Wanna own a house?

Sometime ago, I spoke about investing in properties or the real estate as the sector is better known. I went in search of further information and came across the National Housing Fund. The National Housing Fund was signed into law by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1992. Basically, the objective of this Act is to provide affordable homes to Nigerians irrespective of the income class. If you earn a minimum of N7,000 monthly, you can subscribe to this fund.

How does it work?

The National Housing Fund is administered by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. If you are interested, locate the nearest FMBN branch within your state of residence and approach the officials. You’ll be required to remit 2.5% of your monthly income throughout your working life period into the NHF account. Interested applicant can pick up a form (free of charge), fill it and get your employer to sign their own respective parts. If you’re self-employed, you sign for yourself and also sign as the employer. Then you’ll be given a card which will record every payment you lodge into the NHF account.

The requirements of the NHF Act (1992) states that you can only use the fund for the following:

• Purchase a property
• Build a house
• Renovate existing property

Note that if the property you want to purchase is within your present state of residence, then it is advisable to open a mortgage account within that state. Once the loan has been approved, you’ll be responsible for the inspection and evaluation fees. It is also important that you remit 10% of the total value of the property you wish to purchase into the mortgage account you opened with respective primary mortgage institution.

Repayment Terms:

Interest on the loan is fixed at 6% per annum and to determine repayment period, deduct your present age from 60 years to know how long you will pay back.

Upon attaining 60 years, you’ll present your NHF passbook, a letter from your employer attesting that you have retired and a birth cetificate is also required which will be presented at the nearest FMBN branch where you’ll be paid back your NHF contributions over the years you were in paid or self employment. If you still need further clarification, do let me know.

Yipee!

I read it somewhere that ‘if you not satisfied with your current situation, create the kind of situation you want‘. In otherwords, take charge of your life and create your own future.  Often times, I have griped on this blog about the unnecessary politics and ass licking within the organization I work for. Honestly, I have had it up to here with such a superficial set up. So in 2009, I had one or two objectives I hoped to accomplish. One of these was to start my own business, conclude my MBA program and move on to other personal issues such as starting a family. So, this is eleven months down the line, and I was just thinking how time has gone and how closer I have come to accomplishing these goals.

One of the few things I did was to stick a post-it-note on the walls of my wardrobe or closet, itemising those things I wanted to accomplish. The business idea I started out with eventually did not sail through because I did not have the kind of money I actually required. Which left me thinking of other things I could do. I still intend to resurrect that particular business idea in the long term. One of the few people who really inspired me is my blogger friend Nan,  cos she has gone through a lot of emotional upheavals during the year and was able to start her design business. You can click on the link above to place orders (she resides in the U.K and can only take orders within).

I have always been interested in manufacturing and therefore, went in search of a product that could give me the leverage I needed. I was successful and stumbled on a Canadian company that was manufacturing a product that every woman needs on a daily basis. I approached them and was lucky enough to have been given the distribution rights for Africa. This did not happen overnight, it involved a series of relationship and trust building between the supplier and myself over a period of 12 months (since October 2008). It’s a new product and I was involved throughout the design process. The first set of products have been shipped and I’m expecting it by next week hopefully.

While we were going through the design process, I approached Shoprite Nigeria and South Africa, selling the benefits and huge margins on this brand. I sent in a proposal and Shoprite Nigeria has agreed to start stocking the brand come January 2010 while talks are still ongoing with Shoprite South Africa.

Why am I saying all these? Are you unhappy with your present job or is it a family situation you need to get out of?Please believe in yourself cos no one will ever do if you doubt your God-given abilities. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything cos you can. Just refuse to give in and accept all the negative comments from family and friends. Stand up on a daily basis, look at yourself in the mirror and demand from Life what you want. If  you don’t demand and believe, you just might not get it. But if you do, then the sky is just the beginning.

Have a wonderful weekend peeps!

Young Professional Internship Programme (2010 -2011)

The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), the Health Agency of ECOWAS, and its Partners announce its Young Professional Internship Programme for 2010 – 2011, which will commence in March 2010, and hereby invite applications from citizens of member countires of ECOWAS.
Goal: The goal of the programme is to equip young professionals with knowledge, skills and experience for effective management of health problems in West Africa.

Structure: The 12month programme is divided into 6 Stages. Stages 1 and 4 will take place at the headquarters of WAHO in Burkina Faso, during which the Interns will acquire knowledge and competence in basic principles of public health, a second official language of ECOWAS, computer and new information technology as well as basic principles of management and leadership. During stages 2 and 5, the interns would be posted to host institutions in different countries in West Africa to acquire practical skills and competencies in their technical areas of interest or professional specialisation. The technical areas should respond to the health needs of the sub-region and the priority domains of WAHO.

Priority Domains for 2010 – 2011:
The applicants for the internship should have interest in one or more of the following priority technical areas:
1. HIV/AIDS
2. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
3. CHILD SURVIVAL
4. NUTRITION
5. PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS
6. MALARIA

Benefits:
The Interns would be provided with accomodation and would receive a monthly allowance during the period. All travel costs related to the Internship would be paid for and learning materials would be provided free.

Eligibility:
All applicants must be citizens of ECOWAS member countries, must be available throughout the 12month period and should have:
1. obtained a university degree or equivalent within the past five years.
2. fluency in reading and writing of at least one official ECOWAS language (English, French, Portugese)
3. basic competence in Information and Communication Technologies

Application Procedures:
Interested candidates should send the following documents:
1. Letter of application to participate in the programme.
2. Up to date curriculum vitae.
3. Photocopy of the relevant pages of the National passport, National Identity Card or birth certificate.
4. Photocopies of Diplomas and Certificates.
5. Letter of motivation stating reasons for the chocie, relevant experiences and future career plans.
6. In addition, each candidate should send three letters of reference. Two of the referees must be persons who taught the applicant in the University or appropriate institution. For a candidate with work of experience, the third should be a professional with whom the candidate has worked. The letters of reference should be sent directly to the address below by the referees. All applications and letters of reference should be sent by post or e-mail to:

West African Health Organisation (WAHO/OOAS)
Young Professional Internship Programme
01 BP 153 Bobo-Dioulasso 01
Burkina Faso

Email: waho.ypip2010@yahoo.fr

Closing date: All applications must be received by the close of work on 15th November 2009.