Women
Insight Into Rivers Workplace Creche
Rivers State Government on Tuesday commissioned a workplace crèche for nursing working mothers in the civil service.
Located at the right wing, ground floor of the Podium Block, State Secretariat complex, Port Harcourt, the crèche is powered by the State Ministry of Women Affairs as part of her missions to mobilise resources to improve the lives of Rivers women and girls and also empower them to be productive and self-reliant.
According to the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Joeba West, it is established to cushion the challenges faced by nursing mothers by providing adequate care for babies during working hours especially for public servants within the state secretariat complex.
Describing the facility as a “home at workplace for babies and toddlers,” the commissioner said it offers solid educational and recreational activities for babies and toddlers with well trained minders, teachers and a certified and experienced nurse to at tend to the children.
The crèche she explained which will admit children from the ages of two months to two years, is segmented into reception/ waiting room, playroom, classroom, feeding room, sleeping room, kitchenette, laundry, bath/rest room, staff room and a store, furnished with modern equipments and child-friendly products for the safety of the children.
The health and hygiene of the children are also considered paramount as the area is exclusively and properly sanitised with harmless products.
In the words of the former Head of Service, Mrs Esther Anucha, the establishment of a crèche of such status is a life made easy for nursing mothers in the Secretariat Complex as it would afford them a relaxable atmosphere to work knowing that their babies are in safe hands.
Hence, if the women of the state will avail themselves the opportunity provided them by the provision of the crèche, there will be no regrets whatsoever.
For once, they will be productive in their service to the State as well as efficient.
It is no gainsaying the fact that one of the things that easily get women distracted in their job and make them less concentrated and devoted is the thought of their babies in the hand of total strangers, or distance away from them. Those who try taking their babies along to work, end up not doing the work at all.
Perhaps, it is for this reason that the incumbent Head of Service, Barr. Samuel T. LongJohn, said that the introduction of the workplace crèche is a burden off the shoulders of working mothers.
Therefore, the gains of this all-important facility is quite enormous as it is not only welcomed by the women, but children also as well as the government.
The woman though may appear to be the major beneficiary, perhaps for the sole reason that it encourages exclusive breast-feeding because of its baby-friendly posture. The woman is relaxed while breast feeding because of the privacy she enjoys in the crèche. The baby also bids farewell to exhaustion due largely to long time crying for want of breast milk from a mother who had gone to work and is probably cut up in a traffic jam.
Obviously, it is “farewell” to anxiety that literally consumes the woman who is lost in thought and contemplations of what the state of her baby would look like because of a long period of separation resulting in unnecessary enlargement of the breast to her discomfort.
Bonding no doubt, is reignited. Call it another victory for the child, the workplace crèche does not only provide a conducive atmosphere for bonding between mothers and their babies, it also provides a resort for early and sound child development and education.
To the government of Rivers State, it is congratulations for a recovery of a workforce whose total devotion it had hitherto, not fully enjoyed perhaps because of divided attention.
With the crèche in place, it is expected that working nursing mothers would justify the money spent in paying their salaries by putting in adequate man power and quality time in the discharge of their duty.
Meanwhile, some mothers in the civil service have expressed great delight in the gesture and to them, it is a worthwhile venture. For Mrs Akujuru Grace, a nurse, “the gesture is purely for me. I had my baby when I was not yet due annual or maternity leave and I was compelled to resume work immediately after delivery or risk my employment. My first baby for that matter, I was leaving him at the mercy of my mother-in law from morning till evening everyday, a baby of less than one week. At least, with this development it will be easier, you take baby along and still do your work perfectly.”
“One thing I cherish in this crèche so much is the inclusion of early education which means I am not only taking my baby along to work, I am also enrolling him in a school,” Mrs Wodi Caroline said.”
Against the backdrop of building structures that are never utilized for an eventual realization of purpose, the honourable commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs Joeba West appealed to mothers to avail themselves the privilege made available by this provision, so as to actualize the reason behind its establishment .
She also reaffirms her resolve to ensure a maintenance culture and avoidance of early decay of the structures as is sometimes the case with public establishments. She maintains that while it is the part of the government to provide infrastructural facilities, it remains the duty of the public to patronize same in utmost good faith. She remarked that the services are free except with token registration meanwhile more space has been acquired for possible expansion so as to accommodate more children.
It will be recalled that the workplace crèche donated by the Ministry of Women Affairs is the second state government’s crèche after the one donated by the Ministry of Commerce and industry.
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.
