Women
Boosting Women’s Participation In Politics
A recent national
forum on mainstreaming gender in governance, organised in Abuja by National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), provided another platform for women to canvass adequate participation in politics.
Nigerian women have, on many occasions, been agitating for the rectification of what they describe as lopsidedness in the public office appointments which, they say, are not in their favour.
The women observe that since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, they have been struggling for inclusion in the affairs of the country in spite of their numerical strength and waxing influence.
Citing the country’s general election in 2011 as an instance, they claim that female candidates fared poorly, with only 32 women elected into the National Assembly.
The women point at current records, which indicate that only nine women are among the 109 senators in the Senate, while 27 women are in the 360-member House of Representatives.
However, the women’s advocacy has received the attention of the United Nations Development Programme (NDP) which, via its Democratic Governance for Development project, developed a pilot scheme recently to boost women’s participation in politics.
The scheme particularly aims at supporting the involvement of more female candidates in elections, especially at the local level; as it represents the springboard to the other levels of government.
The programme has trained more than 1,300 female politicians and voters in two pilot states — Plateau and Ekiti — while at the national level; more than 2,000 female politicians have received training in various electoral processes.
Stressing the need for increased women’s participation in politics at the forum, Ms Onyeka Onwenu, the Director-General of NCWD, said that Nigerian women did not have to beg for positions.
She emphasised that the Nigerian women should go beyond the 35 percent affirmative action, set in the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and demand for 45 percent representation as their right.
She said that no nation could develop without the input of women, adding that tangible efforts should be made to jettison attitudes which denigrated women.
However, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, gave the assurance that women would always be recognised in the country’s scheme of things.
According to her, this is because no country can achieve any meaningful development without the active participation of women.
In a message to the forum, Dame Jonathan pledged that she would advocate a level beyond the 35 percent affirmative action, as part of efforts to boost women’s participation in governance to a level that was akin to that of men.
“We are no longer comfortable with the 35 per-cent affirmative action; what we now want is 50-50 with our male counterparts.
“Women are responsible for nurturing the future generation of the country; they should be considered for greater roles in governance,’’ she added.
Mrs Jonathan, however, called on the National Assembly to include the 35 percent affirmative action for women in the constitution, stressing that women would not relent in efforts to pursue their legitimate demands.
“We must continue the campaign on gender mainstreaming in governance, which I have been promoting with other women.
“The campaign has led to the establishment of the Women for Change Initiative as a platform for promoting women participation in politics,’’ she said.
Mrs Funmi Adeyemi, a civil servant, who spoke on women’s participation in politics, said that women should have more roles to play in politics, insisting that women were agents of change in any society.
Mrs Dorcas Jonah, a journalist, said: “Although nature has made it that men should dominate, women should, nonetheless, make themselves relevant in the scheme of things’’.
All the same, Mr Mike Omeri, the Director-General of NOA, said that “the current administration is bent on gender mainstreaming and it will build on the past efforts aimed at giving women and youths the chance to exhibit their talents.
“The agency is poised to take the campaign on gender mainstreaming to every part of the country, especially as it concerns the girl-child who must be educated.’’
The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, said that women ought to be fully involved in the affairs of their country.
He said that President Goodluck Jonathan had pledged to give the needed support to women in their desire to have more representatives in governance.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Institute, a non-governmental organisation that aids democratic institutions across the world, has said that the equitable participation of women in politics is essential for building and sustaining any democracy.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the institute’s Chairman, said: “Every country deserves to have the best possible leader; that means women ought to be given a chance to compete.
“If they’re never allowed to compete in the electoral process; then, the countries are really robbing themselves of a great deal of talents.’’
Ogunshola writes for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Femi Ogunshola
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.