AFROGRAMS win 1m in School Debate

It was a celebration of joy galore when the African Church Model Grammar School, Ifako, Lagos won a one million prize at the National Intellectual Development Programme (NIDP) debate competition for secondary schools organized by the Caleb University, Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The elated principal, Mrs. Folashade Olayinka Erinle could not hide her joy when the news was broken to her on the phone even before the students arrived as she gave a shout of joy in her office when the news of the school’s victory was broken to her during a telephone conversation.

Barachael College, Baptist Academy and Dansol High School all emerged second and third and forth respectively.

The first and second runner-up, Barachael College and Baptist Academy got #250,000 and #150,000 respectively while Dansol High School, which came fourth smiled home with #100,000.

About seven hundred students from forty secondary school participated in the event tagged “Career Expo” which was sponsored by the Zenith bank.

During a one-on-one interview with some of the participating contestants from AFROGRAMS, the Head girl, Maclean Fiyinfoluwa said this was not the first time their school is winning or taking first in competitions as the school has participated in so many competition and they have been winning.

Ahama Isaac who was the chief speaker during the contest said that it wasn’t a pyrrhic victory as they have go through rigorous preparation which for about one month to the competition. The student said the prize was made possible through the effort of their English Language teacher, Mr. Aganga who put them on their toes to ensure that the prize came to the school.

Dr. Temitope Fasoranti, the Executive Director of Zenith Bank who spoke during the Career Expo segment on the title, “Developing a creative Mindset in the 21st century” admonished the students to make their studies a non- negotiable priority by shunning all manners of social vices and carefully choose the appropriate career path”       

How to Eke a Living Abroad as an International Students

 Sometimes studying abroad could be pretty difficult for international students especially those who are self-sponsored. Most times, some of the expectation of getting menial jobs or some little support to augment their expenses like living cost, feeding, clothing, etc. might be dashed. And yet, life still has to go on. So, how do you as an international student (especially from African or developing countries)who happens to find yourself abroad survive? 

We are all aware that international students can work abroad for at least 20 hours per week, But sometimes finding job for the first year of your study might be difficult. In some other country like India, international students are not allowed to work in order to support their studies. At other times, you might find a job while studying abroad, but the wages might not be enough to support yourself. So, how do you do survive the hurdle?  

That is why this post is meant for you. Of you find yourself studying abroad as an international student, there are many things that you can do to eke a living in order to augment your expenses and still continue your studies.

1. Tutorial: If you are good at teaching, teaching other colleagues or international students like yourself English Language could be an income stream for you. We have many international students who are from India, Pakistan, China, Malaysia, Niger, Cotonou, Congo, etc whose lingua franca aren't English. As English Language is the medium of communication in most universities and colleges, you can help to brush of their English for a small fee. You can even organize a group tutorial for them and charge them for a fee.

2.    Selling Stuffs: If you have a Midas touch and you can count your bean, then you can engage in selling and buying to make a living as a student while studying abroad. One thing Our local attire or fabric is a pride that people from other culture usually fascinate because of its uniqueness. Nowadays, 'Ankara' and 'Kente' is trending as it is becoming a fashionable trend loved by all. You can get a good tailor to make different sixes and you can sell your for a price and make money.

3.  Running your Own E-Commerce Store: Online store is trending and growing because of the internet. Since people can just go online and order some stuffs, they don't have to stress themselves going to the boutiques and stores to buy them. Designer labels like bags, shoes, belts, cloths, perfumes are some of the things that many fashionista go online to buy. Not peculiar to those who are fashion freaks, nearly everyone likes to look. By heling people to look nice, you can also make some cool dough too.

4. Photography: The other time, I was in Europe, I saw a students who was our paparazzi while we tour some campuses in Europe. Upon inquiry, I discovered that he was a student from the Middle East or one of the Arab countries. He said he makes a living with photography. If you are good at taking pictures, you can also make money without necessarily depending on the odd jobs out there while studying abroad. 

5. Creativity: Do you like some creative work like graphics and website designing? If you can build website or do some graphics or even develop software, then you don't need to look for any job. You can monetize this and make money.  That is why it is good to have some good skills here before going abroad to study.

Watch out for more on this topic soon!

How to Get a Schengen Visa (3)

In my last two articles on this topic, I have explored six steps to getting a Schengen Visa. This is the concluding part of the article. Enjoy it!

7. Prove that You Need the Visa You are Applying For: Getting a visa is not easy (I must confess). If you doubt me, ask those who have been refused visa many times without any tangible reason after all said and done.

Sometime last year, I read an interview in a newspaper which a consular said it is not their responsibility to give visa to applicants. If this is anything to go by, you will understand the reason why embassies are refusing their applicants visa. Every country is restricting access (entry) to its country. That is the more reason why you have to convince the consular or embassy beyond reasonable doubt that you need and merit the visa that you are applying for.

If you really wants to get a visa, there are about (3) conditions that you must fulfil. They are called “ties.”

(i) Family Ties: If you are single (unmarried) or a minor, you can hardly get a Schengen visa except your parents is travelling with you or you are going for study purpose or you have rich travel history or you are holding a foreign passport. These are some of the conditions that you can get a Schengen visa if you are between the age of 16 and 25 (and unmarried). Even if you are an adult and married or you are above the specified age, the Family ties is important to the embassy as they would like to know, “Who are you? What do you do? Do you have a family? Are you responsible? Are you a dependant or self-sustaining? If you cannot fulfil this condition, you are not likely to get a visa.

(ii) Work Ties: Are you gainfully employed? Where do work? What do you do as a person? Do you run business of your own or do you work with a company or organization? They need to ascertain these too before giving you a visa. If you run a business of your own you need to show proof by providing a certificate of incorporation. If you are working with a company or organization, you need to be get a reference from your company all that.

(iii) Country Ties: Among other things, the embassy would also like to know what would bring you back to you home country after getting a visa. Of course, your family, work, business, children, relative, etc are some of the things that would make you come back and not “disappear” if you are given a visa. These are some of the things or pre-conditions that the embassy would like to ascertain before giving you a visa.

8. Filling the Schengen Visa Application Properly: The Schengen visa application says a lot about the visa applicant. You can make your visa application successful or mar your chances of getting visa (even for life) with the information you provide on the two-page or four-page visa application.

This form has a lot of information about you (the applicant), where you are working, your family, your inviting organization (or host), your sponsor, your source of fund and the type of visa you are applying for. So, it would do you a lot of good if you take time to fill the form meticulously by providing the right information needed. If you think you are not knowledgeable in filling the form you can seek the help of a travel agent or consultant.

9. Book a Visa Appointment: After this, you need to book a visa appointment. Some embassies have ‘walk-in’ interview – you don’t need to book an appointment. Just make yourself available for the interview.

10. Pray: Having done your own part by crossing the ‘I’s’ and ‘t’s’, it is important to commit it to the hand of the Almighty God to do His part. With your visa application in His hand, your Visa is sure.

How to Get a Schengen Visa (2)

In my last article, I explained what a Schengen visa is and countries under the Schengen states. I also started out by telling you how to make your Schengen visa successful. This article is a follow-up on that.

2. Know the Requirements: Having known the type of visa you are applying for, the next thing is to start getting all the required documents towards your visa application. If you visit the website of the Embassy you are applying for, you will see all the required documents on there. If you need to be doubly-sure about the visa requirements, you can consult an experienced travel agent who would be of assistance to you.

3. Start filling the visa Application: The next thing to do after knowing the visa requirement is to start filling the visa application form. It could either be paper application or electronic (on the website or on your computer). But most embassies are phasing out paper application. Most application is now online. Before you start filling the form, make sure that you read the instruction on the form. Most times, they will also require you to create a Username and Password (which is usually case sensitive). Ensure you write your Username and Password down because you will need them in your subsequent application. Or when the computer logs you out. Please also remember that filling the form online needs a lot of accuracy and speed.

4. Make your travelling purpose clear: It is important to convince the consular or the embassy that would be issuing you visa beyond reasonable doubt about your purpose of trip. If you do not make this very clear, your visa application will be refused. It is one main reason why many visa applications are refused. It is not enough to fill in “Study”, “Visit”, “Tourism” in the visa application form. You have to clearly state this purpose and back up with a more convincing reason. Otherwise your visa application will be refused.

5. A Good Bank Statement of Account or Sufficient Funds: This is another major reason why many people do not get visa. Yes, many people want to travel and get visa, but they harldy make any preparation towards meriting the visa as visa is not got on a platter of gold especially for Schengen country. The embassy or consular would want to know how you would sustain yourself during your trip or if you have enough money for your trip. So, earmarking enough money for your hotel accommodation, feeding, sightseeing, round-trip airticket and other expenses is what would show that you have made adequate preparation for your trip. For your source of fund, if you can also include Credit card, cash and sponsorship (if you have one).

6. Get Genuine Documents: If you intend to get a Schengen visa( or any other visas at all), you have to make sure that you get genuine and authentic documents. Don’t patronize quacks and touts milling round the embassy or anywhere in the name of travel agents who will promise you heaven and earth that they have ‘Inside-link’ and the documents you present doesn’t really matter (whether they are got from Oluwole or anywhere). If you present a fake document, and the law caught up with you apart from been denied visa, some embassies might ban you for years and you might be behind bars. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Yes, I am aware that some applicants have presented fake documents and get away with it. I hear a lot of these stories everyday from clients who come to my office for visa consultations. But, you might not be lucky. Remember, everyday for the thief, but one day for the owner. So, be warned and desist from that act if you are to patronizing agents who assist you with fake invitation letters, fake bank statement of account, fake travel insurance and all sorts. You can actually get the right documents and get your visa.

How to Get a Schengen Visa (1)

Have you been thinking of how to apply for a Schengen visa either for study, work, business or tourist purpose? If yes, then this article is for you..  Whether you are applying for the first time for this type of visa or you have been refused before. I think you will find this article informational.

Before talking about how to apply for a Schengen visa, I think it is important to know what s Schengen visa  is.

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any of the Schengen member states and stay for  a duration of 90 days either for tourist or business purpose. It allows anyone with this type of visa to enter, freely travel within and leave the Schengen zone within that specified period.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Schengen countries (states) are:  Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

From this list, you would see that twenty-six countries are in the Schengen . The list is growing by the day as more countries are joining  the Schengen state.

What this means is that if you happen to get a Schengen visa, you will be able to enter 26 countries with one single visa and be able to stay up to 90 (depending on the validity of your visa).

So, here comes the big question, “How do I get a Schengen visa?” Here are what you ned to do to get a Schengen visa:

1. Know the type of visa you are applying for: According to the purpose of travelling, the Uniform Schengen Visa applies to all of the two categories, “A” and “C”.

‘A” category stands for the Airport Transit Visa which allows its holders to travel through the international zone of the Schengen country Airport without entering the Schengen Area (county).

Airport transit visa is mandatory for the citizens travelling from one non-Schengen state to another non-Schengen state through a change of flight in a Schengen country airport.

“C” category stands for a short-term visa which allows its holders to reside in a Schengen Area for a certain period of time depending on the visa validity. This is particular category, according to the holder’s purpose of travel  can be obtained in a form of:

§  Single-entry visa

§  Double-entry visa

§  Multiple-entry visa

Study in Poland

Making Poland your study abroad destination is one of the greatest decisions you would ever make. Reason? Poland is one of the best place to study apart from the low-tuition fees and living expenses. It also has a long education history which dates back to 1364 when King Casmir, the Great established the Cracrow Academy. The Academy today is known as the Jajgiellvain University.

But, before I continue to tell you when you need to consider Poland as one of your study abroad destination, you really need to know a little about Poland.

What I have discovered is that many prospective students do not know much about the country they want to study in. They are mostly interested in how popular the country is. If it is not popular, and the name doesn't ring bell like: Canada, USA, Germany, Australia, forget it. They will tell you, "I'm not going to study there. What did you call the name of the place? Poland or What?"

Knowing a country is as important as the course you want to study. Why did I say this. I have seen some students who have made wrong cohice in the country they study because the name is familiar and they know nothing about what they country has to offer. I have seen one case that the student had to stop mid-way and come back home to study in a Nigerian university. So, the question is: Where is Poland and what about it?

Poland is one of the Schengen states in the European Union. It borders Germany, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Slovakia. The name Poland is actually officially the Republic of Poland, and it is a country located in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative subdivisions, covering an area of 312,696 square kilometres, and has a largely temperate seasonal climate.

The official language is Polish and the Capital is Warsaw. The country's population is about 36 million and Polish zloty is the official currency apart from the Euro which is common among among the European Union.

So, back to our question, why should I consider Poland as my study abroad destination or why study in Poland anyway. Wait a minute! Here are 10 good reasons why you should study in Poland if you have never given this a thought.

1. Poland has one of most affordable tuition fees and lowest living expenses compared to other European countries.

2. There are more than 70,000 foreign students studying in Poland

3. There are about 400 universities in Poland

4. Over 800 programmes are taught in English Language

5. Bologna Process: Both Polish students and foreign students studying in Poland stay fully mobile and can continue their education elsewhere in the European Union.

6. Poland boasts of six Nobel Prize winners: Marie Sklodowska (1903 in Physics, 1911 -in Chemistry), Heny Sienkiewicz (1905 - in Literature), Wladyslaw Reymint (1924 - in Literature), Czelav Milosz (1980 -in Literature), Lech Walesa (1983 - Nobel Peace Prize), Wiskwa Syynborska (1936 - in Literature).

7. Poland is a Scenhen an EU country.

8. You can work while studying in Poland

9. You can move within the Schengen states while studying in Poland

10. Getting your work permit after completing your study in programme is easy. In fact you can get your permit aftter one or two years.

11. Poland is an highly industrialized country.

12. Poland is the sixth largest economy in the European Union

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about Studying in Poland

• How is studying in Poland like? Studying in Poland is cool. The taste of pudding is in the eating. You need to experience it yourself.
• How much does it costs to study in Poland? About 3,000 euros at least. This should cover tuition and accommodation. This however depends on the course you want to study and the institution you are choosing.
• Is IELTS required to study in Poland? Yes and No. In some universities and institution, they might require to show this test. Some other universities might not need this from you. If you can prove that you are proficient in English Language some universities might not need this from you.
• What are the requirements to study in Poland? Basically, you international passport, O'Level result and legalization of your documents.
• Can I work while I am studying in Poland? Yes. 

Study in Turkey

If you have been thinking of one of the cheapest and conducive place to study, then maybe you need to consider Turkey.

Turkey is Turkey is a nation straddling eastern Europe and western Asia with cultural connections to ancient Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Cosmopolitan Istanbul, on the Bosphorus Strait, is home to the iconic Hagia Sophia, with its soaring dome and Christian mosaics, the massive 17th-century Blue Mosque and the circa-1460 Topkapı Palace, former home of sultans. Ankara is Turkey’s modern capital.

During my visit to Turkey, I learnt that Yogurt was actually originated from there. Ankara and Istanbul are two of Turkey's popular cities. But, Istanbul is one of the most popular and busiest. It is just like Lagos. I was surprised to see 'go-slow' on the road. The country is clean and reputed for architectural master-piece and high rise building just like Dubai.

Turkey is connect to eight continent. If you are in Turkey, you can connect to the Asian side or the Europe side. That is indeed the beauty of Turkey.

At present, there are about one hundred and eighty (180) universities in Turkey out of which 104 of them are State (government-owned) universities, while the rest are private universities. While studying in Turkey, you can be assured of quality education because the facilities are standardized with state-of-the-art facilities. Another thing is the opportunity for exchange programme. Mostly called Erastus Mundus programme.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What are the advantages of studying in Turkey?
The advantage of studying in Turkey are many. One, the tuition are cheap compared to USA, Canada, or other European country. This does not however mean that since school fee is cheap, quality education is not offered in Turkey. Apart from cheap tuition, the hostel is also cheap. It might interest you to know that most of the hostels offer breakfast and dinner along with the hostel fee.

Another advantage of studying in Turkey is that you will have the onerous opportunity to study in a cosmopolitan country. Why? You meet many other students from different cultural background - Indian, Chinese, African, European, American, This is because Turkey is a tourism sight.

Apart from this, you are at home while studying in Turkey. The environment is safe and you are in the arms of hospitable people. Turkey is known for hospitality and that is what you can never take from the people there. From their infectious smile to their beautiful faces, you are sure you are in the hands of people who love you.
Another advantage is the opportunity to get scholarship. Turkey is too charitable with scholarship. This is another great factor.

Unlike other study destinations, you can opt for either government owned or private owned universities and the quality of education is the same. The sate owned universities ate cheap and very, very affordable.

Do I need any foreign exams while applying when I want to study in Turkey? No. Most of the universities do not need SAT or TOEFL. Since Nigerian is an English speaking country, most universities can exempt you from providing the English test like IELTS or TOEFL.

What documents are required to study in Turkey? It depends on the programme you want to study whether undergraduate or postgraduate. For undergraduate degree, you need a copy of your international passport, WASSCE result, Birth certificate and a legalization of all your documents.

What is the range of the tuition fees? The tutition fee ranges from $3,000 -$48,000. This also depends on the programme you want to study. Programmes like Medicine, Pharmacy and Nurding are higher than normal academic programmes. It also depends on which type of institution you want to study whether public or private universities. Government owned universities are cheaper than private universities.

Can I work while I am studying in Turkey? Yes. All international students can study and work at least 20 hours per week during normal academic session, and can work more than 20 hours during long vacation.

I was told that Turkey is a Muslim country. I am a christian. Can I be allowed to practice my religion while studying in Turkey? In Turkey, there is no religion discrimination. You are allowed to practice any faith you belief in without any discrimination, segregation or molestation. Although, it is a Muslim country, it is not pronounced in the way the country and academic environment.

Is Turkey safe to study in and hope there is no terrorist activities? Yes. Turkey is safe to study and there is no any terrorist activities.

How is the Economy of Turkey? Turkish economy is buoyant and stable.

How is easy is it to get Turkish student visa? Turkish student visa is easier to get than American or Canadian study permit or other European countries if you have all the requirement to get your study permit.

When can I study in Turkey? There are many academi session calendar if you want to study in Turkey. January, March, June/July, September. This also depends on the university you want to study in.