Women
70% Women Don’t Know Their Rights In Africa – Asagba
Less than 30 percent of women in Africa know their legal rights. This has been identified as a major problem in pursuing gender equality in the continent.
This was disclosed by the President, African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Mandy Asagba, in an exclusive telephone interview with The Tide Women’s Desk.
Asagba, who hails from Delta State, Nigeria is a prominent human rights activist, and gender researcher stated that the mission of AWLA is to end gender inequality and protect the rights of women and children in African countries, through continuous education and sensitization.
According to Asagba who is also the Third Vice President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA),said, “we are sensitizing African women about their rights so that they cannot be trampled through injustice”.
Asagba, who is also the Founder and President of Legal Pool for Justice and Equality Initiative noted that the Association is sensitizing women and girls through education and advocacy and also legislative lobbying of law makers and structures in African countries to make sure that these laws are implemented by the governments, adding that, “we have lawyers in all the African countries that test these laws”.
She stated that the Association continues to perform pro bono duties for indigent women who have been denied their rights or dehumanized. Also, for children that have been abused sexually, AWLA has stood in defence of them, she said.
“We don’t charge fees in court for the poor. But for the rich that need our services, we ask them to donate to the Association for doing the job for them. There is a lot to be done in this area because we need to go beyond legal representation”, she said.
The AWLA President also stated that the Association educates women and girls on their rights through outreaches in markets, hospitals, primary and secondary schools, campuses, old people’s Homes, Homes for girls and boys, communities and through traditional rulers.
She explained that the outreaches through the traditional rulers is key and important because they are the custodians of culture and traditions in the communities.
“In the midst of these advocacy we are doing, in some African communities, they believe that once you are a man, a girl cannot say no to sex demand from them. They have that traditional belief that women should be enjoyed. Our work is to change that mentality and bring dignity and respect to womanhood “.
In Nigeria, she noted that in some communities, parents pay a man that is good at it to have sex with their daughters before marriage. In a particular state in the North Central, she added, “as we speak, husbands oblige their visitors to sleep with their wives. We need to do more advocacy in that area. This is women slavery”, she lamented.
“The women in that area should be enlightened more . That is why we included traditional rulers in our campaign. We are getting a lot of results but we need to do more”, she added.
Asagba however added that, the Association is also on the move enlightenening women on empowering themselves through job opportunities which will inturn upgrade their husbands status and also support their fellow women to attain success in life.
According to her, “every woman should have it at the back of her mind that for her making milestones in life, it will also upgrade her husband’s status in society. Don’t ever resign from your job because of your husband, we are saying this from experience from what we are seeing on the field.
“There is this enlightenment also that women should support more women for positions that have been usurped by men over the years. We are sure that by 2030,we will make good progress in this area”, she explained.
By: Ibinabo Ogolo
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.
