Women
Echoes Of 2014 Women’s Day Celebration In Rivers
It may have come
and gone yet its relics speak volumes of the change that had been inspired through the 2014 International Women’s Day celebration in Rivers State.
With the theme: Equality for Women is Progress For All;” and a sub-theme that reads “Inspiring Change,” the later seemed to have captivated the fancy of the organisers of this year’s International Women’s Day Programme.
Indeed, change is all that is needed to rewrite the history and fortunes of the Rivers woman in particular and the Nigerian woman in general.
The event provided a rallying point for building support for women’s rights and participation in the political, economic and social development of the nation.
The ministry had three priority areas: greater economic independence, more women in leadership and increased safety in women’s health and from violence.
The occasion of the International Women Day celebration afforded the Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs in conjunction with the State’s First Lady, Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi, the opportunity to reassure the women that economic success and independence is possible and realisable.
In a paper presented by Dr Carmelita Agborubere during the celebration at the Banquet Hall, Government House on March 8, 2014 in Port Harcourt, principles of achieving success in business were highlighted.
Given the fact that most of the works women do are without national economic values,a situation that creates negative impression of their economic viability, Dr Carmelita encouraged prospecting entrepreneurs to jettison all fears and start small to grow over time.
According to her, it is good to start small because it keeps the owner focused, affords her a clearer vision and a better understanding of one’s ideas. “Small business can remain small, successful, satisfying and still find a niche for itself in the business environment,” she said, adding that there is a place for the small business if the owner works at making it effective and successful, because they can provide the dynamism, innovation and effectiveness that can lead to a generally productive economic system.
She encouraged prospecting business women to imbibe the advantage of new technology, proper fund management and discipline.
In another paper presented by Dr Lawretta A. Onyekwere, the need to inspire change in women’s health was emphasised. Stating that it takes the healthy to be wealthy, Dr Onyekwere said because of the dynamic nature of women’s health, it has become imperative that she evaluates her health on the basis of her ability to carry out her daily routine work before she would address herself as being in good health.
Applauding the proponents of the sub-theme for this year’s celebration, “Inspiring Change.” Dr Onyekwere said inspiring change in women’s health would spur ‘enthusiasm,’ making her feel mosre enthusiastic by way of being passionate towards altering or modifying her thinking, or way of handling her health issues.
She maintained that as women, caring for their health remains a primary responsibility.
Aside health and wealth, another aspect of the woman’s life that was touched was her morality.
Pastor Odede Scholar reminded women that a meaningful achievement can only be anchored on a positive attitude. She implored Rivers women to imbibe a positive attitudinal change as that is the only window to other possibilities for attitude they say is “everything .”
She called on women to first believe in themselves and portray themselves as models to the younger generation.
Apart from the various lectures delivered by eminent daughters of Rivers State to enhance the knowledge base of the women towards inspiring the needed change in them, the memory of this year’s International Women’s Day Celebration as packaged by the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs, under the supervision of the Hon. Commissioner, Mrs Joeba West, will hardly be erased in a hurry due largely to its uniqueness.
For once, selflessness was de-emphasised as the occasion created a platform to bear and alleviate the pains of the needy.
The week witnessed a road walk on Thursday, March 6, 2014 by Concerned Women of Rivers State who were adorned in black to register their displeasure over the inexplicable killing of our young ones in their respective centers of learning and to condemn such in its entirely barbaric act as well as call on the authorities concerned to do everything possible to forestall such rape on our land.
This was followed by a praise and worship session on Friday, March 7, 2014 at Elmadon Fellowship Centre in Port Harcourt where prayers were offered for the Federal Government and the state and its inhabitants. Highlight of this session was a support fund for the families of the victims of the Yobe students killing.
Above all, the banquet hall of the government house, the venue of the celebration, suddenly took the form of a shopping mall of sort as pregnant women were found, trouping out with baby delivery packs to their joy and chagrin.
Alas! The Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi, had doled out babies delivery packs worth over N150,000 each to 80 indigent pregnant women from the rural communities, many of which were visibly hopeless before this gesture.
The duo also empowered a hundred and fifty petty traders with the sum of N50,000 each.
Reacting to the gesture, Mrs Rose Ekine, a beneficiary of the delivery pack from Asari-Toru Local Government Area expressed gratitude to the Ministry and the First Lady, saying her joy knows no bound as she least expected to be favoured in such magnitude.
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Habibu Lawal, the Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina and the UN Women representative in Nigeria, Dr Grace Ongile, at a news conference on the 2014 International Women’s Day celebration in Abuja recently. Photo: NAN
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
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.
