Women
Re-Union Of Former GGSS Old Girls
There was profound
joy and memories relieved when batch 1983 old students of former Government Girls Secondary School, Harbour Road, Port Harcourt (now Methodist Girls High School) re-united after 30 years of graduation.
The old students specifically held the occasion to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their graduation from the once famous institution that produced several notable women that are useful to society and parade high credentials. It was indeed a happy re-union as the old girls returned to their alma mater united in one and determined to strengthen their bond fellowship.
The two days programme started with a visitation to the school, led by the President of the body, Marther Frank Alli, and the co-ordination, Mrs Ibinabo Ogolo, where some items were donated to equip the home economics laboratory.
Presenting the items, which included a 6-burner gas cooker,a-4-burner gas cooker, and a giant fridge, the president said “the gesture was a mark of gratitude to the citadel that made them, and their little way of encouraging the students to excel in their practical home management exams.”
Addressing the students and management of the school, the president said the students should take their studies seriously as the effort they put in at this stage of their education would determine what they would become tomorrow. She pointed out that “the girl-child is very beneficial to herself and the society, when she acquires functional education”
Alli, who is a surveyor by profession, also called for synergy between government and missionary schools management as a strategy to consolidate educational development, she reasoned that “the synergy would enhance greater accessibility of the less privileged and vulnerable in the society to education”, and noted that the society would be better for it, as destitution and other forms of social nuisance would be minimised. “In her response, the principal of the school, Elder Edna Okpo, thanked the ex-students for their concern and sense of gratitude. The principal who appealed to other old Girls of the institution to borrow a leaf from the 1985, batch, assured that the facilities provided would be used judiciously.
She disclosed that management of missionary schools were confronted with fundamental challenges on assuming authority over the schools, as the needed standard had to be instilled and consolidated. She assured that “standard would not be compromised, as the authorities are putting everything in place to ensure that infrastructure is upgraded and the needed incentive is provided to attain institutional objectivities”.
Speaking to The Tide, the senior prefect of the school, Woyimmiebi Austine, thanked the old girls for their visit, and stated that the visit would inspire the students to work harder to attain academic success, as well as become great in life.
The visiting Old Girls were conducted round the school on facility inspection, and they recalled with nolstagia, their days when as growing girls, they operated under strict institutional rules.
They recalled the principal’s reprimand and the attendant punishment they had to face over their misdemenour.
There was also obvious disparities in the mode of carriage within the period under discourse, 1983 to 2013. A cursory, analysis of the students’ composition in recent times, revealed that while in the 80s, there was a mixed grill, where mature students, shared passion with juveniles, it is a different ball game now, as the students are mostly juveniles at their most fundamental and effective age of learning.
The school principal said the concept “was to catch them young and instill the objectives of morality and excellence in the students as they grow up to face greater challenges in life”.
The last second and last day of the visit was marked by a dinner party held at Delta Hotels, Port Harcourt, where the old Girls gathered to relive the fun of yester years. The officiating minister, Pastor Soye Young Itiye, directed the minds of the celebrants to the fact that they had attained their feat through God’s grace, pointing out that not all those who started with them were alive to tell their story. Pastor Itiye urged the celebrants to always hold on to God to carry them through the trials and exigencies of life, and commended their sense of bond and fellowship.
It was all jubilation as the celebrants fondled and bantered with their individual impressions of their days at ‘Harbour Road” amidst childhood fantasies and the limitless elations of youth. They danced in nimbled feet to the tunes of soothing old time melodies.
The array of delectable ladies, comprising media executives, captains of industries , and distinguished professionals, had an exclusive dinner party. It was learnt that the decision was to have a replay of life the way it used to be 30 years back, while other members of their families would participate in subsequent celebrations.
Speaking with The Tide the coordinator of the group, Mrs Ibinabo Ogolo, said old girls now scattered across the globe were able to meet again 30 years after graduation. She said some of them were actually meeting again for the first time after 30 years, and called for stronger ties among them to be able to make a collective impact on society, especially in the encouragement of the younger generation . Highlight of the celebration was the cutting of the anniversary cake.
Taneh Beemene
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
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.
