Women
Philantropy And The Plight Of Rural Women
In the African setting, giving of support to under privileged women especially grassroots women is a virtue cherished by all but practised by a few.
Many times even among the few that give, most of them expect reward and for that reason they tend to support people of their own social status who they expect could reciprocate the gesture in future.
Ideally alms and support should be targeted at the needy and less privileged.
According to the scriptures as recorded in James chapter one verse 27, pure religion and undefiled before God is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, (Authorised King James Version). Right from the days of Noah, giving of financial support till date, had remained one of the cardinal principles of true Christianity.
It is actually not very easy to give especially when one is not expecting an immediate reward from it. Another factor militating against the act of giving is abundance of wealth. When one has too much wealth it is difficult to give out, because he/she knows exactly that a little extention of the wealth can make the next person great. Hence, the urge to remain prominent among the wealthy remains the bane of this laudable practice, as the gap between the rich and the poor widens by the day.
Giving to the very poor class of people like widows who have nothing to give in exchange of what they receive is the kind that is recommended and rewarded by God.
The recent donation of N5 million to 100 women in Omerelu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state by the Honourable Commissioner for Lands/Survey, Hon. Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi on January 7, 2012, is a clear demonstration of an attempt to identify with the plight of the rural women especially at a time when the support was needed most, the farming season.
Though, also trying to press down the need to support the good governance of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, he generously distributed N50,000 each to one hundred women. I am quite convinced that two-third of those who received the cash have never seen N30,000 in bulk.
Some of the beneficiaries in the open field, knelt down and sincerely asked God to protect and guide their benefactor. Others took some sweet-dance steps that only indicated one thing; happiness.
To the rural women, Ezemonye has done more than Napoleon the great or any other great man you can think of could do because he has supported them to do their farm work. A legacy, I bet you, will live from generation to generation, as the message has gone beyond the shores of Omerelu land.
The strength of that “poverty alleviation scheme”, drove some people like Mrs Eunice Wondi to declare a total support for the benefactor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mrs. Wondi did not stop there, she promised in strong terms to surrender her house-hold to the PDP just as Joshua in the holy scriptures declared to serve the lord with his house (Joshua 24 verse 15).
She did not make such hard declaration out of nothing. Afterall, her N50,000 cash was in her hand, no sooth sayer or prophet would have succeeded in advising her to do otherwise.
Women, to a reasonable extent, know how to celebrate/appreciate gifts.
They turned down every warning against making public their gift or alms whenever it comes their way.
Mrs. Okwuchi Lucky-Assor, who was also among the beneficiaries tagged hers as “backbone” was full of joy
Now, the question is: can the women channel the cash to the appropriate quarter or will they keep it under their pillous?
Another wonderful gift to the women was that of the acting chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council Hon Amaechi Franklin Nwaobakata on the Armed Forces Remember Day (15-01-2012).
One can still see vividly a clear picture of a patriot who wants to salvage his people from their sufferings, especially the down trodden.
Wobakata, who remembered the widows and wives of heroes of world wars 1,2 and Nigerian Civil War, announced the donation of a soft loan of an undisclosed amount, that the world might know that the widows and wives of the Armed Forces members ought to feel the impact of the government.
There was no crime if he stopped at the traditional way of making some pledges to legionnaires during the armed forces day. To show his love for womanhood, the soft loan pronouncement was made.
The council boss explained in details that there was no better way to appreciate the families of the fallen heroes than to positively support their families. According to him, they (fallen heroes) and living heroes alike risked their lives to ensure that the territorial boundaries of the country are kept intact.
He reasoned that the loan when fully implemented would provide a backbone for the women and their families. To him, it is better to teach some one to fish than to give him fish. He also expressed belief that the women have all it takes to manage homes better than the men.
Though, he also made mention of the increment of stipends paid to legionnaires, but it did not raise much ovation like the provision of loan scheme for women. Women who are referred to as home keepers in must cases, show visible anger when their homes are not in order, for the fear of being blamed, they ensure that they do well with anything that is provided for them.
The ONELGA boss, who extended to other women in the community in a way, asked them to mind the activities of their children so as to promote peace in the area. He reasoned that even the loan can not last if there is violence in the local government area.
To the perpetrators of violence, he likened to those biblical foolish virgins who did not know how to plan for themselves. He was also full of praises for women and daughters of the area who have so far proved their worth in the place.
The chairman of ONELGA legionnaires, Major Nwanna Reuben (Rtd) lauded the chairman for the gesture towards the women, and described him as a true son of his mother.
To him, the loan for women is a healing balm that will bring joy to them.
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.
