Women
What Is The Fate Of Nigerian Woman?
For a long time, women all over the world have been crying
wolf of marginalisation without adequate measures to tackle this gender
inequality. The cry is louder and much more pronounced in Africa, especially in
Nigeria where the stakes of every woman is tied to the patriarchy of man.
There is no contesting the fact that man, from the time of
the first man, Adam, is the head of the family. But it is also unarguable that
God created Eve as a supporting partner, and not a female servant to Adam. In
today’s world, however, the male-female domination has assumed an irritating
phenomenon such that women have little or no say in home affairs, let alone in
the larger society.
This is particularly so because statistics reveal gender
gaps in health, education, workloads and earnings, among others. According to
UNESCO, two out of three women cannot read or write, and more than 60 per cent
of children out of school are female.
This gender inequality has again subjected women to several
abuses such as battering, rape and home slavery. Even when a man is caught
having an affair with a house-help, a woman is denied the right to complain.
Whereas such transgression is capable of causing a woman outright divorce. What
an injustice?
In the same vein, most women have been made to assume the
status of a house-help. Many men do not allow their wives to work in spite of
their education. They prefer limiting their women’s roles to the kitchen. Even
the few women that work are over-burdened with domestic chores without men
lending them helping hands.
The Commission on the Status of Women of the Economic and
Social Council of the United Nations had noted in a draft statement by 18
international women’s advocacy groups in 1995 that improving the status of
women is not a woman’s issue, it is a human issue. It is time, therefore, to
take action in this area.
President Goodluck
Jonathan’s administration has tried to break this gender inequality through the
Affirmative Action Plan that cedes 35 per cent of appointment to women.
This brings us to the
question of what role the Nigerian woman is expected to play now and in the
future. Without pre-empting what other people may say, I hasten to suggest that
several important roles and responsibilities are yearning for the attention and
utilisation of the Nigerian woman now and especially in this millennium. I am
saying this, because, if the Nigerian woman must make a giant leap into the
future, she must be prepared to assume giant roles and responsibilities and
should not expect roles to be given her by the male.
The Nigerian woman has in many ways proved that, apart from
the competency they have in performing domestic roles, they have also
demonstrated that what a man can do, they (women) can do better. This is proven
by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, and the former National Food and Drug Adminsitration and Control (NAFDAC) boss, Professor (Mrs)
Dora Akunyili.
Also, despite the tremendous achievements of the Nigerian
woman in the execution of the lofty ideals of the Family Support Programme
(FSP) during the Ibrahim Babangida days,
and the Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP) initiated by the
former First Lady, Mrs Mariam Abacha, there exists so much bumps on the road to
the Nigerian woman’s empowerment in this country.
These challenges require the concerted effort by the women
themselves to smoothen. This does not mean that the men should not support the
empowerment which, of course, I think without them (men) supporting the women,
the Nigerian woman won’t get to anywhere since for now men occupy more than 60
per cent of the sensitive positions in
the society.
A Mexican non-governmental organisation sometime ago, raised
a poser that, “how can we empower women if we don’t empower men too?”
This is an important question because men also need skills to adjust to new male matrimonial and
social roles which should emerge in this wake of women empowerment in this
millennium. In other words, women’s awareness of their potential,
responsibilities and choices as women is, if I may suggest, inextricably tied
to the empowerment of men, naturally.
I do not wish to be misconstrued on this matter as I have
only attempted to illuminate, at least superficially, the broader concept of
“gender in development” in contrast to the narrow slogan of “women in
development” in the strong conviction that as a lady, both men and women are so
intrinsically bound that a meaningful symbiotic relationship is necessary for
the realisation of the dream of the 21st century Nigerian woman to be
fulfilled.
The United Nations’ publication, The World’s Women, 1995
regrets that “too often, women and men live in different worlds, worlds that
differ in access to education and work opportunities, and in health, personal
security and leisure time.”
Seventy per cent of food is grown by women yet, according to
a United Nations’ report, the same percentage of the world’s 1.3 billion people
who live in abject poverty are women. In fact, poverty has a woman face.
As I pointed out earlier, these problems would require
everyone’s efforts. But the women have to initiate remedial measures to solve
them instead of waiting for the male folk who are good in complementing women’s
efforts.
In Peru, for example, men have enthusiastically supported
800 community kitchens run by 16,000 women in Lima. In Bolivia too, mothers
clubs promoting small enterprises proved so successful that most men now
participate in them under women’s control.
The Nigerian woman should, therefore, come to grips with the
reality that as the weaker sex as against the men who are strongest, they alone
can, and would effectively, hold their destiny in their own hands and chart a
path for the 21st century Nigerian woman.
Rather than hang on to the male identity or crying wolf
against men or apportioning blames on men or even looking for scape-goats,
Nigerian women should close ranks and be more creative, more dynamic and more
useful to themselves in the society. If the female folk do not tackle their problems
this way, they may be lending credence to the erroneous impression that they
are in bondage, whereas they are not.
I pray and suggest to the women that once we can hold our
own as in the Peruvian and Bolivian examples, and contribute positively wherever
they can, the sky would certainly be the limit for the 21st century Nigerian
woman.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
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.
