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Agony Of Female Circumcision

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The outright removal of the outer flesh from a female’s vagina (clitoris), popularly known as female circumcision or female genital mutilation is no longer new in many communities in Nigeria. A total violation of the female’s body, this act of genital mutilation has been condemned in various spheres, yet, its continuous patronage has become a cause for concern.  It does not only strip its victims of certain feminine feelings, it constitutes a serious health risk to them especially at childbirth and as harbinger of diseases.
For more information about this health challenging phenomenon, The Tide’s Women Desk undertook a study on its practice and possible effect on victims.
Why is Female Genital Mutilation performed?
Female genital mutilation is assumed to be performed to control so called women sexuality. It is thought to ensure virginity till marriage and fidelity afterwards. It is also seen as a part of a girl’s initiation into womanhood. In some communities around the world, the female outer flesh in the vagina (clitoris) is considered dirty and ugly. That is why it is being removed. According perpetrators, it promotes hygiene in woman’s body.
Where does this practice come from?
The origin of this practice is truly unclear to anyone, but it is said that some Egyptian women carried out Female Genital Mutilation on their daughters and it went well for them. Historians such as Herodotus claimed that in the fifth century BC, the Phoenicians, the Hittites and the Ethiopians practiced circumcision. Circumcision rites were also practiced in the tropical part of Africa. It is also practiced in this our country, Nigeria till this present day.
At what age is the Female Genital Mutilation carried out?
It varies from place to place. Female Genital Mutilation is mostly carried out during infancy, just few days after birth, while in some places it happens during childhood, within the age of 8 or sometimes at the teen age.
Who performs Female Genital Mutilation?
It is the elderly women in the community that carry out the act or by a medical practitioner in the village. There are over 200 million girls alive today that are believed to have been subjected to FGM. It is a reflection of global population growth. Girls that have undergone FGM are everywhere in the world, mostly in Africa.
What instrument are used to perform Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation is carried out with special knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass or razor blades. Anesthetic and antiseptic are generally not used unless the procedure is carried out by medical practitioners. In communities where circumcision is practiced, the girls leg are often bound together to immobilize them for 10-14 days, allowing the formation of scar tissue. No Religion supports Female Genital Mutilation because it is not good.
What is the psychological effect of the Female Genital Mutilation?
The initial procedure can result in severe shock, pain, bleeding, tetanus or sepsis, bacterial infections, inability to urinate, open sores in genital region and injury to nearby genital tissue and the girls are at risk of abnormal menstrual flow, recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections, cysts, pain during sex, lack of sexual pleasure and infertility. Victims also suffer psychological problems following the very often traumatic procedure.
How about the health effects
Female Genital Mutilation has a very serious health implication. The immediate complications are severe pain, shock, hemorrhage, tetanus or infection, urine retention, ulceration of genital region and injury to adjacent tissue. Urinary infection, fever and septicemia hemorrhage and infection can be severe enough to cause death.
Long-term consequences; complications during childbirth, anemia, the formation, of cysts and  abscesses, keliod scar formation, damage to the urethra resulting in urinary influence, dsypareunia, (painful sexual intercourse), sexual dysfunction, hypersensitive of the genital area and increased risk of HIV transmission, as well as psychological effects.
What do the girls who have experienced Female Genital Mutilation have to say about it?
Women around the world are speaking out about their experiences and advocating for change. None of them that has passed through it recommends it to any other girl. They all kick against this evil act.
Nkechi shared her story. She said she and her two sisters and their mother were preparing to visit her family back home. She said, she thought they were going for holiday, only to discover later that they were going to be circumcised. Her mother told them, that a day before that day the girl that was circumcised died in the process. She and her sisters were scared and didn’t want to suffer the same fate but their parents told them that is their obligation so they went. She and her sisters thought they were going to die because of the pain. You have one woman holding your mouth so you won’t scream, two women holding your legs. After they were circumcised, they had to learn to walk again. They had to try to go to the toilet, if you couldn’t pass water in the next 10 days that means something went wrong. This act is been carried out in so many places here in Nigeria. Places like Imo,  Rivers, Plateau states and several other places still practice female genital mutilation.
What does the law have to say about the FGM
The Law says that anyone or group of people caught carrying out this act, should be arrested with immediate effect, it is barbaric, it is punishable by law. Whoever that is caught will face 14 years imprisonment.
Azodoh writes from Port Harcourt.

Chinasa Azodoh

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Nigeria Deserves Stylish, Sophisticated Designs-Igiebor Daddy Lucky

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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

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Women Can Curb Indecent Dressing

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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.

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NWAPDI Launches Home Farming Scheme For Women In Okrika

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A non-governmental group,  Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive Development Initiative (NWAPDI), has taken it’s sensitization programme on home grown farming to women in Okrika Local Government Area.
The body which started in April, 2024 in Rivers State is boasting of huge grassroot followership and is planning a green revolution.
The Rivers State Coordinator, Barrister Ngozi Ajayi, who disclosed this in Okrika, last Thursday, said the programme would change the fortunes of women farmers and their families.
Ajayi was joined by  local government coordinators from Etche, Okrika, Emohua, and Omuma, at Ibaka Town, Okrika, to inaugurate 12-member Ward Coordinators of NWAPDI in the area.
Ajayi stated that since July, when the local government coordinators of NWAPDI were inaugurated, the body which aims to boost food sufficiency and arm women with skills in agro-production, had grown in followership, especially among the women folk.
She commended women in Okrika for the interest they had shown in the scheme, adding that she was impressed with the huge turnout and participation.
Shortly after inaugurating the 12 Ward Coordinators, Ajayi charged the women to exploit the opportunities provided by NWAPDI.
She reiterated that the body had come to stay as a way of  improving the wellbeing of women who, most times, were providers in their families.
“We want all of you to go back to your families and tell your people that whatever space you have, utilize it for subsistence farming.
“As you can see, the body is made up of lawyers, lecturers, teachers, and women in different sectors. The essence is to call attention on the need for women to collaborate together so their voices will be heard.
“Women are the major backbone in the agric sector, and if their efforts are harnessed to impact on the nation’s food production, their impact can go far,”she said.
With NWAPDI on board, she expressed optimism that the plight of women farmers would be reduced, such that all government and international support would get to the grassroots.
Also speaking, NWAPDI Coordinator in Okrika Local Government  Area, Prof. Nene Jamabo, a professor of Aqua Culture at the University of Port Harcourt, had  expressed delight over the interest shown by women in the LGA, saying with cluster farming, women would be empowered more than before.
“What we intend to do is Cluster Farming, and it’s  a whole lot of value chain. We want every woman to put food on their table.
“In Okrika we have observed that most of the women are into crafts, so we will combine cluster with integrated farming- to create a chain; some will be farming, some will be processing and others will be into marketing”, she said.
In her speech, the Chairperson, Caretaker Committee of Okrika Local Government Council, Mrs Gold Okujagu, who was represented by the Secretary of the Council, expressed satisfaction with the initiative.
She described NWAPDI as timely and very crucial to the current economic challenges in the country.
She explained that in an era of processed foods, the initiative would encourage women to grow organic foods.
She urged every woman to engage in subsistence farming at any level to reduce hazardous things that were being consumed as food.
Speaking after the inauguration, the Ward 2 Coordinator, Mrs Ibiere Williams, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State and Okrika Local Government Coordinators for organizing the programme.
Mrs Williams, who is of Ngeme-Biri, a civil servant, observed that many women from different parts of Okrika attended the programme, which indicated the readiness on their part to end food scarcity in the area.
“We saw many women from different parts of Okrika. That means we are ready to farm and see what we can gain. We appreciate the organisers, and they really encouraged us. We learned that there are so many ways for planting since we do not have much land in Okrika. Our women were happy.
“We are given these items free to plant in broken buckets, nylon and bags due to scarcity of land in the area. We were taught that sand mixed with fresh fish intestine can serve as manure. This was very educative. If we practice what we were taught, in the next one year, there will be food sufficiency in Okrika”, she said.
In her comments, a member of NWAPDI, Mrs Felicia Barasin, a business woman from Bulome-Biri stated that the programme was good and timely as many families were finding it difficult to feed because of the harsh economy.
Highlight of the occasion was the administration of oaths to the Ward Coordinators of the local government area by the Legal Officer, Ibiwari Maureen Waribo.
Also, the award of certificates and recognition of executive members of NWAPDI Okrika LGA by the State Coordinator. The EXCO include Vice Coordinator, Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo; Secretary, Ms. Constance Kalio; Treasurer, Mrs. Sime Loveday; and Public Relations Officer, Mrs Roseline Orupabo.
Cassava stems, okro, and vegetable seeds were shared amongst the women after the training section.
Over 500 women from Okrika Local Government Area attended the programme.
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