SURVIVING THESE HARSH ECONOMIC TIMES

It has never been easy making it through an economic downturn or worse still an outright economic recession. People literally groan. Everyone, from individuals to families, big and small, young and old, the poor and even the rich, is affected in one way or another.

What can be done in the face of the hardship that results from an economic recession?

We will be sharing with you a few practical tips on how to stay on top of this unpleasant situation.

• Come to terms with reality – First acknowledge the fact that times have changed. Avoid living in denial. Face reality and take the necessary steps and actions to improve the situation. 

• Live on a budget – Limit or even completely cut off unnecessary expenses. You know your income.You also know your priorities. You may want to let the ‘wants’ be, while focusing on the needs.

•  Save for the rainy day – It goes without saying that it is important to set aside a percentage of your income for unforeseen expenses. Your income is never too small to save from. Always save as you earn. Another advantage to savings is to enable you meet a goal. This could be your mortgage or rent as the case may be, school fees, or even a vacation. When you have actually been putting aside some money for a particular purpose, you find it much easier to execute that project when the time arrives.

•   Buy the things you need.
•   Maintain the things you already have.
• Create other sources of income – With everything at least twice its previous price; it would only be wise to create more streams of income for yourself, to match your increased expenses.  Failure to do so would lead to frustration as the little income you have will thin out so fast. Therefore, try your hands at something you are likely to be good at. There has to be a business or a skill you can do to fetch more money. Don’t wait. Start now.

• Invest – If savings comes with benefits, investments come with even greater benefits. This is so because when you invest in a sensible scheme, your money gets to work for you. At the end of the agreed tenure, you get your principal sum, and then some. Certainly a good idea, especially when one is trying to control the effects of an economy in recession. 

At Capitalfield Investment Group Ltd, we can help you do just that. We have investment products and packages that will give you value for your money. Why not call us today to key into this opportunity and make the best out of it.

You can reach us anytime on 01-4547432. For more enquiries, you can also visit our website: www.capitalfieldinvestments.com

We look forward to easing the strain of the present economic condition on you!

We wish you all a good day and a very happy weekend ahead (it’s going to be a really long one).

Happy Eid-el-Kabir celebrations to all our Muslim brothers and sisters!  

A STORY OF UNWAVERING FOCUS

It all began sometime in August, 2003 as the dream of a young man to deliver unequaled services in the financial sector to the delight of his clients and customers. With the zealous support of like-minded individuals who generously contributed towards building this dream, it began to grow and expand. Fast forward 13 years later, with 8 subsidiaries and a staff-strength of almost 200 dedicated professionals, Capitalfield Investment Group Limited has indeed grown.

We are thankful. Thankful to God almighty for always being there for us; thankful for the never-say-die attitude of the founders of this organization, who have against all odds struggled to come this far; grateful to our loyal customers for your patronage over the years, thankful for the passionate staff and the contributions of all our stakeholders.

Indeed, we can’t exhaust our reasons for joy.

Interestingly, our subsidiaries now cut across diverse sectors of the economy. The names of our subsidiaries as shown below indicate the sectors we operate:

·       

•      CIT MICROFINANCE BANK LTD
• ·        CIT BUREAU DE CHANGE LTD
• ·        CAPITALFIELD ENERGY & ALLIED SERVICES LTD
• ·        LOGICVANTAGE & TRUST LTD
• ·        TENTROPICS MARINES LTD
• ·        ROOTSMINING CO. LTD.
• ·        SEEDLAND AGRO-ALLIED LIMITED
• ·        CAPITALFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED

We are still a work in progress, and like a moving train we will keep picking up speed! Wouldn’t you rather be a part this success story?

We will continue to render services that set us apart from our contemporaries, as we continuously improve the quality of our services.

Happy 13^th Anniversary to us!!!                

MD, CIT Microfinance Bank with staff of the Bank. (One of our subsidiaries)

Our Executive Director in a pose with the ladies!

Executive Management, CIGL

AGAINST THE ODDS OF THE CURRENT ECONOMY

It goes without saying that Nigeria faces harsh economic times. The factors responsible for this condition are many. They include the fall of the Naira against major currencies, the increase in fuel pump price, the nation’s dwindling resources etc

These factors have a great impact on every other aspect of daily living, as we can see in the mounting commodity prices. It is difficult for the common man to afford the basic necessities of life. Food, clothing, shelter, health care are becoming more difficult to afford for the average Nigerian. There is an obvious need to device methods to cushion the effects of these trying times. This is time to go back to the drawing board and figure out what we can do differently to either create more income for ourselves, or to stretch or maximize the benefits of what we do earn.

Let’s discuss a few vital steps to thrive despite the heat of the economy.

·        Face Reality – A clear perspective of a difficult situation is halfway into dealing with it. No matter how long we shy away from reality, it does not make it go away. Why try to postpone the evil day? The earlier we come to terms with our truth, the better prepared we would be to handle it. So, first wake up to the fact that it may no longer be business as usual. Some changes would have to be made. This brings us to the next step:

·        Cut down costs – This denotes drawing a balance between our expenses and available resources. Humans have clearly defined needs. Most often, our income meets those needs. But human wants? That’s a whole different ball game. Human wants are insatiable. Ability to rein in such wants is especially needed, considering the current economic state we find ourselves.

·        Harness Inbuilt Talents – We all are embedded with tons of talents, skills and abilities that even we do not know we possess. There is hardly a human being who uses up to 50% of their inborn potentials before they die. Thoughts like this are meant to spur us to do an honest self-analysis. What talent do we possess that has been hushed up and suppressed for so long? The time to look within is now.

  

                   

  ·        Invest – The benefits of making wise investments can never be over emphasized. They may not immediately manifest, but in the long run, investment does pay. While we all hope that things improve soon, there is no harm in saving up for the rainy day. A school of thought describes it as paying now to play later.

Indeed, the heat of the times current economic climate is scorching. No one is immune to it. We cannot leave it all to the government. We also have our own roles to play in securing better living conditions. Let us demonstrate resilience against all odds while shunning or curbing excesses and frivolities.

We wish you all a good day and a pleasant Democracy celebration ahead.

God bless Nigeria!!!                                       

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: BREAK THE SILENCE!

On Friday, 6th May, 2016, Ronke Shonde, a 36 year old mother of 2 was allegedly killed by her own husband. Reports have shown that prior to the fatal incident, the husband had subjected her to physical abuse on several occasions. Who knows why Ronke decided to stay? Perhaps for the children? But then, is she still there for them now? It is saddening to think that those young ones would have to get by somehow without the love of a mother. Even more saddening it is to think that the circumstances surrounding her death were avoidable. She wasn’t ill, neither was she involved in an accident. Her life was cut short by a man who promised to love and cherish her, to protect her for the rest of their lives; the very man who fathered her children.

It is disheartening to note that the story of Ronke is not an isolated case, as there have been similar reports in the past. But what is domestic violence? Who are the casualties? What must be done about it?

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other. It is not always easy to determine in the early stages of a relationship if one person will become abusive. Domestic violence intensifies over time. Abusers may often seem wonderful and perfect initially, but gradually become more aggressive and controlling as the relationship continues. Abuse may begin with behaviors that may easily be dismissed or downplayed such as name-calling, threats, possessiveness, or distrust. Abusers may apologize profusely for their actions or try to convince the person they are abusing that they do these things out of love or care. However, violence and control always intensifies over time with an abuser, despite the apologies. What may start out as something that was first believed to be harmless (e.g., wanting the victim to spend all their time only with them because they love them so much) escalates into extreme control and abuse (e.g., threatening to kill or hurt the victim or others if they speak to family, friends, etc.). It is important to note that domestic violence does not always manifest as physical abuse. Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse can often be just as extreme as physical violence. 

The ripple effect of spousal abuse is enormous. One person is beaten, many suffer. Children are psychologically affected. Parents and siblings of the victim hurt. Dreams are shattered. Relationships crumble. 

That said, we will now examine some fundamental issues associated with this menace.

Our society has a way of unwittingly encouraging abusive behaviors. Picture this scenario: A woman goes through brutal treatment in the hands of the one person who is supposed to protect her, and when she cries out she is told that she has to endure and pray because it is the woman’s role to keep the family together. “stay and pray”, they say. Who says you can’t pray from a distance? Our religiosity and deeply entrenched culture that promotes gender superiority have clouded our clear thinking so much that even the victims themselves have been taught to accept the situation. The consequences of such acceptance are grave; in fact some have had to pay with their dear lives.

This is a wake-up call to African parents. What values do we instill in our daughters? Are we raising strong female characters? Do we by our words or actions convey to them that they are weak, spineless and totally dependent creatures? That should not be the case. To a very large extent, when we raise the girl child to be a decision maker, a confident individual with a strong sense of self, she would carry these qualities and command respect wherever she goes. We can’t afford to miss it or get it wrong.

The Government and law enforcement agencies have a major role to play in enforcing the laws of the land which are there to protect the citizens.

Section 34, Subsection (1) (a) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that:

 “Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly -

(a)      no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment”

In view of the above, any person found mistreating another to the extent of inflicting harm should be brought to book. Family and close friends of the victims also have the right to intercede and file a fundamental rights action. You never know what you might be saving your loved one from. It is said that “a stitch in time saves nine”.

We all have the collective responsibility to sanitize our society. Let’s not leave it for the next person. Let’s act!

Domestic violence is inexcusable; whoever the aggressor may be- Male or Female. There is a reason we are called humans. Let’s not reduce ourselves to an animalistic culture. Let’s break the silence!

Let’s show our sense of collective responsibility and contact the following Lagos state emergency numbers to report cases of domestic violence around you. You just might be saving a life! We need to be good neighbors and our brother’s keeper.

• LAGOS STATE EMERGENCY NUMBERS AGENCY NUMBERS Distress Call:  767, 112
• WOMEN ABUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE - 01 7617508, 08085754226, 08102678443
• CHILD ABUSE HELPLINE - 08085753932, 08102678442 07098733732

IS IT ENOUGH TO JUST SAVE MONEY?

In a day and age where income is hard to earn, is it realistic to speak of saving? The answer is a resounding YES! We will now consider why it is not only realistic but also beneficial to save for the proverbial “rainy day”. We will then take it a step further to something more than just savings. 

Saving up or setting aside money from our income, be it daily, weekly or monthly is a culture that is gradually phasing out. We live in a society that encourages instant gratification of desires. “If you want it, get it!” It is therefore not surprising when you sometimes walk into a shop with the plan of buying one outfit, and you end up coming out with bags of items, not necessarily because you need them, but because they are in vogue, or eye-catching.

Whether we accept it or not, the Economy is very unstable.  We just need to set aside a fixed amount of money from what we earn, even if small. The benefits of doing so are many, but we will only mention a few.

1.      It helps us achieve short-term goals. This is so true because when we amass our “treasures”, check it in a short period of time and you may be surprised at how far you have come. Before long, that dream apartment, car, certificate etc, might just be ours.

2.      It helps prepare us for unexpected expenses and emergencies.

3.      It gives us a sense of security and assurance.

4.      Fulfillment - When we save for a purpose and that purpose is achieved, it gives us that ‘pat on the back’ feeling.

We now move on to something even more beneficial than simply saving - Investments.

While saving is putting money aside bit by bit to make a lump, investment is saving with the intention of gaining profitable returns such as interest, income or appreciation in value. Investment is a wealth building process. It is ‘growing’ your money.

Interestingly, contrary to what many may think, investment is not limited to the rich. Anyone can invest according to their means and circumstances. Investments are particularly beneficial for long term goals such as retirement or a child’s education.

Making the choice between saving and investing largely depends on how much of a risk-taker an individual is.

First individual will make the money and save, saying to himself “I have done well.” He would not want to mingle with anything or anyone who tells him he can do more than just saving; he would rather not risk his hard-earned money. In contrast, second individual will make the money and venture on what he perceives will produce more. He is willing to take the risk, he trusts people, he makes mistakes, he doesn’t let fear hold him back, and he/she faces the consequences and grows in the process.

BENEFITS OF INVESTMENT

1.       Investment helps a prudent investor to earn more, giving them the benefits of enjoying a higher standard of living for roughly the same amount of work.

2.       People can use well managed investment plans as a prudent means of saving and growing money needed in the future. For example, they might set aside money they have earned in long-term investments to cover anticipated major future expenses, such as their children’s higher educational costs or their own funeral. Investors can also use the proceeds of their long term investments to build a nest egg to help make their eventual retirement more comfortable.

3.       What differentiates investment from speculation or gambling is that the investor can reasonably anticipate making a profit on their investment due to their advance research and prudent selection of an appropriate investment vehicle. Basically, they are not out placing bets in the markets, but they are instead expecting a gain to result from their research and investment activities.

4.       Of course, having that key investor mindset certainly does not guarantee that their investments will always appreciate in value, since they could still lose. Nevertheless, having an investor’s mindset does help individuals to direct their interests, and hence their capital, toward making less risky investment choices, even if they ultimately have to accept lower returns. The advantage of this is that they are more likely to preserve their investment capital over the long run.

 Whatever your choice may be, saving or investing money requires self discipline and hard work. Like getting physically fit, getting financially fit takes hard work and the ability to say "no" to temptation. “Everyone wants the 6-pack abs - but are they willing to do the work?" says Michael Silver, CFP professional and partner at Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors in Boca Raton, Florida. "Everyone wants to retire with a lot of money at some point, but are they willing to save and be disciplined with their spending in order to do that?" Start early, save hard and let compound interest get to work.

So what will it be for you? Savings or investments?

At Capitalfield Asset Management Company Ltd, we have instruments designed to help you invest with high returns while promising security and a stress-free environment. For more information and enquiries please visit our Group website www.capitalfieldinvestments.com and check out the array of services we offer through our various subsidiaries, or call us on 01-4547432. We would be glad to answer all your questions.

We wish you a beautiful week! 

WHEN “BLACK GOLD” LOSES ITS LUSTER

Our beloved country, Nigeria faces a severe economic crisis such as it has not experienced in a long while. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Nigeria’s economic growth in the last quarter stood at 2.1 percent. The total growth recorded in 2015 was 2.8 percent, the slowest since 1999. It is reported that falling oil prices is largely responsible for this situation.

This gives rise to these questions: Is Oil the only resource Nigeria possesses? What would happen if for some reason oil stops flowing in the land?

The economy is deteriorating. Organizations are downsizing. Individual businesses are at risk of crumbling. The country is in a lamentable state.

Nigeria is a country rich in natural and human resources. We need to start harnessing them now. It is important to note that there are countries within this same continent that are growing their economy continuously. It takes effort, patience and passion. We must borrow a leaf from countries such as Rwanda. Rwanda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 4.7% in 2013 to 7.0% in 2014. This year, Rwanda’s GDP is expected to rise to 7.5%.

Interestingly, the Agriculture sector is the leading source of revenue for the Rwandans. 

Tourism also plays a vital role in generating foreign exchange in the country. While they may not have attained their desired level, they are definitely getting there slowly but surely. 

It therefore goes without saying that there is an urgent need for action. First, the Government of Nigeria should as a matter of urgency, give attention to diversification of the economy. This time, it should not stop at being a promise; it has to be enforced.

Second, Nigerians generally need to broaden their horizon, try out new things and entertain fresh ideas. It is a course of wisdom to change a path that isn’t working.

At Seedland Agro-allied Ltd, we are engaged in trading and supply of different kinds of Agricultural products.

Visit our website to learn more about our products and services:

http://www.capitalfieldinvestments.com/seedlandagroallied/

We wish you a beautiful Easter celebration ahead! Enjoy the holidays. 

AS THE FUEL QUEUES BUILD UP…..

Nigeria, one of the top oil producers in the world, is once again hit by a ravaging spell of fuel scarcity. Most petrol stations are shut down; the few that are open for business are flooded with hundreds of people, struggling to get even a small quantity. How ironical!

The “black market” guys are taking advantage of this situation to enrich themselves, exploiting their desperate buyers with outrageous prices.

We all recognize the great importance of this commodity, since a lot of business, social and personal activities depend on it. No wonder the inflated cost of living that accompanies its scarcity. It is indeed a pathetic situation.

Nigerians groan as this fuel situation worsens alongside its excruciating chain effects, such as hike in prices of goods, inflated cost of transportation just to mention a few.

We look up to the Federal government to find a permanent solution to this recurrent issue which brings about so much hardship for the country’s citizenry. We also hope for a better Nigeria, a Nigeria where an incoming government would not have to promise steady fuel supply, constant power, potable water etc; since these things would already be in place.

In Capitalfield Energy & Allied Services, our promise is to bring you premium energy products and services at your convenience. Please click on the link below to learn more about our services:

http://www.capitalfieldinvestments.com/capitalfieldenergy/services.html

We wish you all a wonderful day!

MAKING A STATEMENT: LOOKING GOOD IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

  There is a saying, “first impression matters” or “you may never get a chance to make a 2^nd impression”. Truly, this is important. How well you treat yourself and how you are treated lies in how neat and presentable you are. Everyone wants to look their best. Physical appearance does affect your overall personality and the impression you project to others.This brings to mind a scenario I witnessed sometime ago I came across this young banker (marketer) sweating from neck down to the his trousers, the sight was a full definition of “disgust”, but at the same time i felt some pity for the man, as he went from one shop to another selling his bank products and making attempts to convince people to bank with   him.

The man was full of knowledge, he knew his products so well, very eloquent speaker but with all of these attributes, the appearance was nothing to write home about. He once in a while wiped off the sweat from his face with the edge of the bank flyer while he spoke and I kept on wondering how one will entrust his money with a man that looks this way. Sad enough, his appearance was direct contrast to what he had up in his head.

That’s the learning point: Putting more thought into your appearance is one of the easiest way to improve your social prospects and the way people see you. This falls under the category of non-verbal communication as well as personal branding.

 Here some points why you should pay attention to your appearance:

• ·        It gets you the attention you need; this boosts your self- confidence and self-esteem knowing that people admire you and prefer to associate with you  because they find you attractive. This makes a difference.
• ·        An attractive physical appearance enhances your personality.
• ·        A pleasing face is nice to look at. A pleasing face can relax the mind, i.e. when it comes to marketing of product and services customers with aesthetic sense like to admire beautiful people and things.
• ·        To impress people in social situations

 

So there you have it! Constantly work on improving your personal brand! It is an investment you won’t regret!

 

 

THE LEAP OF THE DOLLAR VS THE FREEFALL OF THE NAIRA

 Africa’s largest economy suffers hard times as oil price drops and scarcity of Foreign currencies; particularly the US Dollar. This has led to an alarming increase in exchange rates. Nigerians groan since much of our trading is import dependent. The Naira yesterday dropped to a record low of 390 to a dollar. Nigerians are already desperate and lots of panic-buying is going on.

This brings to mind an issue that has been in existence for quite a while now. Nigeria is largely a consumer nation. This stems from two factors- a lack of appreciation for our own and a low standard of production. The prevalent mentality is profit, profit, profit while little or no attention is given to quality. We would do ourselves a great deal of good by looking ‘inside’ to harness the skills and talents embedded in the country. Nigeria is talent-rich. A little more confidence in ourselves will go a long way in growing our economy thus reducing our dependence on imported goods.

Meantime, we are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for a more stable Naira.

At CIT Bureau De Change, we are geared up to solve all your foreign exchange challenges. Please contact us on +234 1-4547432, +234 7058993528   or click the link below for further inquiries.

Thank you.

http://www.capitalfieldinvestments.com/citbureaudechange/

LASSA FEVER – FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Barely 2 years after the Ebola scourge, Nigerians are again confronted with another deadly disease - Lassa fever. Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in West Africa. The illness was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Borno State, Nigeria, West Africa. The cause of the illness was found to be Lassa virus, named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases originated. According to reports, the affected areas in Nigeria primarily are Bauchi, Nassarawa, Taraba, Niger, Edo, Rivers, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo state. People particularly dread this disease because its primary host is the Mastomys Rodent or simply put- the mouse, an animal which is very common in Nigeria and most of sub- Saharan Africa, ubiquitous in many households and even eaten as delicacies by some people.

A Mastomys Rodent

We have thus chosen this topic to write about, to demystify the dreaded Lassa fever. We need to arm ourselves with facts, early recognition of symptoms and preventive measures.

FACTS

Lassa fever is transmitted to humans by mice through its urine and excrement or even dispersed gas, typically through inhalation of contaminated air.

Human to human transmission has also been established through contact with blood and wastes from an infected person.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include fever, facial swelling, and muscle fatigue, as well as conjunctivitis and mucosal bleeding. The other symptoms arising from the affected organs are:

·         Nausea

·         Vomiting (bloody)

·         Diarrhea (bloody)

·         Stomach ache

·         Constipation

·         Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

·         Hypertension

·         Abnormally high heart rate)

·         Cough

·         Chest pain

·         Unilateral or bilateral hearing deficit

·         Seizures

Lassa fever has been mistaken for Ebola or acute malaria and typhoid in some cases due to similar symptoms. 

PREVENTIVE MEASURES/TREATMENT

1.      High level of hygiene. Our environment should be kept clean as rodents thrive in dirty environments.

2.      Always wash your hands thoroughly. Wash, wash, wash…

3.      Symptoms should be reported early, as early diagnosis and treatment with Ribavirin could reduce or even eradicate mortality chances.

4.      Infected individuals should be isolated.

It is to be noted that about 15-20% of hospitalized Lassa fever patients will die from the illness. The overall mortality rate is estimated to be 1%, but during epidemics, mortality can climb as high as 50%. The mortality rate is greater than 80% when it occurs in pregnant women during their third trimester; fetal death also occurs in nearly all those cases. Abortion decreases the risk of death to the mother. Some survivors experience lasting effects of the disease.

Due to the grim consequences of this disease, it is important that we do all we can to prevent it.

Information is Key! Knowledge is power!