iClass - a Learning Management System

Educational advancement is one of the most pertinent things in one's lifetime and no price is too great for knowledge acquisition. My desire for a Master's degree began last year after the commencement of my career pursuit in the managed care industry (health insurance industry). I was caught in trying to decide which Master's degree would be beneficial to my career and broaden my scope professionally. "An MPH or MBA?” I wondered. I inquired from more knowledgeable and experienced professionals in the health sector, and I was advised to pursue an MBA. In addition, I was advised that Lagos Business School was the way to go as far as business education in Nigeria was concerned. If I was going to learn how the business world works, I had to learn from the best. So, I began making inquiries and working on application requirements.

 Enrollment and preparation for the GMAT followed and an appointment was booked to enable meeting up with the application deadline (short, but it was a chance worth taking in my eyes). During preparations for the test, distractions came in a rush; from challenges at the home front, to roller coaster rides in my emotional life. "Why now?” I thought. Three days to my test in Abuja, the Nyanya blast hit the news and the location of my accommodation is less than one kilometre from there. In spite of all these, I remained determined to go through with the test. My test score was below the requirement and I went into a state of depression. Just when I was nursing myself out of that, I had an accident on the same day of arrival from Abuja. I took a break from everything except my job and spirituality for a week so that I could recharge my 'batteries'.

A week after the break, my family friend and mentor informed me about the entrance exam. I became fearful of the outcome of the exam but he encouraged me to go through with it. So, I submitted my application without a GMAT score and began studying again. Soon after, I got invited for the exam. During the exam, there were a number of challenges encountered especially with logistics resulting in quite a number of unanswered questions. After the exam, I wrote the school and the admissions officer that I had been in contact with, concerning all that transpired at the exam centre.

In about a week or two, I got invited for an interview. My mentor prepared me for the interview but after a great time with my interviewers, I suddenly went into a state of anxiety over whether I was good enough to be given a "yes” from all three. I prayed to reduce the anxiety and distracted myself with work and other activities. Some weeks later, I received my admission letter via email. My joy knew no bounds. My goal for 2014 has been achieved! Amidst the ecstasy, I felt humbled and a rush of sober reflection. I realised that in the course of pursuing this goal, I became more aware of myself and found myself becoming better than how I was prior to this period of events. Even if I did not get into the programme, the experience was not without a lesson to learn.

Mermaids also known as mami water by the Nigerian people has been a source of fascination to me during my childhood years. I can remember when watching the Disney animation "The little mermaid”. I wondered at that tender age if it was real or just a figment of imagination made up by Disney.  Although as a kid I didn't analyse it further, I was just concerned about having a great time seeing ''the little mermaid'' with a bowl of popcorn shared with friends.

Last year, Animal planet had its highest rated show titled ''Mermaids- the body found”.  It was reported that there could be evidences that mermaids are real from extensive research made by scientists but viewers failed to see the disclaimer made by National oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA). They claimed it was a video clip made for the public to view mermaid with a possibility of existence. 

Also photos were spread across the social media of mermaids found in Malaysia after the Tsunami, in Zimbabwe and Israel to mention a few. Sightings throughout history has been reported by people like Christopher Columbus and Henry Hudson the explorer. Cultures around the world seemed to have mermaids in their folklore in ancient time where communication between certain tribes were considered impossible.

It seemed people wanted to believe that mermaids exists. This can be illustrated when the government of Israel promised to reward any person who can provide a conclusive footage of a real mermaid with S1, 000,000.

Are mermaids real or just a hoax? I believe that there's a possibility that mermaids could be more than just a fiction character since only 5% of the ocean creatures has been discovered. Although my previous statement was me exhibiting my open mindedness and viewing issues from different perspectives as an LBS student should but prior to LBS, I would say that it was a being created by human's imagination.

Every child at one stage or another of his life had wondered "why can't my parents just get off my back?", "they are choking me", "am grown can't I just live my life?", "please let me be" and these expressions go on and on and on. At what point are parents meant to draw the line, at what point do they need to understand that their little girl is no more little, she has grown and she needs to find her own path.

It is okay for parents to still unleash their full parenting on their kids from 0-17 years but once a child turns 18 upwards, parents should begin to lean back on full parenting. They should no longer be that dictating parent they should begin to treat their children as adults and make them understand they need to start being responsible for the decisions they make. Parents should begin to use the dialogue approach whereby they can discuss with their kids and both parties can say it the way it is and they eventually have a mutual understanding of each other's opinion.

Most parents fail to draw the line and this has destroyed the lives of their children and in some cases those kids have had to curse the graves of their parents. Such parents policed and created no platform for dialogue for their children so much that their kids found comfort out in the real world from the wrong group of people. This is one of the reasons why most kids end up as drug addicts because those people they felt easy to confide in introduced them to it.

Parents should educate their children on the basic principles and rules of life and let them make their choices. Let them experience life and see for themselves what it takes to survive. Parents fail to understand and realize that most times it is not about how much you police a child; most children will do things because that is what they want for themselves not because you are enforcing it on them.

Apologies to pastors, but one would expect that a pastor's child would be so responsible and well mannered, but nowadays, reverse is the case. Likewise, one would also expect the child of a drunkard to also live a reckless life but most times it does not turn out so. It is because those children made up their minds on what they wanted out of life not because their parents were policing and restricting them.

Most parents restrict their children so much that once these kids just get a single dose of freedom they misbehave. Parents should not cage their kids, allow them to make mistakes and correct them, it is only by this they able to learn and grow.

All these make me realize that parents can only try to shape the life they want for their child but in the end it is left for the child to decide and choose his own path. If only some parents were just attentive enough to listen to their children, if only they just created that platform whereby their kids are free to approach them and say their minds, if only they were not so imposing, if only...............and I can say these are some of the 'if only' that run through the mind of many children across the world. So many things they have to say, so many they want to say but then so many they never get the opportunity to say.

Dear BLOG,

I can't believe you finally got me! What a shame! Tried hard to run away from you, yet you sent 'EUGENE' to me knowing i can't say 'NO' hian!

Seriously, i had you on my mind even though activities took over my 'Life' and i ditched all the plans we had 2years ago...plans of we seeing each day, treating our friends to 'gbeborun' (gossip) in town, talk relationship, fashion, spiritual things (you know my faith is my bias in all things right?),lend a hand to those in need, laffmatazz and truth factor......Thinking about it now just makes me feel awkward...AM SORRY i really should have kept in touch.Okay never give in to regrets, let's use this opportunity we have to make things right.

So where were we?....Your babe gained admission into Lagos Business School o, biko ' it isn't easy' the rigorous academic activity here can make a bent man straight abi viceversa! Deadlines, assignments, on-the-spot thinking, class participation forms part of our daily routine, though its been challenging and i am still trying to find balance , i tell you its been worthwhile and highly engaging intellectually,morally and socially. You need to meet my classmates a mixture of intelligent, smart, fun-loving, weird and crazy is what you get.

Ehnehn do you remember Wols? He got married on Saturday against all odds... Happy Married Life to him...seriously you wanted more gists right?

Guess i am stuck on you for the next 1month or more, still in thoughts about the 'more' part, i will try each day to be here, can't promise you my weekend though.

I have to run now ABP and MC cases calls!!!

LIVE,LOVE,LEARN

Holla!

NAME:  CHIAMAKA ANITA EZEDIUNOR

MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION BLOGPOST

Shoes are a true fetish, a perfect get-away! A person starts off innocently with a pair, and then proceeds to having more and more, then the addiction takes a hold on you, and suddenly, you have about one to two hundred or even thousands of shoes, then out of the blue you feel the need to use a room in your home as your shoe museum to house them.

A shoe fanatic lives the 'I-see-it-I-like-it-I-buy-it' kind of life, these people do not make any sense out of buying shoes just for a purpose or an event. She feels shoes have emotions, and you don't want to hurt them by leaving them homeless! By the way, there is no such thing as having a favorite pair of shoe; yea, why be such a racist?

Sometimes, you go completely overboard to get some pairs of Christian Louboutins; just like Danielle Steel, an American novelist, who declared she owns six thousand pairs of shoes, all Christian Louboutins! Just WOW!!! Well, what can I say; she can afford her obsession for shoes. Some shoe addicts even go as far as ordering custom-made shoes. Nick Canon recently requested for the world's most expensive shoes from Tom Ford, a $2million diamond-encrusted shoe, totally blinged out. Please, I know I love shoes oo, but I won't mind a quarter of that money sleeping in my bank account, so that I can smile to the bank too na; just like bosses in class like Sehinde, Olusanya, Madam Obehi and Chinyere. I want to be like you guys when I grow up! I hail oo.

Just like a shoe fanatic said, "A pair of shoes can change your life. Just ask Cinderella?” So please, if Cinderella's only nice pair of shoe can get her her prince charming, maybe owing a shoe museum in my home will lead me to my IDRIS ALBA.

Dr. Mrs Adeoti- A University lecturer

I admire her because of the way she teaches and handles her students, she strives for the best of everyone. She supports students' enterprise and students' in leadership. She organizes leadership training session and professional study exposition for students. She is God fearing and very principled.

Nathaniel Bassey- A musician

I admire him because of his distinct tone, excellent touch and classy music. He sings with simplicity and his level of professionalism is excellent. He is one of the few musicians that would not demand for royalty and this has helped him a long way to impart lives through his music. He stands out amongst other artiste in his genre.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye- A Preacher

Aside the fact that he is one of the most influential personality in the world. His humility, simplicity, and level of maturity is disarming. He is a goal getter and purpose driven. He pastors the largest network of churches in the world and he hasn't stopped he is still pressing for greater achievement even at the age of over seventy years.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote - A businessman

I admire Aliko Dangote because he started small and was able to manage it till it grew big. He is one the most successful businessman in Nigeria and one of the richest black African. He manages multifaceted and inter-linked companies. He combines political and corporate connection which makes him to have much control of Nigeria's commodity trade.

Babatunde Raji Fashola - A politician

He is a Politician that stands out amongst others. His achievements through sincerity and wisdom are undaunted and evident. He is a man who stands for justice and equity and does not condone disorderliness. He has been able to manage one of the most populous and industrious state in Nigeria with a firm grip without arrogance.

Are vampires real? Are wolves real? Does Santa Claus really exist? I could go on and on about the questions that trouble us and increasingly so, by the increasing number of movies produced and by the increasing number of movies we indulge in. On this blog, we discuss movies. This will be MBA 13's own movie blog, except that I own the rights, of course! Welcome.

Elena, Damien, Stefan, Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy, Matt......I'm sure some people already know this one! Just in case you don't, it is the VAAMPIRE DIARIES, one of my favourites. I am not a vampire-o but there is something to be said about the suspense in this movie. Okay, for all ye movie-haters, 'movie-on-the-fence' people, vampire-haters or 'vampire-on-the-fence' people, let me give you a background of the movie.

A movie set in Mystic Falls, Virginia, a fictional small town, where vampires abound. Let us leave the producers, directors and the rest; you can Google it (In a Facilitator's voice, "Google is your friend”).

Back to my story, the presence of the vampires directly or indirectly attracts the witches, the werewolves, the dopplegangers and the hybrids.

We know witches, don't we? Members of the air force that take off by 12 midnight and return when the meeting is over, at least, that's the Nigerian definition anyway, but, you know what I mean.

Werewolves: Human-animal, human-wolves to be specific.

Dopplegangers: People that are complete replicas of another person and that have been replicated through the generations...Big grammer. If you don't understand, suggest to Kemi to show the movie in class. #grin#.

Hybrids: As the name implies, hybrid is a cross between vampires and werewolves; the ones with even greater capacity, strength and speed to squash out life.

Now, the characters:

Elena: Orphan girl with a brother, Jeremy

Stefan and Damien: The Salvatore brothers who have lived for hundreds of years and have had an age-long feud over Katarina.

Katarina: Elena's doppelganger who has lived for over 500 years and a vampire family member.

Caroline: Elena's friend and eventual vampire.

Bonnie: Elena's friend and a witch.

Matt: Elena's ex-boyfriend and eventual friend.

Tyler: Werewolf turned hybrid.

Don't worry, you'll understand better and know more characters as the discussion unfolds.

So, let's see, we have the background story, we have the characters....now, the story!....

........Check out my next blog!

Yet again, as singles preparing to marry, or newly married, we ask ourselves, is it appropriate for couples to have individual account or joint account?A question I bet most singles would want an answer to, before embarking on the journey called, marriage.

Many people will agree that, marriage is a form of union, there is no better way to express unionism than jointly carrying out responsibilities within the home. The fact remains that, when couples carry out responsibilities together, there is a high tendency that the bond in the relationship will be strengthened. This makes us believe that couples should also have a joint account in view of experiencing togetherness in every aspect of their relationship. Nevertheless, we should not fail to realise that in as much as marriage signifies oneness, literarily, the couple are individuals. As individuals, we want a bit of freedom and expression of our uniqueness. Marriage is not an end to individuality; rather, it's an agreement between to people to depend on each other. There is still a bit of independency in everyone.

Thus, we human beings are different despite the marital status, and would still want some level of freedom and in-dependency, I'll opine that, having joint account is good to maintain family bond and togetherness, while individual accounts on the side to help connect to our individuality and for freedom sake.

I cannot forget that easily what a can of chilled Sprite and cake can do on a hot Sunday afternoon. If that is the only experience gained from the assignment, then I can say "it is worth it''.

At his residence (The interviewee), the first thing I noticed was the presence of an elegant lady. Then it dawned on me within split seconds that marriage or rather family is of utmost importance if a man is to succeed in any aspect of life. Here I am, with graying hair yet single. So I penned it down on my Ten-in-one hard cover book. I wrote "Guy, you need a wife''.

The daily activities of life offer a mix of feeling that we can choose from to make us happy or miserable. It is just like the air we breathe which is a mix of hot and cold air that can be separated to heat or cool your home. By the end of the interview I came to agree that the choices you make in life will affect you positively or negatively forever. Every decision we make has its consequences. To be successful you have to do what you like.

It became more glaring to me how Government policies can affect your business. The importance of the economic environment in any business cannot be overemphasized. I guess I'll get more information on that when we take the course ''The Economic Environment of Business''. The interviewee Mr. Maurice Ekpe emphasized on how multiple taxation from the Government affects the telecommunications industry.

A balance in whatever you do will go long ways in helping you succeed. There must be a balance between family, work, religion, recreation and whatever you do.

Self imposing your ideas, views, perceptions on your colleagues, subordinates, or team members do not make you succeed as a manager. A collaborative mindset is all it takes.

Certain qualities can serve as important adjuncts when you are striving towards success. If imbibed, they'll play a very great role in ensuring that you succeed in all ramifications. Qualities like integrity, humility, tolerance, understanding, respect e.t.c

Natural inequality among men comes into play always. Our differences in age, health, body strength, and the qualities of the mind or of the soul affect man in various ways. I shall think myself happy if I can pool from and make use of some of the important things gained from this assignment.

There was an atmosphere of fear as we drove out of the house. Two Alsatians barked furiously at us as Olusanya drove out of the giant gates leaving behind a screeching sound.