Stories by Olabisi Olaleye
Nigerians are over burdened with various identity cards, including driver’s license, national identity card, voters card and BVN card. While still grasping with how to hold these necessary identifications, the umbrella body of students in the country, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has proposed to unveil a unified biometric identity card for all students in both public and private tertiary institutions across the country next month.
While some stakeholders may heave a sigh of relief that it’s not their cup of tea, some parents’ heartbeat may be increasing owing to funding because tertiary institutions drain their pockets due to several unbudgeted and unforeseen taxes from ‘lecturers’.
On how the identity card will impact on the Nigerian Student and what informed the decision, NANS President, Mr. Tijani Usman Shehu, disclosed during a media briefing in Lagos that it became imperative to create a secured benefit-based uniform identification document for all Nigerian students in tertiary institutions.
“This ID card will be created by a system that will issue a unique identification number, using a complex algorithm similar to the one recommended to be used on travel documents by the United Nations, International Civil Aviation (ICAO).
“The ID card substrate is designed, using secured technology reserved for currency printing making it almost impossible to forge. The system will also create a database for all Nigerian students, subscribing to this initiative for a token and is designed to be able to generate a user definable statistical data that may be used by the Federal Ministry of Education, States Ministries of Education, other approved Government institutions and NGO’s to aid in education planning.
“This secured benefit-based identity card will be called the Nigerian students Uniform Identification Card: NSUID and the website will go live on June 16.”
On reasons for the card’s initiative,Shehu said it was because of the harrassment being meted out to students, the prevailing economic situation and security challenges informed the uniformed ID card.
“The number of tertiary institutions in the country makes unequivocal verification of the identification of bonafide students difficult, this gets more challenging with the ease in which forged identity cards can be acquired today given technological advances in desktop printing. As such there is no system that recognition to the numerous identity documents presented by the Nigerian students. Due to this unfortunate situation, the Nigerian student is robbed of some benefits that normally accrue to students traditionally.
“The other benefits that will accrue to the student will include but not limited to, one: Term life insurance which will include sponsorship of the student’s education in the event of death or permanent disability of the students sponsor. Two, ability to download any number of e-books related to the student’s discipline. Three: discounts in land and air transportation. Four: discounts in the purchase of Mobile phones and Laptops. Five: discounts in courier services. Six: discount in the purchase of bandwidth for internet access. Seven: interest free loans which will be available after the students have contributed to the scheme for at least one year. These benefits are the first set of benefits, we are working with our partners to bring many more benefits to the Nigerian students. All partners and vendors are present here and they will later explain further these benefits”.
Tweet and earn megabucks
sInce 2006,when Twitter was launched, this particular social medium has become more popular among radical youths to express themselves in not more than 160 words to their teeming followers.
With the hashtags(#), a trend or link can either be followed or sustained depending on users.
Already, this social media has over 300 million users but handle popular across the globe, in Nigeria, Twitter was made more popular by Messers Tolu Ogunlesi and Japheth Omojuwa. However, it is not just about update postings but more of popularising business brands. In today’s world, business owners, use Twitter to keep in track with consumers and give them messages about transactions and brands. While personal users also use Twitter to promote their careers, services and partners. And a smart twitter user, can use this platform to make money.
There are various ways to earn money from tweets and these include improving skills, become adept Twitter user, experience in marketing among others.
An adept Twitter user
No one with rudimentary Twitter skills can make money on Twitter. One needs to be good at getting followers to the account, using multiple accounts and creating innovative tweets.
Get experience in marketing
In order to monetize yourself, one must understand concept, such as Internet marketing plans, lead generation and affiliate marketing. One should have a website or resume that shows marketing and Twitter experience to websites that wants to outsource their Twitter accounts.
Business uses for Twitter
Social media accounts are ideal for website lead generation. Use a lead capture strategy or giving Twitter-only deals, free content or a free trial, if the user clicks a Twitter link and signs up for an account. Earn money by contacting these leads through emails with product offers targeted to their interests.
With this , interested companies or websites will start connecting or contacting and thereby a business deal is sealed and the first payment could be $25 until an upgrade is done.