5 Skills Every Young Graduate Must Have

5 Skills Every Young Graduate Must Have

So you are fresh out of University and you are looking to land that dream job or you are about starting a business. We all know that there are a lot of young people out there who need jobs, i.e. the job market is saturated and so just in case you land that dream job of yours, you need to keep it and when you start your business, you need it to boom. So what are the skills you should not leave the university without as a graduate.

Communication skills: You need to be able to communicate and relate well with others in your organization. In as much as you do not want to be seen as a rude and unrelatable in the organization, you also want to be assertive so that you can stand your ground when need be. Also, if you are starting your business, you want to be able to communicate well with your clients as that would ensure that they come back.

A good appraisal of the legal system: This is very important, especially in Nigeria where we live. We have seen situations where the government just comes and closes down business spaces or worse-off demolishes them. A great example is 52 Rumens Road, Ikoyi. You don’t have to be a law expert, but just enough to understand the government of your day.

IT Knowledge: IT knowledge is very important now as most jobs require basic computer skills and even then, basic is slowly getting “old”. Nowadays, you have to be well equipped in this area, as every day, new innovations keep popping up. Technology is constantly on the move so you need to improve your IT skills daily!

Industry Knowledge: You should know the nitty-gritty of the industry of the company in which you work, even at your business, you should have enough knowledge to avoid surprises. The more you know about the company you work in, the more you will be able to excel at your job.

Project Management: As a young graduate, you are expected to have participated in capacities in which you managed different projects while you were in school. Therefore, you should be able to effectively manage projects and/or problems that may arise in the course of your job. You should be able to think outside the box, set goals, and work with team members on different project.

10 Wonderful health benefits of tiger nuts

10 Wonderful health benefits of tiger nuts

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Tiger nuts are one of nature’s super foods. They are high in fibre, highly nutritious and are believed to contain ingredients that can help prevent heart attacks and improve blood circulation. People in North Africa and Spain have been snacking on tiger nuts for centuries, so read on and find out ten of the amazing health benefits of tiger nuts.

1. They are very high in fibre

Tiger nuts are a very rich source of dietary fibre. Over 30% of a tiger nut is made of fibre and that’s more than oats, bran and most vegetables and fruits. We all need fibre to keep our digestive system in good working order, and it call also be an aid to weight loss, by making you feel fuller for longer.

2. They help to control blood pressure

Another one of wonderful health benefits of tiger nuts is that the nuts are high in amino acids, especially one called arginine, which has been shown to be beneficial to those suffering with high blood pressure. Arginine has been clinically proven to reduce blood pressure.

3. They are a good source of magnesium

Tiger nuts are a good natural source of magnesium, which is needed by the body to help with muscle and nerve function and for the proper functioning of the immune system. Magnesium also helps to regulate the heart beat and maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

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4. They are a rich source of protein

Protein is a vital ingredient used in the building of muscle, skin and bone, and tiger nits provide a rich source of protein. Tiger nuts are in fact one the best, non-meat, sources of protein that there is.

5. They help regulate blood sugar levels

Another one of great health benefits of tiger nuts is that they help regulate blood sugar levels. The insoluble fibre found in tiger nuts can be of great help to diabetics. Insoluble fibre is important to diabetics, because, unlike other carbohydrates, it does not cause peaks and troughs in the blood sugar levels.

6. Tiger nut milk can be used as a cow’s milk substitute

Tiger nut milk contains no lactose but plenty of calcium, so it makes a great alternative to cow’s milk, for people who are lactose intolerant.

7. Tiger nuts are a good source of Vitamin E

Tiger nuts are also a good source of the antioxidant, Vitamin E, which helps to protect against the damage caused by free radicals in the body. By protecting the body against free radicals, Vitamin E can help prevent both cancer and coronary diseases, as well as slow down the onset of the signs of ageing.

8. They contain the healthy fats

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Another one of health benefits of tiger nuts is the they contain the healthy oils that are very similar to olive oil. The oil extracted from tiger nuts consists of around 80% unsaturated fats and only 18% of the cholesterol causing saturated fat.

9. They are a good source of vitamins

Recent studies have found that tiger nuts are brimming with vitamins and minerals. They are a superb source of Vitamins C and E and the minerals, such as potassium and phosphorus. Some yoghurt is now being made with added tiger nut milk, to boost their nutritional content.

10. Tiger nuts are so nutritious; they are being used to fight malnutrition

Tiger nuts are so packed with nutritional goodness that they are being considered as an alternative staple food in some developing countries. A study in Egypt found that tiger nuts are more nutritious and less expensive, than some other staple foods.

Do you know other health benefits of tiger nuts?

Stay happy and healthy!

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9 Ways To Improve Safety Performance In Your Organization

9 Ways To Improve Safety Performance In Your Organization

1. Leadership Commitment
I have worked with many organizations and figured out that the most important element in safety is the commitment from top leadership, without leadership’s commitment, no organization can achieve the level of safety they desire for. It gives employees a sense of responsibility when they see their leader preaching and practicing safety in every aspect of business.
In any organization, it is always the leadership who drives the cultural change by inspiring and influencing other employees with their actions and
Felt Leadership . Many leaders show their commitment but gets in conflict when rest of the employees see their actions and words are not aligned, in simple words, they do not walk the talk.


2. Understand your employee’s Mindset & Behavior.
Many organizations have safety improvement initiatives in place that helps them monitor their employee’s safe and unsafe acts; one way is to develop a behavior-based safety program. All these improvement initiatives will just turn useless if you don’t understand what is going on behind the brains of your employees,
why people do what they do? What drives their actions? What are their values, beliefs, and attitude? The answer to these questions lies in cognitive human psychology. The approach towards improving safety nowadays has stepped beyond behavior-based safety, organizations now conduct Values, Attitudes and Beliefs (VAB) study to understand their employees better and work it around. Each individual has his/her on values and beliefs, once you understand them; it will be much easier for you to connect with your employees. (Learned from DuPont)


3. Make your employees accountable for Safety.
Safety is not just leadership’s responsibility, it is everyone’s responsibility. Employees at all levels should understand their role in safety and participate in safety improvement initiatives. Leadership should hold employees accountable for non-performance or engaging in unsafe acts.
All employees must understand that the ultimate goal of implementing safety rules is to save lives, and at the end of the day it is beneficial to them, no one else. I have never in my career seen a person who tells me, tonight, I want to go home with a broken arm, which means people do understand that safety is good for their health but still needs someone to re-enforce rules.


4. Understand, analyze and eliminate risks involved in the process, technology and facility.
Many leaders ask me this question; our employees have the real sense of personal safety, why do they still get hurt? Well, if you’re employees are well-committed to personal safety but still getting hurt, than there must be something wrong with the process, technology, or the facility they operate in.
This is one area that can be addressed by a well-balanced Process Safety Management program. Many organizations just perform a HAZOP of PHA study and feels they have completed their compliance obligation. Process Safety is much broader than just HAZOP or PHA. It contains 14-elements that help organizations completely eliminate hazards from any operations, such as; PSSR, Mechanical Integrity, Incident Investigation, Emergency Response and Planning, Management of Change etc.


5. Too many improvement initiatives? Integrate them.
If you’re an organization with too many improvement initiatives, you might find your employees telling each other, I have too much on my plate and can’t focus at my ultimate role.
When an organization adopts different programs from different consulting firms, it sometimes creates confusion too, because all these programs carry different approaches towards safety. To align your approach with your vision, you need to integrate these approaches and develop one integrated system that allows employees to speak one language. All you need is one safety system that is aligned with organization's vision.


6. Have a well-trained incident investigation team.
I have seen many incident investigation reports, in many cases; the findings or root cause is way too far from the reality. Safety personnel need to understand the importance of the real and accurate findings, because these findings will eventually help the organization solve the real problem. Moreover, an incomplete or inaccurate report can lead us to a direction that has nothing to do with reality, and eventually waste of time.
In many cases, we perform the why-tree analysis , blame the employee and close the case. In my experience, if we dig a bit more, we will find the real problem. For example, an employee was rushing to finish his job before the end of the shift and got himself hurt on the machine. The team investigated and blamed the employee for the incident; however, no one noticed why was he actually rushing? Whereas his supervisor has given him a heavy production goal to achieve before the end of his shift and he was trying to achieve that goal. So, what was the root cause here?


7. Make use of technology; get a Safety Management System in place.
If an organization in today’s technological world tells me that they still use those old school Microsoft Excel data sheets to monitor and track their progress on safety, my advice to them will be to get a Safety Management System, it’s worth spending some cash for the value it provides. Your time worth millions that can be spent on other important activities rather entering data manually into excel sheets.
A Safety Management System can make your life easier in many ways, it helps you automate the whole process, all your safety policies and programs gets into one integrated system, your employees know where exactly they can find information they need, your leaders know what reports they need to look into, it helps you track progress in a timely manner and you don’t need to run over half a million files in your computer to look for one policy. It’s all there, just one click away.


8. Recognize and reward employees for their contribution to safety.
Ever wonder what a motivated employee can contribute to your organization? Recognizing and rewarding your employees is another key area that can lead to success. Many organizations turn strict on their employees for unsafe activities; some even get to the extent where they fire them. This will only create fear among them, and they will only follow rules because they are asked to, not because they want to. This is what distinguishes compliance from commitment.
What I have seen in organization with world-class safety culture is different, they motivate and reward their employees with safe behavior in such a way that inspire others and eventually change their behavior towards safety too. Many times, companies reward their employees with cash, but this has a negatives impact too. Too much of cash rewards can encourage employees to hide the real facts because they want to win cash.


9. Train your employees regularly on safety.
Even your best people need a refresher after some time to keep them on track. The best way people learn in any organization is through its culture, but again, your employees at some point will turn complacent at their job and complacency is the most dangerous form of hazard. Refresher training can teach them some new techniques on how to be safe at work, plus it will remind them of their role in safety.

At the end of the day, safety is all about care, saving lives, families, and the society we operate in.

Health Benefits of Dates Seed

Health Benefits of Dates – Promoting Heart, Brain, and Digestive Health

by Mike Barrett
Posted on March 5, 2013

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A product of the date palm and cultivated since approximately 6000 B.C, the date fruit is one of the sweetest fruits around and also happens to come in many different varieties. Although dates can be eaten fresh, the fruit is very often dried, resembling raisins or plums. But whether fresh or dry, the health benefits of dates are still just as plentiful.

Nutritional Content of Dates

If you’re looking for fiber, potassium, or copper, look no further than dates. While dates are rich in many vital nutrients and therefore offer many health benefits, the fruit is so small that you’ll need to consume a larger quantity to intake the necessary amount.

The following nutritional data outlines some of the key nutrients found in dates, and is based on a 100g serving of the fruit.

• Fiber – 6.7 grams. 27% RDA.

• Potassium – 696 milligrams. 20% RDA.

• Copper – 0.4 milligrams. 18% RDA.

• Manganese – 0.3 milligrams. 15% RDA.

• Magnesium – 54 milligrams. 14% RDA.

• Vitamin B6 – 0.2 milligrams. 12% RDA.

Note: Dates are high in sugar content – coming in at a whopping 66.5 grams per 100 gram serving of the fruit. It is recommended to lessen sugar consumption as much as possible, even when the sugar is being consumed from fruit.

Check out the USDA Nutrient Database for a full nutritional profile of dates.

The Known Health Benefits of Dates – What the Date Fruit Has to Offer

Dates aren’t exactly a nutritional powerhouse when compared to some other foods like kiwi or sesame seeds, but the fruit does still offer numerous health benefits along with great taste. Here are some health benefits of dates.

• 1. Promoting Digestive Health, Relieving Constipation – Fiber is essential for promoting colon health and making for regular bowel movements. The insoluble and soluble fiber found in dates help to clean out the gastrointestinal system, allowing the colon to work at greater levels of efficiency. Some other benefits relating to fiber and colon health are reduced risks of colitis, colon cancer, and hemorrhoids. (Dates could even be coupled with other home remedies for hemorrhoids.)

• 2. Boosting Heart Health – In addition to promoting colon health, fiber is also known to boost heart health.

• 3. Anti-Inflammatory – Dates are rich in magnesium – a mineral known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. One study found that “inflammatory indicators in the body such as CRP (C-reactive protein), TNF (tumor necrosis factor alpha), and IL6 (interleukin 6) were all reduced when magnesium intake was increased.” Further, inflammation in the arterial walls was also reduced with magnesium intake. Based on magnesium’s anti-inflammatory properties and the findings of this study, magnesium can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other inflammation-related health ailments.

• 4. Reduced Blood Pressure – Magnesium has been shown to help lower blood pressure – and again, dates are full of the mineral. Additionally, potassium is another mineral in dates that has several functions within the body, aiding with the proper workings of the heart and helping to reduce blood pressure.

• 5. Reduced Stroke Risk – After evaluating 7 studies published over a 14 year time period, researchers found stroke risk was reduced by 9% for every every 100 milligrams of magnesium a person consumes per day. The research can be found in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

• 6. A Healthy Pregnancy and Delivery – Further adding to the health benefits of dates, one study performed by researchers at the University of Science and Technology set out to discover how the date fruit impacted labor parameters and delivery outcomes. After studying 69 women for a year and 1 month, the researchers found that “the consumption of date fruit in the last 4 weeks before labour significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome. The results warrant a randomised controlled trial.”

• 7. Boosting Brain Health – Some studies, such as one found in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that sufficient vitamin B6 levels are associated with improved brain performance and better test scores.

A Summary of Dates Health Benefits: Dates are Great for:

• Weight loss
• Relieving constipation, supporting regular bowel movements
• Promoting heart health, reducing heart disease risk
• Diarrhea
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Reducing blood pressure
• Impotence
• Promoting respiratory and digestive health
• Pregnancy deliveries
• Hemorrhoid prevention
• Chronic conditions such as arthritis
• Reducing colitis risk
• Preventing colon cancer

Remember to share all of the health benefits of dates with your friends and family!

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