Women
Mothering Sunday: Kattey Harps On Extra-Ordinary Virtues
In less than 24 hours
from now, the stage will be set for the celebration of a yearly event that ignites the excitement of mothers and families among the Anglican Communion and the Catholic family.
The aroma and sound of the season, including activities visible around the neighbourhood, are signaling the proximity of the 2014 mothering Sunday.
Heralding the arrival of this all important event, wife of the Arch Bishop of the Province of Niger Delta North, who also doubles as the Provincial Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union, Mrs Beatrice G. Kattey speaks on the need for women to play their role as models to the society.
In an interview with the Women Editor of The Tide Newspaper, Mrs Kattey ceased the opportunity provided by the theme of this year’s celebration, “the extra-ordinary mother” to woo women and mothers in particular to characters of virtue, she said it takes virtue to be distinguished and remain honorable in a corrupt society.
In her message to the women of the Anglican Communion and Rivers State at large, Mrs Kattey said “women should shun all forms of negativity,” she maintains that women by their nature are made to be responsible creatures and so should endeavour to live up to expectation.
She calls on women to use the occasion of the Mothering Sunday to pray for their children and the nation in general,” it is my candid opinion and suggestions that this year’s Mothering Sunday: would afford us the opportunity to pray together for the casting away of all limitations that Satan had placed upon our progress as a nation, diocese or as individual Christians and families”. She insists that if mothers play their role as models, most of the societal ills will be minimized. In her words, “after thorough self-examination, the extra ordinary woman discovers that everything about her must be anchored on raising a godly home.”
Speaking on the focus for this year’s celebration, “reaching out to the needy,” the mothers’ union president said the importance of letting the less privileged and indigents within our neighbourhood feel the impact of mothers in their lives cannot be over emphasized, stating that as Godly mothers, their motherly roles must not be limited to their biological children only, but must be extended to those who may not have any one to address as mother.
Mrs Kattey who also bared her mind on indecent dressing among the young girls, said it is not only a problem of the young girls alone. Indicting women also, as accomplices, she said indecent dressing is an offshoot of the alliance between the wearer herself, the mother (biological or whoever plays such role in her life) and the tailor. She believes that if the second and third accomplices would discourage the wearers over such dressing, the trend would obviously be checked.
Meanwhile the Mothering Sunday season, is one season women look up to seeing because it gives them joy. It is a period mothers are always remembered.
The variety programs that are introduced with each passing season make the yearly ritual come alive, worth celebrating and without any loss of value.
Organisers of this program package it in a way that presents it as an all-important event.
One of the programs of this event that makes it highly relevant is its emphasis on charity outreach. Aside the biblical studies and other religious activities that characterize this event, the importance attached to the need to reach the needy is a commendable virtue.
For both the Catholic Women Organization and the Mothers Union of the Anglican Communion, visit to the less-priviledged in the society, especially the ones around our environment is given a priority attention.
Mothers in the business of Charity
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.
