Women
Commission Backs Women’s Reproductive Health Rights
Chairman National Population Commission (NPC) Festus Odimegwu has restated the commission’s commitment towards promoting women reproductive health issues in Nigeria.
Odimegwu was briefing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, in commemoration of the forthcoming 2012 World Population Day on June 11 which theme for the year’s celebration is: “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services’’.
The chairman said that the reproduction health situation in Nigeria demanded a more holistic intervention.
Quoting the National Demographic Health Survey of 2008 (NDHS), Odimegwu said that 52,900 women and girls die every year from pregnancy related causes.
“More attention needed to be paid to accessing voluntary family planning services, increase age at first birth and improve maternal health services.
Odimegwu, who was represented by the FCT Federal Commissioner for NPC, Alhaji Sani Sulieman, urged stakeholders to increase advocacy to policy makers so as to increase budgetary allocation for reproductive health.
He said that better funding for reproductive health services would enhance the exercise of the rights to determine family size.
“When essential reproductive health suppliers, including contraceptives are made available, individuals are empowered to determine their family sizes.
“When the need is not met, the effort at reproductive health in the country will be highly frustrated and jeopardised.
“Several women are confronted with unwanted pregnancies everyday; this could have been easily prevented if only they have access to contraceptives,” the chairman said.
When a woman spaces her children, it enables her body to recuperate properly and it reduces the cases of ‘at-risk pregnancies’.
“Apart from the health benefits, it enables the woman to be economically vibrant.
“Sometimes ago, it was difficult for a woman to take steps towards family planning without the consent of her husband; however, that requirement has been relaxed.
“Now, families can have only children they are prepared to cater for; no one should be forced to have a child by mistake,” Pede said.
“A woman can now walk into any hospital, seek counsel and actually begin the process of birth control without the consent of her spouse,’’ he added.
Dr Linus Amobi, a mass communication teacher, however, stressed that the media were very crucial to the success of the current advocacy on population growth for sustainable development.
He, nonetheless, stressed that journalists ought to be sufficiently educated on population issues to enable them to inform and educate the populace responsibly.
“They should be able to counter any adverse publicity or information put out by mischief makers. In a nutshell, the media should not be viewed as a tool for propaganda; rather, they should serve as a vehicle and forum for education, dialogue, debate and discussion.
“Rural communities should not be left behind in the campaign; the use of traditional and folk media is considered imperative. There is also the need to get the message right, based on socio-cultural sensibilities of the people,’’ Amobi said.
“Above all, government at all levels must redouble efforts to efficiently manage the available resources in the best interest of the people.
“Government should be sincere and transparent, while making tangible efforts to reduce unemployment and provide the necessary amenities,’’ he added.
Women
Nigeria Deserves Stylish, Sophisticated Designs-Igiebor Daddy Lucky
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
Women
Women Can Curb Indecent Dressing
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.