I have previously written about the rise of e-Commerce in Nigeria and how you can profitably take part, so in case you missed out, consider this a follow-up article. I will be sharing with you first hand my own experience of how I made close to a million naira within 3 months of owning a shop online!

How It All Began…

My first experience with e-Commerce was selling my business consulting and internet marketing services through my blog naijapreneur.com. Then in January 2013, I came across Kaymu while it was still in its early stage trying to break her way into the Nigerian eCommerce terrain. It didn’t take me long to see the market potentials of such a platform where sellers can be connected to over 60 million Nigerians online. I instantly became a kaymu evangelist. This is partly due to my passion for entrepreneurship development in Nigeria and my successful experience with e-Marketing.

My 1st Month Selling Online

I own a boutique business where I sell both male and female clothing and shoes. So I decided to create my own shop online to test run kaymu and listed the shoes on the platform, this was in February. Oh and if you are wondering why I listed only shoes and left out the clothes? Well, shoes are far easier to snap than clothes. Before the month ended, I was able to sell one shoe despite 5 orders, only one buyer followed through to pickup and paid cash –N3000. This wasn’t so bad since Kaymu opened to the public in February.

My 2nd Month Selling Online

Towards the end of February, I decided to expand my shop on kaymu to sell in another promising category other than fashion –phones and tablets. Since I didn’t sell phones and tablets, this was made possible by one of my e-Marketing clients who proposed a partnership. I help sell their phones and tablets online through kaymu and earn commissions on every sale.
So because of this collaboration, in March I sold one Blackberry Z10, an iPad4 and a Tommy Hilfiger shoe for a total of N223,000. Not bad huh?

My 3rd Month Selling Online

April was the best month ever, all of the marketing initiatives where falling into place and people were becoming more confident in the brand due to the number of successful deliveries and safe transactions recorded. So in April, I sold 7 Smart phones and 5 male shoes for a total of N613,547!

The total?

February – N3000
March – N223,000
April – N613,547
Total = N839,547

Why It Pays To Sell Online 

• Besides the number one obvious fact that you get to reach a whole lot more people through an online shop, the most significant reason for me is the 24hrs 7days a week operational nature of an online shop. There’s practically no closing time online, you can be making sales while you sleep!

• Reducing overhead costs is one other reason why selling online is so super smart. You don’t have to bother about shop space, on the internet there’s unlimited shelf space. The amount of items you can sell is unlimited. As you just saw me explain, I expanded from just selling male shoes to selling smart phones and tablets and it didn’t cost me additional rent!

• And my personal favorite, growing your brand has never been easier. Online you connect with millions of people you would never have been able to sell to offline. And the bonus part, they become your customers as well not just kaymu’s customers because they buy from you directly not from kaymu. 

• Safe transactions is another advantage you get by selling on kaymu. Unlike other free classified sites, kaymu is much more than a free classified site. It is an actual e-Shopping mall where you can buy from so many trusted retailers who have physical shops offline. On Kaymu, you are buying from real businesses not just some random individual who has something to dispose. 

Over to you

You’ve read my story and as many naijapreneurs have come to know me for, I hardly share what I haven’t personally applied. My own approach to marketing is simple; “don’t tell people what you will do, show them what you’ve done. Why? Because results sell faster than words!”

If this isn’t sufficient prove that Nigeria is in the early days of a heavy e-Commerce boom, then you can choose to ignore this article. But if you are among the few wise ones, you will get in now while many are still contemplating and begin to reap the rewards of selling online. Here’s an invitation, click here to start!

Tito Philips, Jnr. is an unusual Nigerian who is passionate about rebuilding Nigeria through Entrepreneurship. He’s currently empowering entrepreneurs about starting up an e-Commerce business in Nigeria. He blogs about business and entrepreneurship at naijapreneur.com

The Samsung latest smartphone Galaxy S4 is finally live and available in Nigeria. In one of previous posts on Galaxy S3, I mentioned the 10 million sales mark which Galaxy S3 surpassed. Galaxy S4 may yet do the same magic!

Normally when a device of this kind launches, the next thing that comes to mind is how much it will go. Same happened in the case of S3 price in Nigeria which I also wrote on. So the question now will be - how much does S4 goes in Nigeria? Before telling you the price, it will be wise to first run through some of the features that comes with this new gadget.

Features/Specs of Samsung S4

• Display: 5″ full HD Super AMOLED
• OS: Android Jelly bean
• CPU: Octa Core processor
• Memory: Internal 16GB + 2GB RAM, microSD up to 64GB
• Samsung s4 Price in Nigeria: N108,000 naira
• Navigation with GPS, Google MAPS
• Loudspeaker
• Browser : HTML5, Adobe Flash
• Radio : No
• Camera: 13MP + 2MP
• Battery: 2,600 mAh
• GPS : Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS
• Java : Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
• Wireless charging
• Document viewer/editor
• Unlimited phonebook contacts
• IR Blaster (for universal remote control)
• Wi-Fi Hotspot feature
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Free Dropbox cloud storage (upto 50GB free)
  
• Gyroscope
• LTE (in some regions) up to 100MBps downloads

Price of Samsung S4 in Nigeria

Okay, now is the time for the main business! What is the price of Samsung S4 price in Nigeria? The price for S4 depends on where you are buying from. Officially the price in Nigeria as at the time of writing this post is around N108,000 – N115,000 so expect something lesser or higher than this.

Where to Buy it in Nigeria?

Online shopping is getting more interesting these days! To place an order, simply the Samsung Nigeria website – www.samsungmobileng.com/galaxyS4. Alternatively, you can head over to these renowned Nigeria e-commerce stores Jumia or Konga

If you wish to have a feel of the product before delivery, you visit any of the MTN, Airtel, Etisalat or Glo retail outlets or offices nationwide, or better still check out the Samsung Authorized Dealers in Nigeria.

Your Say!

Have you purchased Samsung Galaxy S4 already? How much did you buy and from where? Lets get the discussion going in comments...

Few months back, I published a press release by the Nigeria Customs Service on job scam one which was done via a fake website hosted with the domain name : www.nigeriacustomservice.net. I also did an analysis of the main and official Nigeria Customs website www.customs.gov.ng  and that of the fake one pointing out the differences in both. You can read more about the news on this link: Nigeria Customs 2013 Job Recruitment Scam

So you have checked your 2013 JAMB result and now wish to find out the Jamb/Post-Utme cut off mark of the university of your choice? This post will help you do just that! I have managed to compile a list of Nigerian universities with their cut off marks for first and second choice. If you are yet to check your Jamb result and wish for me to help you do that simply read and check it here.
The Jamb Official cut-off for Nigeria Universities has been fixed to 180 while that of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education were fixed at 160. However, this is only the official cut-off by JAMB, each Institution has the right to either leave it at that or set their own cut off higher than the benchmark set by jamb but not lower than 180 or 160.

As usual, those who were able to score 180 and above for university entry will be favoured or rather be qualified to buy the post-utme form, while those for polytechnic entry goes at 160 up. I hope you find the university/Polytechnic of your choice interesting and above all favoured! Let's run through them below:

My Advice: Please note that NaijaTechBlog is only an information media, hence I will strictly advice you re-check and confirm after here from the school of your choice before buying the post-utme form.

Univeristy	Cut off Mark
Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO	180 First and Second Choice
University of Lagos, UNILAG	200 First Choice Only
University of Ibadan, UI	200 First and Second Choice
University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN	200 First and Second Choice
Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy, OAU	200 First and Second Choice
University of Benin, UNIBEN	200 First Choice Only
University of Ado-Ekiti	200 First and Second Choice
Federal Univeristy of Technology, Akure, FUTA	200 First and Second Choice
Usman Danfodiyo Univeristy, Sokoto	180 First and Second Choice
University of Calabar, UNICAL	180 for some course and 200 for others
University of Uyo, UNIUYO	180 First Choice Only
University of Jos, UNIJOS	180 First and Second Choice
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta UNAAB	180 First and Second Choice
Lagos State University, LASU	200 Fisrt and Second Choice
Federal University Oye-Ekiti	180 First and Second Choice
Niger Delta University NDU	180 First Choice Only
Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina	180 First Choice Only
Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State	180 First and Second Choice
TAI Solarin Univerisity of Education TASUED	180 First Choice Only
Rivers State University of Science & Tech RSUST	180 First Choice Only
Ebonyi State University, EBSU	180 First and Second Choice
Michael Okpara University of Agric. Umudike	180 First and Second Choice
Imo State University, IMSU	180 First Choice Only
Kaduna State University, KASU	180 UTME cut off
Enugu State University of Science & Tech	180 First Choice
Anambra State University	180 First and Second Choice
Adekunle Ajasin University	200 First Choice
Federal University of Petroluem Res. Effurun	180 First and Second Choice
Kogi State University, KSU	180 First Choice
Abia State University Uturu, ABSU	180 First Choice
Delta State University, Abraka, DELSU	180 First Choice
University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID	180 First Choice

Update: More universities have been added to the list. See them below:

University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT: 200 and above for Dentistry,Pharmacy, Engineering (except Civil & Environmental Engineering), Management Sciences,Medicine, Nursing and Social Sciences. Those who scored 180 and above for others are invited to a Screening Exercise for First Choice and Second Choice respectively.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, NAU/UNIZIK: 180 Arts (except Departments of English & History ) and Education while 200 for others; first choice only

Obafemi Awolowo University OAU: 200; First and Second choice

University of Ilorin, Unilorin: –
(i) 200 UTME for courses other than those listed in (5) O level Credits at not more than two sittings.
(ii) 220 UTME for Accounting, Biochemistry, Business Administration, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Common Law, Economics, English, Electrical Engineering, Finance, Geology, Industrial Chemistry, Mass Communication, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine & (5) O level Credits at not more than two sittings.
(iii) MB;BS candidates who obtained: (a) 240 marks in the UTME and (b) Credit Passes at one sitting only in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination or its equivalence in each of the following subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU),Zaria: 180 for Science based courses and 190 for Arts, Social Science, Law and Administration; first choice only

Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna: 
(i) 220 for School of Engineering and Engineering Technology and Environmental Technology
(ii) 200 for School of Environmental Technology and School of Science and Science Education
(iii) 190 for School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology and School of Science and Science Education.

Osun State University (UNIOSUN): 180 for Agriculture,Edu cation and Arts (Humanities and Culture) and 200 for the rest; First and second choice.

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma: 180; first choice only

Kwara State University KWASU:200; first and second choice and changing of courses.

Afe Babalola University (ABUAD): No official cut-off mark.

Benson Idahosa University: No official cut- off mark.

Bells University of Technology,Ota: No cut- off mark, as long as you chose or wish to change course.

2012/2013 JAMB-UTME Cut-off mark for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education

Yaba College of Technology,Yaba Tech: 160

Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi: 180;most preferred, more preferred or preferred

Polytechnic Ibadan: No cut-off mark

Kwara State Polytechnic, – 160

Nekede polytechnic- 160

Oko polytechnic- 160

Akanu Ibiam polytechnic- 160

Polytechnics and colleges of education- 160

If your University or Polytechnic of choice is not listed in the table above, drop it via the comment form and I will help to check it for you.

My Advice: Please note that NaijaTechBlog is only an information media, hence I will strictly advice you re-check and confirm after here from the school of your choice before buying the post-utme form.

In one of my posts, I shared with you the download link and procedure for MTN Opera Mini Mobile Browser which most of readers testified of its fastness and responsiveness. Today, I am glad to inform all Glo subscribers that their own opera mini platform has been launched! Glo Nigeria has launched its own branded Opera mini, a co-branded version of the Opera-Mini browser to associate most of its products and brands for faster, easier and more convenient internet browsing.
The Glo Opera Mini like I said is a co-branded version of the Opera-Mini browser customized with speed dials which gives you quick, easy access to all Glo promoted services and sites. You may ask - what is the difference between the normal opera mini browser and the branded version. The answer is simple, the difference is the customization tailored to giving you quick access to the products and services of your mobile internet service provider plus it saves you more Glo data plan usage due to the server-side compression of Opera Mini mobile browser.

So How Can I Download Glo Opera Mini? 

One interesting thing about downloading the Glo Opera Mini either for Nokia mobile, Android, Samsung, iPhone/iPad or Blackberry, is that the site for the download is the default opera min site which is m.opera.com. All you need to do is launch the default browser of your mobile device using your Glo line to access the Opera Mini Mobile site and then follow the steps provided to download the browser for free.

Note the part I underlined above, you must use your Glo line to access the Opera mini site just like you did in MTN Branded Opera Mini. 

Your Opinion

What do you think of this new service from Glo? Have you been using it before reading this post? I would like to hear your opinion in comments...

If you sat for the last JAMB exam you will be glad to hear this news. Few hours back JAMB released its 2013 results on its official website www.jamb.org.ng/Unifiedtme1 which simply means that the results can now be accessed by candidates who sat for the exam.

Normally in times like this, I find it worthy helping folks that sat for JAMB exam in checking their results free. So if you are reading this article, you are not left out! I do this because I know how hard you may have tried checking the results due to congestion or heavy traffic on the site.
So if you are having difficulties checking your Jamb Result, and you are interested in my offer simply drop a comment on this post using your full name and stating the following:

• Your JAMB Reg Number
• Serial Number or PIN 
• Your Mobile Phone Number

Once I get the request I will help you check your result and forward your scores to your mobile phone.

NOTE: Checking your result as fast as you may want it is subject to network availability and fastness. If for any reason you don't get a text message immediately from me, know that it's caused by network. However, I will be using Airtel and Glo 3G Networks, so I am sure they will deliver the speed required.

One more thing, I will not hesitate to delete any spam comments, so be guided.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), yesterday released a public notice of 113 secondary schools nationwide, whose recognition as WAEC accredited centers were withdrawn following their involvement in examination malpractices. The decisions were reached in Lagos by the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) under the chairmanship of the Director of Basic and Secondary Education), Ministry of Education, Abuja, after it deliberated on evidences (exhibits) produced by the council, which were seized from some candidates involved in examination malpractice.

The council in pursuit for its goals of fighting exam fraud also made other decisions which include recommendation for sanctions against 97 supervisors/principals/other examination personnel identified and reported to their various state ministries of education. Among them, 21 supervisors indicted and blacklisted.
In addition to its actions, the WAEC committee also recommended that 465 secondary schools be warned for aiding and abetting examination malpractice during the 2012 May/June WASSCE, eight candidates were granted clemency even as the certificates of 12 others were withdrawn after they asked for restitution. The Ministry of Education Abuja, under the authority of the director gave a go ahead order to investigate into the allegations made against 930 candidates while their results are withheld.

Facts/Breakdown May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

The following is the complete breakdown or exam statistics of the May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as released by the council:

• Results of 30, 654 candidates, who sat for the May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were cancelled. 

• According to Saturday Sun findings, WAEC has also cancelled individual subject results of 83, 745 candidates, released the results of 1, 549 and barred for two years 3, 321 candidates from sitting for the council examination over misconduct during the school exam, in line with the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the examination.

• The cancelled results were among the 112, 000 results of candidates withheld for their involvement in examination malpractice out of 1, 695, 878 candidates that sat for the May/June 2012 WASSCE. 

• Out of 100 per cent that sat for for the May/June 2012 WASSCE only 38.81 per cent (649, 156) of the total candidates obtained five credits in English Language, Mathematics and three other subjects, thus were qualified for admissions into universities and polytechnics.

Breakdown of the Blacklisted Schools and Other Facts

A breakdown of the schools banned nationwide revealed that majority came from the South-South region, followed by those from the North, South East and South West. Among the top of the list are Government-owned schools and then privates. The NEC recommendation indicates that recognition for 21 schools were withdrawn for two years. Recognition for 43 others were also withdrawn, along side the principals of the schools.

According to Saturday Sun, it learnt that the council has already communicated the decisions of NEC to the state ministries of education, which in return is expected to take immediate action against the schools and principals indicted by WAEC. Below is the list of some of the banned schools:

Southern Western Region

• Ogbe Community Secondary School, Ajegunle.

• Adewole High School, Ajegunle, Onisere, Ore.

• Peak International School, Ikenne.

• African Pride International, Sagamu.

• Roseville College, Meiran.

• Premier College, Ode Irele.

• Furah- Beh International College, Owo.

South South Region

• Community Secondary School,Otuoke, Otuoba.

• Community Secondary School, Diobu.

• Government Secondary School, Asamabiri.

• Community Secondary School, Peremabiri.

• Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Enebele.

• Community Secondary School, Arisaba.

• Paiko Comprehensive College, Calabar.

• Ebanimbin Comprehensive Heart Mixed School, Sapele.

Southern/ Eastern Region

• Queens of Apostles Secondary School, Obulo.

• Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Isuofia

• St Joseph International Secondary School, Anaku.

• Wisdom Dominion International College, Ihima.

• Ekwuno Memorial Secondary School, Obosi.

• God Provides Secondary School, Enugu.

• Madonna Secondary School, Ugbawka.

• Onicha Secondary School, Ezinihitte, Mbaise.

• Comprehensive Secondary School, Umunaku, Ehime, Mbano.

• Comprehensive Secondary School, Ubomiri Mbatoli.

Northern Region

• Aunti Nika’s School, Tudun Wada.

• Government Secondary School, Basawa, Zaria.

• Government Secondary School, Wara.

• Government Day Secondary School, Funtua.

• Barda International College, Katsina.

• Government Girls College, Sokoto.

• Government Secondary School, Zagun.

• Gods Victory International College, Jos.

• Government Secondary School, Jibiyal.

• Women Center for Continuing Education, Sokoto.

Three days back, I shared with you the news on the kick off of Mobile Number Portability in Nigeria and the benefits attached to porting to a second or third network. Today, I will be sharing with you a funny video released by MTN Nigeria via its TV commercial on Mobile Number Portability (MNP) .

The video by all indication is a marketing move by MTN in getting Nigerians or non-MTN subscribers to port to MTN from other networks. If you really want to laugh, you should watch this video!

The TV Commercial features the Nigeria born Hafeez Ayetoro a.k.a SAKA, the comedian and a Nollywood actor, who has been top of things with Etisalat’s TV Commercials. You will see when you watch!

The video commenced with Saka who was dressed in green traditional attire, leading a music band which later transformed into a bright yellow outfit (signifying the MTN popular Yhello colour). The music goes like this “I don port o, I don port o, I don port go MTN. I don upgrade to MTN,”

I will allow you watch and finish the rest!

Sometime in May 2012, I shared with you an article on Mobile Number Portability Scheme which was scheduled to kicked off yesterday in Nigeria. The scheme just as scheduled has finally been launched. Starting from today, the over 100 million mobile phone users in Nigeria can now change or switch from one network to another without loosing their mobile phone numbers.

What Does Mobile Number Portability Stand for?

I will try as much as possible to be brief on this. The term Mobile number portability in a simple definition is the ability of a subscriber to change or switch between networks. What this means is that as a subscriber, you can easily change from your default network to another one without loosing your old phone number. For instance, if you an MTN subscriber, you can easily change from MTN to Glo without losing your MTN phone number.

Recommended Reading: Benefits of Mobile Number Portability in Nigeria

Facts, Requirements and What you Need to Know about MNP

• Mobile Number Portability MNP interestingly is free! You don't need to pay any money to make a switch. 

• To switch or move your number to a new mobile operator, you need to provide a means of  identity such as National ID Card, Drivers licence, or identity card of your working place (you will be submitting this to the recipient Network operator)

• The change or switch can only be done at the outlet, customer care office or shop of the recipient Network Operator. Lets say you want to change from MTN to Glo, you need to visit MTN office or outlet to request for change of network from MTN to Glo.

• You can port (change) to third network after 90 days from when you ported to the existing network. You can change as many times as you want in a year, only that it must be after 90 days of last port.

Step 1: With your means of ID in place, visit the outlet of the Network you want your number to be moved to and ask for a Mobile Number Portability Request form to fill.

Step 2: Fill out the form and submit to them. On receipt of your MNP request to switch to another service provider, you will be issued a new SIM card which bears your old phone number.

Step 3: If your request was successful, you will be notified to text “PORT” to 3232 (be sure to do this because failure to send the operator code may lead to termination of the request.

Step 4: Once you send the code, the recipient mobile network operator will forward your request to Number Portability Clearing House (NPCH) where all the necessary validation are done. If your request was successfully validated at NPCH, your SIM will be activated and you will be notified as well.

What Happens Next?

When NPCH activates your new SIM, you will automatically be moved to the new network you opted in for. Starting from then, all calls you make will be billed according to the default tariff plan of your new network provider, while your mobile number still remains the unchanged.

Have you already made a switch to a new network? How convienient was it? I would like to hear your opinion in comments...