Women
A New Dawn
Book Title: A New Dawn
In Abuloma Leadership
Author: Chief Joseph I. Orumo-Giali
No of Pages: 247
Publishers: Humtec, Printing/Publishing Coy (2017) Book Reviewer: Chief (Dr) Isaac Zeb-Obipi; Ogulacha II
Dean, Students Affairs, Rivers State
University
As people join organizations or groups, often existing relationships with members of the same group is deepened and new ones created; sometimes with persons one had not met before. This aptly describes my experience with members of the Abuloma Council of Chiefs when 1 became a member of the Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs on the 28th of December, 2010, as Ogulacha II, Chief and Traditional Head of Ogulacha War Canoe House of Ogoloma.
One of the members of the Abuloma Council of Chiefs I have come to have a very close relationship with is Chief Joseph Igbikiminachiari Orumo-Giali, the author. I am not surprised that he chose me for this assignment given the unofficial status he has granted me as his adviser and moderator. Thus, I am very pleased to be part of this gathering at his instance and thankful for the opportunity to do the book review.
The work for review is a seven-chapter book with a preface, acknowledgement, dedication, forward and table of content. It also has footnotes, chapter notes, references and index. While the cover page has the logo of the Giali War Canoe House, on the back page is brief information about the author and the book. In the review, the following subheadings will be our guide in addition to this introduction and later, conclusion: a) Chapter Number, Title and Focus (b) Recorded Challenges and Successes of the Author (c) Author’s Selfless Service and Administrative Template (d) Historical Documents, Tables and Photos in the Book.
Chapter Number, Title And Focus
The author started the preface of the book with his reasons for writing the book, what informed the choice of the title, and what he intends the book to achieve before providing a chapter-by-chapter summary of the seven (7) chapter book. From the preface and forward, one can have an idea of not only numbers of the chapters but also the title and focus of each chapter. Chapter one is titled, from the Cradle, two, Abuloma as a Kingdom, Three, Amanyanabo Evolution and Resolution in Abuloma Kingdom, Four, Infrastructure Development. Five, Establishment of Abuloma Jetty. Six, Dedication of the Abuloma Community and introduction of Abuloma day and Seven, Resolution of the Ownership Rights of Mangroves and land tenure system in Abuloma.
Recorded Challenges And Successes Of The Author
In justifying writing the book, the author said the odds and challenges that he faced and successes he recorded partly propelled him to “put pen on paper”. So in the course of the review, we tried to find answers to the question: “What were those challenges and successes?” The work clearly spells out the recorded challenges and successes of the author, some of them being resolution of the Amanyanabo conflict, coronation of a King and the building of a new town hall, among many others.
Author’s Selfless Service And Administrative Template
Another factor that inspired the author is his “burning desire (Orumo) to serve, … redirect (his) good people of Abuloma … (into) a new dawn in the Abuloma leadership structure … (and) set a template for successful leadership in Abuloma Kingdom” (Giali, 2017: vii-viii). We were curious to find out how much of this the book conveys. Indeed we found sufficient indicators that his quest for leadership was for service and the book has set templates for successful leadership in Abuloma Kingdom.
Discussing the administrative organs of Abuloma, the book reveals how instrumental he was to setting resolutions to guide the administration of the youth council, community development committee and women forum (Giali, 2017: 48-50). The Abuloma Joint Council, under his leadership, passed and signed the said set of resolutions on 14th September, 2014; less than a year after his assumption of office as Chairman of the Council.
In his effort to “quench the Amayanaboship wrangling, the Chiefs Council under his leadership made several sacrifices and even “came up with the selfless idea that none of the incumbent chiefs of Abuloma … should be a candidate to the contest to the throne …so that they will be upright in their decision making (Giali, 2017: 138). Consistent with this line of selfless service, the author led a stool rotation selection system devoid of personal interest as his original War Canoe House (Ekpeli) and his new War Canoe House (Giali) are the last to ascend the throne (Giali, 2017: 154-159). The stool rotation system put in place is indeed a template that would reduce future leadership disputes in the administration of the community.
The book shows that the author achieved his “Orumo (burning) desire” of ending the conflicts and litigations over the Kingship stool. In reference here are the consent judgment over the matter and eventual coronation of the 1st Amayanabo, Brigadier General (Rtd) Bright Ateke Fiboinnumana (JP) on the 6th of August, 2016. As the book rightly claims, the coronation “put to rest the long dispute over the throne and has brought about a new dawn in Abuloma” (Giali, 2017: 169-174).
Other pointers to templates for successful administration and selfless service found in the book include: (a) Attraction and supervision of political projects for the community (pp: 177-189) (b) MOU between Abuloma Community and Gudi Royal House over the MDG Hall (pp: 181-188), (c) Store and land sharing agreement involving the Owubo and Iwori families at the new market/area (pp: 193 – 195), (d) Tenure-limit of chiefs’ ownership of stores at the new market (p: 195), (e) Provision of three month free accommodation and feeding for Police officers for the take off of the Police Station (p: 200), (f) Sharing vision for service via the articulation of “programs and style of administration” in his inaugural meeting as Chairman of Abuloma Council of Chiefs (pp:213-214), and (g) Resolution of the issue of ownership of mangrove land in Abuloma (pp: 227-229).
Historical Documents, Tables And Photos In The Book
There are a number of documents, tables and photos of historical significance in the book. From our enumeration, there are about thirteen (13) documents, twenty-two (22) photos, and twenty-two (22) tables of historical importance. The tables should have been eight (8) but one of them, which is on the past Chiefs, seems to be a “mother-table” as it is divided further into fourteen (14) tables. There is one (1) figure, the author’s family tree.
Conclusion
Despite a few initial errors, which must have been corrected in the final copy for this public presentation, the book achieved its aim in a very simple language, impressive colours, and great details. It is a rich addition to the literature on Wakirike history, culture and administration. It has my recommendation and I congratulate the author for his efforts in leading Abuloma into its “new dawn”.
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.
