Stories That Touch: "How I studied in Canada as an orphan"

How long have you been in Canada?

I came to Canada as an undergraduate in 2012 and got my PR three years later.

Wow! That’s a decade.

Yes!

How has staying in Canada been?

It’s been great.

I have enjoyed building my career and growing my family here. The exposure and opportunities are endless.

Did you always know you were going to study abroad?

I grew up as an only child who had financially comfortable parents. My dad worked at an oil and gas firm while my mum worked as a dentist in a private hospital. We usually spent our family holidays outside Nigeria. My parents wanted me to have my primary and secondary school education in Nigeria to understand our culture. In my mum’s words, I had to become a proper Naija boy. We, however, always spoke about the family relocating after my secondary school.

Soft Life!

*laughs.

I have my parents to thank. They took care of me even in death.

I was going to address that but I didn’t want to be too direct. Are you okay with me asking how it happened?

It’s fine.

I have made peace with it. My parents died in a car accident back from a wedding. They were travelling back to Lagos from Ibadan. I still believe they could have survived if we had fast and reliable healthcare in Nigeria. It’s one of the reasons I knew I had to leave.

So sorry to hear that, but how were you able to even after their death?

I was already done with secondary school and had gotten admission to study in Canada when the accident.

I had to defer cause I wasn’t emotionally stable.

During this period, I got a call from an Insurance company informing me that my parents had opened an education plan right from when I was born. When the firm’s representative told me how much I had as a claim, I couldn’t believe it.

Why did that shock you? I would have expected that your parents left you with enough.

Sadly, they didn’t have a will. Hence, my dad’s family members took advantage of this and took everything. I was living with my mum’s younger sister when I got the news. It was just perfect timing. I was already planning to apply to a school in Nigeria cause I could no longer afford to study in Canada.

Talk about planning for the unforeseen, it feels like your parents saw the future.

Yes, I could say that myself. I’m grateful for how they were intentional about planning for my future. I have extended the same to my children. I set up an education insurance plan for all of them.

That’s nice! Thank you for talking with us.

Stories That Touch: "How I missed out on going to my dream school"

What was growing up like?

I am an only child, and I attended a private primary and secondary school. My dad worked at a Telecom company and mum is a lab scientist. Hence, we lived well above average. When I was 9, my father was diagnosed with Lung cancer. He died shortly after. After he died, I also spent some time with my uncle at Ikorodu, where I had lots of friends to play with, and it was fun.

Sorry about your dad, how did your dad’s death change things?

Well, it was just my mum and I so we were able to survive with her salary. That was until she had an emotional breakdown which made her lose her job. This was when things got really messy. It affected me as well as I started to lose focus in school. I remember I was preparing to write my common entrance exam.

That’s really sad to hear. How did you survive?

A few months after she lost her job, things went really bad. She had exhausted her little savings and family members started to withdraw. We moved out of our 2-room apartment to rent a self-contained room.

When I was in SS1, my mum took me to my uncle’s place at Ikorodu to start living there. I finished secondary school at my uncle’s place. I gained admission into a German University to study computer science but I lost the opportunity.

How?

Well, even though I had a scholarship. We couldn’t afford the travel expenses.

So were you away from your mum throughout your stay at Ikorodu?

No, she came to visit me from time to time. I always missed her. I visited her once in a while too.

So were you away from your mum throughout your stay at Ikorodu?

No, she came to visit me from time to time. I always missed her. I visited her once in a while too.

How do you think she managed without you?

She always tried to convince me that she was fine whenever she came around but I could see she wasn’t.

She was able to set up a small lab with the help of her siblings and that helped us a bit. I went back to stay with her to help with the lab while preparing for university.

Which university is that?

I got admission to study Mathematics at Obafemi Awolowo University and graduated in 2016. I attended a free coding training session in school and that’s how I started coding.

Interesting! I love that you jumped on the opportunity. So, why tech?

Well, I’ve also been fascinated with computers. My uncle was a Computer Engineer and while I was at his place; he noticed my interest in computers. This was why he advised me to study Computer Science in university. He’d always say that computers will make me more relevant in the future.

Nice, did they really make you more relevant?

When I was in my final year, which was 4 years of learning how to write code and working for free. I got my first freelance job as a Front-End Website Developer. The company paid me N145, 000. I thought I was dreaming. I still clearly remember calling my mum to tell her the good news. I also sent her my first salary.

Now that I look back at it, that job was my breakthrough into the industry. The client liked my work and from there I got referrals, built a strong portfolio. By the time I was serving, I was already working with a Fintech company. Safe to say I was a Lagos Big-boy.

Oshey! Tech bro. Share this money now.

What would you say is the greatest lesson you’ve learnt in life?

I think I’d draw my biggest lesson from my parents’ life. When life is rosy, always prepare for the rainy days cause life is full of surprises. I don’t think anybody would have guessed that my dad would leave us so soon. I know he loved for me to go to Germany to study Computer Science.

I’m inputting these lessons into how I raise my family which is why I already know I’m getting a Child Educare plan for my children immediately after they are born. It’s really never too early to plan for your child’s future.

Stories That Touch: “ Losing my job ended my dreams of relocation”

Tell us a bit about your childhood

I was a very inquisitive child and luckily for me my parents encouraged it. As the last born, I got a lot of attention and that meant whatever I wanted I got. So I had lots of toys and I remember dismantling them all in the name of trying to find out how they were built. My siblings would be furious especially when it was a gift from them but then my mum would always cover for me saying I was going to be an Engineer. Hence, they should let me be. To be fair, I did manage to assemble most of the toys I dismantled, plus I remember fixing my dad’s radio at age 11.

How many siblings do you have?

I have 2 siblings. Two elder sisters, actually.

Nice! What else were you interested in?

Books!!! I loved reading. I think I was influenced by my environment. My dad studied Literature and he loved reading as well, my sisters also loved reading. We had a library filled with old books and he always encouraged us to read. As far back as primary school, I had read Pride and Prejudice. Even Though, I didn’t fully comprehend it. I always enjoyed traveling to new places through books. I knew I wanted to live abroad when I was older.

You’re one of the few people who actually practiced their childhood ambition. How did that happen?

Well, I think my parents played a huge role in this. Although, we were of the middle class, they ensured I never lacked anything when it came to my education. I remember falling behind in Math in secondary school. I had two lesson tutors, one at school during break and then one at home after school and during the weekends. They were really invested in my education. I think it also helped that my nickname was Engineer. I put in so much effort into my admissions exams that I was really surprised when my name was on the Merit list of Mechanical Engineering courses.

How did school go?

School was good to me. I have always been invested in my books and my lecturers seem to take a liking to that. Hence, it was easy for me to ask questions even outside classes. That really helped with my grades. I started topping my class in my second year and it stayed that way till I graduated.

Ahn ahn! You didn’t tell me I was talking to a genius.

*laughs. Please do. We’re all geniuses.

No o! You’re a First Class graduate. There are some levels to this. *laughs

It must have been easy to land a job. So tell me, how did you kick-start your career?

Well, to be honest it was. Remember, I said I was close to my lecturers. During the break before my 3rd year, one of my lecturers had gotten me an internship with a top multinational company. They were impressed with my output and every break I’d intern with them. Immediately after I graduated they sent me on a 3 months training course in Korea. It was an amazing opportunity for me, my parents were so proud.

I worked with them for 5 years before I got an offer I couldn’t resist on LinkedIn. It was for an oil and gas company.

God When! Should I say you had it easy.

Well, maybe then but certainly not now.

My plan was to work with the company for another 3 years, save up and then relocate to Canada.

But life had other plans, sometimes I wish I didn’t take the job but we can’t change the past.

Hmm! What changed your plans.

I got posted to Port Harcourt to work on some oil tanks. It was pretty exciting and the experience changed my career, not just in the way I had expected.

How so?!

In my second month, there was a technical mishap on the field as a result of an error from me. I was one of the few gravely affected and was in a coma for two months. When I woke up I realized I had lost both of my hands. It took me a long while to adjust to reality but what made it even worse was that I couldn’t go back to the job I loved so much.

That’s so sad. What did you do next?

At that point, I didn't really do much thinking. I moved back to my parents who were very supportive. I realized that my dream of relocating was going to be harder than I had imagined. I didn’t have so much savings from my previous job as I was living a Lagos big boy life.

I’m currently trying to adjust to living with no hands and trying to get prosthetic hands with the money allocated to me from the company.

Is there anything you wish you knew earlier?

Yes, I wish I didn’t take early success in life for granted. I would have been better prepared for anything life would have thrown at me. I mean I didn’t think anything could change my lifestyle.

I mean now, I know better. I recently spoke to an ex-colleague and told him to get an Income Protection plan from Enterprise Life so he can always have a backup to fund his dreams and lifestyle incase of any critical mishaps during the course of work.

I’ve also started saving with the Enterprise LifeTime Needs plan with the money I get from friends and family. My dreams of relocating are still valid; they may just take longer.

4 Bonding Activities for Newlyweds

Marriage is full of many ups and downs, adventures, and incredible memories with the person you love.

The awesome joy that comes with being newlywed is indescribable, finally together with the one you love, no limitations or restrictions, you can both finally do all that you had planned to do once married. But is that where it ends? What happens when you have ticked every item off the list?

Well, here are 4 bonding activities to try out:

1)Cooking:

This is a wonderful activity a couple can use to spend time with each other. It not only helps them to nourish themselves, but it also allows them some time to interact with each other. Cooking with your newly wedded wife or husband is so romantic in more ways than one; it also provides you with ample time to bond and let your love for each other grow deeper

2)Cleaning the house:

Just like cooking, cleaning the house is a chore that has the advantage of helping couples stay organized and neat while it also allows them time to interact with each other. It’s not just a repetitive process of getting rid of dirty dishes or dusting out the house, having fun with the chores and flirting with your partner. It adds more joy and brings you closer to yourselves.

3)Watching a movie:

Watching interesting programs on television is another fun way couples can relax and have a good time together. Some newlyweds make find it awkward or tense to talk romantically to their partner. Movies can make it easier and a lot more comfortable. It also helps couples prioritize time together to make a connection and open a little. It sometimes sheds some light on the vulnerability and romanticism of your partner.

4)Saving and investing:

The great marriages are partnerships. It can’t be a great marriage without being a partnership.

Saving and investing together is the perfect way to partner in marriage. As a comfortable family is a happy family and poor finance can lead to a drop in the joy and happiness of a new couple as they will be saddled with numerous expenses. When couples set futuristic goals together, they have something in common to look forward to and to work for. This not only makes them feel alive and happy, but it also reminds them that they are teammates in their relationship.

Marriages require endless love and intentionality to thrive. All of these activities will assist you and your spouse in bonding easily. Some of these activities may necessitate proximity and understanding before being attempt. So, have a conversation with your partner and then make a strategy together.

Financial Planning for Couples

Money can be one of the most difficult topics for couples. But no matter how uncomfortable it feels, financial planning has to be discussed. When couples move in together, there will likely be some income difference, not to mention debts that may be brought into the relationship. They will also have to budget for household expenditures and discuss long-term savings and retirement goals. A lot of factors must be considered when planning your lives together.

Couples need to talk about household logistics—who pays which bill, how you will reimburse each other, and how you will work towards shared goals. Ensure you sit down and discuss these logistics to ensure you both understand and agree on the plan and that all your bases are covered.

Once it’s decided who will pay which bills, automate the payments, so you’re never late, and your spouse never has to worry. In money matters, clarity is paramount. When you are saddled with a specific responsibility in the relationship, always endeavor to carry it out on time without the prompting of your partner.

Here are some awesome tips to get you going:

Have S.M.A.R.T goals

Specific— Be absolutely specific about what you want as it helps have a clear direction towards achieving it.

Measurable— Goals must be measurable as it gives a clearer meaning to the whole venture

Achievable— It must be something you can accomplish financially given your means.

Realistic—Even if the goals are useful and may seem good and necessary at the moment, are they achievable given your capacity or means?

Time-based—Your goals should always have a specific timeline, be it Long term or Short term so that we don’t lose track of the time it takes to complete them.

Use S.M.A.R.T. to test and, if necessary, adjust your financial planning goals.

Create a budget

Creating a budget with your spouse is one of those less discussed issues of being married. Working it out is a significant part of learning to be married, or getting better at it.

Steps for effective budgeting as a couple:

-Decide on your financial goals, both individually and as a couple.

- List all of your combined income sources and amounts.

-List out all of your joint household expenses.

-Estimate how much you will spend on each item.

-Identify your sources of income

-Set spending limits and saving expectations, find ways to fund the budget, and remember to stay hands-on so you can stick with it.

Know each other’s net income

40% of couples who live together don't know how much their spouse makes and even when asked most often give vague answers to the question. Knowing each other's income should be practical information and requirements before marriage to make sure you're not putting each other in a situation of unpredictability as some will make assumptions which might lead to some very sticky situations. So all in all relationships are all about trust, it is necessary to share important information with your spouse.

Another constructive solution for couples who are starting up their financial journeys together is to start saving with ENTERPRISE LIFE’S LIFETIME NEEDS PLAN. This plan helps with every savings goal you might have, from the smallest to the largest they have got you covered.

Start investing.

Investing in general requires a lot of work and commitment and when you add in relationships it can be a little bit tricky. As couples, finding the right kind of investment that works for you is not an easy task. · Understanding each other's investor persona will go a long way in maintaining the steady flow of the investment agenda · LIFE PLANNERS at ENTERPRISE LIFE are specifically trained to help with this.

5 Easy Steps to Secure your Child's Future

In a world filled with uncertainties, you should take thoughtful steps towards securing your child’s future with thoughtful planning.

Whether you’re a brand new parent, you’ve been a parent for a while or you’re just planning ahead. There are so many ways you can plan for your child to have a great life both in your care and as they grow and learn about the world around them.

Here are 5 easy steps to secure your child’s future

1) Invest in their education: Education is the best gift and legacy you can give a child. There is a need for proper financial planning of their educational needs as the future is unpredictable.

Enterprise Life’s Educare plan is a way to achieve this. It provides an avenue for parents to save and prepare towards the aforementioned growing cost of education whilst giving them some life cover which guarantees the child’s education.

2) Teach them financial literacy: As a parent you constantly look out for your child’s best interest whether it’s selecting a school, shopping for clothes or deciding what meals to make for them. You’re intentional about setting them on the rest path for success in life.

This is why you should ensure you teach your children good money habits such as saving, budgeting and investing early in life. This way, you set them on a path to becoming successful and financially free adults.

3)Avoid debts: When saddled with debts it is difficult to make wise financial decisions that benefit your children. You also do not want to leave them with a heavy burden for when life happens. It’s best to avoid unwarranted debts by taking proper inventory of one’s needs and wants.

The Life Planners at Enterprise Life are trained professionals who help with proper management of finances. They are your go-to personnel to live a financially free life.

4) Have a Will: What is a will? A will is a legal document that sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of your property and the care of any minor children.

A will is not just a piece of paper carrying out your last wishes. It’s the continuity of a legacy and it’s just right to do it the right way.

5) Get a Life Insurance Life: Life is full of the unexpected, so surprises are bound to happen. It is not uncommon for life to change as you know it in a blink of an eye. Unfortunately, many people do not prepare ahead and their loved ones suffer from this. A Life Insurance is simply the best way to ensure your family is well taken care of in case life happens. It is the best love letter written to a family.

So there you have it, life choices are often not easy to make as it requires a certain amount of consideration and deliberation. This is why you should ensure to seek the right people or personnel such as the Life Planners at Enterprise Life to help make those lasting decisions.

If you have a child or are expecting one soon, start planning for their future early. Invest in opportunities that will help in securing their future.

The sooner you start, the better.

How to teach your children financial freedom.

Financial freedom usually means having enough savings, financial investments, and cash on hand to afford the kind of life we desire for ourselves and our families. It means growing savings that enable us to retire or pursue the career we want without being driven by earning a certain salary each year. Financial freedom means our money is working for us rather than the other way around.

As a parent you constantly look out for your child’s best interest whether it’s selecting a school, shopping for clothes or deciding what meals to make for them. You’re intentional about setting them on the rest path for success in life.

This is why you should ensure you teach your children good money habits early in life. This way, you set them on a path to becoming successful and financially free adults. As early money habits go a long way in making wise financial decisions.

Here are 4 money habits to teach your kids-

Saving: It is important to teach your children that money isn’t just for spending, it can be saved as well. You can encourage them to save by explaining how saving helps accomplish goals. An example is encouraging your child to save for a toy. You can help your kid start saving by opening a LifeTime Needs plan at Enterprise Life.

Budgeting: To get your child comfortable with the idea of budgeting. Help your child understand the difference between what they want and what they need so they can prioritize how they spend their money. It’s essential your child knows that wants are least important, compared to needs.

Profit making: Teach your kids that money can grow. This way they set out early in life to build wealth through investing. One way to do this is through getting them books on investment.

Giving: If you value giving to others, you can instil that value in your children by making giving a habit for them from an early age. A key reason why it is important for you, as a parent, to teach your kids financial lessons is because you can share your money values through those lessons.

If you want your children to develop good spending and saving habits, they need to see you making smart spending and saving choices. In short, practice what you preach and preach with consistency.

Educating your children about personal finance is a process that can take time. But if you put in the effort and continuously communicate a clear message about money, you will instil good habits that will serve your children well.

4 ways to express love to your family

We find it very easy to say we love our families, but do we show them that we do. The love amongst families comes with its unique feelings, behaviours, challenges, and rewards. You must be intentional about finding ways to show and grow love in the family.

And guess what? Family isn’t just about blood relations, as friends become family.

It’s easy to get consumed with our busy schedules and dream chasing that we forget what’s important to us- FAMILY. You should also realize that there is no perfect time to show love to your family. It shouldn't be reserved for just holidays and grand gestures. It’s the little things we do and how we do them every day.

Here are 4 ways you can express love to your family all year ‘round.

1- Communicate daily- As simple as this sounds, many of us hardly find time to actively listen to our family members and friends. By taking an active interest in their lives whether it’s listening to details of their long day or just letting them vent. It could also be as simple as asking your parents about their new interests and hobbies or listening and talking to your children. It will help the family feel closer and develop a deeper emotional connection.

2- Show physical affection- Sometimes, all you need is a hug or smile to brighten up a person’s day whether it’s your parents, spouse or child. Being physically affectionate will also encourage the whole household to do the same. When kids see their parents being affectionate it shows what a loving relationship should look like.

3- Spend quality time together- The lack of quality time takes a toll on all kinds of relationships whether between couples, parents and their children, or siblings. Take time off and spend it performing bonding activities such as cooking together, going for walks, shopping etc.

4- Secure their future- The greatest love letter ever written to a family is a Life Insurance. By having a life insurance you’re making sure your family which includes your spouse, parent or children will be well taken care of in your absence. When you prepare for life's surprises it shows how deeply you care about your family’s well being. You can call a Life Planner on 0700 3683 777 473 to find a plan that works for you and your family.

Remember to not only show love to your family but to say it as well. Don’t expect your family members to know just because you think you are demonstrating it through your behaviour. People need to hear it, say the words, ‘I love you’ as often as you can. When you say ‘I love you’, it is the ultimate validation and confirmation of their feelings about your action. It is like an unwritten contract of affection between two people.