Women
Voters Registration: Women Demonstrate Renewed Consciousness
Since the unjustified annulment of the 1993 presidential election, which was adjudged by Nigerians as the freest and by extension, the fairest of all known elections in Nigeria, many citizens, the bulk of which are women, have lost interest in matters pertaining to elections in the country, be it at the local, state or national levels.
The reason is simple, it is feared that their effort may amount to a futile and wasted one in the long run. Moreso, there is also the mentality that one’s vote does not count afterall, so, why put in effort that does not worth the hassle?
The era of “carry-go” syndrome by some privileged political parties did not also help matters. This era was characterised by high level political thuggery, intimidation, harassment and killings. This made the Nigerian political atmosphere unfriendly and made most polling centres a “no-go” area for the opposition. The adornments of youths with security personnel’s uniforms, made it difficult for one to actually differentiate the real security men from the fake, and security at the polling centres was eventually abused.
This heightened the level of insecurity during elections and further killed the zeal among Nigerian women to participate in subsequent elections. Guess what? A mentality of nonchalant disposition to political matters as well, as the fear of losing their lives or being maimed in the course of exercising their franchise, not excluding the fear of the possibility of the abuse of the overall choice of the populace in the elections by the government of the day, governed the reasoning of the typical Nigerian woman.
However, it is quite surprising to observe a renewed consciousness among women to political matters in this dispensation.
Aside the interest indicated by some women to gun for political positions, at both the local government and national levels, the ongoing voters registration exercise explains it all.
In spite of all odds occasioned by the malfunctioning of INEC’s Data Capturing Machines, women are seen abandoning their homes and businesses early enough to patiently queue to be registered. More to be applauded are those at the grassroots, who ordinarily could have feigned ignorance and less-concerned as it were, yet they set aside other engagements to participate in the electoral process by registering.
This renewed consciousness is not only limited to the young women, the elderly ones are also involved. Mrs. Ruth Katiak, an 80-year-old woman did not only stop at registering, she even constituted a sensitisation forum to make other women see the importance of the voters registration exercise.
Calling on women on Monday to embrace the on-going registration exercise, Mrs. Katiak, who hails from Kaduna said “If at 80, I was brought by my daughter to be registered, I see no reason why any woman should give an excuse not to be registered”.
Katiak, after registering at the Layin Sarki Street centre in Narayi, confessed that she had always participated in the electoral process in the country.
“This one will not be an exception. Although I am not a politician, I have always known the importance of voting for a leader of one’s choice”, she added.
Here in Rivers State in particular, most elderly women in the villages when interviewed said they did not bother what it cost them to be registered because they would want to vote for the governor again because of his exceptional performance.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
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.
