Ity Awak

O & G Professional|Patriotic Nigerian|Hardworking|Fiercely Ambitious|Incurable Optimist|Lover of God|Equality & Justice|Chelsea fc.
Motto: The Optimist Creed

[I Japa at 40+ 🇳🇬 → 🇨🇦 @40PlusImmigrant]

Misrepresentation isn’t a small mistake; in Canada, it’s a 5‑year shutdown of your immigration future.

The 5 Critical IRCC Mistakes!

False information:
Any inaccurate detail, even accidental, can trigger Section 40 IRPA. Intent doesn’t matter; accuracy does.

Fraudulent documents:
Altered passports, fake birth certificates, forged degrees, or manipulated employment records.

Undisclosed visa refusals:
IRCC checks global immigration history through Five Eyes partners. Leaving out a US/UK/Schengen refusal = misrepresentation.

Hidden immigration history:
Past overstays, removal orders, or previous Canadian applications must be declared. Concealment = automatic ban.

Blaming your consultant:
IRCC holds you legally responsible for everything in your application. If you spot an error, self‑correct immediately.

**Not legal/immigration advice. ** Verify on the official IRCC site only.**

[I Japa at 40+ 🇳🇬 → 🇨🇦 @40PlusImmigrant]

People mix these terms all the time, but they don’t mean the same thing at all.

Latino isn’t Hispanic, British isn’t English, Persian isn’t Arabic, Native isn’t Indigenous, Asian isn’t Chinese, and Scandinavian isn’t Nordic.

These words look similar, but they describe completely different identities.

Latino: From Latin America.
Hispanic: Spanish‑speaking origin.
Brazil = Latino, not Hispanic.
Spain = Hispanic, not Latino.

British: From the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).
English: Specifically from England.

Persian: From Iran; speaks Persian.
Arabic: From the Arab world (e.g., Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia).

Native: Born in a place.
Indigenous: Original peoples of a territory.

Asian: From any Asian country.
Chinese: Specifically from China.

Scandinavian: Denmark, Norway, Sweden.
Nordic: Scandinavia + Finland, Iceland, Greenland.

[Ity Awak @Ioawak]

@40PlusImmigrant Please could you give some suggestions and more details for the benefit of intending immigrants/followers?

[I Japa at 40+ 🇳🇬 → 🇨🇦 @40PlusImmigrant]

If I had to choose a Canadian academic program again in 2026, I wouldn’t start with passion, I’d start with relevance. Relocation is expensive; strategy is survival.

[Sir J (J9) @SirJarus]

Notable examples:

Nigeria

1. Yomi Awobokun - EA to CEO of Oando Group, later COO of Oando downstream subsidiary, later CEO of Oando downstream, later founder of Enyo Retail

2. Alex Irune - was an EA to Group CEO of Oando, now CEO of Oando upstream and Group ED in Oando

3. There was a Kunle guy in Oando too (can't remember the surname again) that was EA to Group CEO and later became Head of Strategy in the downstream subsidiary

4. Obong Idiong (pictured) - Former EA to Tony Elumelu, later CEO of Africa Prudential Plc, now CEO of Heirs Technologies (both Elumelu companies)

Outside Nigeria

5. Steve Ballmer - Joined Microsoft as assistant to CEO Bill Gates, rose to become CEO of Microsoft.

6. Ursula Burns - Worked as EA to Xerox executives, later become CEO of Xerox herself.

7. Mary Barra - EA to CEO of General Motors. She later became CEO herself.

8. Sam Palmisano - EA to CEO of IBM, later became CEO of IBM.

EA or Chief of Staff to executives is a very good way to prepare people for leadership position.

If you are good on the job, the executives notice you, trust you and that propels your career.

The problem is, these days, people that are not even executives are hiring some virtual assistants (which is fine) but calling them executive assistant. You no be executive, why you dey call your admin assistant executive assistant? That is what the original poster may have been using as standard for executive assistant.

Executive Assistant - proper one to a proper executive - is a top job. You know practically everything about the CEO's (or other executives') job!

[Ademola @Demo4show]

This reminds of a friend that graduated with 2:2.

His strategy was sending emails.

He kept sending emails to professor in Canada.

He found a professor.

The professor was really interested in him.

The professor assisted him to review his SOP.

He got a funded admission.

He is now in Canada.

If you have have a low grade.

Make sending emails your daily work.

Just one day, it might be your turn.

Stop the doom scrolling on social media.

Follow important people like me who is interested in your growth.

I wish you good luck.

You will need it.

[Ity Awak @Ioawak]

@mr_geff1 What year is this? Direct toks?

[folowosele adeboye @boye4christ2006]

Dear MSc and PhD students I have an hack for you,

If you want to use ChatGPT or other AI for your project, you can use them without it showing you use AI.

You won’t spend a dine to do it.

Just copy everything away from ChatGPT and type it yourself one by one in Microsoft word.

Don’t paste on Microsoft word.

Type them yourself.

It can NEVER be detected as AI.

Tested and proven.

You can use ZeroGpt or other tools to test the volume of AI.

All the best.

[Ity Awak @Ioawak]

@MrCharlesky @Wahley_ Code pls

[Glorious God @GloriousGod01]

Project Management is one of the most stable and consistently well-paid skills across every industry. Tech, healthcare, finance, construction, government, and international organizations all hire project managers and many of these roles are fully remote.

Here is the part that will make your jaw drop:

1. For beginners (Entry level): you can earn up to $5,400 every single month.

2. For those growing (Mid level): you can earn up to $8,750 every single month.

3. For the serious ones (Senior level): you can earn up to $11,700 every single month.

Top specialists and Directors of Project Management: earning well above $17,000 every single month.

Now here is how to get started for free.

Start with these free platforms:

1. Google Project Management Certificate (coursera. org): the most beginner-friendly structured course available. Audit it free and only pay when you want the certificate.

2. Alison (alison. com): free project management courses covering the fundamentals, Agile, and Scrum from scratch.

3. Project Management Institute (pmi. org): the official body for project management globally. Free resources, articles, and study guides available on their website.

4. Microsoft Learn (microsoft. com/learn): free courses on project planning, team management, and tools like Microsoft Project.

Then follow up on YouTube. These four channels will take you from zero to job-ready:

1. Adriana Girdler: over 20 years of project management experience. More than 150 videos covering everything from basics to advanced career tips. One of the most practical channels for beginners.

2. ProjectManager. com: over 400,000 subscribers. Comprehensive project management training covering Agile, Scrum, risk management, and real-world project delivery.

3. Project Management Institute (PMI): the official YouTube channel of the world's leading PM body. Deep, credible, and updated regularly with industry insights and certification guidance.

4. Stuart Taylor: step-by-step tutorials in plain English covering Gantt charts, risk management, deliverables, and core PM processes. Great for people who want structured, practical learning.

Take them seriously. With consistent effort, you can be job-ready in 6 to 12 months.

Work on real projects as you learn. Build a portfolio. Put it on LinkedIn.

Here is what you need to get certified and stand out:

- Google Project Management Certificate (coursera. org): one of the most accessible entry-level certifications. Audit free, pay only for the certificate.

- CAPM, Certified Associate in Project Management (pmi. org): the entry-level certification from PMI. Perfect for people with little to no experience.

- PMP, Project Management Professional (pmi. org): the gold standard in project management. Holders earn significantly more than non-certified peers and it is recognized in every country in the world.

Every organization runs on projects. The ones that run well have great project managers behind them.

Your time to learn this is now.

Are you currently learning Project Management or do you already work in this field?

Above all, love God.

[I Japa at 40+ 🇳🇬 → 🇨🇦 @40PlusImmigrant]

8.
Does this apply to work/study permits?

Partially. Some applicants get a Port of Entry Letter instead of a physical visa sticker.

Always read your approval letter carefully; requirements vary by country and application type.

9.
PR applicants: a different process entirely.

Permanent residence uses COPR + PR visa, and the “stamp” of the COPR happens at the border, not at an IRCC processing centre.

10.
The bottom line:

Most people get their passport back within 2–4 weeks, but delays happen.

[I Japa at 40+ 🇳🇬 → 🇨🇦 @40PlusImmigrant]

Let’s clear some Canadian immigration myths before somebody embarrasses themselves at IRCC.

1.
Marry a Canadian, get citizenship = Lie.

Marriage gets you sponsorship for PR, not citizenship.

Citizenship comes years later after PR + residency requirements.

2.
I’m in the Express Entry pool, so I can apply for a BOWP.

Absolutely not.

The pool is a dating profile, not an application.

Even an ITA doesn’t qualify you.

You must submit your PR application first; then you’re eligible for a bridging open work permit.

3.
Studying in Canada guarantees PR. Nope!

You must:

- Study at a DLI
- In a PGWP‑eligible program
- Get a PGWP
- Gain skilled Canadian work experience
- Smash your English/French scores
- Enter Express Entry and fight for points

School is not PR; it’s just a door. You still have to walk through it.

[Glorious God @GloriousGod01]

If I already have 300 million naira in liquid investment and I live in my own house, I will stop working immediately. No second thoughts.

Why?

If I put that 300 million naira into a mutual fund, I would be getting approximately 4.2 million naira every single month in interest alone. Without lifting a finger.

Why would I wake up every morning to work for someone else when I can make 4.2 million naira sitting at home doing nothing? Besides, only about 0.05% of jobs in Nigeria can match that figure.

I would resign, put the entire 300 million into a mutual fund, collect my monthly interest and live my best life. My capital stays intact, my interest keeps growing and I never have to worry about a salary again.

The only exception is if I am still relatively young, below 55. In that case I might consider continuing to work, not because I need the salary, but to channel every naira of it into my investment and watch the 300 million grow even faster.

But at 55 or above with 300 million naira compounding quietly in the background? No job on this earth would make me think twice.

300 million naira is financial freedom on a platter. The decision to work or not becomes mine. I am not working.

Above all, love God.

[Glorious God @GloriousGod01]

My target with mutual fund is to hit 300 million naira by 2036. At that point, my monthly interest would be over 4.2 million naira every single month.

My fixed monthly deposit right now is 150,000 naira. And my monthly interest is already over 200,000 naira. So my investment is already paying me more than most people's salaries while I am still depositing.

But I am not relaxed. Some months where I earn extra, I deposit more. There are months I put in up to 250,000 naira. 150,000 naira is just the minimum. I add more whenever I can because every extra naira I deposit today means bigger returns tomorrow.

Imagine making 4.2 million naira every single month in 10 years from doing absolutely nothing. Just reaping the fruits of disciplined investments made today.

Beautiful right?

But many people will never know how much gratification I am delaying right now just so I can enjoy later. The sacrifices are real. The discipline is daily. But the future I am building is worth every single naira I am holding back today.

I hope you are doing likewise and not just sitting down watching.

Above all, love God.

[folowosele adeboye @boye4christ2006]

If you’re doing night shifts , either UK 🇬🇧 or abroad or anywhere.

Plan your exit route to day shifts later on.

Some Negative effects of night shift includes:

1) Chronic Insomnia which can later lead to psychosis (mental health problems)

2) It can reduce your life span by at least 5 years.

3) Poor sleep and chronic tiredness

4) Mood problems

5) Reduced concentration and slower reaction time

[Ity Awak @Ioawak]

@ndukaomeife Powerfully and inspirational. Thanks for sharing.

[nduka omeife @ndukaomeife]

In this life, sha, don’t let anybody rush you.

At 33, with a first-class degree, I was still sleeping on my parents’ couch in Ebute Metta, trying to figure life out.

I didn’t get my dream job until I was 36. I got married at 35 and started married life in a room and parlour tiny rooms in Mushin.

I started a business at 38 and failed woefully.

I tried again in my 40s. Failed again.

At 46, I opened an art gallery at Adeniran Ogunsanya, Lagos. It failed too.

At 47, I returned to the yoghurt business. Failed again.

At 48, we started again.

Then, at almost 50, I was compulsorily retired from my job.

Instead of seeing it as the end, I went fully into the yoghurt business.

I relocated to the UK at almost 52.

By 54, we had recorded over ₦2 billion in sales.

So please, be inspired by other people’s success, but never allow their success to put you under pressure.

Some people bloom at 25.
Some at 35.
Some at 50.
Some even later.

Your timeline is different.

Keep learning.
Keep trying.
Keep failing forward.
Keep moving.

You are not late. You are still writing your story.

Good evening.😊

[Belusochim Ugochukwu @belusochim]

A little over two years ago, I came to the U.S. from Nigeria at 14 with a suitcase and an obsession with ML.

Today, I'm 16 and working on Computer Vision + Robotics at @Apple

Recap:
→ Competed in Math & Physics Olympiads from 11y/o
→ Won Rubik’s Cube competitions at my boarding school, with a personal best of 18 seconds
→ Lost my grandma to an undiagnosed illness: one of the reasons I became very interested in AI

→ Graduated high school and started college at 15
→ Researched diffusion models for crystal generation, inspired by drug discovery
→ Prototyped robotic wheelchairs for people with disabilities
→ Worked on an EdTech startup, OpenClaw for Students
→ Joined @Apple this may on the ESCI org!
→ Went to @ycombinator startup and met of the brightest and most ambitious minds

My dream is to build companies that expand what humanity can do with AI

I'll be sharing my journey here! Physical AI, agentic systems, and everything I'm learning along the way.

[Ity Awak @Ioawak]

@SirAlexanderrr @threadreaderapp please unroll

[I Japa at 40+ 🇳🇬 → 🇨🇦 @40PlusImmigrant]

Unauthorized work in Canada = deportation, fraud record, 5‑year ban, unsafe jobs, wage theft, and destroyed future applications.

Visitors can’t work. Students must follow hour limits.

Workers must obey permit conditions.

If your permit expires, stop working immediately.

Canada is not joking with enforcement.