By Dare Lasisi. "Education is the only passport to the future."-Malcolm X. This is another true-life story which happened t...
By Dare Lasisi.
"Education is the only passport to the future."-Malcolm X.
This is another true-life story which happened to my friend few years ago in London.I am sure you're going to enjoy it.
Adewale(not his real name) came to United Kingdom for a postgraduate degree in Information Technology in 2005.He obtained his first degree in Computer Science in one of the state universities in SW Nigeria before his arrival in the United Kingdom.
After his Masters in IT, he studied again to get some certifications(A++,Cisco and others).He was unable to get any job in IT-related field and he was not ready to go back to Nigeria.
What happened next?Adewale endured all the hardship.
He got a part-time job as an office cleaner in central London and later switched to 'better-pay' night security job after 6 months.That was the genesis of his breakthrough in foreign land.
On one fateful night,the manager(white man,Barry) of the company where he was working as security officer saw him during his break time reading 2 big books titled: 'Internet Security' and 'Software Engineering'.
This white man instantly asked him if he was a College student anywhere.Those two big books are not for 'dull heads'.
"I am not a College student, just finished my Masters in Information Technology(specialization in Cyber Security) from University of Westminster but no job,then I am now doing security job to survive." Adewale said as if to shed tears.
"After your postgraduate education,what next?Any IT certifications?" The white guy asked Adewale with curiosity.
"Yes sir,I just passed my A++,CISCO certification and others."
"Are you kidding me?What are you doing here?"
"Sir,I have photocopies of my certificates in my bag."
"Can you show me right now?"
Like play,like play,Adewale opened his bag to show him.
To cut the long story short,the wife of this white guy(Laura) was the Head of Info Tech department in one of the top banks in Canary Wharf in Docklands area of east London.Few vacancies to employ IT staff with CISCO certification in Laura's office.
If you're a Londoner(Nigerian) with either personal office or working in Canary Wharf,then you must be very lucky.I once worked in one Canary Wharf office for just 3 months in 2006.(Don't bother to ask for my type of job.I made my money then!)
Barry gave Adewale his email address and told him to scan all his certificates plus his CV within 48 hours.
Adewale was partially homeless in London,just staying with old friends.He got home from work next day to carry out Barry's instructions.
Exactly 10 days later,Adewale received a letter of interview signed by Laura(Barry's wife).He was so happy as if he won £1 million lottery.
Adewale called Barry to thank him over the letter of interview.
"Good evening Sir!I just got a letter of interview to come to Canada Square area in Canary Wharf for my interview.I am still waiting to renew my Nigerian passport at our High Commission in London.I don't have any ID with me except my former university ID card."
"Don't worry at all.My wife is the Head of the IT section.I will inform her to overlook that aspect.Just do your best in the interview." Barry assured him.
Adewale attended the interview in a borrowed suit and shoes.He really impressed Laura and her team.They verified all his original certificates and made photocopies.
As expected,Laura did not ask for his Nigerian passport.Adewale got letter of employment same day with starting annual salary of £45,000.He resigned from his £6 per hour security job to join the IT professionals.
The company later assisted Adewale to apply for WORK PERMIT.He was later sponsored to Canada for job training.As I am typing this message,Adewale is now a British citizen.
Adewale is still single but he plans to marry next year or 2018.I wish him best of luck in life.
This young man really suffered in the United Kingdom before his final breakthrough while working as a gateman/security officer in London.
I hope you really enjoyed reading this true-life story.Thank you!
MORAL OF THE STORY...
-Adewale did not give up on his chosen career despite engaging in odd jobs in London to survive.He was strongly determined.
Billionaire Mike Adenuga(GLO CEO/MD)was once a taxi driver in America,even late Gani Fawehinmi worked in post-office in North London as a student,Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana also engaged in odd jobs as a student in England.No big deal at all.Quote me.
-If you're not in your country of birth,you're most likely to pass through many barriers until you reach your promised land.You just need to keep your head above water-STAY AWAY FROM CRIMES,no matter the temptation.Take my words serious!
-Most Nigerian graduates often stop reading after graduation without improving themselves. Adewale did not stop learning,he went ahead to pass IT certifications while still working as a cleaner and security officer.Barry mistakenly saw him with IT books and decided to help him to achieve his goals in life.The rest is now history.
-Let anybody calls you any unprintable name during your 'struggling' years.Just ignore them and move forward.The mouth the snail used to insult the oracle shall soon be used to clean the floor.You're free to call me anything...na your wahala.
-If you're not on scholarship or your parents not as politicians in Nigeria,to sponsor yourself to UK universities as somebody from 'struggling' family background is not easy...working all night to earn few pounds with limited sleep,then going to school next day in the morning.Very nasty experience plus extremely cold weather.
Most of the children of top Nigerian politicians in UK schools do not work during their academic years.Free monthly allowance from Nigeria.Lucky chaps!I met some of them on UK campuses.
Why won't the brilliant ones among them obtain Distinction(and First Class!)?They read books without any stress,not paying UK bills and not struggling to pay tuition fees.All paid by rich parents.
-If you're educated in life with certificates,no matter your present(or past)hardship,you can still achieve your dreams in life as long as you keep on 'upgrading' and 'updating' yourself.Don't feel 'too big' to take up any odd job to feed your belly.No easy way to breakthrough in life.No pain,no gain.
-With Internet,so easy for interested people to know 'something of everything' in this world.Don't waste your time and Internet data on social media to argue on political matters.Try to learn new things and meet useful friends.A word is enough for the wise.
TO BE CONTINUED....
"Education is the only passport to the future."-Malcolm X.
This is another true-life story which happened to my friend few years ago in London.I am sure you're going to enjoy it.
Adewale(not his real name) came to United Kingdom for a postgraduate degree in Information Technology in 2005.He obtained his first degree in Computer Science in one of the state universities in SW Nigeria before his arrival in the United Kingdom.
After his Masters in IT, he studied again to get some certifications(A++,Cisco and others).He was unable to get any job in IT-related field and he was not ready to go back to Nigeria.
What happened next?Adewale endured all the hardship.
He got a part-time job as an office cleaner in central London and later switched to 'better-pay' night security job after 6 months.That was the genesis of his breakthrough in foreign land.
On one fateful night,the manager(white man,Barry) of the company where he was working as security officer saw him during his break time reading 2 big books titled: 'Internet Security' and 'Software Engineering'.
This white man instantly asked him if he was a College student anywhere.Those two big books are not for 'dull heads'.
"I am not a College student, just finished my Masters in Information Technology(specialization in Cyber Security) from University of Westminster but no job,then I am now doing security job to survive." Adewale said as if to shed tears.
"After your postgraduate education,what next?Any IT certifications?" The white guy asked Adewale with curiosity.
"Yes sir,I just passed my A++,CISCO certification and others."
"Are you kidding me?What are you doing here?"
"Sir,I have photocopies of my certificates in my bag."
"Can you show me right now?"
Like play,like play,Adewale opened his bag to show him.
To cut the long story short,the wife of this white guy(Laura) was the Head of Info Tech department in one of the top banks in Canary Wharf in Docklands area of east London.Few vacancies to employ IT staff with CISCO certification in Laura's office.
If you're a Londoner(Nigerian) with either personal office or working in Canary Wharf,then you must be very lucky.I once worked in one Canary Wharf office for just 3 months in 2006.(Don't bother to ask for my type of job.I made my money then!)
Barry gave Adewale his email address and told him to scan all his certificates plus his CV within 48 hours.
Adewale was partially homeless in London,just staying with old friends.He got home from work next day to carry out Barry's instructions.
Exactly 10 days later,Adewale received a letter of interview signed by Laura(Barry's wife).He was so happy as if he won £1 million lottery.
Adewale called Barry to thank him over the letter of interview.
"Good evening Sir!I just got a letter of interview to come to Canada Square area in Canary Wharf for my interview.I am still waiting to renew my Nigerian passport at our High Commission in London.I don't have any ID with me except my former university ID card."
"Don't worry at all.My wife is the Head of the IT section.I will inform her to overlook that aspect.Just do your best in the interview." Barry assured him.
Adewale attended the interview in a borrowed suit and shoes.He really impressed Laura and her team.They verified all his original certificates and made photocopies.
As expected,Laura did not ask for his Nigerian passport.Adewale got letter of employment same day with starting annual salary of £45,000.He resigned from his £6 per hour security job to join the IT professionals.
The company later assisted Adewale to apply for WORK PERMIT.He was later sponsored to Canada for job training.As I am typing this message,Adewale is now a British citizen.
Adewale is still single but he plans to marry next year or 2018.I wish him best of luck in life.
This young man really suffered in the United Kingdom before his final breakthrough while working as a gateman/security officer in London.
I hope you really enjoyed reading this true-life story.Thank you!
MORAL OF THE STORY...
-Adewale did not give up on his chosen career despite engaging in odd jobs in London to survive.He was strongly determined.
Billionaire Mike Adenuga(GLO CEO/MD)was once a taxi driver in America,even late Gani Fawehinmi worked in post-office in North London as a student,Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana also engaged in odd jobs as a student in England.No big deal at all.Quote me.
-If you're not in your country of birth,you're most likely to pass through many barriers until you reach your promised land.You just need to keep your head above water-STAY AWAY FROM CRIMES,no matter the temptation.Take my words serious!
-Most Nigerian graduates often stop reading after graduation without improving themselves. Adewale did not stop learning,he went ahead to pass IT certifications while still working as a cleaner and security officer.Barry mistakenly saw him with IT books and decided to help him to achieve his goals in life.The rest is now history.
-Let anybody calls you any unprintable name during your 'struggling' years.Just ignore them and move forward.The mouth the snail used to insult the oracle shall soon be used to clean the floor.You're free to call me anything...na your wahala.
-If you're not on scholarship or your parents not as politicians in Nigeria,to sponsor yourself to UK universities as somebody from 'struggling' family background is not easy...working all night to earn few pounds with limited sleep,then going to school next day in the morning.Very nasty experience plus extremely cold weather.
Most of the children of top Nigerian politicians in UK schools do not work during their academic years.Free monthly allowance from Nigeria.Lucky chaps!I met some of them on UK campuses.
Why won't the brilliant ones among them obtain Distinction(and First Class!)?They read books without any stress,not paying UK bills and not struggling to pay tuition fees.All paid by rich parents.
-If you're educated in life with certificates,no matter your present(or past)hardship,you can still achieve your dreams in life as long as you keep on 'upgrading' and 'updating' yourself.Don't feel 'too big' to take up any odd job to feed your belly.No easy way to breakthrough in life.No pain,no gain.
-With Internet,so easy for interested people to know 'something of everything' in this world.Don't waste your time and Internet data on social media to argue on political matters.Try to learn new things and meet useful friends.A word is enough for the wise.
TO BE CONTINUED....
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