#Small business goal setting in Nigeria

[victorwinnersdotcom]

Effective Goal Setting: How to Set Goals & Achieve Them Fast

As an entrepreneur poised to uproot competition and climb the ladder to business success, learning how to set goals and achieve them is one of the most crucial tools that will make or mar your dreams. No! Don’t take my words for it. According to research, millions of businesses have wandered into the desert of oblivion because they know next to nothing about where exactly they are going in the…

[isocertification47india]

Who is eligible for ISO 45001 certification? What are the necessities for ISO 45001 certification in Nigeria?

ISO 45001 certification in Nigeria

ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria is a popular publication by the Inte­rnational Group for Standards (ISO) that gauges a firm’s Work Health and Security Administration Syste­m (OHSMS). It helps you better your OHSMS active­ly, spot threats, and chart out actions to prevent or le­ssen these thre­ats. Nigeria, an economy expanding rapidly, constantly se­es new businesse­s rise. Hence, ge­tting ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria could push your business past the­ competition.

ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria applies to all organizations, no matter their size or region of operations. The fashionable goals are to set up a wholesome artwork environment and make specific persistent development of your OHSMS to satisfy its converting rules.

Who is eligible for ISO 45001 certification?

In Nigeria, any agency, regardless of size, enterprise, or quarter, can attempt to find ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria. Here are the crucial points regarding eligibility:

Types of Organizations:

Businesses of All Sizes: From small and medium-sized corporations (SMEs) to big groups.

Industries and Sectors: Manufacturing, creation, oil and fuel, healthcare, training, hospitality, transportation, etc.

Public and Private Sector: Both authorities, entities, and personal corporations may be licensed.

Non-Profit Organizations: Charities and exceptional non-profit groups are also eligible.

Requirements:

Implementation of an OH&S Management System: The agency must implement a control machine that elegantly meets the requirements of ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria. This includes identifying and handling OH&S risks, complying with relevant prison and exceptional requirements, and continuously enhancing OH&S performance.

Commitment to Constant Progress: Displaying a dedication to continuous development in OH&S practices.

Employee Involvement: Involvement and participation of people inside the OH&S management machine.

Certification Process:

Gap Analysis: Conduct an internal audit or gap evaluation to understand areas that need improvement to satisfy the preferred ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria.

Implementation: Developing and implementing guidelines, strategies, and controls to mitigate risks and ensure place of job protection.

Training: Providing essential training to employees and ensuring they realize their roles in maintaining OH&S.

External Audit: Engaging an approved certification frame to perform an outside audit to assess compliance with the ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria fashionable.

Certification: The certification body administers the ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria upon audit fulfillment.

Organizations searching for ISO 45001 certification in Nigeria will interact with authorized certification bodies carried out locally and internationally. These bodies offer essential guidance, audits, and certification offerings to help businesses elegantly benefit from compliance with ISO 45001.

What are the necessities for ISO 45001 certification?

The realistic implementation of OHSMS in a business enterprise may be done with the resources of the compulsory requirements of ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria. These are indexed in segment four through phase 10 of Annex SL of ISO 45001. The first three sections are introductory, and the remaining seven deal with the necessities of OHSMS.

Section four: Context of the employer includes all internal and out-of-door elements that would impact your organization. It allows you to tailor your OHSMS to the necessities of your enterprise.

Section 5: Leadership– This phase mentions a more excellent massive position of higher management in imposing OHSMS correctly. It offers ways of delegating roles and obligations.

Section 6: Planning involves figuring out the risks for your OH&S and planning actions to save or mitigate them. This will require a sufficient glide of verbal exchange through one-of-a-kind channels at all degrees.

Section 7: Support– This segment specifies the human or infrastructure assets required to implement OHSMS.

Section eight: Operation– This entails operating your OHSMS and assessing the approaches for prison compliance.

Section nine: Performance evaluation– This involves often monitoring and measuring your OHSMS to preserve its effectiveness.

Section 10: Continual Improvement– Improving management requires everyday assessment and planning.

HOW CAN YOU GET ISO 45001 CERTIFICATION IN NIGERIA?

Your certification journey begins after you’ve completed the excellent control device for your company and operated it for a few days to check for its effectiveness. The documentation of its usage needs to be correct during the certification audit. After you’re optimistic about the operations of your management device, you must comply with ISO 45001 certification in Nigeria. To begin with, you will be required to fill out the software program form and evaluate the certification necessities. If your documentation fits the ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria Trendytrendy’s requirements, you must move for an inner audit. Following are the centered steps for acquiring ISO 45001 certification:

Internal audit: This is finished by using an inner celebration to test the consistency of files concerning the exact old requirements.

Management audit: At this stage, the manager reviews the gaps from inner audits and selects the applicability of several sections of the ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria fashionable in your agency.

Corrective activities – At this stage, you must force particular corrective movements to close the gaps recognized from the above tiers. This requires you to file your corrective movements.

The certification approach of ISO 45001 incorporates the subsequent degrees:

Stage One (documentation survey) – The auditors from the certification body of your desire overview your documentation to test your preparedness for the certification audit.

Stage Two (number one audit) – At this degree, the auditor assesses your approaches for conformities or, in any other case, in line with the necessities of ISO 45001  Certification in Nigeria and your documentation. This is finished with reviewing reports, records, and your organization’s practices.

Conclusion

Injuries and hazards can arise in any painting place. Your business enterprise can emerge as sincere inside the marketplace by displaying proof of the resilience of your occupational fitness and safety infrastructure through ISO 45001 certification in Nigeria. This, other than enhancing the photo, enables you to gain many companies on an international scale. Hence, ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria has immeasurable blessings for your corporation.

Why Factocert for ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria?

We provide the best ISO consultants Who are knowledgeable and provide the best solution. And to know how to get ISO certification. Kindly reach us at contact@factocert.com. work according to ISO standards and help organizations implement ISO certification in Nigeria with proper documentation.

For more information, visit ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria

 Related links 

ISO certification in Nigeria

ISO 9001 certification in Nigeria

ISO 14001 certification Nigeria

ISO 45001 certification Nigeria

ISO 13485 certification Nigeria

ISO 27001 certification Nigeria

ISO 22000 certification Nigeria

CE Mark certification in Nigeria

Related articles :

What is ISO 45001 Certification?

[olgbenga-agboola]

Why Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola Is Building Credit in Africa 

The key to unlocking the full potential of Africa’s economies is to increase access to credit, according to Flutterwave CEO and founder Olugbenga “GB” Agboola. 

As one of the fastest-growing consumer markets in the world, Africa represents huge potential. However, many African countries don’t have organized and well-developed consumer credit systems that allow entrepreneurs, businesses, and others easy access to debt. 

“When a society has no credit, it changes the speed of everything,” Olugbenga Agboola said. “Without credit, there is no need for payments to happen quickly, which hampers innovation, when payments take a lot of time to move through the various channels.”

In countries like the United States, people often begin building their credit history at the start of adulthood. This gives them years to demonstrate their trustworthiness and reliability to lenders, who will offer them access to greater amounts of debt in order to start a business, make a large purchase, or cover unexpected costs.

However, in many parts of Africa, credit histories don’t exist, limiting the ability of consumers to show their reliability to lenders. This puts many in Africa’s burgeoning middle class at a disadvantage. 

Without access to funds that could help start and expand businesses, African consumers have fewer options to get ahead. 

“One of our goals with Flutterwave is to make credit data more available,” Olugbenga Agboola said. “Right now, the lack of data makes smart lending very difficult. We want to change that. For example, we would like to make it easier for merchants to share their data with a bank or lender, who can then use that data to make decisions about credit so that the merchant can scale up their business, restock their wares, and improve.”

Currently, in many parts of Africa, consumers spend most of their retail money at small kiosks set up on the roadside. If these businesses were allowed access to credit, they could stock more inventory and attract more customers, Olugbenga Agboola said. 

“When you can empower business owners to access credit through their smartphone, it’s a life-changing thing,” he explained. “They can pay for more inventory, often at better prices, and offer those goods to consumers at a lower price while also making a greater profit. But this can only happen when there is enough data — and an infrastructure in place that allows it to happen.”

Modern credit bureaus work by offering credit scoring systems that are consistent and data-driven. This allows lenders to mitigate their risk when lending by providing them a chance to examine each applicant’s credit history, utilization, and payment history, among other variables. 

“The opportunity we have in Africa is to build a very efficient credit system without going through the growing pains that other places experienced,” said Olugbenga Agboola. “We have already seen the difference in [how] the credit bureaus that have developed more recently in places like Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East were established and developed, and we see how they learned from and, in some ways, improved upon the existing models.”

For some countries in Africa, that means creating credit bureaus from the ground up. For others, it’s a matter of expanding their current systems to include small customers, like small businesses and individuals. 

“In Nigeria, where Flutterwave is primarily based, cash is the most common form of payment and we still have many residents who are unbanked,” Agboola said. “Many people use debit cards here; in fact, we were able to adopt cards with chip and PIN technology before the United States did. So, we see what is possible. The goal right now is to increase credit use, which we do by normalizing access to data.”

The move from a cash-based economy to one that incorporates credit shouldn’t be difficult, he said. Every year, more Africans use the technology Flutterwave provides to make and receive payments, send money to family and friends, or launch their own businesses. As consumers become even more sophisticated, using credit will become natural. 

“Flutterwave is primarily a transaction-processing business, and while we have other services and products, everything our customers do happens on the same platform,” Agboola said. “We want to use that platform to create more value. If we can capture the data about spending and payment and share it with lenders, it opens up entirely new ways for them to calculate the risk of lending to a person or business.”

[isocertificationnnigeria65]

Get ISO 9001 Certification Services in Nigeria

What is ISO 9001 Certification in Nigeria?

ISO 9001 Certification in Nigeria ensures that a company’s products and services meet customers’ needs. ISO 9001 quality management systems can help organizations improve their quality management practices.

Benefits of ISO 9001 certification in Nigeria. Some of the benefits include:

– Improving customer satisfaction: Improving customer satisfaction is one of ISO 9001’s main goals. A quality management system enables organizations to guarantee the quality of their products and services.

An effective quality management system can help organizations to improve their efficiency by reducing waste and improving processes.

– Reduced costs: Implementing a quality management system can help organizations to reduce their costs by reducing waste and improving processes.

– Improved competitiveness: Organizations that are ISO 9001 certified are more competitive because they can demonstrate their commitment to quality.

When it comes to ISO 9001 certification in Nigeria, there are a few things you need to know. First, you need to find a reputable certification body. Once you have found a certification body, you need to register your organization with the certification body. After your organization is registered, you must go through an audit process. Once you have passed the audit, you will be awarded ISO 9001 certification in Nigeria.

How does ISO 9001 Certification benefit Nigeria?

Benefits of ISO 9001 certification in Nigeria are many and varied. The most important benefits are the improved efficiency and quality control that can be achieved by adopting ISO 9001 standards.

In addition, ISO 9001 certification can also lead to increased customer satisfaction and confidence in a company’s products or services. Certification can also be used to market a company and make a company stand out.

Several other benefits can be gained from ISO 9001 certification, including the following:

– Reduced costs associated with poor quality

– Improved communication and coordination between departments

– Greater consistency in the delivery of products and services

– Increased customer satisfaction and confidence

– Improved marketability and competitiveness

Overall, the benefits of ISO 9001 certification can be highly beneficial for any company, large or small. The standards can improve efficiency, quality control and communication while providing a valuable marketing tool.

How can I get ISO 9001 Certification in Nigeria?

There are many benefits to getting ISO 9001 certification in Nigeria. These benefits include improved customer satisfaction, increased efficiency and productivity, and reduced costs.

ISO 9001 Certification in Nigeria can help your company increase customer satisfaction levels by ensuring the quality of your products and services. In addition, ISO 9001 certification can help to increase your business efficiency and productivity by setting quality standards that you must meet. Finally, ISO 9001 certification can reduce costs by ensuring your products and services meet international quality standards.

In order to obtain ISO 9001 certification in Nigeria, there are a few things that you will need to do:

You must find a reputable certification body that offers ISO 9001 certification.

ISO 9001-compliant quality management systems must be developed and implemented.

You will need to have your quality management system audited by the certification body to ensure that it meets all of the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard.

How does ISO 9001 Certification work in Nigeria?

If you’re looking to get your business ISO 9001 certified in Nigeria, there are a few things you’ll need to do to meet the requirements. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Understand the ISO 9001 Standard

The first step to getting ISO 9001 certified is to have a good understanding of the ISO 9001 standard. This standard is the international quality management standard that guides creating and maintaining an effective quality management system.

2. Create a Quality Management System

In order to meet the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard, you’ll need to create a quality management system (QMS) that meets those requirements. Your QMS should document your company’s quality policy, objectives, and procedures.

3. Implement Your Quality Management System

After you’ve created your QMS, you’ll need to put it into practice. This means training your employees on the QMS and making sure it’s being followed throughout your organization.

4. Get Certified

Once you’ve implemented your QMS, you can then start the process of getting certified. This involves having your QMS audited by an ISO 9001 certification body to ensure it meets the requirements of the standard.

Getting ISO 9001 certified can be a great way to improve your business’s quality management system. By following the steps above, you can ensure that your company meets the certification requirements.

How much does ISO 9001 Certification in Nigeria cost?

ISO 9001 Certification in Nigeria

The process of ISO 9001 certification in Nigeria is more complex than many people want it to be. It is a process that requires a lot of commitment from the company’s management and all the employees. The company’s management must be willing to implement ISO 9001 in order to become certified. The company’s employees must also be willing to work together to improve the quality of the products and services they provide.

In Nigeria, ISO 9001 certification costs depend on the size of the company and the number of employees. The certification process can be costly for a large company with many employees. The certification process cost can be reduced if the company’s management is willing to implement the ISO 9001 quality management system. The company’s employees can also help reduce the cost of the certification process by working together on improving the quality of the services they provide.

For more information visit: ISO 9001 Certification in Nigeria

RELATED LINKS

ISO Certification in Nigeria

ISO 9001 Certification in Nigeria

ISO 14001 Certification in Nigeria

ISO 45001 Certification in Nigeria

ISO 27001 Certification in Nigeria

ISO 22000 Certification in Nigeria

ISO 17025 Certification in Nigeria

Related Article: ISO Certification Consultant

[vickyfinecert]

ISO 50001 Certification in Lebanon

ISO 50001 Certification in Lebanon

What is the ISO 50001 Certification?

                                                         ISO 50001 is the worldwide preferred Energy Management system for all groups which affords a selected framework for small and big groups to control and decrease strength use and fees. ISO 50001 preferred is primarily based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act Management machine that is extra just like the opposite production groups that had carried out different ISO standards. This framework facilitates its non-stop development in strength performance, efficiency, usage, and consumption. 

                                                  ISO 50001 preferred decreased strength expenses and improved competitiveness while lowering greenhouse fuel line emissions(GHG) and different environmental impacts. ISO 50001 was first posted using ISO in June 2011 and later revised and reissued in August 2018. Thus the 2018 model takes the strength control machine to the following degree with the aid of using permitting companies to supply a scientific framework to control strength with a focus on blended energy management inside business processes.

How to get ISO 50001 Certification in Lebanon?

                                                          ISO 50001 is an international energy management well-known standard this is meant to assist corporations in all sectors set up, putting into effect, and performing an Energy management system (EMS). The country's economy is a mixture of government regulation and intervention, and a free market economy based on private enterprise and foreign investment. The economy is service-oriented; the main growth sectors include banking and tourism. The country has been heavily dependent on remittances from Lebanese expatriates working mostly in the oil-rich countries of the Persian Gulf region and Western Europe. Lebanon's tertiary sector is the largest and most diversified in the economy, accounting for 85% of GDP. ISO 50001 Certification in Lebanon presents guidance on a way to set up and perform an energy management system. It is primarily based totally on the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and provides a framework that an organization can comply with to systematically enhance its strong performance. The certification system is similar to other ISO management system standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

What are the benefits of ISO 50001 Certification in Lebanon?

                                                         ISO 50001 standardized method for energy management system changed into proposed to supply the subsequent advantages are,

Improve organizational recognition and company image among customers, clients, and stakeholders.

Reduce the environmental effect.

Increase organizational profitability.

We are decreasing power charges and growing savings.

We are growing stronger in overall performance and efficiency.

Continuous development of the energy management system for an organization.

We are preserving energy consumption.

Reduce greenhouse fuel line emissions and their carbon footprint.

Create sustainable organizational culture.

Helping businesses lessen dangerous emissions.

We are decreasing energy usage.

It is increasing strength consciousness among personnel in any respect levels.

Implement the motion plan to obtain strength goals and targets.

Why FINECERT?

                                                       Finecert is a top using ISO Certification coordinating and gaining knowledge of community areas, business organization improvement manages a huge series of ISO requirements like ISO 9001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, ISO 22301, ISO 21001, ISO 37001, GMP, HACCP, and so forth. We are experts in giving ISO Certification exhorting and the association manages any outcomes with admiration for all connections from one component of the planet to the other. Our simple component is to collect a probable and high-quality date with clients. Finecert has a social event of a hit human beings and huge courting starting with one component of the planet and then onto the next. We have cooperated with 30+ licensed experts in all nations like India, Dubai, Iraq, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Romania, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Our sensitive representatives targeted a big kind of region like Schools, Banking, Education Organizations, the Food Industry, Software, IT affiliations, and so on. We are continuously devoted to supplying great reactions for all connections from one component of the planet to the other. Assuming you need any more data, generously skip ahead and connect to us.

[perspicaciouslynameless]

Books I Read in 2020

Normally I just post a list, but this time there are charts and graphs! Full list below the cut.

Overall statistics by genre:

The funniest part of this is the difference between the number of days it took me to read a romance book compared to a sci-fi/fantasy book, which, in fairness, was largely due to one book that I started in October 2019 and finished in April 2020.

Rating and count of books by genre:

Unfortunately for the non-fiction genre, I only read one book and the final chapter pissed me off.

Ratings over time:

These seem to be indicating that I either got nicer in my ratings or got better at picking books I would like. The different sizes are for page count.

Publication date compared to date I finished reading the book:

This excludes the three books published prior to 2000, which make the graph impossible to read. For the curious, the books in question are Persuasion, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Castle in the Air.

Content:

For this I’ll note that the broad categories of queer, POC, and disabled characters are because 1) I don’t know how to manage the one-to-many relationships between books and character classifications in my spreadsheet and 2) sometimes authors don’t use labels. I might try to do something about this next year, and suggestions are welcome.

The labels that are too small to read are as follows:

Setting: historical fantasy, sci-fi time travel

Location: Africa (a fictional country therein, not the entire continent), South Korea, Nigeria, Singapore, Wales

Pairings: M/M/F, M/M/F/F

Authors, series, etc.:

This is a lot more useful when you can use the dashboard interactively, unfortunately.

My reading habits:

The labels that are too small are:

Format read: physical book

Re-read: re-read

Type: short story, anthology

And finally, a kind of useless Gantt chart:

This was a pretty decent reading year, overall. I think my goal next year will be to be more deliberate about my book choices, and also try to finish anything I own that I haven’t read yet. Which is a pretty intimidating book list, actually :/

If anyone wants to do a buddy read, I would be down for it, so please lmk!

Full list:

The One For You, by Roni Loren

Here There Be Gerblins, by The McElroys

Murder on the Rockport Limited!, by The McElroys

Casting Lacey, by Elle  Spencer

A Delicate Deception, by Cat Sebastian

Meet Cute, by Helena Hunting

How Not To Fall, by Emily Foster

The Wedding Party, by Jasmine Guillory

Royal Holiday, by Jasmine Guillory

Syncopation, by Anna Zabo

Reverb, by Anna Zabo

The Doctor's Secret, by Heidi Cullinan

The Doctor's Date, by Heidi Cullinan

The Doctor's Orders, by Heidi Cullinan

A Private Gentleman, by Heidi Cullinan

Where Nerves End, by L.A. Witt

Unexpected, by Kelly Rimmer

Unspoken, by Kelly Rimmer

Twice in a Blue Moon, by Christina Lauren

Counterpoint, by Anna Zabo

Dating You / Hating You, by Christina Lauren

The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky, by Mackenzi Lee

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, by Sonali Dev

The Flatshare, by Beth O'Leary

Don't You Forget About Me, by Mhairi McFarlane

Eyes Like Those, by Melissa Brayden

Hearts Like Hers, by Melissa Brayden

Outside the Lines, by Anna Zabo

Love Lettering, by Kate Clayborn

Sparks Like Ours, by Melissa Brayden

Love Like This, by Melissa Brayden

The Friend Zone, by Abby Jimenez

Undone, by Kelly Rimmer

Just Business, by Anna Zabo

Operatic, by Kyo Maclear

Due Diligence, by Anna Zabo

Waiting in the Wings, by Melissa Brayden

Unfit to Print, by K.J. Charles

Love and Other Words, by Christina Lauren

Kiss the Girl, by Melissa Brayden

Takeover, by Anna Zabo

Just Three Words, by Melissa Brayden

Daily Grind, by Anna Zabo

The Thing Around Your Neck, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Worst Best Man, by Mia Sosa

Ready or Not, by Melissa Brayden

Radiance, by Grace Draven

Breaking Character, by Lee Winter

American Dreamer, by Adriana Herrera

Bringing Down the Duke, by Evie Dunmore

Chasing Cassandra, by Lisa Kleypas

If I Never Met You, by Mhairi McFarlane

In for a Penny, by Rose Lerner

The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal

The Fated Sky, by Mary Robinette Kowal

The Lady Astronaut of Mars, by Mary Robinette Kowal

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life, by Ali Wong

Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston

Teach Me, by Olivia Dade

Girl Gone Viral, by Alisha Rai

The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright, by Tessa Dare

The Craft of Love, by EE Ottoman

First Grave on the Right, by Darynda Jones

You Deserve Each Other, by Sarah Hogle

His at Night, by Sherry Thomas

A Kiss at Midnight, by Eloisa James

Temporary Wife Temptation, by Jayci Lee

A Girl Like Her, by Talia Hibbert

Damaged Goods, by Talia Hibbert

Ninth House, by Leigh Bardugo

Beach Read, by Emily Henry

Persuasion, by Jane Austen

Recipe for Persuasion, by Sonali Dev

The Empress of Salt and Fortune, by Nghi Vo

The Trouble with Hating You, by Sajni Patel

Something to Talk About, by Meryl Wilsner

Ghosting: A Love Story, by Tash Skilton

Say Yes to the Duke, by Eloisa James

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, by Cho Nam-Joo

Take a Hint, Dani Brown, by Talia Hibbert

Party of Two, by Jasmine Guillory

The Doctor's Discretion, by EE Ottoman

Rival Princes, by Jaxon Knight

Undue Influence: A Persuasion Retelling, by Jenny Holiday

Beyond Shame, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Control, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Pain, by Kit Rocha

Last Tang Standing, by Lauren Ho

Beyond Temptation, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Jealousy, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Solitude, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Addiction, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Possession, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Innocence, by Kit Rocha

The Deal, by Elle Kennedy

Two Rogues Make a Right, by Cat Sebastian

Beyond Ruin, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Ecstasy, by Kit Rocha

Beyond Surrender, by Kit Rocha

The A.I. Who Loved Me, by Alyssa Cole

Beyond Forever, by Kit Rocha

Let It Shine, by Alyssa Cole

Let Us Dream, by Alyssa Cole

Beyond Doubt, by Kit Rocha

Boyfriend Material, by Alexis Hall

Proper English, by K.J. Charles

The Takeover Effect, by Nisha Sharma

The Legal Affair, by Nisha Sharma

Ashwin, by Kit Rocha

Deacon, by Kit Rocha

Ivan, by Kit Rocha

The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T.J. Klune

The Duke Who Didn't, by Courtney Milan

I Wish You Were Mine, by Lauren Layne

Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones

Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir

Castle in the Air, by Diana Wynne Jones

Untouchable, by Talia Hibbert

Think of England, by K.J. Charles

Harrow the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir

Glitterland, by Alexis Hall

Deal with the Devil, by Kit Rocha

Xeni, by Rebekah Weatherspoon

This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

How to Catch a Queen, by Alyssa Cole

Spoiler Alert, by Olivia Dade

Fortune Favors the Dead, by Stephen Spotswood

The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin

Ties That Tether, by Jane Igharo

Written in the Stars, by Alexandria Bellefleur

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, by Nghi Vo

The Obelisk Gate, by N.K. Jemisin

That Kind of Guy, by Talia Hibbert

[checkoutafrica]

Bellafricana partners with Nest Cooperative to launch a Fund to Scale for Creative MSMEs in Nigeria

Creative indigenous businesses lack the required skills and support to grow a sustainable business that can compete globally and this is what the Bellafricana platform for creative businesses is providing.

Bellafricana is an organised community which provides the much needed support and creates an enabling environment for the world to connect and trade online with reliable and credible creative Indigenous Businesses, anytime, anywhere

To further this goal, they have identified the similar interest in MSMEs with the Nest Cooperative and are partnering with them to drive it home via their Investment fund bouquet.

Nest Cooperative through Finn Labs Ltd is a registered Cooperative focused on developing and enabling mostly SMEs to be better business corporations in Nigeria through the facilitation of smarter and improved financial systems to include savings, investments and loans.

During the signing of the agreement, Bukky Asehinde, CEO of Bellafricana said that “This initiative is a necessity at this point and especially with the African Trade Agreement; as a lot of Micro, Small and Medium Businesses need this support to enable them scale effectively to be able to participate in this global trade opportunity.”

 “As we believe that businesses producing quality products Made-in-Nigeria play a key role towards increasing our export income as well as taxable income for the economy. Seeing how the Nest Cooperative have a proven track record of providing financial expertise with a focus towards SMEs in Nigeria; we couldn’t think of any reasons why not to partner with them.”

Through the Bellafricana platform, various business categories have been vetted, trained and guided through the different business management facets and many of them are currently registered and listed with Bellafricana as verified Nigerian businesses. These categories include Food and Beverage, Fashion, Arts & Crafts, Home and living, Health & Beauty to name a few.

Other partners already signed up with the community are the Lagos Chamber of commerce and industry, the Nigeria-American Chamber of commerce, National Export Promotion Council, DHL, Digital Marketing Skill Institute and so many others.

Mr Seyi Olusanya, COO of Nest Bank, said;

“It is quite impressive to see the amount of quality products with attention to details that are being made by members of the Bellafricana community and this becomes a great encouragement to ensure that the support they need to succeed is being provided and that is why NEST has extended their unwavering commitment to supporting SMEs and ensuring their growth through funding and advisory services.

The Made in Nigeria Creative business is set to gain easier access to financial support via new Bellafricana-Nest partnership which should also drive socio-economic factors like unemployment a bit lower than currently is in the Nigerian sphere.

The Alliance of the two business entities provides the opportunity for more creative businesses to leverage the partnership for mutual benefits.

Some of the Nest Cooperative services the Bellafricana community members will benefit from include a financial model analysis where they advise the SME owners on the smarter ways to position their business to generate more revenue through trade and equipment financing as has identified as the crux of their needs.

The management teams of both companies have specialized skills ranging across understanding the best practices to raising funding for production, material sourcing, branding and packaging. All of which are what these SMEs need to be well on their way to being better positioned amongst the first batch of Made in Nigeria goods to be eligible for the AfCTA and trade globalization.

Mrs Bukky Asehinde also reiterated the fact that whilst her focus has been on ensuring that the creative businesses she openly promotes via the Bellafricana platform are verified, a number of the unverified businesses are yet to get to this stage because of imminent gaps in their business operations that prevent them from scaling that milestone achievement. She is hopeful that with the new partnership that more of this category can also get verified and scale their businesses via avenues to include partnerships, collaborations and service rendering offers from even within the NEST SME community.

Who knows if the next global brand will emerge from amongst any of these small businesses? Time will tell.

The post Bellafricana partners with Nest Cooperative to launch a Fund to Scale for Creative MSMEs in Nigeria appeared first on CheckoutAfrica.

from WordPress http://www.checkoutafrica.com/bellafricana-partners-with-nest-cooperative-to-launch-a-fund-to-scale-for-creative-msmes-in-nigeria/

[bimbolaar]

The Complete Payment Solution you need to thrive in the Global Economy

Flutterwave is a trusted online payment gateway in Nigeria focused on providing individuals and businesses with seamless, intelligent and secure online payment solutions. 

Founded in San Fransisco in 2016 with an office in Lagos, Flutterwave now has an operational presence in Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya. In 2018, Flutterwave announced its entry into the United Kingdom and Zambia after obtaining licenses for payment processing and electronic remittances.

Flutterwave boasts of thousands of merchants all over the world with over 100 million transactions worth billions of dollars since inception. Through partnerships with international brands like PayPal, Transferwise, Alipay, Shopify, and VISA, Flutterwave strives to connect its customers with the global economy with ease.  

In 2018,  Flutterwave got ISO 27001 certification which means  Flutterwave has internationally acceptable practices and processes including a robust business continuity plan. 

It is worth mentioning that Flutterwave is continuously using technology to shape Africa’s digital economy. In recognition of providing efficient business payment solutions across Africa,  Flutterwave received the ‘Best Payments Company’ at the 2018 Ghana eCommerce Award ceremony.

Flutterwave products like Rave, Barter, and Moneywave are modern online payment platforms tailored to drive financial inclusion in the global economy. Whether you are thinking of how to manage your personal finances or looking for the right technology to build and grow your business globally, Flutterwave has a payment solution for you.

Rave by Flutterwave 

Rave is unarguably the easiest way for merchants to make and receive payments from anywhere in the world. Rave is used by giant companies like Uber, Booking.com, Flywire, Jumia, Arikair, OjaExpress and several small and medium businesses across Africa. Currently accepting over 150 currencies from over 26,000 merchants, Rave is the ideal merchants' marketplace.

 Ravepay offers merchants a fully integrated end-to-end payment gateway with no additional operational cost required and the best technology to achieve zero failed transactions. 

Merchants can easily get started on Ravepay with no setup or monthly fees and have control over the acceptance, settlement and transaction analysis process. A reasonable fee is charged per transaction through multiple payment collection channels like;

- In-person through sales mode and the  Rave dashboard 

- App or Website by installing Rave plugins that allow integration with e-commerce platforms like Alipay, Shopify, Magento, and Woocommerce; SDKs and libraries for customized Apps and websites

- Social media using Rave instant payment links from Instagram or Facebook feeds.

Rave merchants can receive money from customers through:

Credit or Debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and Verve.

Bank Account Payments from the U.S., Nigeria, and South Africa.

Mobile Wallet Payments on MTN, M-Cash, M-Pesa, and TIGO

How to start and grow your business with Rave

1. Develop a business idea- Identify a need or find a solution to a problem.

2. Conduct a market survey- study your potential customers and how best to serve them, look around for competitors and learn from them.

3. Create a business plan - Set measurable goals and how you intend to achieve them.

4. Raise enough capital

5. Register your business for easy identification

6. Start your business online, in-store or even both.

7. Visit Rave by Flutterwave to create a free Rave account and select a payment feature that meets your needs in less than 5 minutes.

8. Display prices and accept local or global payments in your customer’s preferred currency. 

9. Receive payments in your app or website, on social media or in-person through debit or credit cards, bank accounts, and mobile wallets payment in any currency.

10. Manage your funds, expand and pay vendors globally to grow your business.

Already have a business and you want to grow it? Switch to Rave by Flutterwave, accept payment from multiple channels and give your customers the best possible payment experience. 

Pros

Cost-effective, all in One Dashboard.

Accept payment from all channels where your business thrives. 

Enjoy well managed 24/7 customer support from Flutterwave for even bigger solutions. 

Cons

Rave account verification after creating an account might take time so the earlier the better you create a Rave account while deciding to start your business.

Barter

Need a better (financial) half? Get Barter App. Barter by Flutterwave is a payment platform that allows you to manage your personal finances better. 

Whether you are sending money to friends, buying airtime, paying utility bills, internet subscription or saving for your next big project, use Barter.

With Barter, you can add your personal bank account to your app dashboard and monitor your funds in your local currency.

Sign up for Barter on the website or download the GetBarter App to join over 30,000 people already using Barter to make their lives better.

Pros

Easy and efficient way to monitor your spendings.

Allows funding through card or bank accounts and bank transfers.

Access to easily repayable short-term loans.

Cons

Allows local currency transactions only.

- Editing of profile and other personal details used in signing up may take time so be careful when signing up.

Moneywave   

Moneywave is an omnichannel payment solution that allows you to build customizable money transfer platforms, online banking, mobile banking, and Artificial Intelligent solutions.

Similar to Rave, Moneywave allows you to send money from

- VISA to bank accounts on Mobile

- Bank accounts to VISA on Mobile

- Verve to Discover on ATM

- Discover to Verve on Chat boxes

- Mastercard to Mastercard on Web

- AMEX to AMEX on different bank channels

Sign up for Moneywave to get started.

Flutterwave Developers 

Flutterwave is currently home to thousands of developers who have over the years built  APIs with easy to use plugins, SDKs, and libraries for the integration of customized payment solutions. Interestingly Flutterwave developer community also offers other developers a playground with the aim of continuously improving the standard of payment technology in the Fintech industry.

The future is all bright for Flutterwave as Olugbenga GB Agboola, the CEO at the beginning of the year reinstated their commitment as a customer-focused brand striving to give their customers the best possible checkout experiences at all times. 

[spiritroots]

Afrocentric Wheel of the Year

An anon asked me if there is a way to celebrate the Wheel of the Year in an Afrocentric way, and it inspired me! I guess I just invented a new set of holidays?

What are Kwanzaa & the Nguzo Saba?

Kwanzaa lasts for seven days from December 26 to January 1. Each day, one’s family does different activities together to honor each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which are called the Nguzo Saba. These principles are focused on celebrating and encouraging an Afrocentric way of living by a connection to black identity, values, and culture in a positive way that supports oneself and one’s entire community.

The reason why I believe it makes sense to celebrate the Nguzo Saba as different holidays throughout the year is that Kwanzaa isn’t meant to be about one week. It’s meant to be about inspiring a connection to one’s African roots and heritage that lasts all year long! Each holiday in this Afrocentric Wheel of the Year will focus on a different principle of the Nguzo Saba culminating in Kwanzaa at the very end, bringing them all together in one.

Days of the Afrocentric Wheel of the Year

You do have to be of African descent to celebrate Kwanzaa (and this Afrocentric WOY) but you don’t have to be African. The Afrocentric WOY is inspired by Kwanzaa, an Afrocentric, Pan-African holiday for anyone of African descent designed to help those of us in the global diaspora connect with African values, language, culture, and spirituality.

I’ve included a basic overview of each day of the WOY. They correspond to the Wiccan sabbats, but they are not called “sabbats” to be inclusive of anyone who wishes to celebrate them whether they practice magic, witchcraft, or neither. Underneath the ~ read more ~ line, I’ve added lists of altar ideas, mundane activities, and magical/spiritual activities for each day!

UMOJA: United as One

Date: February 1st Corresponds with: Imbolc Season: Beginning of Spring Color: White Symbol: Cowrie Shells

Nguzo Saba: Umoja (Swahili), Unity (English)

To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

KUJICHAGULIA: A Fresh Start

Dates: March 20-23th (depends on year) Corresponds with: Ostara Season: Spring Equinox Color: Blue Symbol: Arrow

Nguzo Saba: Kujichagulia (Swahili), Self-Determination (English)

To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.

UJIMA: Strong Beginnings

Date: May 1st Corresponds with: Beltane Season: Beginning of Summer Color: Green Symbol: Wawa Tree Seed

Nguzo Saba: Ujima (Swahili), Collective Work & Responsibility (English)

To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.

UJAMAA: Working Together

Dates: June 20-23rd (depends on year) Corresponds with: Litha/Midsummer Season: Summer Solstice Color: Dark Red, Maroon Symbol: Bowl of Fruit

Nguzo Saba: Ujamaa (Swahili), Cooperative Economics (English)

To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

NIA: Dreaming with Purpose

Date: August 1st Corresponds with: Lammas/Lughnasa/Lugnasad Season: Beginning of Fall (first harvest) Color: Bright Red Symbol: Axe

Nguzo Saba: Nia (Swahili), Purpose (English)

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

KUUMBA: Black is Beautiful

Dates: September 20-23rd (depends on year) Corresponds with: Mabon Season: Autumn Equinox (second harvest) Color: Yellow Symbol: Comb

Nguzo Saba: Kuumba (Swahili), Creativity (English)

To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

IMANI: Faith in Each Other

Date: October 31st Corresponds with: Samhain & Halloween Season: End of Fall (last harvest, end of the year) Colors: Rainbow (all colors together) Symbol: Yams

Nguzo Saba: Imani (Swahili), Faith (English)

To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

KWANZAA: A Joyous Time

Dates: December 25th-January 1st (1 week long) Corresponds with: Yule/Midwinter Season: Winter Solstice Colors: Red, black, and green Symbols: Kinara (candle holder), mkeka (straw mat), mazao (crops), muhindi (ear of corn), kikombe cha umoja (unity bowl), zawadi (gifts), mishumaa saba (seven candles)

Nguzo Saba: All seven (one for each day of Kwanzaa)

[ Questions ] [ About Author ] [ Tips for all the hard work & care into this ]

ALTAR IDEAS, ACTIVITIES, & MAGIC

Many of the symbols and activities both magical and mundane come from African-American culture and also cultures from all across Africa from Ghana to Mozambique to Nigeria to South Africa. You might have noticed that each day’s colors and some of the symbols are inspired by an orisha from Yoruba culture. I included saying a prayer to each one who corresponds with their day as a completely optional activity that is okay for non-initiates to do, but remembers that the religion of the Yoruba people is initiatory and requires lots of study for in-depth practice.

All these ideas are just suggestions, so feel free to create your own so long as it’s in the spirit of the day’s Nguzo Saba principle. I recommend studying the holiday Kwanzaa in more depth, since that will help you better understand the Nguzo Saba and how to honor them!

UMOJA: We Stand Together

To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Umoja Altar Ideas:

White cloth and candles to symbolize peace, unity, and connectedness

Cowrie shells for the prosperity and growth of black people everywhere

A cup or chalice filled with salt water to represent the Atlantic Ocean where many of our ancestors crossed or now rest and our shared struggles and journey across the waters and around the world (inspired by the kikombe cha umoja of Kwanzaa)

Activities for Umoja:

Plan a dinner or gathering with family, friends, or your community

Practice cooking some family recipes

Go to a black arts, music, food, or cultural festival

Make some language goals for the year to learn some Swahili (Pan-African language) or another African language

Read some books about the history or culture of an African country

Take a moment to share a drink out of your unity cup (kikombe cha umoja) with someone you care about or are close to

Bring out your Afrocentric clothing! I’m talking full Africa earrings or necklaces, kente prints, ankhs, dashikis, and anything else you got

Umoja Spirituality & Magic:

Love and friendship magic

Wear matching sigils with someone

Peace and conflict resolving spells

Digging into the roots of Africana traditions and magic

Pray to Obatala, orisha of reason, leadership, and peace (Yoruba culture)

KUJICHAGULIA: A Fresh Start

To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.

Kujichagulia Altar Ideas:

Blue, green, and white cloth and candles to represent our power to choose our own direction by nourishing and growing our own destiny

Arrowheads for the agency and independence to pick our path

Eggs decorated with Adrinkra symbols chosen by you to express different values, ideas, or goals you have (inspired by Akan culture)

Activities for Kujichagulia:

Do some journaling or self-reflection blogging

Write a list of your personal values and ethics

Share something about yourself with others that you are proud of

Read about movements and philosophies that support your identity and what you believe in (examples: LGBT+, gender identity, black feminism & intersectionality, Africana womanism, etc.)

Do some spring cleaning and throw away old items you know you don’t need or that are no longer consistent with who you are now

Try some archery (inspired by Yoruba culture)

Wear an outfit with the colors of Kujichagulia (blue, green, white)

Kujichagulia Spirituality & Magic:

Cleansing, centering, and grounding (energy work) 

Uncrossing magic (hoodoo)

Self-care and self-love magic

Meditation and mindfulness

Shadow work (self-reflection magic and divination)

Pray to Ochoosi, orisha of magic and archery (Yoruba culture)

UJIMA: Strong Beginnings

To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujima Altar Ideas:

Green cloth and candles to represent the healing, growth, and medicine we all have to offer each other in the global diaspora

Seeds for the small beginnings that can lead to greatness

Flowers of different colors as a reminder of the unique contributions each of us can bring to problem-solving as a community

Activities for Ujima:

Reach out to friends, family, or members of your community who you know might need some extra help and support

Donate to organizations the empower black communities

Go to a Black Lives Matter rally and boost their posts online

Consider areas in your life where you may need some support and chose this time to be helpable

Look for volunteering opportunities in your local community

Vote in your local elections and get involved in your community

For students in college, consider an alternative spring break

Wear an outfit with the colors of Ujima (shades of green)

Ujima Spirituality & Magic:

Road opening and crossroads magic (hoodoo)

Healing and cleansing spells (for yourself and others)

Setting up protection spells and wards (for yourself and others)

Offering magic and divination for free to others

Looking for or finding your spirit guides

Pray to Ogun, orisha of clearing obstacles (Yoruba culture)

UJAMAA: Harvesting Together

To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Ujamaa Altar Ideas:

Dark red and black candles to symbolize the hard work and determination of the global black community

Bowl of fruit for the fruits of our labor and collective success

Kente cloth which represents the richness and value of black culture (inspired by Akan culture)

Activities for Ujamaa:

Support black-owned businesses as much as possible (boost posts on social media, tell friends, buy their products)

Donate to one of these black-owned non-profits making a difference

Consider buying stock in black-owned businesses and brands

Work on your own budgeting and personal finances

Read about the economic concept of ujamaa

Wear an outfit with the colors of Ujamaa (dark red and black)

Ujamaa Spirituality & Magic:

Buy magical tools and supplies from black-owned businesses

Manifestation, money-making, and prosperity magic

Create a new mojo bag

Look for and appreciate the bright star Sirius (inspired by Kemetic celebrations of summer solstice)

Pray to Oya, orisha of the marketplace (Yoruba culture)

NIA: Dreaming with Purpose

To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Nia Altar Ideas:

Bright red and white cloth and candles to symbolize a fierce and unstoppable passion for the future

Lightning-shaped decorations for the energy and power we put into making our dreams a reality

Affirmations or quotes that represent your dreams, goals, and pieces of inspiration for yourself, your family, your local community, and the global black community

Activities for Nia:

Start a vision board, put up images related to your goals and ideas

Make long-term plans for projects, work/school, or personal life

Talk about what you want and hope for the future of the black community with friends and family

Think of black role models in your life and how you are role model too

Watch or engage (safely) in some wrestling, boxing, or martial arts (inspired by Igbo and Hausa traditional celebrations)

Wear an outfit with the colors of Nia (red and white)

Nia Spirituality & Magic:

Writing or creating new spells and rituals

Meditation and reflection on your goals and future plans

Re-organize your grimoire and/or magical tools

Path-finding and decision-making divination

Pray to Shango, orisha of fire and lightning, warrior-king (Yoruba culture)

KUUMBA: Black is Beautiful

To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Kuumba Altar Ideas:

Yellow, white, and orange cloth and candles to symbolize optimism for the future, creativity, and the beauty of life

Jars of honey for the sweetness of life that comes from hard work

An afro pick or comb to represent pride and joy in our own beauty and the beauty of our people

Activities for Kuumba:

Rep #blackisbeautiful, #blackgirlmagic, #melanin pride

Appreciate some black art, black music, black films, etc.

Check out a West African dance class

Look into recycling, composting, and sustainable living options 

Wear your hair natural

Glow up with Rhassoul clay (Berber culture, Morocco) or Marula oil (Tsonga People of South Africa and Mozambique)

Wear an outfit with the colors of Kuumba (yellow, white, and orange)

Kuumba Spirituality & Magic:

Self-confidence, empowerment, and body-positivity spells

Braid some ashe (energy) and intent into your hair

Art magic! Energy signature paintings, drawing sigils, you name it

Decorate your grimoire or spellbook pages with some Afrocentric designs

Try some African drumming or dance styles during a ritual

Pray to Oshun, the orisha of beauty, love, and prosperity (Yoruba culture)

IMANI: Faith in Each Other

To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Imani Altar Ideas:

All colors of cloth and candles to represent the infinite number of ways that faith and hope can manifest in our lives

Yams in honor of the great harvest that is the legacy of our ancestors

Photos of great heroes and leaders in black history to show our respect to those who paved the way for us beyond our blood family

Activities for Imani:

Go to a black history museum

Read some books or watch movies on the American Civil Rights Movement, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Apartheid, or African history

Learn to say “Heri ya mwaka mpya” (happy new year in Swahili)

Write some thank you letters to friends, teachers, mentors, and family members you admire and appreciate (even if you don’t actually send it)

Eat some yam (inspired by Igbo and Akan cultures)

Wear rainbow colors in the spirit of Imani

Imani Spirituality & Magic:

Create an ancestor altar if you don’t yet have one

Spend the day saying prayers and giving offerings to your ancestors

It’s traditional to pour out some offerings to the ancestors onto the earth as well (freshwater recommended!)

Say a prayer to Oshumare, the orisha of reincarnation and our connection to the realm of the ancestors (Yoruba culture)

Great time for spirit communication and divination in general

KWANZAA: A Joyous Time

Principle: All seven (one for each day of Kwanzaa)

Resources for learning how to celebrate Kwanzaa:

What is Kwanzaa?

How to Celebrate Kwanzaa

Official Kwanzaa Site

More Kwanzaa activities

[crackednailsandsplitends]

Expanding your business during a cost of living crises with Twill Freight

Trying to expand your business during a cost of living crises

I was thrust into my business at the start of the pandemic. Losing my job as an International Project Manager for which I had worked as for nearly 15-years was a shock, but it was also an opportunity.

I was selling our old bits and bobs on eBay on the side as a hobby and I enjoyed it; it gave me the goal to start my own website and run my own business full time, but I didn’t have the confidence or courage – leaving a well-paid full time job is a very scary leap, but, when I lost that job and after a couple of weeks of panicking, I took the opportunity to start my own business.

I started off selling nationally, and wanted to grow to sell internationally, especially now we have a cost of living crisis, I want to open up my business to as many countries as possible. Selling internationally is not a straightforward growth; it is important to read the regulations involved in this, i.e. if you are selling to Germany, you now need to comply with the German Packaging Act.

As I want to grow my business, buying stock and importing stock internationally, is something I need to tackle and educate myself on. There is an awful lot to learn, thus as we are considering buying internationally, you need a company like Twill Freight Logistics, who are designed to streamline your logistics operations. And, as I am a small business, I would be an infrequent importer, Twill Freight accepts small business - which is ideal for me. The Twill website is designed to have everything in one place, making the daunting subject of logistics much more streamlined, easier and helpful – allowing me the confidence to start importing, where I can organize the booking, tracking and managing of my shipments in one easy platform.  

There are lots of costs when running a business, and selling and buying international, brings more costs, more complications etc., areas like customers clearance logistics, so on and so on…. As I want to concentrate on growing my business, and running myself, using Twills services the ‘Go Global Guide’ this will evidently help.

Why Twill Logistics?:-

They are committed to small and medium sized businesses, the #Twillforgood programme was set up to connect and empower entrepreneur women to international trade. As a result of one of the initiatives, 29 women entrepreneurs from Kenya, Nigeria, India and Mexico were coached. They are a company / partner that want to help you grow, and embrace change and confidence to improve.

 “Container shipping made simple”

- This post is a collaboration with Twill, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[my-greatseo-love]

Problems Encountered by Nigerian Entrepreneur and Possible Solutions

Problems Encountered by Nigerian Entrepreneur and Possible Solutions

The success enjoyed by most industrialized countries can be attributed to the role played by technological innovation and entrepreneurship, both of which continue to drive their economies today. These two factors are seen as key components for the industrialization and development of African countries. The Nigerian government has recognized this fact and has taken measures aimed at promoting and cultivating the entrepreneurial culture in our country. Through the Nigerian Investing Commission (NIC), our government has in the past introduced a policy that required university students regardless of their area of study to take courses in entrepreneurship. While our government is putting extra effort in promoting entrepreneurship in Nigeria, there are still a number of problems that a Nigerian Entrepreneur faces. Below are some of the problems encountered and possible solutions.

* Diversifying the Economy

Though our country's economy has over the last couple of decades relied heavily on its oil production, we must find ways to diversify our economy and avoid the over reliance on oil. Like other developing countries, Nigeria is facing an increase in its unemployment rate that is now at 6 % and is on the increase, with many graduates finding it hard to get jobs while most of those who get jobs are underemployed. This coupled with the global financial crisis in which massive numbers of employees are being laid off; entrepreneurship is seen as an essential key if we want our country to achieve its ambition of being an industrialized nation by the year 2020.

* Unfriendly Business Climate

Being an entrepreneur in Nigeria requires great determination as practicing and potential business owners are faced with countless challenges. Nigerian's business climate should be made welcoming to those in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The role played by these MSMEs should not be underestimated since majority of the thriving businesses fall in this category and for us to achieve our goals, adequate attention and support must be directed towards these institutions. To be able to help and protect entrepreneurs, we must first have a clear idea of the challenges facing our entrepreneurs in their pursuit of making Nigeria a prosperous country.

* Lack of Credit Facilities

Potential Nigeria entrepreneurs go through many hardships when trying to access credit for their businesses. Though there is a wide range of financial institutions that offer business loans, they usually charge high interest rates deterring aspiring entrepreneurs. For instance, major banks have pegged their lending rates to as much a 28% deterring potential entrepreneurs who are mostly low income earners. Other obstacles faced by our entrepreneurs include severe collateral conditions set by banks and other lending institutions. Though our government through the Central Bank and the Banker's Committee came up with guidelines requiring banks to set aside 10% of their profits for funding MSMEs, majority of these banks have been reluctant to do so. This has led to the emergence of micro-finance institutions which though helpful are not sufficient for meeting the financial requirements.

* Multiple Taxation

One other sensitive challenge that is encountered by majority of Nigerian entrepreneurs is multiple taxation. Although we have a responsibility of funding the government through paying taxes, most of the taxes charged on entrepreneurs are not lawful and have the effect of increasing the cost of doing business. Although Nigeria's Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) has approved only 39 taxes and levies, there are over 500 various levies and taxes that are imposed by state and local government agents. These taxes are questionable and in the case where they are genuine, they are mostly duplicated and this has the effect of increasing the cost of doing business.

* Poor State of the Country's Infrastructure

The state of our infrastructure can be deemed to be a nightmare to both entrepreneurs and the rest of the country's population. With the existing infrastructure deteriorating and in some places it is non-existent; the cost of doing business has tremendously gone up. The state of the country's road network makes it hard for entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector to transport harvested produce from farms to processing factories. According to a report released by the World Bank, Nigeria's pace of socioeconomic development and growth is way below what we can achieve. This is mostly because of the erratic supply of electricity which has negatively affected many businesses. The outcome of power problems has prompted entrepreneurs to generate power through expensive ways that have in turn increased their production costs and made their products uncompetitive due to high prices. Our government should put policies in place to perk up Nigeria's infrastructure so as to promote successful entrepreneurship.

* Failure to Adapt to the Changing Business Environment

Majority of those who venture into MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) do so because of their need to make money and in almost all cases, such entrepreneurs lack relevant and adequate information about the businesses they engage in. In the event where problems arise, most of these business owners lack sufficient problem solving skills and in the end they find it hard to survive. With the telecommunications sector having grown by about 206.5 % between 2002 and 2004 and is continually expanding, Nigeria has become one of the fastest growing ICT market not only in Africa but also worldwide. This presents a challenge to entrepreneurs who have not embraced technology, and who are now finding it hard to remain relevant in the competitive business environment. For existing and potential MSMEs to survive and be relevant, we must adapt to the changing business environment and embrace technology.

* Addressing the Challenges

Solving the problems encountered requires a combined effort by both the entrepreneur and all concerned stakeholders. As Small and medium business owners, we need to increase our knowledge and skills of the market by acquiring relevant and up to date education particularly in your area of business. Our entrepreneurs need to collect information about their target market by seeking help from consultants and professionals who have experience in the particular market.

[sageglobalresponse]

Nigeria: Entrepreneur grows farming business into chocolate and plantain flour producer

Nobert Okafor, CEO of Noberto Group, with the chocolates his company produces.

Selling has been in Nobert Okafor’s blood since he was seven years old. At the time, he would spend Christmas and holidays with his grandmother who grew bananas at her compound in the village of Nimo in Anambra state, Nigeria. She would give the harvest to young Okafor, with the instruction to go make some sales.

“I would start in front of her house and when the demand dwindled, I moved the location to the front of my father’s compound. It was along a busier road,” he remembers. “When that didn’t result in sold-out stock, I went to the village market.” Following the demand worked and Okafor would receive praise from his grandmother when he returned having sold all the bananas.

Jump forward three decades and today Okafor (37) is the CEO of the Noberto Group, with its subsidiaries Nobleman Industries, Joofid Construction Company, Noberto Farms and the latest addition, Noberto Renewable Energy. He is still actively chasing sales but has added plantain and cocoa to the bananas, as well as the products processed from these crops.

First comes production, then processing

Okafor was making preparations to travel for further studies in either the UK or US when his father passed away in 2004. He had to cancel his plans so as to take over the family business. His father had established an equipment business, building Caterpillar heavy machinery from scrap and spare parts for rental to construction contractors. When construction clients were in short supply during the rainy season, the family would work a small patch of land, using a tractor they owned.

“That was my first experience with mechanisation and its impact on farming when I had to help my father as a teenager,” he recalls. From 2004 to 2010, he ran the family business and a few side hustles. Any profit was stowed away for his future entrepreneurial plans, which focused on agriculture.

In 2010, Okafor founded the first company in the group, Nobleman Industries and acquired 500 hectares of land in the Nigerian state of Cross River. He established a cocoa tree nursery and transplanted the trees onto 100 hectares. Plantain trees were interspersed between the cocoa trees to provide additional moisture during the dry season.

The Noberto Group supplied the cocoa harvest to the merchants who then sold it on to the exporters.

Okafor immediately saw a challenge that needed to be addressed. The fluctuation in the price that raw cocoa beans were fetching on the open market was less than ideal and he decided diversification further up the value chain would help the business.

He began testing his own chocolate recipe in his garage, grinding the cocoa beans by hand and adding sugar and milk until he was happy with the taste. Friends received the chocolate to sample and soon encouraged Okafor to produce on a larger scale so they could buy.

Slowly, he divested some of the inherited land assets from his father as well as heavy construction equipment and scrap. Bit by bit, the company acquired the machinery needed for cocoa processing from the US and by 2015, Okafor had raised enough capital to set up a processing facility in nearby Enugu state on land his father had previously procured.

In addition to making chocolates, Noberto Group also produces gluten-free flour from plantain.

The first branded chocolates landed in the market that year. At the same time, it started processing gluten-free flour from the plantain on its farm. Noberto Group worked hard to get its products onto the shelves of retailers, gaining traction steadily over time.

In 2018, the group added 30 hectares of land in the Uzo-Uwani local government, near the town of Adani, about two hours from its factory.

When the cocoa is harvested from either of the locations, it has to be fermented for five days and dried for another four, before being bagged and transported to the factory. Once there, the final sorting of the beans is done by hand and they are roasted. The roasted beans are cracked and winnowed (the process of removing the outer shell of the cocoa bean). Some of the meat from the cocoa bean is then processed into cocoa cake and butter used for cocoa by-products or combined with milk and sugar to make milk chocolate. The rest is ground and used to produce dark chocolate or cocoa powder.

The finished chocolate bars and candies are still hand-wrapped but Okafor hopes to soon mechanise this.

Diverse products for the local market and beyond

For now, the Noberto Group is focused on expanding its presence in the Nigerian market. Its chocolate products are available in local supermarkets and pharmacies in seven states while the cocoa powder, plantain flour and banana powder are sold directly to bakeries. The cocoa butter is bought by producers of body lotion.

The group does its own distribution within Enugu State, but outside these borders, it has distributors that buy directly from it and supply to supermarkets.

Exports are not entirely off the table. Okafor believes there is a global market for plantain flour, with demand coming from African expats and consumers looking for a gluten-free option. “We are working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council on export opportunities,” he says.

For the chocolate products, the group is looking at the regional market and possibly Asia. “We don’t really see a market in Europe for our finished chocolate products. Perhaps the cocoa by-products that we produce, like cocoa butter, could find a market there.”

Accelerated growth planned

Noberto’s current processing capacity is 10 tonnes of cocoa a month. Keeping growth slow and steady in the beginning, was deliberate, according to Okafor, as he wanted to test the product offering with the perfect recipe for local tastes before pursuing growth in all earnest.

“We now have seven recipes for chocolate candies that our people like and can now look at making bigger investments and finding equity partners.”

On top of the capacity for cocoa, the group can process five tonnes of plantain a month into flour and three tonnes of bananas into powder.

At its premises in Enugu, the company is now raising cattle. The medium-term goal is to substitute all procured milk needed for the processing of chocolate with its own milk. To this end, it is artificially inseminating the cows to build the herd.

“The processing has differentiated us from other cocoa producers in the area,” says Okafor. “The moment we went into processing, it gave our business a new face, an edge.”

[severetacoartisan]

Twin-Tip Marker Pens Business, Trade, Revenue, Profit and Loss 2021-2028

Due to the high popularity of this product/service in North America and Asia, the growth trend of Twin-Tip Marker Pens in recent years and the growth of consumers' demand is expected to drive the global Twin-Tip Marker Pens market.

Geographically, the global Twin-Tip Marker Pens market is divided into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa. North America, Asia and Europe have significant position in the this market, big players operating in there. The U.S. is accounting for a major share of the total Twin-Tip Marker Pens market in North America.

Also Read: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/june-2021-report-on-global-small-molecule-api-market-overview-size-share-and-trends-2015-2026-2021-06-02

Significant participants active in the global Twin-Tip Marker Pens market include: Calvin Klein, Emporio Armani, ExOfficio, SmartWool, Fruit of the Loom, Champion, Alfani, PatagoniaAdidas, L.L.Bean, Hanes, Jockey, Under Armour...

Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market Segmentation:

Twin-Tip Marker Pens market, by Twin-Tip Marker Pens type: Twin-Tip Marker Pens Tops Twin-Tip Marker Pens Bottoms Twin-Tip Marker Pens Sets …

Twin-Tip Marker Pens market, by Application: Kids Women Men …

Also Read: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/auto-injectors-market-research-report-with-size-share-value-cagr-outlook-analysis-latest-updates-data-and-news-2021-2028-2021-06-22

Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market Research Report 2014-2026, by region: North America The U.S. Canada

Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina

Also Read: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/termite-drug-market-research-report-with-size-share-value-cagr-outlook-analysis-latest-updates-data-and-news-2021-2028-2021-06-21

Pan Asia Pacific China Japan South Korea South East Asia Region India Australia

Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Qatar Egypt Nigeria South Africa Rest of MEA

The database is running updated by a group of research experts to always reflect the latest trends and information.

Also Read: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lifsi-for-lithium-battery-electrolyte-cas-171611-11-3-market-size-share-value-and-competitive-landscape-2021-2026-2021-06-23

List OF CONTENTS AND TABLES:

1 Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market - Research Scope

1.1 Study Goals

1.2 Market Definition and Scope

1.3 Key Market Segments

1.4 Study and Forecasting Years

 2 Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market - Research Methodology

2.1 Methodology

2.2 Research Data Source

2.2.1 Secondary Data

2.2.2 Primary Data

2.2.3 Market Size Estimation

2.2.4 Legal Disclaimer

 3 Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market Forces

3.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market Size

3.2 Top Impacting Factors (PESTEL Analysis)

3.2.1 Political Factors

3.2.2 Economic Factors

3.2.3 Social Factors

3.2.4 Technological Factors

3.2.5 Environmental Factors

3.2.6 Legal Factors

3.3 Industry Trend Analysis

3.4 Industry Trends Under COVID-19

3.4.1 Risk Assessment on COVID-19

3.4.2 Assessment of the Overall Impact of COVID-19 on the Industry

3.4.3 Pre COVID-19 and Post COVID-19 Market Scenario

3.5 Industry Risk Assessment

 4 Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market - By Geography

4.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market Value and Market Share by Regions

4.1.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Value ($) by Region (2015-2020)

4.1.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Value Market Share by Regions (2015-2020)

4.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market Production and Market Share by Major Countries

4.2.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Production by Major Countries (2015-2020)

4.2.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Production Market Share by Major Countries (2015-2020)

4.3 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market Consumption and Market Share by Regions

4.3.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption by Regions (2015-2020)

4.3.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption Market Share by Regions (2015-2020)

Also Read: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cold-plasma-solution-market-research-report-with-size-share-value-cagr-outlook-analysis-latest-updates-data-and-news-2021-2028-2021-06-24

5 Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market - By Trade Statistics

5.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Export and Import

5.2 United States Twin-Tip Marker Pens Export and Import (2015-2020)

5.3 Europe Twin-Tip Marker Pens Export and Import (2015-2020)

5.4 China Twin-Tip Marker Pens Export and Import (2015-2020)

5.5 Japan Twin-Tip Marker Pens Export and Import (2015-2020)

5.6 India Twin-Tip Marker Pens Export and Import (2015-2020)

5.7 ...

 6 Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market - By Type

6.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Production and Market Share by Types (2015-2020)

6.1.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Production by Types (2015-2020)

6.1.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Production Market Share by Types (2015-2020)

6.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Value and Market Share by Types (2015-2020)

6.2.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Value by Types (2015-2020)

6.2.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Value Market Share by Types (2015-2020)

6.3 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Production, Price and Growth Rate of Synthetic/Chemical API (2015-2020)

6.4 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Production, Price and Growth Rate of Biological API (2015-2020)

 7 Twin-Tip Marker Pens Market - By Application

7.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption and Market Share by Applications (2015-2020)

7.1.1 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption by Applications (2015-2020)

7.1.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption Market Share by Applications (2015-2020)

7.2 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption and Growth Rate of Cardiovascular (2015-2020)

7.3 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption and Growth Rate of Oncology (2015-2020)

7.4 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption and Growth Rate of Diabetes (2015-2020)

7.5 Global Twin-Tip Marker Pens Consumption and Growth Rate of Immunological disorders (2015-2020)

….….continued

CONTACT DETAILS :

sales@wiseguyreports.com

+44 203 500 2763

+1 62 825 80070

971 0503084105

[capsicletho]

I Can’t Make You Love Me

…if you don’t. You can’t make your heart feel something that it won’t.

a Tony Stark series; author: @stvrktony | chapter 11

trigger: -

warning: civil war spoilers if you haven’t watched any (but if you haven’t watched it, wHAT HAVE U BEEN DOING MAN?) and um, reader is on Team Iron Man (obvi because she’s dating him)

word count: 2.8k

summary: Reader and Tony found comfort in each other while they were trying to mend their own broken hearts.

a/n: here we go with another installment! this one is exciting and a tiny bit boring at the same time ngl hahaha. i would love any feedback you all have on this or the previous chapters (which you can find below if you’ve missed some!). you can comment them on the posts, send me an ask, or even an instant message!

masterlist | ICMYLM masterlist | previous chapter

(Y/L/N): your last name (Y/F/N): your dad’s name

You and Tony were moving so fast into things that the two of you didn’t even bother stopping or slowing down anymore. The next day after you woke up, the two of you went on an official date, spending more time talking about deep things and as the night grows, it gets deeper and deeper.

Tony talked about his past; the fantastic life he lived where he was once the most notorious ladies’ man, when he used to gamble and splurge with no care in the world (although he still does that sometimes), when he used to care only about himself to the time he was kidnapped in Afghanistan and how he was still getting nightmares about that and how he felt like he failed for not being able to save Yin Sen and about Ultron, and about New York, and about every single mistake he made in the past. He told you about his  parents; how his father treated him and how much he loved his mother and how their death left a deep scar that seemed impossible to fill; he even talked about his relationship with Pepper, and even told you about how much he truly loved Pepper––but after everything, it turns out that they were not as compatible as he thought.

After Pepper, the only thing he thought he should do was go back to his old ways. But then you were there; your heartbreak was what somewhat saved him from going back to being the old Playboy Tony. So he focused all his attention on you, and that was when he found out––in such a short time––that although he loved Pepper once, he knew what being so compatible and in tune with someone feels like when he met you. It was like you fit into the puzzle pieces of his life so seamlessly and effortlessly.

In turn, you told him about your life. About why you chose to be a lawyer; it was to defend those who were defenseless and so that was why you preferred representing those who had weaker power like the wife who was tricked by her ex-husband and almost lose all of her asset, or the ex-secretary that was sexually assaulted by her boss, or whoever was facing injustice against stronger power. That was the kind of case you always worked hard for.

You also talked about your family; how your father was the United States’ Permanent Representative for the United Nations. You talked about what a happy childhood you had with your parents, even if your parents were both busy people––they still made time to make sure you didn’t grow up with any of them missing out. Your family was a stark contrast to Tony’s, and that was why you couldn’t help but also feel hurt knowing how he was always treated the way he doesn’t deserve.

(time jump, pretend new years party have already happened and this is a few months after)

“I made a code for you,” he said.

“Huh?”

“A code. Gives you unlimited access to everything; well, maybe for a few things, but you probably have the next highest authorization around here next to me and FRIDAY. And Rhodey,” he shrugged.

“You don’t think it’s too soon for that?” You asked as you leaned on the workbench, opposite to where he was.

“We’re moving in lightning speed anyway,” he smiled. You smiled back and then leaned forward a little bit, and Tony knew quickly what you want. He leaned in too, giving you a light kiss.

“Breakfast?” You asked.

“Yeah.” But he didn’t move, maybe he thought you were gonna bring it to him. So you rounded the table and pulled him to his feet.

“No, no, no, no” he said. “I need to make sure this is ready for the MIT speech,” he said.

“It is ready. It’s been ready for weeks now,” you assured him. He smirked a little and then gave in and got up to have breakfast with you.

You were slicing up your pancake when Tony asked. “Come with me?”

“Are you sure?” You stopped instantly and asked.

“Yeah, why not?” He asked.

“Alright,” you agreed.

After breakfast the two of you got ready and then went to MIT, unsurprisingly greeted by many paparazzi and met with a lot of stares from people as Tony placed a hand on your back to guide you into the building. The liaison officer from MIT greeted the two of you, and already you raised an eyebrow at his enthusiasm, chattering away to Tony who had already rolled his eyes, while you can only hold back your laugh.

The two of you stayed backstage as the setup on stage turned into real-life looking living room when the BARF technology was turned on. In front of you, a woman played a piano as she sang. She was absolutely beautiful and elegant. Blonde hair and a string of pearl necklace decorated her neckline. The scene continue to unfold in front of you until you saw Tony, but he was way younger than the Tony standing next to you right now.

Tony disappeared from beside you to the stage, starting his speech. The scene with his parents you just saw seem to touch you deeper than it does anyone in the auditorium, because you knew how painful all of that actually was to Tony. Your thoughts were disturbed by the loud cheer coming from the audience after they found out that their projects would be approved and funded by Tony Stark himself. You shook your head in awe and clapped as well as your gaze was directed to Tony, having no idea that it was a generous donation he was going to make. Suddenly you saw him froze as he stared ahead to the teleprompter and you tilted your head towards him as well and saw Pepper’s name there. You turned your eyes back to Tony to see his expression, but it seemed as though he collected himself pretty quickly and ended his speech.

“Restroom’s this way?” Tony asked the same liaison officer who was still pestering him. He guided you towards the exit of the auditorium; you knew well Tony didn’t have to ask that, after all he was a student at MIT, and it would be unlike Tony to forget where to go.

“Actually, I’m really going to go to the restroom,” you told him with a small chuckle as soon as you saw the restroom a few feet away from the elevator where the two of you are headed.

“Alright,” he said, letting your hand go.

After you used the restroom, you went to the sink to wash your hand and ran your fingers through your hair and finally exited to see Tony conversing with a woman. From the woman’s facial expression, you could see that it was a tense conversation. The woman took a glance at you, gave a last look to Tony and left.

You approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey,” you said. “Who was that?” You asked.

He blinked out of it and shook his head, “Huge fan,” he shrugged and then the elevator arrived. The two of you exited the elevator and walked towards the lobby where Happy is already waiting with the car. That’s when Tony received the phone call.

"Do you mind if we go to the facility for a bit?” He asked soon after the call ended.

“Not at all,” you replied. “Everything alright?” You asked.

Instead of answering, Tony handed his StarkPhone to you and there, you read a news about how the Avengers was just in Nigeria trying to catch a group of mercenaries when Wanda blew up a hotel unintentionally after losing control of her own power.

“Oh my God,” you muttered, reading on.

Secretary Ross was already at the facility when the two of you arrived; so that’s who Tony was calling.

“Stark,” he greeted him, and then turned his gaze towards you. You felt Tony grip your hand a bit tighter; he was trying to send a little gesture as if to brace you for any snide comment Ross was going to have.

“Ah, Ms. (Y/L/N). (Y/F/N)’s little girl, right?” he offered his hand for you to shake.

“Secretary Ross,” you shook his hand. You looked him in the eye as he looked to you, Tony, and back. Meanwhile Tony just raised an eyebrow as he looked at you and Ross, a bit surprised that the two of you already knew each other when he was just about to introduce the two of you.

All of you walked in and immediately headed for the meeting room where the Avengers had already gathered. They all took a seat as Secretary Ross took center stage, you caught Steve looking at you and the way Tony’s hand was casually holding yours.

Steve was actively wondering why is it that you were with Tony on weekdays instead of going to work, when all the time you were dating Steve, you had to go to work every morning and coming home late to work on a case, and it even takes up your weekends sometimes.

The answer to that would be because when you were with Steve, he had always went away to find Bucky and so you used all those times while Steve was away for lengthy periods of time to do work so that you wouldn’t come home just doing nothing and waiting for him. And now, Tony had decided to hire you as his personal lawyer; and although you were hesitant at first, because you were set on your previous goal on defending the defenseless, you decided to take it anyway. Being the head of legal to the entire Stark Industry.

You and Tony sat at the back of the room while the entire Avengers sat around the meeting room. As Secretary Ross began his speech and showed the team what they have done to several cities––highlighting the damages they’ve caused including the recent one in Lagos, you began to understand.

“Is this about the accords?” You whispered to Tony. Of course you knew about the accords; you have for a while now. Your dad––who knew about your relationship with Tony––had warned you about it, and Tony had finally told you about it too.

Tony nodded in reply, and instead of paying attention to what Ross said, he was looking at his hands. He knew this was a hard subject to bring up to the Avengers, and that’s why he had been holding it off for weeks.

You continued to watch as the Avengers exchanged their thoughts on it. After Secretary Ross, it seems as though the entire room was still unmoved.

Tony start to stand up, and so did you.

“Leaving?” Steve asked.

“I need coffee,” Tony muttered and he went to the kitchen, followed by you, and then Rhodey and slowly the rest of the Avengers started to follow the two of you to the kitchen.

All of you sat, but instead of making his coffee Tony was sitting down on the chaise lounge with his hand covering his eyes. You picked a seat near him, next to Natasha.

You were silent as everyone bickered about the accords, but you weren’t actively paying attention to them but you did as soon as Vision spoke up. He was incredibly intelligent, and you couldn’t help but to agree with him.

“Tony, you’re being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal,” Nat said.

“It’s because he’s already made up his mind,” Steve butted in.

“Boy, you know me so well,” Tony groaned as he sat up. He went on to finally make his coffee when he placed his phone on the bowl and tapped the screen, pulling up a photo of a smiling young man. You looked at Tony in confusion, and apparently so did the rest of the Avengers.

“Oh, that’s Charles Spencer, by the way. He’s a great kid. Computer Engineering degree, 3.6 GPA, had a floor-level gig at Intel planned for the fall. But first he wanted to put a few miles on his soul before he parked it behind a desk; see the world, maybe be of service. Charles didn’t wanna go to Vegas or Fort Lauderdale––which is what I would do. He didn’t go to Paris or Amsterdam––which sounds fun,” Tony paused.

“He decided to spend his summer building sustainable housing for the poor, guess where? Sokovia.” Tony emphasized as he open the bottle full of aspirin. He paused again and you sucked in a breath.

“He wanted to make a difference, I suppose, we won’t know because we dropped a building on him while we’re kicking ass.”

Everyone was silent. Tony continued on, saying that the Avengers would be no better than the bad guys if they are boundary-less.

“Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don’t give up,” Steve said.

“Who says we’re giving up?” Tony retaliated.

“We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blame,” he said.

You scoffed at the same time Rhodey said, “I’m sorry, Steve, but that is dangerously arrogant.”

“Steve, you can’t just say that,” you began. “This is not a matter of doing what’s good for people anymore, this is a matter between states. The majority of you guys are U.S. citizens. Even governments aren’t allowed to directly disturb another government’s actions, what makes you think you’re allowed to do that? We have no jurisdiction past the U.S. borders. I’m sorry, but most of you are forgetting who you really are; you’re American citizens––you’re not part of the government, you don’t get diplomatic immunity, you don’t have that special right. Every normal citizen needs a visa and a passport when they leave the borders, and you guys have been aboard the Quinjet all this time carrying destructive weapons. What makes you think that is okay?”

“You’re saying we need permission to save people?” Steve asked, his eyes sharp and but a tinge of disappointment was there. Never in a million years that he thought the two of you were going to be on opposing sides.

“Yes!” You emphasized. “I get that you guys want to do good and help people; I really get it. If a mission is proved to be successful with minimal destruction people would adore you––but that is only the people. Their feelings are subjective––because they automatically change when you make a mistake––and so is your view on what’s good for a country, moreover a country that is not your own. The problem right now, is not about what good you want to do for people, but it’s about winning their trust back. You’re not seen as heroes right now, not even as vigilantes, but you’re seen as the bad guys. At the end of the day, after you finished saving people from some bad guys, you are not going to feel the full impact of the aftermath.” You feel bad for saying this especially because of what just happened to Wanda, but it is a truth they need to hear.

“Maybe you’ll feel remorse and regret, but you are not going to know what it’s like to rebuild your house from nothing. You’re not going to know what it feels like when you lose someone you love in the fire. You’re not the ones experiencing new job hunting and trips to therapy to help with your nightmares. What form of responsibility is going to help that, Steve? Damage Control might help with rebuilding and funding, but what about those people you say you care about? What form of responsibility will solve that?”

“This is the United Nations we’re talking about. It’s not World Security Council, it’s not SHIELD, it’s not HYDRA...” as Rhodey spoke, your phone chimed and you stood up, moving to the corner of the room to take the phone call.

When you turned around, you saw Steve leaving. Instead of returning back to your seat, you quietly followed Steve only to see him stop on the stairs, ducking his head. You took a few steps down and stood one step above where he was.

“What is it?” You asked, noticing how his other hand was holding onto his phone. You took it from him and read the text message. You felt a pang in your heart––although not quite certain what that feeling was about. “I’m sorry,” you whispered.

Steve didn’t respond. Instead he just ducked his head even deeper as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Hey,” you whispered, touching his shoulder and then pulling him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around you tight as he began to sob. This was definitely a first time; you have never seen him cry like this before, and it was strange to you, but you did your best to comfort him as the two of you stood there on the steps of the facility.

TAG LIST

@thevanishedillusion​ @welcometomyworldwithoutrules​ @plan3tmadison​ @tonystarkismydaddy​ @poemfreak306​ @memyselfandandrea @jenniseiblack @sophiatomlinson23