Women
Promoting Girl Child Education
The Agbonchia
Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State is now in a joyous mood following steps by some of its indigenes towards giving indigent students of the area greater educational opportunities.
The occasion was the inauguration of foundation for the promotion of University and Technical Education in the community. The foundation christened after late Chief (Sir) John Okparaji Obele(JP), which has all his thirteen (13) children as trustees, also gave maximum advantage to female members of the community in their educational pursuit.
Late Chief (Sir) John Okparaji Obele(JP) was the paramount ruler of Agbonchia before his death in 2010. He was an educationist and a promoter of girl-child education not only in Agbonchia his immediate community, but the entire Eleme Local Government Area.
His avowed commitment to the Girl-Child Education, it was gathered, was responsible for the quality education given to all his daughters among who is the current c airman of the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko.
A copy of the biography made available to The Tide indicates that the late chief taught for 16 years in both primary and secondary schools before being absorbed into the mainstream civil service.
While in the civil service, he was said to have held positions such as administrative officer housing matters, Secretary to Departmental Selection Board, Executive Secretary Rivers State Tourism Board, Pioneer Executive Secretary and Deputy Rivers State and Stadium Authority and later as Principal of the Staff Development Centre Port Harcourt.
Children of the late John Okparaji Obele, in recognition of their father’s great strides, especially in the education sector were of the view that time has come for a foundation that will promote the core values of their father, especially, in the promotion of the girl-child education in Agbonchia . At a meeting in Port Harcourt recently the children of the late Chief reeled out objectives of the foundation to include an annual scholarship for indigent students of Agbonchia; five students for University and two for technical training.
According to them, the areas of emphasis would be law, medicine, engineering, accountancy and economics; for the technical field, the foundation would give more emphasis to indigenes of the community wishing to go into pipe-fitting and welding.
It was also revealed that out of the five undergraduate scholarships to be awarded by the foundation, three are for female candidates.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen during the meeting the chairman of the foundation, Dr Princewili Olungeonwi Suny Obele said that apart from keeping the memories of their father alive, the Foundation is to give back to the society what the family has received.
Dr. Obele also said that the situation would make the Agbonchia Community and the entire Eleme to continue to feel the impact of their father even though he is no more physically present with them. By this, the late educationist would continue to train Agbonchia sons and daughters for a very long time to come.
He explained that beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme who must be indigent students of Agbonchia must study in Nigerian public universities. According to him “they must be people of strong character and must not be found wanting in any way. They must not be found to be members of any secret cult. They will constantly be monitored to ensure that they keep to the tenets for which the scholarship was awarded to them”.
He also ruled out favouritism during the selection process, noting that the process would be conducted in a transparent manner that would be devoid of sectionalism, as every candidate will be subjected to the same clear terms for selection.
Dr Obele also said that the success of the scheme in the next few years will determine its extension to cover other communities in Eleme.
Osila said that as the first female graduate in Agbonchia and first female chartered accountant in Eleme Local Government Area, her father has set a record in the community as far as Girl-Child Education is concerned. She said that the family would continue on that line through the encouragement of women education in the community.
The children listed-some benefits the programme would bring to the community to include boosting education with a view to increasing development through skilled labour and reducing poverty in the area. The widow of Late Chief John Obele, Lady Beatrice Ochen Obele who is the grand- matron of the Foundation described the charity as a necessary ingredient for the promotion of quality education in the community.
Lady Obele who herself is an educationist said that gone are the days when a woman’s place is only in the kitchen, stressing that her husband during his life time was a promoter of Girl-Child Education.
The Sir (Chief) John OkparajiObele(JP) Foundation is a good one and must be supported to achieve set objective especially if others sharing same aspiration join hands to broaden the scope for more impact.
Also speaking, vice chairman of the foundation, Engr Abey –Obele said that the programme which takes off from the next academic session will be carried out by a panel that would comprise of all personalities in the area.
Engr Abey-Obele said that the family would ensure that the scheme is properly funded with a view to achieving its set target.
On the benefits of the scheme to the area, he said that it would improve education and the socio-economic standard of Agbonchia and other Eleme communities.
According to him, the beneficiaries who must be indigent students of Akpajo will be thoroughly screened to ensure that they are people who are good both in academic and in character.
Engr. Abey-Obele further said that apart form promoting academic excellence, the scheme would also check youth restiveness as more youths in the area will acquire useful skills that will improve their condition.
He further explained that the foundation will set a high standard both in the scholarships and the technical field and advised would be beneficiaries to take their learning seriously.
Some indigenes of the community who spoke to The Tide on the issue thanked the siblings of late Chief John Okparaji Obele for inaugurating a scholarship in memory of their fathers in the community.
According to elder Sunday Jah, the scheme will enable the people of Agbonchia to acquire the necessary skills that will improve the conditions of the community.
Elder Jah described the late paramount ruler as a great man whose influenced has touched every families of Agbonchia and commended the children for following in the foot steps of their father.
He also advised the youths of the community by law abiding, noting that success does not just fall from his area as everyone has to work for it.
Across section of the people who also spoke on the issue described the foundation as a good one that must be supported to achieve set objective especially if others sharing same aspiration join hands to broaden the scope for more impact.
The Dean of St Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny, the Very Revd Richard I. Hart with other dignitaries presenting the first position trophy to the winning school – Spring Foundation College, Bonny.
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.
