Women
Eliminating Discrimination Against Women
Promoting gender equality and women empowerment has continued to be the central theme in global treaties, covenants and declarations because it is now recognised as major instrument for national development with the aim of improving the standards of living, and promote good governance.
It has also lent equal voice to men and women in decision making, policy implementation, attainment of millennium development goals (MDGs) and other global/regional targets.
Nigeria as a member of United Nations signed and ratified the various relevant international instruments, treaties and convention without reservation.
These instruments stipulate that member nations domesticate all necessary mechanisms needed to eliminate Gender discriminations, and ensure equality of human dignity to all, particularly the women.
In spite of these, discrimination against women continues in our national and states policies in our customary and religious laws as well as sexual stereotyping of social roles, cultural prejudice has continued to militate against full participation of women in Nigeria.
With the intervention of National Gender Policies which supersede and replace the erstwhile National Policy there is hope to redress or eliminate in its entirety all such barriers that hinder women from participating equally with their male counterparts in societal issues. The practices of discrimination against women in Nigeria has become incompatible with human dignity and constitutes an obstacle to the full realization of the potentialities of women, therefore the right of Nigerian women to share equally on condition, was also adopted by the United National Gender Assembly on 18th December 1979 (resolution 43/180) and entered into force on 3rd September 1981, the text annexed to the resolution, is as follows.
That the universal declaration of Human Rights affirms the principle of inadmissibility of discrimination and proclaims that all human beings are born free and freedom to live therein without distinction of any kind including such based on sex.
That, the UN reaffirms faith in fundamental human rights in the dignity and worth of human persons and in the equal right of men and women.
That the states parties to the international covenants on human rights have the obligation to ensure the equal right of men and women to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, etc.
Sadly, despite these various instruments, discrimination against women have continued to exist in our society on daily bases.
My worry is that, in the just concluded April general elections in Nigeria women were not found in the scheme of things apart from Mrs Sarah Jibril. The question is were the women intimidated by their husbands, were they shy, uneducated or deliberately schemed out by political party leaders?, with the much national campaign for women for change initiative, a brain child of the first lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan.
To cushion these lapses, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed some women to his cabinet to participate in governance.
Women, apart from domestics activities have proven to the world their competence in Nation building and such ladies in Nigeria inlcude:
Late Magret Ekpo, Mrs Okonjo Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Mrs Inna Maryiam Ciroma, Mrs Ama Pepple just to mention but few.
If this country must move forward and attain the height of development it deserves, the women should not be relegated to the background but rather be inculcated into the business of governance.
I therefore, call on our male counterparts, government, as well as stakeholders in the society to eliminate all forms of women discrimination and encourage or support women to take their rightful place in governance as they are nation builders by birth,
The women ought to brace up and live up to the responsibility of good governance, accountability, probity and transparency to make the nation move forward.
Jennifer Okonkwo
Women
Nigeria Deserves Stylish, Sophisticated Designs-Igiebor Daddy Lucky
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
Women
Women Can Curb Indecent Dressing
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.