live healthier, fuller lives. MISSION To create a platform to consistently reach and access young women with helpful and required information thereby leading to their empowerment CORE VALUES Our core values include, but are not limited to: > Learning > Service to Humanity > Positive Living > Empowerment Olamipeju Lawal -Founder
What is the motive behind you setting up an organization like this? The motive behind the organization is simply creating a platform to consistently reach and access young
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women with helpful and required information thereby leading to their empowerment. So far, how do you get across to the target people (girls and women) to achieve the objectives of the organization? First, we reach thousands of young women weekly through THE GIRLS' SHOW ON UNILAG RADIO 103.1fm. It's been 15 months running and it's waxing stronger every day. We go live on air every Tuesday from 3:05pm to 4:00pm Second, we get across to thousands of students through our signature event, THE GIRLS' REVOLUTION. It is a leading private and public funded young women conference with a strategic focus on bringing the vision and mission of THE GIRLS' SHOW to as many young women in Nigeria as possible. It is packaged to inspire and empower young women through- contact with role models with the opportunity of asking questions and receiving answers - provision of medical knowledge and advice on issues affecting the health of young women
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- enlightenment by state and federal officials on government initiatives affecting young women - product sampling and advertisement by corporate organizations - exposure to non-governmental organizations whose activities can positively affect young women. - showcasing young women with talent Five successful editions of THE GIRLS' REVOLUTION have been hosted with a cumulative attendance of about 10,000 youths, with the 5th edition held in August this year. Third, through the first and second channels highlighted above, we have been able to gather contacts of thousands of young women whom we reach consistently via email and text messages. Fourth, we have created an online presence by tapping into the powers of social media for effective >>>
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Skills Magazine
Skills Interview WellBei ng Foundat ion, Africa etc. We have recorde
communication with young women. We have also created a blog that has made our efforts a worldwide manifestation. We have had hits on the blog from over 50 nations of the world. We recorded over 5,000 hits in less than 3 months with more than 800 email addresses receiving live feeds from our posts. Fifth, we have a publication coming out soon (THE SMART GIRLS' GUIDE). It is a free health and selfhelp publication that is exclusive to attendees of our conference. Designs have been concluded, we are on our way to the press. Further still, we are finalizing plans to go on television very soon. So far, what are some of the testimonies, successes and even challenges faced by the organization? Our testimonies can't be completely explained in words but in just a period of 15 months we have surpassed our own projections. We have reached thousands of young women through the various channels highlighted above and we are not relenting on our efforts. We plan to do more in the coming weeks of this year. We have seen transformations in the lives of various girls, we have seen those with low self esteem becoming bolder, those who are disoriented have gained direction and most importantly, many girls have come to understand that they are the custodians of their own destinies and that their future is forged by their actions today. The Girls' Revolution, our quarterly conference has enjoyed so many favours. We have partnered with various institutions, companies and individuals including United Nations, Lagos State Government, Office of the Public Defender, Lagos, The
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d attendance from 5 tertiary institutions and about 10 secondary schools. Challenges are the bread of champions. We have experienced various challenges but we have taken them one after the other. We never allow ourselves to get overwhelmed at any time by the tasks ahead. Our first challenge has been resources. Even though we have enjoyed support from various organizations, we believe we can do more if given more. And that is what we are set to do. But even with these testimonies/successes so far, you are not there yet, right? So, tell us, what more does the organization need to do for you to say "Thank God we are there" and how many months or years are you looking at? I don't think we will ever say we are there because we keep expanding the vision every day. The biggest room in the world is room for improvement, so there's always room for doing more. I believe if we are able to reach out consistently to about one million young women in Nigeria per week, I will consider that as something and we hope we can hit that mark soon. That's the major reason we are going on television fast. I believe with us on God's side (because God is always on our side) and with plenty of hard work and dedicated human resources, we can hit that mark before November this year. After that, we'll dream bigger dreams. Who's behind this dream of helping the society? Who? God. (laughs) Well I am, with the help of some wonderful people, God has blessed me with. Most people don't like to believe it when I say I am but it's the simple truth. I have always had this dream since I was in the secondary school. It did not just jump on me. I've
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had nights when I cried on my bed in the University of Lagos because I was not doing what I believed I should be doing. You can't fully comprehend the labour that we put into this dream every day. It's not a 6am to 6pm job, it's 24 hours everyday. It's because it's in my blood. It's the breath I breathe. I hate to see women suffer the avoidable. I get ideas even in the bathroom and I rush to pen them down. But you know some people have a problem with youths doing great stuffs, if you now couple that with being 'female', you just knock many off their socks. It's a privilege though, and I'm enjoying it massively. I wish many more people will begin to understand that the greatness of our nation is dependent on what we do, and not the other way round. What is your advice for young ladies, women and even boys and men in the society? I could write a book on that. (laughs) My first advice is to everyone holding a leadership “Let's believe position in this country – in our young politicians, religious and women and thought leaders, corporate leaders, parents, teachers, etc, more we add value to our nation by importantly, adding value to our young women. Let's believe in our let's empower young women and more them�. importantly, let's empower them. To the youths - Follow through on your dreams. Don't live your life like you borrowed it. Make choices for yourself; don't let the society make it for you. And learn to take responsibility for your choices. Don't ever complain or blame anyone. You have all it takes to make your life great from where you are. If you use every resource at your disposal, you can't die unknown. And especially for young women, don't devalue yourself to receive value. It does not make sense. Don't let any man collect things of inestimable value from you for the sake of valueless things. Stay informed always. Learn fast from others' mistakes.[S]
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Skills Magazine
Skills General
-by Destiny Mordy.
The Nigerian movie industry, globally known as Nollywood is rated the third largest films industry in the whole world. A feat that still shocks pundits till date. Today, Nollywood has become a billionnaira generating industry, which even the founders never anticipated, when they tinkered with the idea of putting drama on VHS, simply because they lacked the financial wherewithal to shoot on celluloid. However, the road to becoming the glamorous sector that it is today has not been smooth. SKILLS Magazine, in presenting Nollywood to readers as their best choice place to ply their talents, takes a trip down memory lane to tell the industry's rather grass to grace history. Enjoy.
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Skills General
Background: Nollywood; Nigeria's movie industry, started like child's play in the ‘90s, when film maker, Okey Ogunjiofor; famed producer of 'Living in Bondage' flick and others of like mind identified the need to put our local drama on VHS tapes for consumption as home videos. This feat not only transformed the acting profession, but also produced a set of celebrities whose charm has been exploited to drive home campaign messages in the form of endorsements. Talking about his attempt at making the film 'Living in Bondage' Okey Ogunjiofor described it as a bagful of challenges. “I actually set out to be a film maker, so I got my training, came to Lagos. But since I could not do a thing on celluloid, I said to myself that there must be a way around it, there must be a new way to do the old things and that new way was trying to experiment with VHS cameras. That experiment was what we did with ‘Living in Bondage' and today that experiment has culminated into what we find and people call Nollywood. At the onset, we did explain to the cast and crew that what we were embarking on was just an experiment, incidentally it turned out a huge success, and the effect was that a lot of people joined in a short while, we started seeing home videos; people started coming forward to identify themselves as actors.” While this is the generally shared opinion as to the genesis of Nollywood, some stakeholders still prefer to hold on to the notion that Nollywood started by accident. In an earlier interview, a major stakeholder of the industry, Igwe Gab Onyi Okoye (Gabosky), declared rather emphatically that it was the very stakeholders who hold the notion that Nollywood came by accident that were the actual accidents that happened to the industry. He maintained that the creation of Nollywood was planned by him and a few other stakeholders. However, he agreed that the astronomical growth that visited the industry so soon after its creation was not anticipated.
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In Gabosky's own words; a few young professionals led by producer of “Living in Bondage”, Okey Ogunjiofor, approached businessmen, such as himself and Kenneth Nnebue, who were already big names in the electronics products business with proposals showing prospects of bankrolling their ideas in form of home video productions. According to him, Kenneth Nnebue's NEK films ventured into the making of “Living in Bondage”, while he (Gabosky) accepted to bankroll “Circle of Doom”. The movie industry we now know as Nollywood started with the efforts of these few, based on real interest to maintain high standards and build the industry to enviable position. It will be recalled that one of the films that succeeded at that early period in putting Nigeria on the international film map was produced by Gabosky Films, titled “Battle of Musanga”; an epic story of an African community. In the same vein, Amaka Igwe was making marks with her productions. Also NEK Films was not left out, as it also succeeded in churning out purposeful films after the very successful “Living in Bondage” flick. Unfortunately, these three pioneer film makers soon abandoned the industry for reasons they termed 'the overrunning of the industry by charlatan producers and marketers.' Era that Mediocrity Ruled It is noteworthy to point out here that despite the decision by these pioneer marketers to back out of the industry, it continued to grow in terms of followership and financial earnings. This era can best be described as the era where mediocrity ruled supreme, thus attaining celebrity status; dealing a death blow to professionalism. 'Money talked while bullshit walked.' At this period, the industry had become an all- comers affair. All one needs to become a marketer is to have or borrow at least N500,000 and a kiosk at Idumota, Alaba, Iweka road in Onitsha or Pound road in Aba. In the same vein, all one needed to become a producer , director, star actor/actress; under the new
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dispensation is to be in the good books of the emerging lords of the industry (almighty marketers). It did not really matter if the individual was trained in such areas of service. The marketers, mostly semiilliterates played god as they lifted whom they felt deserved lifting and banned whom they felt was not giving them enough respect. They flagrantly disregarded and discarded conventional film making norms to embrace the crudest method of work etiquette. In as much as it would be wrong to condemn or execute people for being semi-illiterates, it was professional 'hara-kiri' to have given them so much room to run what was a budding and money spinning sector aground. Sure, despite the fallen standards in the products churned out from Nollywood, the income was never in short supply. At least the shylock marketers smiled to the banks with their favoured cast and crew members, while the rest (engaged on master and servant basis) had bags of sad stories to tell. Not too long after their complete overrunning of the industry, a war ensued between them and the professionals. Not surprisingly, they carried the day as the situation turned out that “you can cash in your money, definitely not your professionalism or your certificate”. The workforce in Nollywood had to take sides with the marketers, because they were the ones who, at least still had money to finance films and definitely the ones who paid up promptly, notwithstanding the size of the pay envelope. At least, half bread they say is better than 'chin chin'. The chances of professionals winning the war seemed hopeless as marketers capitalized on the professionals now widespread sins of collecting huge sums of money from them (illiterate marketers) to makes films but ended up owning everyone who worked for them while they lived in affluence. The was the final nail that sealed the coffin of professional hands in Nollywood, heralding the >>
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Skills General
enthronement of the marketers as 'lords of the manor'. Of course the show continued as they would say, but consumers, long constipated with 'wishy washy' story lines and near-gutter quality productions decided to withhold their patronage. This marked the beginning of sad and desperate times for all. The glut afflicted such a mortal blow to the industry that not even all the reorganizations, banning and unbanning of actors could ameliorate it. Despite its sorry state, the 'new lords of the film market' maintained their death hold on the industry, but their dictatorial rule was however cut short by the intervention of government, who in an effort to change the fortunes of the nose diving industry, introduced a new film distribution framework. Government Intervention: The government of Nigeria, through its National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) introduced the new films distribution framework to help stabilize activities in the industry. Initially same marketers who succeeded in killing Nollywood kicked against it, sensing the new system, if allowed to work would not provide them the opportunity to play god. Quite laughable, because it was clear then that they had no idea of what it takes to run a thriving and global movie industry, such as Nollywood. Though they took the Board to court on very stupid reasons, but the Board had the day, causing them to beat a shameful retreat, preferring to beg to tag. The New Nollywood: Despite the fact that the new distribution framework fashioned out by government to move the industry
forward did not yield much results, it however provided a fair playing ground for stakeholders, thereby witnessing the emergence of a crop of new breed producers and executive producers. The likes of Emem Isong, Desmond Elliot, Ini Edo, Monalisa Chinda, Uche Jumbo, Yinka Afolayan, Obi Emelionye and others took the act of movie making in Nollywood to an enviable height; producing films that rank to international standards, which recorded great showings at international film festivals. These new breed of film makers had to resort to corporate bodies, such as banks or private individuals to source funds for their productions. The resultant income from such venture has been astronomical, clearly rubbishing what hitherto looked like a boom, when shylock marketers held sway in the sector. Noticing the global acceptance and rising income these lot enjoyed, the old breed had no choice but to resort to making films with good budget and cast, discarding the hitherto norm of using those in their good books or girlfriends as stars. Nollywood, the third largest movie industry in the whole world, after Hollywood and Bollywood, no doubt has gone through stages of growth, near doom and killing stagnation, but it has survived simply because of its consumer base. Its saving grace has been that it's products rank tops in the favourite list of movie buffs worldwide. It is reported that in the Carribeans , Jamaica especially, Nollywood films are watched religiously, besides being favourite in every African home. Nollywood churns out basically drama, with stories people can relate
to. What the industry's products lack in quality, it gains in story lines. The Income: Nollywood has been noted to have transformed many paupers overnight. Faster than any other industry in Nigeria. As long as one is imbued with noticeable talent in any area suitable for employment in Nollywood, the sky is the starting point for the individual, despite his status. Though the era of mega-bucks income ended long ago with acts like Nkem Owoh , Genevieve Nnaji and the likes; who carted home close to N1.5 million per flick. And they featured in close to 8 flicks in a month. Multiply that by N1.5 million. That is a staggering N12 million monthly income. Even the president of Nigeria cannot touch that. The present income in Nollywood is good and the good thing is that it is steady and rising. As long as the films keep selling. For any one intending to get a part of the billions that Nollywood hands out regularly, it is a tall and proper ambition, which will be rewarded as long as the person seeks adequate training first. This is because the era of mediocrity far is gone and is unlikely to emerge again. Whether it's in the English, Yoruba, Hausa, Ibibio or Igbo genre of films. Professionalism is the order of the day now. This is because all sectors and genres have hit international stage and recognition through DSTV the Africa Magic; which has adequately provided them suitable and separate slots of broadcast. [S]
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Skills General
6
Study Skills
You Should Have
M
any students think that being a good student means just showing up for classes, taking a few notes, reading the textbooks, and studying right before the tests. However, learning, like many other activities, involves a complex set of skills that require practice. For example, if you wanted to become a good basketball player, you would have to learn how to dribble, pass, shoot, rebound, be a team player. Aand you would have to practice these individual skills over and over in order to improve them. Similarly, studying involves learning a complex set of skills, such as note taking, test taking, that must be practiced in order for you to become a good student. Reading Comprehension Do you read page after page of your textbooks and then realize that you have no idea what you've read? Here's how you can stop, refocus, and change the way you read so you'll take more away from it Step 1: Reconsider what reading really means to you. Step 2: Stop, refocus, and build a healthy relationship with reading. Step 3: Choose the things you spend your time reading wisely, and Include multiple voices. Step 4: Read conscientiously, and take time to absorb and reflect on what You Read Step 5: Build a flow around thoughtful reading extra credit:share your thoughts, Add your own ideas Note Taking Because so much material is covered in schools, you won't be able to Page 37
remember everything unless you know how to take good notes in class. Good note taking also involves adequate preparation and review outside of class. Test Taking Successful test taking involves four critical steps: (1) preparing well in advance of the day of the test, (2) taking the test in an organized way, (3) managing stress, and (4) learning from the test after it is over. Writing The ability to communicate your thoughts and ideas in writing is critical for success in college and in your future career. Effective writing is a combination of many skills that must be developed through practice. Understanding Instead of Memorizing Memorizing without understanding is not the best way to study, nor is it sufficient for success in school. When students understand the material that they are studying rather than just
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memorizing facts, they are more likely to remember the material. Students who study for understanding read and think critically, recognize the complexity of the content, and can demonstrate and explain how concepts are related to each other. Working on Study/Learning Teams Many instructors assign projects that require students to work together in “learning teams.� In addition, many students voluntarily set up their own study groups. Being able to work as a team member is a skill that can be learned only by being part of a team. Unless these teams function effectively, they can be frustrating and a waste of time. However, there can be many benefits, including learning from others, participating in active learning, supplementing your personal studying, and seeing material from other perspectives. [S]
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Skills Magazine
Skills Fashion
DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A MODEL?
H
i! It’s good to know that you kept a date with us. This month we are going to be xraying the industry. We will take you through the basics so that you have a pre-knowledge of what it is all about.
Name: VIRGIL UFUOMA Occupation: Modelling Contact: 07067770261 Height: 5.8ft
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Like I mentioned in my last post, your height, good looks, body frame and all others isn't enough for you to aspire to be a model not to mention making it in the industry as a super model, but with the requisite knowledge of the industry you will be able to know what exactly modeling is all about; what type of model you want to be, either to go into this profession on a part time basis or as a full time business; how to become a model in case you are aspiring to become one; how to become a super model, if you are already a model and even how to choose a modeling
agency which is very important. The importance of the modeling agency in a model's career cannot be over emphasized. A good footballer without a good club will hardly be noticed and a good singer without a good record label will struggle to breakthrough. I guess you now know the importance of these agencies in this business, so making the right choice is strongly advised. A model (from Middle French modèle), sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed for the purpose of displaying and promoting fashion clothing or other products for advertising or promotional purposes or who poses for works of art. Some prominent models and the product they promote: ? Amazon (Cindy Crawford) ? Classic Beauties (Christy Turlington) ? Barbie Dolls (Claudia Schiffer) ? Chameleons (Naomi Campbell) ? The Oddballs (kate Moss) ? Ford Model (Ifeoma Yolanda) ? Athletic girl next door (Gabrielle Reese) ? Elle (Funmi Alaiyemola) ? Italian Vogue (Oluchi Onweagba) ? Ford Model (Agbani Darego)>>
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Skills Magazine
Skills Fashion
Modeling is distinguished from other types of public performance, such as acting, dancing or mime artist, although the boundary is not well defined. Appearing in a movie or a play is not considered modeling. TYPES OF MODELING Types of modeling include; fashion, glamour, fitness, bikini, fine art, body-part models, gravure idols, alternative models, child models, plus-size model, hip hop model and promotional model. Models are featured in a variety of media formats including books, magazines, movies, newspaper and TV. FASHION MODELS The first person described as a fashion model is Parisian shop girl, Marie Vernet Worth. She was a house model in 1852 to her fashion designer husband, Charles Frederick Worth. Because clothes need to be modeled for all people, a variety of shapes and sizes is required in models. The job ranking for fashion models are: print modeling (full time/part time), runway modeling, and supermodel.
of an entire year. Full-time print models work with a variety of photographers and clients.
(71.12–81.28 cm) and a chest measurement of 36–40 in (91.44–101.60cm)
A model must be flexible. He / She must be willing to work any day of the week, at any hour, depending on who they are working for, how much money they will get, and how much they are willing to accept. Print models go to interviews called ''go sees'' and must keep a portfolio of their work. Because they are selfemployed, they have to go to modeling interviews in order to get more work. The average career span of a print model is 10 years for men and 20 years for women. Models that advanced quickly can venture into other areas like acting, launching merchandise, etc.
Male and female runway models must also possess clear skin, healthy hair, and attractive facial features. The often thin shape of many fashion models has been criticized for warping girls' body image and encouraging eating disorders. Organizers of a fashion show in Madrid in September 2006 turned away models that were judged to be underweight by medical personnel who were on hand. In February 2007, six months after her sister, Luisel Ramos - also a model died, Uruguayan model Eliana Ramos became the third fashion model to die of malnutrition in six months. The second victim was Ana Carolina Reston. Luisel Ramos died of heart failure caused by anorexia nervosa just after stepping off the catwalk. You don't have to starve yourself to death to become a model, beware!!!
The requirements for print models depend on the needs of the employer. Models must have healthy hair, clear skin, and attractive features.
PRINT MODELING Print modeling showcases clothes for photographs used in magazines, newspapers, advertisements, billboards, press kits, etc. Fashion models may be used to display or promote various types of clothing, such as lingerie, swimsuit, kaftan, buba, suit, shirt, trousers and bikini. They are known as "editorial model" or "photographic model". They work in different locations where fashion is well known – Paris, Lagos, South Africa, London, Milan, New York, etc.
RUNWAY MODELING Runway models showcase clothes from fashion designers, fashion media, and consumers. They are also called "live models" and they are self employed. Runway models work in different locations. Models constantly travel to large cities where fashion exhibitions are held. Some runway models were discovered as print models. The requirement to become a runway model includes certain height and weight requirements. During runway shows, models have to constantly change clothes and makeup. The models turn and stand to demonstrate the garment's key features. Runway models also go to interviews called "go sees" and must keep a portfolio of their work. Casting for shows is very competitive.
Print models work under the direction of a photographer. They must work in a variety of working conditions depending on the photographer. Models can work under cold weather or hot weather. Print models can work part-time or full-time. For example, a part-time model may only work one week out
The British Association of Model Agents (AMA) says that female models should be around 34-24-34 in Lut Haruna (86-61-86 cm) and 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) (Modeling Consultant) tall. A runway model must be slender 07031135169 and in shape. The preferred lutharuna@rocketmail.com dimensions for a male model are a height of 5 ft 10 in (1.83 m) to 6 ft 2 in (1.91m), a waist of 28–32 in
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Please keep a date with us in our next edition as we continue to x-ray the modeling world so you can be abreast with the prerequisite knowledge required to excel in the industry. Until then I say keep your dreams alive![S]
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Skills Magazine
Skills General
The Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes - Jack J. Lesyk, Ph.D. You don't have to be a professional athlete or an Olympic champion to be a successful athlete. Nor do you have to have a room full of trophies, win a state championship, or make the front page of the sports section. Successful athletes that I've worked with include an eleven year-old figure skater who has not yet won a competition, a high school golfer with a zero handicap, a middle-aged runner whose goal is to complete her first marathon, a weight lifter who holds several world records, and an Olympic medalist. What these athletes have in common is that their sport is important to them and they're committed to being the best that they can be within the scope of their limitations – other life commitments, finances, time, and their natural ability. They set high, realistic goals for themselves and train and play hard. They are successful because they are pursuing their goals and enjoying their sport. Their sport participation enriches their lives and they believe that what they get back is worth what they put into their sport. There are nine, specific mental skills that contribute to success in sports. They are all learned and can be improved with instruction and practice. 1. Attitude Successful athletes: ·Realize that attitude is a choice. ·Choose an attitude that is predominately positive. ·View their sport as an opportunity to compete against themselves and learn from their successes and failures. ·Pursue excellence, not perfection, and realize that they, as well as their coaches, teammates, officials, and others are not perfect. ·Maintain balance and perspective between their sport and the rest of their lives. ·Respect their sport, other participants, coaches, officials, and themselves. 2. Motivation Successful athletes: ·Are aware of the rewards and benefits that they expect to experience through their sports participation. ·Are able to persist through difficult tasks and difficult times, even when these rewards and benefits are not immediately forthcoming. ·Realize that many of the benefits come from their participation, not the outcome. 3. Goals and Commitment Successful athletes: · Set long-term and short-term goals that are realistic, measurable, and time-oriented. · Are aware of their current
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performance levels and are able to develop specific, detailed plans for attaining their goals. · Are highly committed to their goals and to carrying out the daily demands of their training programs. 4. People Skills Successful athletes: ·Realize that they are part of a larger system that includes their families, friends, teammates, coaches, and others. ·When appropriate, communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs to these people and listen to them as well. ·Have learned effective skills for dealing with conflict, difficult opponents, and other people when they are negative or oppositional. 5. Self-Talk Successful athletes: · Maintain their self-confidence during difficult times with realistic, positive self-talk. · Talk to themselves the way they would talk to their own best friend · Use self-talk to regulate thoughts, feelings and behaviors during competition. 6. Mental Imagery Successful athletes: · Prepare themselves for competition by imagining themselves performing well in competition. · Create and use mental images that
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are detailed, specific, and realistic. · Use imagery during competition to prepare for action and recover from errors and poor performances. 7. Dealing Effectively with Anxiety Successful athletes: ·Accept anxiety as part of sport. ·Realize that some degree of anxiety can help them perform well. ·Know how to reduce anxiety when it becomes too strong, without losing their intensity. 8. Dealing Effectively with Emotions Successful athletes: · Accept strong emotions such as excitement, anger, and disappointment as part of the sport experience. · Are able to use these emotions to improve, rather than interfere with high level performance 9. Concentration Successful athletes: · Know what they must pay attention to during each game or sport situation. · Have learned how to maintain focus and resist distractions, whether they come from the environment or from within themselves. · Are able to regain their focus when concentration is lost during competition. · Have learned how to play in the “here-and-now”, without regard to either past or anticipated future events. [S]
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Skills Magazine
Skills Interview
Mrs. Nkechi Audu-Ohwavborua Executive Director; Finance and Administration
EMMPPEK ENGINEERING
Contributing to the advancement of the Nigerian Society...
E
mmppek Engineering Limited was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in the year 2000 as Emmppek Investments limited. Over the years, it metamorphosed to Emmppek Engineering Ltd (EEL), as her line of business dovetailed more into the field of engineering. As at today, EEL is a multi-disciplinary firm engaged in the following line of business: Engineering Project Management & Supervision, Front End Engineering Design (FEED), Detailed Engineering Designs, Budgeting, Construction and Procurement Management, etc. The engineering designs cover Electrical, Mechanical, Civil/Structural etc. with qualified professionals in various disciplines which include Engineering, Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Land Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Geologist / Hydrologist, Economics, Accountant etc. Nigeria as a country lacks infrastructure, and Government's efforts are currently geared towards provision of roads, bridges, power lines, substations, rail lines, etc, to promote development. EEL has designed and supervised infrastructural projects that have gone a long way in the realization of the Nigerian dream of being referred to as a developed nation. The projects range from roads / bridges to electrification. 路Currently, the head office is located at Emmpek House, No. 3, Harmony Close, off Omachi Road, Oha-Iru Estate, Rumuodumaya, Port Harcourt from where all projects are coordinated. Skills Magazine spoke with the Executive Director; Finance and Administration, Emmppek Engineering Limited, Mrs. Nkechi Audu-Ohwavborua. Excerpts: Is Emmppek Engineering entirely a Nigeria owned company? If there is any foreign partner(s) could you, please, provide us this information? Emmppek Engineering Ltd is a wholly Nigerian owned firm. We have no foreign partners for now, but plans are in the offing to partner with some foreign firms in a Joint Venture (JV) arrangement.
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As an indigenous company , what are some of the challenges you face and how have you ensured Emmppek Engineering Ltd meet international standards in terms of company's infrastructure, project executions and staff strength. I will start by answering the first part of your question on the challenges we face in running the company. I want to tell you that the challenges of doing
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business in the Nigerian environment is multi faceted but the most peculiar to every business owner and not to Emmppek alone is Power. This is the crux of all the challenges we face in this country. Because of the poor power situation in our country today, the cost of running business is outrageous. Most business owners have closed shop, >>>
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Skills Interview
Emmppek conference room for board meeting and design planning. while some have even left the shores of the nation to countries like Ghana where they have stable power for business growth. The amount of money we spend daily in the office generating our own electricity is enormous, but we are positive that it will soon be a thing of the past, with the privatization of the power sector. Our resolve is unshaken, so is our belief that it will not continue like this forever in this country. If this power sector challenge is tackled head-on, then over 70% of the challenges would have been solved. Another challenge we face is that of having to employ what I would refer to as 'not fully baked graduates'. A direct consequence, of our collapsed educational sector. The result is we have to spend extra resources on training and re-training of our staff to bring them to the required competency level. However, despite all the challenges we encounter in running a business in this environment, as a consultancy firm that believes so much in this country and the ability of the Nigerian Professional, we ensure that the right infrastructure and facilities such as conducive working environment for our staff; periodic on the job training and continuous exposure through participation in local and international conferences
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and seminars to our staff in their related disciplines are carried out for optimum performance. This has helped to ensure that our services are carried out in line with best and acceptable international standards because we apply what is learnt in the various courses/training to our services. We also are aware of the fact that it is only human beings that add value and as such we place serious emphasis on the recruitment of quality staff in the firm. In short, our projects are executed or delivered in line with global best practices. What ways do you think indigenous firms could be assisted to aid their performance in executing and completing projects in Nigeria? The government needs to do a lot in this regard, because this is the only way our economy as a country can be stimulated for growth. In most advanced countries, the private firms run the economy while government carries out regulations i.e. creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. If the private firms are encouraged, I tell you more jobs would be created and the issue of graduate unemployment rate would be reduced drastically. The government has no business in running a business. They should make the business environment
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conducive for the private sector operators. The government needs to ensure that the Local Content Law is implemented to the letter. The selection processes for contractors and consultants should be made more transparent, this would encourage the indigenous firms to actively participate in bidding/tendering processes. This would eliminate the nostalgia that the process has been designed to favour some foreign contracting/consulting firms. A major area of assistance would be in prompt payment. Situations currently exist where indigenous firms have executed projects without payment for upwards of six months. Some indigenous firms have gone under due to lack of prompt payment. This in itself does not help growth of the economy. Can you tell us about some of the major projects Emmppek Engineering has successfully completed and some of the on-going projects? Before I answer this question, let me just briefly tell you that at Emmppek, we do not only work as an independent firm but we have also collaborated with some local companies in the preparation of Feasibility Studies, Conceptual >>>
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Skills Interview
Designs and Basic Engineering for the provision of some services. What I mean by this is that we deploy our specialized capabilities from which projects awarded to a third party are carried out through the provision of personnel needed to carry out such specialist projects/services by Emmppek Engineering and we have carried out quite a lot of projects in this area. Now to your question! Emmppek Engineering Limited has successfully completed quite a lot of projects. Let me just quickly mention some of the completed ones first:A. Capital Budget Review for Bayelsa State Government in the year 2008. The Ministry of Finance and Budget, Bayelsa State is our client on this consultancy service. B. Project Management Consultancy Services for the State Electrification Agency (SEA), Cross River State C. Design Studies for the Construction of 17km Idima-AbamArochukwu Road in Abia State for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs D. Consultancy Services for Grid Extension Electrification Projects in Cross River state for the State Electrification Agency. This project covers three (3) LGA's namely:Obanliku, Bekwarra and Obudu Let me mention two more projects where we have deployed our specialized capabilities as a company to execute projects awarded to a third party. There are actually many projects but let me just limit myself to these projects :E. Detailed Engineering Design for the Upgrading of Igbokoda Electrification in Ondo state.(This is a Niger Delta Development Project – NDDC with a contract value of over N500M). F. Detailed Engineering Design for the Construction of 132kv Transmission Line and 132/33kv Substation at Okitipupa in Ondo state. (NDDC project with value in excess of N5Bn). In the area of Project Management, the firm has succeeded in managing and supervising some projects for both public and private institutions.
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Some have been successfully delivered while some are still ongoing. Some of these projects range from Shore Protection to road construction. Examples are:Buguma Shore Protection in Rivers state which is being managed for FCMB; Re-Construction of Abuloma-Woji Road and Bridge in Rivers State being managed for FCMB), Several Solar Powered Water Projects across the Nine Niger Delta States among which are the rehabilitation of Water Distribution Network at Ozoro, Delta State managed for ECOBANK, the Construction of 132Kv Transmission Line and 2x30MVA Susbtation at Oghara in Delta State for ECOBANK, etc.
How does Emmppek Engineering ensure quality assurance in executing and completing her projects. We have a Mission “to contribute to the advancement of our society and mankind by proffering cost effective, feasible, safe and qualitative engineering solutions to clients' operational tasks, guided by a conscious spirit of rapid response, creativity, high skill, diligence, integrity and courage with the clients' satisfaction as the sole motivation goal in business” So in line with our mission, we carry out our activities in accordance with internal or clients' own QA/QC auditing conditions and methods, these enable us to provide quality services, which are geared towards meeting clients' requirements. In addition to this, we have a Quality Management System that periodically carries out internal audit across the various departments. The objective of this audit is to ascertain the level of
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compliance of Emmppek Engineering Limited Quality Management System to ISO 9001:2008 All these have made it possible for us as a company to anticipate present and future needs of our clients and to respond to these needs in executing and completing all our projects. In fact, this is a key factor in our growth over the years coupled with our high technical team, good management, and excellent work safe practice. Who are your clientele? The company's clientele cuts across the biggest and the best in the Civil, Electro – Mechanical, Banking and other allied companies. They include but not limited to:- Cross River State Electrification Agency (SEA); Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja; Income Electrix; Bayelsa State Ministry of Finance and Budget; FCMB PLC, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Skye Bank PLC etc. Where do you see Emmppek Engineering Limited in the next five years? If you read through our Vision Statement as a company, it starts with “To be a leader in the Engineering Design and Project Management Consultancy in the African Continent…..” I think this must have answered your question. That is what we're striving at as a company. How has Emmppek Engineering given back to the society? The employment we offer to young graduates from time, go a long way in helping to reduce the very high unemployment level prevalent in the country. In the area of Corporate Social Responsibility, I will say that we are working assiduously hard on some Programmes for this year that will benefit the society and our host community in particular. However, we contributed our quota to the amelioration of the pains of our brothers and sisters during the 2012 flood disaster, this and many more we would always do as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility but we will not make noise about it. [S]
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Skills Magazine
SKILLS YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF
VOL 2 NO. 3 N300
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SKILL TRAINING HEALTH AND WEALTH HOME AND GARDEN ENTREPRENEUR FASHION AND BEAUTY MOTIVATION
EMMPPEK ENGINEERING Contributing to the advancement of the Nigerian Society
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