Apply for: Master Scholarships in English, University of Leicester, UK

The scholarships are payable as a £2,000 discount against the relevant course fee for any of the following programmes:Campus Based (Full- or Part-Time)

• English Studies
• English Language and Linguistics
• Modern Literature (and Creative Writing)
• Victorian Studies 

Distance Learning

• English Language and Linguistics

Entry Requirements

• A good second class undergraduate degree or an equivalent overseas qualification* – please use the links above to see full entry requirements
• Standard English language requirements
• Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of the overall strength of the application – including consideration of previous academic attainment, relevant experience, references, and the personal statement
• Available to UK/EU and international applicants – please note that owing to UK immigration rules, part-time registration is not usually open to international applicants
• Available for full- or part-time campus based study or distance learning (subject to availability)
• Applicants must be able to start in September 2014

* or show evidence of achieving this by September 2014
Informal Enquiries
Informal enquiries are welcome – please contact David Revell

• english@le.ac.uk
• +44 (0)116 252 2620

Apply Now

1. Draft a brief personal statement (1,000 words maximum) that tells us why you wish to study your chosen course, how your previous academic and/or professional experience has given you the skills needed for postgraduate level study, and how taking this course will support your personal and/or professional development plans
2. Prepare your supporting documents – two references (including at least one academic reference), evidence of your academic qualifications, and evidence that you meet our English language entry requirements (if English is not your first language)
3. Go to the relevant course description and submit your online application – please use the links above

Important Advice for Applicants

• Applicants must hold by 31 May 2014 an offer of admission to be considered for these scholarships
• Applications that do not include a personal statement and the required supporting documents will not be considered
• In the Fees and Financial Support section of the application, applicants must state that they wish to be considered for these September 2014 English (Masters Degree) Scholarships

School/Department: School of English
Start Date: September 2014
Eligibility: UK/EU and International Applicants
Application Close Date: 31 May 2014
Choose the University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is one of the UK’s leading universities, committed to international excellence through the creation of world changing research and high quality, inspirational teaching.
Leicester is ranked in the top 2% of universities in the world by the QS World University Rankings and THE World University Rankings. In 2013 Leicester was the highest climbing UK university in the THE World Rankings, moving up 35 places to 161st in the table.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the above information is current and correct. However, applicants should contact the appropriate administering body before making an application, as details do change frequently.

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Top 10 Ways to Get Upgraded on a Flight

So are there any tricks to getting upgraded from economy class? Most times there are no tricks of the trade, it is often by being entitled to an upgrade if you are a very frequent flyer with an upgrade-able fare, and once in a while it is a little bit of luck. A lot of the following are also contingent on luck as it isn't really possible to bet on which flights are going to be wildly over or under sold on any given day. That being stated, these are the top 10 ways to get upgraded that I see as an airline gate agent most often:

1. Being a top tier member of the airline's frequent flyer program, and be in possession of a valid upgrade certificate.
2. If you aren't a top tier member then travel with a top tier member of the airline's frequent flyer program, and be in possession of a valid upgrade certificate.

3. And again being a top tier frequent flyer member pays - if you are a top tier member of the airlines frequent flyer program then traveling on an oversold flight will lead to more potential for a courtesy upgrade.

4. If you are traveling on a full fare ticket and traveling on an oversold flight then you also have more potential for a courtesy upgrade.

5. If you travel on a very empty flight where weight and balance is an issue the airline may require that some passengers be upgraded (best to have a seat somewhere in the middle of an aircraft for this)

6. If you are a top tier member of a partner airline's frequent flyer such as oneworld or Star Alliance, and traveling on an oversold flight you will likely have more potential for a courtesy upgrade.

7. If a flight is oversold and you are an infrequent traveler on a cheap ticket, volunteer to give up your seat - more likely to get upgraded if not on your original flight, then the one you have been rebooked on.

8. Again, if a flight is oversold and you are traveling alone, then dress in business / casual business attire and sit off on your own, but in the sight line of the airline agent at the gate. Sometimes we need to upgrade a passenger or two at the very last minute, and a well-dressed, solo traveler is easier to upgrade than one wearing sweatpants and sneakers.

9. If you ultimately don't care where you sit on a flight then don't prebook your seat on an oversold flight, and check in closer to departure time. You may end up with a middle seat, or one up front. This is a really risky strategy, as gate agents will try and upgrade frequent flyers and higher priced ticket holders first.

10. A smile goes a long way. If you are nice as possible to the check-in and gate agents then sometimes if a flight is oversold and you just happen to be one of the nicest passengers that a check-in agent meets that day, they may put a comment on your passenger record such as "nice passenger if you need to upgrade".

NOT TO DO: Don't ask for an upgrade, especially if you aren't a frequent traveler on that particular airline. Airline agents tend to be agitated by this.

Do not badger the gate agent saying that check-in said to ask for an upgrade even though you are on a reduced fare, then going on board and badgering the flight attendants. This happened on a flight where I was the gate agent and the crew was getting fed up enough that two passengers were nearly kicked off the flight. It is better to assume that if your airfare does not entitle you to an upgrade, you probably aren't going to get one. It may happen every once in a while but not often enough to have surefire ways to get upgraded for free every time you travel.

Courtesy : about.com

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Associated plane crash: Surviving airline technician dies

Associated Airlines’ aircraft technician, who was among the five survivors of the tragic crash that left 15 people dead in Lagos on October 3, has passed on at the Gbagada General hospital, Lagos, where he had been on admission for treatment.
The development brought to 16 the number of fatalities recorded from the ill-fated plane crash.
Sources at the hospital said the technician, Mr. Samson Fatoye, died at about 7pm on Wednesday. Fatoye, who had suffered severe burnt from the crash, had been transferred from one hospital to another before he was finally taken to the Gbagada hospital.
The sources said Fatoye passed on a few hours after immigration officials from Abuja arrived in the hospital with electronic data capturing machine to prepare passport that would enable the survivors to travel overseas for further treatment.

The Punch

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Two planes collide at Lagos airport

Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos

There was a minor accident on Friday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, involving a Turkish Airline aircraft and a Max Air plane. The Turkish Airline plane wings collided with that of Max Air plane which had brought in Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the Turkish Airplane had landed safely but was taxiing to stop at the airport’s apron when its wing collided with that of Max Air.

The collision resulted in minor damages to both airplanes and sources said they had been  taken away for repairs.

An online newspaper said the Spokesman, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, confirmed the incident. He however said damages to the aircraft belonging to both airlines were minor and that both planes had been taken away for repairs.

A similar incident occurred last year in Jos, Plateau State, when an Arik plane wings brushed an Airforce jet parked at the apron when the plane was taxiing to stop. There was also no casualty in the incident but only damages to both planes.

The Punch

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Nigeria, Israel to Sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA)

Another milestone is about to be recorded in the aviation sector as President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda paves way for the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Israel.

 Previous attempts to sign the BASA between the two countries in 2005 and 2012 were unsuccessful.

 According to the special meassistant to the Minister of Aviation, Joe Obi, the agreement would  be signed this week during President Jonathan’s pilgrimage to Israel.

 He said this was a culmination of months of rigorous negotiations between the two countries.

His words, “The landmark agreement comes as a clear validation of the nation’s high safety and security ratings by international aviation bodies, especially the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and an improvement on infrastructure in the aviation sector in the last two years. The agreement will pave way for direct flights between both territories on the Principle of Reciprocity by the designated airlines of both countries.” Before now Nigerians travelling to Israel, including christian pilgrims, have had to endure the long stop-overs in neighbouring countries before being finally airlifted to the Holy Land.

 Obi also said the agreement adequately addresses the question of imbalance in the BASA between Nigeria and other contracting countries. Under the terms of this agreement, Nigeria and the State of Israel would enjoy equal rights and privileges in the implementation of the BASA.

IRS plane crash averted in Kaduna

By LAWANI MIKAIRU
Another plane crash was Sunday was averted in Kaduna as IRS Airline plane with 89 passengers on board was assisted to land in Kaduna as the plane developed mechanical problems.
The plane had hydraulic problem and on successful landing had to disembark passengers on the runway and not taxi to parking place “ in accordance with the procedure”.
Reacting to the incident , The Managing Director of IRS, Mr Yemi Dada said “ On final approach to Kaduna today on our flight 3390 with 89 passengers, our cockpit crew got a low hydraulic in system 1 warning and decided to take precautionary measures to ask for ground confirmation that all gears were down and locked and the aircraft landed normally after the control tower had confirmed that the gears were all down normally.
The crew proceeded to land but followed procedure to disembark on the runway and not taxi in accordance with the procedure.”
“All passengers disembarked normally and the aircraft was towed to ramp. The maintenance crew are inspecting to confirm the issue that caused the warning to the crew. Updates will follow shortly “
This incident is coming few days after Associated Aviation plane carrying the body of the former governor of Ondo State, Chief Segun Agagu and 20 others crashed 31 seconds after take-off from the Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, Lagos runway killing 15 of the 20 people.
The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, in its preliminary report of the accident released to journalists in Abuja said investigations revealed that the aircraft was already faulty before the cockpit crew decided to embark on the journey.
And the captain in command, Capt. Abdulraham Yakubu insisted that the crew must continue with the journey even when the co-pilot suggested that the flight should be aborted. The aircraft crashed exactly 31 seconds after take off from the runway.

Vanguard

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Nigerian Passenger Dies in US-bound Flight from Lagos

Houston police are awaiting autopsy results on a Nigerian man, who died at about 8:25 a.m. Tuesday on a US-bound flight out of Lagos.

The male, Benedict Sylvester Igwedike, 67, of Lagos, Nigeria, died on board a United Airlines flight.

According to HPD Homicide Division Senior Police Officer, M. Miller, patrol officers responded to a deceased male who was on board the United Airlines flight #143 arriving from Lagos, Nigeria.

Miller said: "Further investigation determined Mr. Igwedike passed away shortly after the flight departed from Nigeria.

"The flight was then rerouted to Dakar, Senegal. After refuelling, authorities in Senegal rerouted the flight to Houston."

The investigation is pending Igwedike's cause of death says Miller.

The normal time for the direct flight between Lagos and Houston, Texas is about 13 hours but the plane was diverted to the capital of Senegal ostensibly to administer further medical treatment on the late Igwedike.

Souce: Daily Times.

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Medview Airlines begins airlift of Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

Medview Airlines, one of the carriers designated to fly Muslimpilgrims to Saudi Arabia yesterday commenced airlifting of 517 pilgrims from the Lagos zone through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
The 517 pilgrims from Osun and Ogun States, are the first batch of the over 5,500 to be air lifted by Medview Airlines from three zones namely Lagos, Ilorin and Port Harcourt allocated to the airline.

The airline said it has deployed two Boeing 747 and Boeing 767 aircraft to airports in Lagos and Ilorin  that would simultaneously fly pilgrims into Medina, in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a pre-departure briefing at the hajj camp axis of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the managing director of  Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the airline will complete the  in bound air lifting of pilgrims at the designated zones this week , even as he assured that all logistics have been mobilised to ensure the seamless movement if the pilgrims.

Bankole said the airline in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of  Health and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON) to sensitive the pilgrims on how to avoid being afflicted with Coronal Virus that is prevalent in Saudi Arabia .

He said it is for such readies that children are not allowed to participate in the exercise , even as he said the airline would not board any  unmarried  female pilgrims that is not accompanied by a male guarantor .
Bankole said :" We have commenced 2013 air lifting of Muslim pilgrims from Lagos and Ilorin zones and we will be  flying 517 passenger today with the Boeing 747 aircraft to Medina in Saudi Arabia.
We are operating from three zones, Lagos , Ilorin and Port Harcourt .
The pilgrims will be flown to Medina. As an airline we will provide clothing materials and water for the males and females.
We have B747 and B767 aircraft already in place to make the flight hitch free.
All adequate arrangements has been made like we did last year  to ensure that any female that is not accompanied by a male is not allowed to board.

From the Medview Airlines point of view, We would provide some materials for the pilgrims." 

He further said : " About 5,500 pilgrims  will be airlifted from Lagos, Ilorin, and Port Harcourt.

That is the number of pilgrims allotted to us fir this year.
Besides the Boeing 747 aircraft we have in Lagos , We have deployed another Boeing 767 aircraft in Ilorin zone.

We are fully prepared for this programme, we insist that all pilgrims abide by the laws, concerning unaccompanied singles.
We would conclude  by October 19, 2013.

We have done this  Hajj thirty times, it shows we have core competence in this business.
We have collaborated with officials of Ministry of Health to sensitive the pilgrims on how to stay healthy and avoid any infection with the coronal virus that was reported in Saudi Arabia at the time.

The ministry of health and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has carried out sufficient enlightenment to ensure that the pilgrims are equipped with enough knowledge to avoid any contamination of coronal virus. 

That is why children are not allowed.  We would conclude by weekend  the in bound leg of the flights into Saudi Arabia  and commence the out bound airlifting from Saudi Arabia from October 19, 2013.

We have begun the airlift with pilgrims from Osun State, Ogun State, while other states in the South West will continue in the week.
We have sufficiently mobilised to ensure there is no hitch in the programme . "

Source: Alarinka agbaye blog.

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Govt plans tourism sector transformation to diversify revenue base

By Gregory Austin Nwakunor and Ajibola Amzat

THE Federal Government has restated its commitment to diversifying the nation’s revenue base, with a plan to develop the tourism sector to generate more earnings and create more jobs.
  At the tourism stakeholders forum tagged ‘Rebuilding the NTDC and Growing the Tourism Value Chain for Revenue Generation and Job Creation’, held at the Civic Centre, Lagos on Monday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke, said the forum gave full expression to the transformation agenda in the tourism sector.
  According to him, the ministry has President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval of the transformation agenda in the ministry which provides “a rallying point for showcasing Nigeria’s tourism assets by articulating a strategic brand positioning for Nigeria in the international arena aptly christened Fascinating Nigeria. This is imperative because the world has moved beyond traditional diplomacy into an era of brand diplomacy.”
   While stating that the ministry has entered into a strategic partnership with a Dubai-based destination marketing company to domesticate best practices from their experiences, he called on all stakeholders in the Nigerian project to support the re-energised brand positioning.
  “We urge corporate citizens and every Nigerian, indeed, to proudly start a word-of-mouth campaign in support of our media campaigns, especially on international platforms,” he said.
  The minister said his ministry is mindful of the many challenges faced by stakeholders across the Tourism value chain. “From the operator, who is confronted with multiple taxes and high cost of capital to the Nigerian citizens who are more likely to be below 35 years of age and seeking better paying job so they can have time for leisure and domestic travel.”
  Duke said, “in line with the policy of this administration to provide an enabling environment for the private sector to be the engine of economic growth and job creation, we encourage private investors to partner with the NTDC as it unveils programmes and projects.”
  The Director General of NTDC, Sally Mbanefo, while unfolding her transformation agenda, said her focus would be domestic tourism.
According to the DG, “the domestic tourism market has very high revenue and job creation potential. If we assume that a low estimate of 20 million out of 160 million Nigerians travel locally for business, leisure, culture, religion or sport yearly, and they spend only 10 per cent of Nigeria’s per capital income of $2000 yearly, we will have $4 billion domestic tourism market and hence our focus at NTDC is on developing domestic tourism as the foundation for attracting international tourists.”
  According to Mbanefo, “we cannot achieve anything without the support of all the stakeholders, home and abroad.”
 The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Andrew Alli, who is President, African Finance Corporation, described tourism as a major driver of infrastructural inv estment on the continent. He noted that financing is not a major challenge as some investors may want to believe that “if the business idea is good, accessing funding may not be difficult. Financial organisations are only looking out for key factors that can mitigate the risk,” he said.

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NIGERIA, 18 OTHERS BARRED FROM USA VISA LOTTERY

By Comfort Oseghale, The Punch

Nigeria and some other countries will no longer be eligible to participate in the America Diversity Visa lottery programme.

Information from the United States Department of State sighted on Sunday said Nigerians and citizens from few other countries were not eligible for DV-2015

The department said Nigeria was excluded since over 50,000 Nigerians had immigrated into the United States in the last five years.

The department listed other countries not eligible as Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador and Haiti.

Others are India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam

However, many African countries would continue to enjoy the programme.

Some of them are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia and Ghana.

Others are Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles and Sierra Leone.

Diversity visas are said to be distributed among six geographic regions, while no single country could receive more than seven per cent of the available space in any year.

Already, advertsiements for the 2015 US DV lottery have started with several businesses inviting Nigerians to apply for the program.

Applications for the 2015 US DV lottery is expected to take off from October 1, 2013.

In 2012, 14,769, 658 persons were said to have qualified worldwide for the US DV lottery among the 19, 672, 269 which applied.

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BEST TRAVEL TIPS

We asked our reporters for their best travel tips. Here’s our ultimate travel advice list. Have we missed any? Let us know.

1) Wash your clothes in the sink / shower. Use the hotel soap. Or take a little traveller sized bottle of laundry detergent with you. It's much easier than finding a Laundromat in a foreign country. And there are only so many times that you can wear the same pair of undies.

2) Learn how to use a needle and thread. You've only got space for a few items of clothing. Sewing a broken button back on will save you a lot of hassle.

3) Carry baby wipes / facewipes. This can be used to feel clean when there are no showers. Yes, sometimes there are NO showers.


4) Learn how to say "no thank you". Most travel advice columns will tell you to learn how to say "hello",  "yes please", "thank you" and "do you speak English?". But in some countries you really want to be able to say "no thank you, please leave me alone". Think about the crowded market places in Asia. Knowing how to say "no thank you" in their language is going to give you a lot more peace.

5) Grocery stores are a traveller’s best resource. Cheap food, local flavours. Find the nearest one to your hotel and you will save yourself a heap of cash. Have a picnic lunch every day.

6) Keep an emergency stash of money. If you lose your wallet you will still need to eat. An empty Chapstick is a fantastic secret hiding spot.

7) Learn how to drive a manual car. Stuck at an airport after your flight has been cancelled? You could drive. You will be smacking your head on the desk if they only have manual cars.

8) Roll your clothes when packing. No creases and more clothes fit into your suitcase.

9) Always keep a stash of spare plastic bags for dirty clothes / shoes.  Smelly socks will make your clean clothes stink. Always.

10) Learn how to swim. You never know when you might need to on the spur of the moment.

11) Learn how to pack light. You do not need to take 20kg for a week of travel. You CAN wear trousers two days in a row or more. The less you have to carry, the happier you will be travelling. And if the French Metro goes on strike on the day you need to get to the airport - you will thank us.

12) Know how much it should cost in a taxi. Carry a card with the hotel address and a map. Ask for taxi drivers to use the meter. Make sure they are legitimate taxi drivers.

13) Always carry a hard copy map of the city you're going to. Save your phone charge for when you really need it.

14) Make sure your bank cards work. There is nothing more annoying on holidays than spending hours on the phone to the bank back home.

15) Carry tissues that can double up as toilet paper. Plus carry a hand sanitiser.

16) Pack sandals or thongs for use in showers. Showers can be gross. You don’t want your feet to touch the floor.

17) Learn how to change a tyre. Murphy's law says if you don't know and you head off on a road trip, you're bound to get a flat.

18) Be prepared to sleep anywhere. Ear plugs and eye patches will help block out the light.

19) Learn how to take a decent photo. Don’t come home with a bunch of Instagram selfies. Memories fade and you'll want something to remember the scenery by.

20) Pack smart. Put necklaces in straws so they don’t get jumbled. Use a button to keep earrings together and  take a look at this list to help you pack.

21) Learn basic first aid. This is just a great life skill, if nothing else.

22) Get folders for travel documents and itineraries. Keep them organised so you don’t have to mess about digging through pockets in your bag at the airport check-in.

23) Use public transport. It's fast. It's easy, it's cheaper and it will give you a better travel experience. Get a map, learn the different ticket types and if you are heading to London – organise an Oyster Card in advance.

24) Use little bottles for everything. It takes up less room. If you use plain bottles make sure you label them with a pen that won’t wash or rub off. Mistakes can and do happen. Moisturising your hair is not a good look.

25) Buy and wear good walking shoes. Blisters are not fun and high heels don’t work on Europe’s cobblestone pathways.

26) Ask the locals for advice, tips. The best beach probably isn't the most popular one. The locals can help you find those secret spots you will rave about.

27) Eat where the locals eat. Just like number 26 - the same goes with restaurants. Ask the locals where they eat. Go there instead.

28) Peg clothes to the outside of your backpack as you walk around in the sun to dry them after washing. Cheap and easy!

29) Know where the embassy is. Seriously. Find it on your map. Don’t think just because you are in a "safe" country you won’t need it.  All it takes is a quick Google search, write down the address and put it in a safe place.

30) Register your details with DFAT. OK, this one is obvious but surprisingly so many of us don’t actually do it. In cases like Boston or London, DFAT will be the place your family will turn to. Make sure they know where you are.

31) Be aware of the local laws. Don’t get drunk on the streets of Dubai or expect to chew and spit gum in Singapore. You’re leaving Australia - don't expect our law system to follow you around the world.

32) Get your vaccinations if you need them. Yellow fever is not fun. You will kick yourself if you could have prevented it and you didn't.

33) Scan your passport and travel documents. Give copies to family/friends. If you lose your passport or travel documents, this backup will save you a lot of heartache. It will also help your family to find you in the event of a disaster.

34) Learn a few phrases of the local language. Speak to the locals. Experience their culture. Don’t just wander through it.

35) Know the scams of each destination. 'Thai driver want to show you his best restaurant?' It’s probably his mate's. Get on the internet and work out the scams so you don’t become a sucker. Then refer to number 4.

36) Learn the art of haggling. Haggling saves you money. Be bold. That extra $4 will buy you a coffee.

37) Learn the basic geography of the country you are visiting. There’s nothing worse than a traveller who has no idea where they are travelling.

38) Learn how to use a compass. Sounds extreme but it could help in a crisis.

39) Learn how to use chopsticks. Don’t look like a tourist asking for a fork. Chopsticks are a must.

40) Get travel insurance. It's obvious, but probably one of the most important items on this list. The French always go on strike meaning your flight could easily get cancelled and accidents do happen, particularly if you want to ride a scooter in Bali. Get travel insurance.

41) Allow relaxation time to get over jet lag. You don't want to be on the go for six weeks straight. It should be a holiday. You should relax at some point.

42) Keep a change of clothes and basic toiletries in your carry-on. If your luggage gets lost you will be very glad.

43) Travelling via Singapore? Pack your swimmers in your carry-on and take a break in the outdoor rooftop pool at the airport while in transit. You will feel 100 per cent better getting on the next flight.

44) Research the airports you are travelling through so you can a) find the fastest way through and b) use the facilities. Don't just sit at the boarding gate.

45) Take a jumper on the plane. It is cold. It has air conditioning.

46) Take thick socks for the plane. Cold feet will stop you sleeping.

47) Take Imodium and panadol/nurofen. The cuisine of other countries can be harsh on the tummy.

48) Find out if the country you are going to sells tampons. Some countries don’t. Or they are really hard to find. Even places you wouldn’t think of - like Athens.

49) Check if the drinking water is safe. That includes brushing your teeth, ice in cocktails and drinking water in the shower.

50) Be aware of altitude sickness. Give yourself time to adjust between altitudes, drink a lot more when you are high up.

51) Know the local road rules. Even in New Zealand the rules are different.

52) Be respectful. Pay attention to how local women dress to work out how you should.

That's our list. Have we missed any? Share your ultimate travel tips below.
 

How to motivate your customers to buy

By Bryony Thomas

It’s fascinating how a simple change of language can completely alter your perspective on something. In a meeting with David Tovey from principled selling, we were looking at stages in the buying decision and discussing which parts are marketing, which sales, and which customer service.
To my mind, marketing is the act of taking your products and services to market, and is therefore the umbrella term for the joined-up whole. However, I conceded that most people see marketing as filling the top end of a sales funnel. The awareness and lead generation bit. Then David said something brilliant. He said, “we don’t call it marketing; we call it motivating” — and he is spot on!
Use the word marketing and many people think of fluffy branding activity or expensive awareness campaigns. Many of which seem to have little link to an actual sale at the end of the day. But, if you switch the word to talk about how you’re going to motivate potential buyers to want to talk to you, and then to want to buy from you, and then to want to keep buying from you; then the purpose of the activity becomes clear. The purpose is to help them.
The most motivating thing of all is to be genuinely helpful. If you can help your potential buyer to achieve something that’s on their list, then you’re on to a winner. So, think about the steps in a buying decision and think about ways to be helpful…

• If they’re scoping a project, think about a blog or paper that helps them to prepare a project brief.
• If they’re choosing between suppliers, think about providing a scorecard of key criteria against which to assess potential suppliers.
• If they’re teetering on the edge of a decision, find a way of letting them try before they buy with a trial or gateway product.

So, ask yourself if what you’re putting out there is helpful? If the answer is yes, then it’s likely to be motivating.
And, that’s good marketing.

ENHANCING NIGERIANS’ TRAVELLING CULTURE by WALE ADETARAMI

Nigeria with a population of about 160 million is in western part of Africa. A sub-Sahara African country blessed with both human and natural resources.

Nigeria has 5 operational International airports, with Lagos airport as the second busiest airport in Africa and accommodating the major airlines in the world. There is direct flight from Nigeria to Morocco, Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Turkey, South-Africa, England, United Arab Emirate, France, Netherlands, Qatar, Germany and some more; and with a stopover or two, you can travel to any part of the world from Nigeria! So, what are you waiting for?

Statistics reveal that 90% of Nigerian travelers travel for businesses, exhibitions and conferences, while a meager 10% of them travel for holidays and tours. It is not that Nigerians do not like to travel; so many factors are keeping the majority back from exploring the world. Some of them are highlighted below:

Economic Situation / Cost of Travelling:

Most Nigerians are low income earners, a lot of people are underemployed, and people are battling to meet up with the necessities of life and for this, travelling abroad for holiday is a luxury. We cannot compare Nigeria and some other developing countries with the developed nations in terms of income and earnings.

Embassies Denying Visa Applications:

A lot of Nigerians who have genuine reasons for travelling have been denied entry visa by the embassies and consulates of the various foreign countries in Nigeria. This problem has to do with the improper ways of assessing applications. One little error (even in filling application form would not be verified) leads to outright denial. Everybody is talking about the image of Nigeria/Nigerians abroad, cases of abscondment is reported to be rampant and the embassies are being over protective of their countries/economies. In future, we will need to develop a proposal to the embassies to allow the travel agents be part of the visa processing, the agencies who have now been turned to mere ticketing offices would be saddled with the tasks of due verifications of information supplied by applicants. This would be done in an agreed time frame.

Employers:

It is worthy of note, that the few employers who pay good wages utilizes the time of their employees to the fullest, to the extent that they offer to pay cash in lieu of annual leave. In this scenario, there is enough money, but there is little or no time at all to go on vacation.

Lack of Travel information and Packages:

A lot of people who are willing and able to travel in terms of affordability often do not even hear of travel deals and packages, some of them are in the informal sector where they hardly make use of the print and electronic media, another set are those who believe travelling is for people who are relocating from the country for greener pastures overseas. They don’t really believe one can go to other country just to spend time and come back. In this case, a lot of work still needs to be done to sizzle them and arouse their interest.

Fear:

Aviophobia or aviatophobia (fear of flying)  is common not only in Nigeria but all over the world. These people don’t fly; though the statistics is not available right now, but it is a disadvantage to the business of travel and tour in Nigeria.

Frustration in getting Required Documents:

Some embassies will ask applicants to get tax clearance certificates, yellow fever immunization card, bank statement, letter from employer; copies of pay slip and so on. There is always this red tapism and bureaucracies surrounding the processing of these documents, frustration and ill-patient often make people look for alternative which at the end affect their applications negatively. Some people get tired halfway, when getting the documents is next to impossible. We must put structures in place, for instance, tax payers should be able to get clearance certificate as and when needed, banks, hospitals, employers should be careful and timely in granting requests that bother on travelling.

Stiff and Unjust Requirements;

Holiday makers get frustrated when you ask them to pay N750,000 bond to get a visa to a particular country. If this is not nipped in the bud, other embassies will come up with policies that are capable of killing the travelling and tour business.

Some Nigerian travels agencies have come up with initiatives to encourage holidaying and vacations, they have come up with packages that allow you to pay over a period of time, they have established links with the best travel companies in the world, through them you can enjoy your holiday and tours in about 285 resorts in Africa and 3,000 resorts in the rest of the world. They help you to book for your hotel/resort, airport transfer, buy your air-ticket, and give useful visa application assistance.

Some of the international airlines berthing in Nigeria daily are: Air France, KLM, Turkish Airline, Kenya Airline, Royal Air Maroc, South Africa Airline, Etihad Airways, Emirate Airline, Qatari Airline, Lufthansa, Arik Airline, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Iberial, Delta Airline, Eqypt Air, Ethiopian Airline, AirRwanda, etc.

WALE  is the CEO of, VOXDEI TRADE PROMOTIONS AND TRAVELS LTD

For enquiries and business, contact us via:

voxdeitp@gmail.com, +2347036308255

follow us on twitter: @TravelsNaija

69 FUN FACTS ABOUT FRANCE

1. There is a Victor Hugo street in every town in France.
2. It’s illegal to name a pig Napoleon in France.
3. Charles VIII had six toes on one foot and hid this fact by wearing and promoting square toe shoes.
4. The guillotine was the official method of execution during the French Revolution. It was invented by a surgeon named Dr. Guillotin.
5. France produces over 400 types of cheese!
Language:
6. French is the official language of many countries including: Switzerland, Canada, Ivory Coast, Luxembourg, Monaco, Congo and Niger.
7. The word “salut” means both “hello” and “goodbye”
8. French was the official language of England for over 300 years.
9. It’s the mother tongue of 75 million people worldwide.
10. It’s the second most commonly taught foreign language, after English.
11. It’s the official language of the United Nations.
12. It’s the only language (along with English) that’s taught in every country in the world.
13. Crayola is a French word that means “oily chalk”
14. At the time of the French Revolution, 75% of French citizens didn’t speak French as a mother tongue.
15. Non-French celebrities who speak French include: Jodie Foster, Johnny Depp, Diane Kruger, Elton John, Ewan Mcgregor, Halle Berry, Jackie O, Madonna, Mick Jagger, and John Travolta.
16. 34% of the French can speak English.
17. Between 6-11 million Americans speak French.
18. Mont-Blanc is the highest peak in Europe
19. The heir to the French throne was called Le Dauphin, which also means “dolphin.”
20. The French eat snails, frog’s legs and horsemeat.
21. In 1386, a pig was hung in France for the murder of a child.
Love and Romance
22. The number of times the French kiss each other as a form of greeting varies depending on region. In Corsica, the number of kisses can be as many as 5! (If you have a hot first date, you now know where to go)
23. According to a 2003 survey, the French have the most sex in a year (unsurprisingly!)
24. It’s illegal to kiss on railways in France (oops).
25. “French kiss” is a term by the English as a slur on the French culture which was thought to be overly concerned with sex.
26. In France, it’s called a tongue kiss or soul kiss.
27. French men have the lowest level of obesity in the EU, and women are second after Denmark.
28. The French have one of the highest life expectancies in the EU (I think there’s a strong correlation of this fact to #23)
29. First Lady Carla Bruni has been known to have a string of relationships with famous men including Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and Donald Trump.

Travel, Culture, and Innovations
30. Coco Chanel’s real name was Gabrielle Bonheur.
31. France has the highest number of ski resorts.
32. The French had an early version of the internet called Minitel, where as long as 1984, they could pay bills and shop at home using the Minitel service.
33. France is the most visited country in the world with 75 million tourists yearly.
34. The first department store was founded by Aristide Boucicaut in 1838l
35. France has wont he most Nobel Prizes for Literature than any other country in the world, and the second most in mathematics.
36. France created the first universal declaration of human rights in 1789.
37. France ruled the second largest colonial empire in the world controlling 8.6% of the world’s land.
38. Famous French inventions include: the hot air balloon, the submarine, and the parachute.
39. In 2004, the French produced 56.6. million hectoliters of wine.
40. French liquers include: Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, Cognac, Armagnac, Pastis and Cointreau.
The French Revolution
41. The storming of the Bastille was more of a symbolic act. During that day, there were only 7 prisoners and 4 of them were there because of check forging.
42. “Let them eat cake” was a statement falsely associated with Marie Antoinette as it was created ten years before she was born.
43. The guillotin was last used in 1977.
44. It was during this time that the French invented the metric system.
45. More than 15,000 people were beheaded at the guillotine.
46. Louis XVI assisted in perfecting the guillotine.
Paris, the city of love
47. 20% of the French live in the Parisian region.
48. Nicknamed “city of lights,” lights actually refers to the number of intellectuals who live there.
49. Jim Morrisson and Oscar Wilde were buried in the Paris cemetery called Pere Lachaise.
50. The Eiffel Tower is painted every 7 years.
51. The Eiffel tower was originally intended to be dismantled and sold as scrap after its construction.
52. There are more Bretons (From Britanny) in Paris than in Britanny.
53. The oldest bridge in Paris is called Pont Neuf (new bridge).
54. The most visited attraction in Paris isn’t the Eiffel Tower (5.5 million), or the Louvre (5 million), but Disneyland Paris at 13 million people.
Misc
55. French film production is second in the world.
56. Napoleon was 5’6.
57. French toast and french fries aren’t French inventions.
58. The croissant was actually invented in Austria.
59. The ministry of health once tried to promote milk as the national drink of France (ha!)
60. France is about the same size as Texas, with twice the population of California.
61. France is home to 28 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
62. There are about 2 new cook books that are published everyday in France.
63. Drugstores in France usually have a neon green cross on the door57. French toast and french fries aren’t French inventions.
64. If you cross your glass with someone else when toasting, you will receive 7 years of bad sex.
65. Grasse, France is known as the Perfume Capital of the World.
66. About 20& of French territory lies outside Europe.
67. Wearing a white wedding dress is a French tradition which began in 1499.
68. France was originally named Lutetia.
69. It’s against the law to take pictures of police officers and police vehicles.

From: Confessedtravelholic

PLEASE NOTE THESE BEFORE YOU FLY

Domestic/ International Flights
Photo Identification are required on all flights and passengers are required to check-in at least 2 hours before departure for Domestic and International Flights. For all international flights, passengers are required to provide valid international passports.
Passports, visas etc

After getting your visa and buying your ticket,  please make sure you find out about other travel documents you need; such as vaccine certificates, hotel reservation prove. If you do not have the right documentation you could be barred from getting on the plane. If you manage to board the plane, you may be refused entry into the country when you arrive at your destination and be flown straight back. If this happens, you will not be entitled to a refund from the airline.

Special Needs
Some of our passengers may require special needs eg.

1. Unaccompanied Minors
Airlines will only accept responsibility for unaccompanied minors between Airports where the child embarks and disembarks. Children must be accompanied as far as the airport and the parent/guardian escorting the unaccompanied minor must remain at the Airport until the flight departs.
2. Physically Challenged
  Most Airlines provide special arrangements for the physically handicapped with prior booking/request. Wheel chairs are available also, with prior arrangement.
3. Blind/Deaf
Prior information is vital for these passengers to be accepted by Aero with special needs. Aero will provide assistance at check-in, boarding and departure only.

WHERE IS AIR NIGERIA?

Billionaire businessman, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim suspended the operations of Air Nigeria Airline in June, 2012.

 According to him, the airline was sick and needed a corporate surgery that would last a whole year. The thinking of Nigerians was that by June, 2013, the airline would be back and running.
This is July and we are yet to see the return. The planes are still grounded, employees laid off and there is no sign or any information from the management about their return. Nigerians are faced with  inadequacy of airlines/airplanes for local travels, most flights tickets are sold out. Whatever the case maybe, we expect to hear from the management of the airline soon.

REFLECTIONS ON VISA AND MIGRATION IN NIGERIA

By  Wale Adetarami 

One of our followers on twitter contacted us; she narrated how she was denied a visa by the British embassy in Nigeria, this experience made her choose a research topic on visas and immigration in one of her thesis at school. She sought our opinion on certain issues and we responded swiftly.