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Note the quantity of the ingredients depends on the size of your family or guests
Ingredients:
Bananas
Orange or other suitable firm fruit
Coating batter
Deep fat for frying
Castor sugar
Grated rind of lemon or lime

Preparation:
Prepare first stage of batter and set aside for half an hour
Prepare fruit according to kind for example cut peeled bananas across in halves then lengthwise. Cover with castor sugar and grated rind and leave for 15 minutes
Heat the oil
Fold stiffly whisked egg white into batter
Dip one piece of prepared fruit into batter, remove with a spoon or skewer, allow superfluous batter to drain and drop the fruit in batter into fat. Remove small pieces of batter as these quickly burn
When golden brown, remove and drain. After the removal of one quantity, bring the fat again to the correct frying temperature before putting more into it.

Dredge fritters with sugar, serve very hot and quickly. If they are kept covered they quickly lose their crispness.

Launching a successful startup requires having a unique or distinctive idea, careful planning and a right execution of this idea. Although entrepreneurs learn a lot as they go, but being prepared from the outset through careful and strategic analysis and planning of your market will do you much good.

So, here are tips on how to attain a successful startup:

1. Have a unique selling proposition

Before you launch your business, it is important you make sure it will have a demonstrable point of difference from other products or services in your industry. If you don’t have a unique selling proposition (USP), then you will find you are selling pretty much the same types of products or services as your competition. Without a USP, you will find it challenging to build a customer base and generate enough revenue to stay afloat.

2. Be productive

When you’re launching and building a startup, you have to wear many different hats, constantly juggling a variety of tasks and responsibilities. As a result, you will dramatically increase your chance of success if you learn to be as productive as possible.

There are a number of ways you can increase efficiency. For example, it is best to keep in mind the 80/20 rule when it comes to your workload. That is, you will find that 80 percent of your most productive time comes from just 20 percent of the tasks you complete. As such, look for the 20 percent of jobs that will yield you the most results in your business, and focus on getting them done each day, week, month and year.

In addition, there are thousands of technological aids available to help you to increase your productivity. Check out apps and online systems that make it quicker and easier to do things such as:

Create and update databases and mailing lists
Send communications
Track leads, website visits and press mentions
Handle finances and human resources tasks
Complete administration jobs

3. Hire a good team

Surrounding yourself with a solid team is another important element of a successful startup. When you’re starting a business, it makes a big difference to learn from fellow entrepreneurs who have “been there, done that” before you. Try to find mentors, business consultants and other helpful people who can guide you and your venture over the coming months and years.

It is also imperative that when you have the funds to hire staff members and contractors, you select the right candidates for each job. As you grow, you not only want to have people in your team who are more versed than you in various areas of business, but who also display helpful traits such as adaptability, flexibility, a positive attitude and an eagerness to learn. These types of people are more likely to stay with you for the long haul, be open to tackling whatever needs to be done and will treat customers with care.

It is widely believed that as a fresh graduate, the assurance of getting a job lies in the number of politicians and hiring managers you know. Well, that isn’t a lie, but without having relevant knowledge and skills, your career won’t amount to anything commendable.

Therefore, it is important you invest in your career, because knowledge, skills and image give as high a chance of securing a job as knowing a politician or hiring manager.

As an undergraduate or fresh graduate, start acquiring the knowledge, learning the skills and putting on the kind of image that characterize your chosen career, it is neither too early or too late to do such. This is one rule of becoming successful_ preparedness.

Here are ways you can invest in your career.

1. Become certified

If you’re a graduate of courses like project management and human resources, getting a professional certificate in this field might boost your career. Generally, certifications are less time-consuming and less expensive than degree programs. So, if you really want to give yourself a push in your career, just try your best to get certified.

2. Learn relevant skills

The university won’t teach you everything and I’m sure you know this. You’ll have to learn certain skills that’ll make you more relevant and valuable than other job seeking candidates out there.

For instance, if you’re a journalism graduate, you’ll need more than your writing and news judgement skills to shine in the field. Journalism these days go with photography, video and photo-editing skills. If you have these skills in your CV, believe me, you’ll have an edge over other candidates looking for jobs in media houses.

3. Build your brand online

While getting certified and learning new skills might require money, building your brand and promoting yourself online won’t cost you a kobo.

Your online profile can either get you or prevent you from getting a job, and this is why you have to be conscious of what you publish on your social media accounts. To sell yourself online to potential employers online, you’ll need to follow them on their social media platforms, contribute t industry discourse and express your opinions about industry issues. This might endear an employer to you if you’re consistent with it.

4. Get a mentor

One easy way to position yourself for growth in your career is to have a mentor. According to a career advisor, Dr Flo Falayi, ‘employees who were part of a mentoring relationship were found to have significantly higher engagement scores, more fulfilled than employees who were not’.

Having a mentor helps you to make important decisions in your career and also helps you develop yourself in any field of your interest.

5. Raise Your Professional Profile

Professional associations require you to invest both your time and money, but they are a good way to meet people in your industry. This is no doubt a good way to boost your professional profile.

If there’s any professional body relevant to your field, it’s important you join the association. You can learn from some of the experienced members of the association while you also grow in your career.

By Abel Leonard/Lafia

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa has promised to support sporting activities in tertiary institutions in the state.

the governor who was represented by Mr Yakubu  Kwanta SA to the governor on youth and sport disclose this during the to our correspondence during the maiden edition of the 17th Rectors cup closing ceremony, in Lafia, Nasarawa state capital.

He said that more funds would be made available for tertiary institutions in the state to promote sporting activities, noting that, “I have written a memo to his Excellency emphasising on the need for more funds to be released to tertiary institutions to help in improving their sporting facilities and harnessing more young and talented players and athletes that will not just be representing the state but to win medals’.

Mr Kwanta  also said that the government will do all it could to support the Nasarawa state polytechnic in the upcoming NIPOGA games scheduled for December in Kwara state this year.

Speaking at the event, the Ag.Registrar of the polytechnic, Alhaji Mukhtar Wakeel, said that ” as you can see this is one of the best organised rectors cup competition ever in the history of the polytechnic, I want to tell you that what you are seeing today is a test to what will happen in Zaria next week during the preliminaries and in December during the proper NIPOGA games. Our team will not just represent they will come back with the trophies. They are raw talents’.

The Head Coach of the polytechnic, Mr Joseph Kpanja said that the competition has helped to curb social vices in the school. ” you can see there are many students feeling good been together a lot of them who are cultist will now understand the place of togetherness, we have preached peace to then and educate them to shun cultism and other social vices’.

In his remark, the Head of Department of mass communication Mr Madaki Williams Musa said that ” I am not really a lover of football but this event has made me love football more. all through from the starting of the competition to the final of it I watched all the games, it was fun and has helped to develop the mind of the students and also give them some kind of confidence both in learning and social activities as part of developing the institution.

it would be recalled that Daybreak news reported earlier that the government of Nasarawa state constituted a committee to revamp sports in the state. The event is in line with government policies and programmes to promote sporting activities in the state.

When you triumph in your academics, workplace or in other endeavours, it is natural to want to share the good news with friends and families. But in a situation where sharing your good news makes your dear friend turned green with ill-feeling and even accuse you of rubbing your success in his or her face, then you may be dealing with a jealous friend.

However, there are jealous friends who are subtle and will pretend to be happy for you while backstabbing you.

Anyway, jealousy is like a knife severing relationship built over years, it poisons the mind and turn it dark with hate and bitterness. So, it is rather wise you handle the situation as soon as you sense it before it worsens and poisons your mind too.

Here are 3 ways to gracefully handle a jealous friend:

1. Don’t ignore it

If you notice a friend acting jealously towards you, do not ignore the situation [Credit: Creative Market]

Ignoring the situation will only make things worse and it will worsen like a cut that has not been treated and will end up infecting every part of the friendship. If you leave it and let the unhappiness and jealousy grow, you will only make the division between the two of you larger until it is simply beyond repair.

You may also start feeling resentful towards that person and unconsciously root for them to fail, just like they are doing to you. Jealousy begets jealousy and you may find yourself mirroring their actions ad turning into somebody that you don’t like.

Depending on how close you are to this friend, you need to decide if you should just let it go or confront them. If you want to salvage the relationship or cut it off officially, it is advisable that you confront them, make them aware that you have noticed their behaviour and do not want it to continue.

2. Communicate honestly yet gently

Learn to communicate honestly yet gently with your friend about how you have been feeling. Honest communication is the key to fixing most things including unhealthy behaviour among friends. Take the time to speak to your friend about how they’re acting and how their behaviour is affecting you.

Be honest and gentle and remember that they are holding onto resentment and the only way for them to let it go is for you acknowledge it, understand it and try to help them let go of it.

Their initial instinct will be to deny it altogether but do not let that sway you. Don’t start the conversation with something as blunt as, “I know you are jealous of me”. Instead, open up with, “I have noticed that things have changed between us and that you seem distant.”

Make it clear that something has to change in order for your friendship to move forward positively and let them know how much you value the friendship and want it to work.

3. Try and understand why

Once you have confronted your friend, try and understand why they feel the way they do towards you. Another important thing that you have to do is to understand ‘why’ your friend is acting the way they are. Why are they jealous of you? Why does this person feel this way now? Why does this person always have to turn things into a competition? Why does this person feel the need to watch you fail?

Most of the time, people have their own reasons for feeling jealous.Often, the person sees something in you or another person that makes them feel that they aren’t as good. It could be real or imagined, but the feelings of inadequacy are projected through negative thoughts or actions. Jealousy emerges as a . or solution to those feelings of inadequacy. Instead of dealing with these underlying feelings of inadequacy, the jealousy turns into little digs and insults when they are together.

Understanding the why can lead you to explore the reasons behind those feelings and solve them, together.

By Kenneth Atavti and Emmanuel Obisue

The role of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, in developing economies cannot be underplayed. In Nigeria, MSMEs alone employ over 80 percent of the country’s total 90.5 million labour force, contributes 48 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and constitute over 80 percent of registered exporters.

Over the years, MSMEs have continued to contribute their fair share to the development of Nigeria. Behind the huge potentials of MSMEs to create employment opportunities for the country’s younger population, there lies the problem of limited financing.

In a conscious bid to address this challenge, Fidelity Bank introduced the ‘SME Funding Connect’ to harp on improved funding, and connect funders/trainers to entrepreneurs for necessary financial assistance. The bank recognises the critical roles MSMEs play as vital agents of economic development and transformation, as it also has a full-fledged SME banking division.

As part of efforts to further bridge the funding gap in the sector, Fidelity Bank has also collaborated with fund providers within and outside the country.

Recently, it held a unique forum. In one of such, Yetunde Ayo-Oyalowo, Founder/CEO of Market Doctor, an innovative healthcare provider, set up clinics around clustered markets in the country. It is amazing as one does not often see doctors dressed in their laboratory coats providing health services in the market place. Market Doctor, an innovative healthcare provider, is however challenging the status quo by setting up clinics around clustered markets in the country.

The Market Doctor company recently emerged overall winner of the inaugural edition of the grants competition organized during the Fidelity SME Funding event, carting away the corresponding N2 million cash prize. The CEO who appeared as a special guest on the Fidelity SME Forum aired on live radio, said she barely knew anyone in Fidelity Bank before applying into the competition.

“I applied for it three days before the closing date hoping to win. I later got a call that I had been shortlisted and from there I went for the first scheduled boot camp,” she said.
Out of over 2,500 applicants, an initial 12 finalists emerged from a rigorous and intensive selection process which was conducted by the renowned accounting and consultancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC.

Healthy Nellies, a food production firm and Greenhill Recycling who emerged first and second runner up, respectively took home the sum of N1 million each. Adeyinka Tekenah of ‘Happy Coffee’ and Olalekan Afolayan of ‘PackMyLoad.com’ who both smiled home with consolation prizes of N500,000 each, complete the list of finalists. The remaining seven shortlisted SMEs received N200,000 each as well.

While commending the winners, Fidelity Bank CEO, Nnamdi Okonkwo, however emphasized the importance of MSMEs to the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy.

The grants competition according to the Fidelity boss, was the highlight of the SME Funding conference themed “Entrepreneurship Meets Capital” which was organized by the bank to deepen the conversation on funding by bringing together small business owners, model entrepreneurs, fund providers, private equity firms and venture capitalists under one roof.

He added that it was important for the bank as “one of the best SME-friendly banks to come up with the initiative in furtherance of our support for the sector because of its contribution to economic development and poverty eradication”.

Osaigbovo Omorogbe, Divisional Head, SMEs Fidelity Bank said: “one of the remarkable things about this our initiative is that we were able to bring small business owners and funds providers, model investors, private equity firms, Venture Capitals and Angel Investors worth over $1 billion together in one roof”.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat in his keynote address at the occasion, commended Fideity Bank for the initiative, adding that small businesses contribute to employment creation, poverty alleviation and revenue generation.

“What Fidelity Bank is doing is to create access to capital, which is the biggest threat to MSMEs. He advised financial institutions to borrow a leaf from Fidelity Bank. The Lagos State Government is ready to create the enabling environment for the MSMEs to thrive,” he said.

He further noted that research has shown that, around the world, SMEs produce the largest number of jobs, in some way, helping the larger firms to survive, adding that 89 percent of all companies in the world are SMEs and 70 percent of the jobs in the world are provided by SMEs.

He revealed that the Lagos State Government plans to create enabling environment through schemes and micro finance Ba2nks, which will in turn enhance the entrepreneurship sector in the country, which Lagos State alone boasts of over 3million.

Director Development Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and Mezuo Nwuneli, Managing Partner, Sahel Capital, who were among the panelists in the engaging sessions, shared three things which the panel looked out for before investing in a SME.

According to the group, they are: management, adaptability, and ability to work with potential investors.
“Management is key as it is important to prove that you understand your business. If you understand your business, you can earn investors’ trust easier,” he said.

He reiterated that an entrepreneur has to be adaptable to change. “There has to be engagement between the entrepreneur and the investors. This engagement may lead to the change of some areas to make things better,” he added.

Speaking in the same vein, CEO, Venture Garden Group, Bunmi Akinyemiju further advised entrepreneurs to start with local investors. She said it would help them to be ready for foreign investors. He warned them against the urge to hide information as this could affect the budding trust.

Two new products for small businesses were also unveiled at the occasion. They are: Fidelity Business Plus Account and Fidelity Trader Support Facility. Networking opportunities will also be provided by the small business owners to pitch their business to potential investors.

Other panelists at the sessions include: Obi Ezeude, Founder/CEO of Beloxxi Industries; Mo Abudu, CEO, Ebonylife TV; Akindele Phillips, Co-Founder, Farm Crowdy; Dr. Richard Ajayi, CEO, The Bridge Clinic; Seun Abolaji, CEO, Wilsons Juice, and Adetayo Bamiduro, Co-founder, MAX Okada.

Others were: Dayo Akinpelu, VP Renaissance Capital, Toyin Adeniji, ED Bank of Industries, and Bonaventure Okhaimo, COO Development Bank of Nigeria, DBN.

Sitting in one office of a major corporation and answering just questions about yourself can be tensing let alone technical questions like what motivates you?

This question can be tricky and you might just end up rambling without saying anything that matters to the organisation. So, your response must be connected to the job in question and honest too. Make use of scenarios or examples so as they interviewers could use their imaginations and have a vivid picture of your response.

Motivation is the drive to succeed at something. This is why the question of motivation is very important to hiring managers, because they want to know what drives you as a person.

Below are ways to answer the motivation question.

First, we all know money often determines whether a prospective employee will take a job or not. However, you don’t have to make your response sound like money is all you want.

Show the hiring managers that you’re not just coming to work for the paycheck but to also contribute to their organization’s growth.

Instead of making it all about money, talk about how having a good career; challenging tasks; meeting deadlines; targets or goals; being in the company of good colleagues; leading a team to success as well as completing a difficult project, and seeing it through to the end can motivate you.

You can also talk about self assessment and improvement as your motivation; and how having a coach or motivating others, learning new things and solving problems could be your sources of motivation.

Here’s an example:

‘As a digital marketer, I usually derive motivation from my involvement in creative projects, teamwork and seeing my effort come to fruition. One of the things I loved about my last job was witnessing the results of our team’s campaigns, and having the opportunity to lead campaigns was one of the reasons I was so excited to apply for this role.”

The things mentioned above are the guidelines to answering questions about motivation. The aforementioned motivating factors are what an hiring manager delights upon and looks out for, because they align with factors that contribute to the growth and success of an organisation.