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Diezani The Opec Queen

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History was made
penultimate Thursday as the news of the first female OPEC President rented the air. At the 166th Ordinary Meeting of the Organisation of Petroluem Exporting Countries  in Vienna, Austria, Nigeria, the Giant of Africa, produced a queen found worthy to steer the ship of the organisation for the next one year.
Hurray! Diezani Allison-Madueke nee Agama, the Petroleum Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the chosen, fit enough to wear the cap, this underscores the integrity of the Nigerian Women and a plus to womanhood at large.
It is not really a surprise that the able minister of Petroleum Resources emerged the first female President of OPEC. A reflection on her records reveals that Mrs Allison-Madueke had always been the first female to hold many of the positions she had occupied in life.
In April, 2006, Shell Petroleum Development Company appointed her its first female Executive Director in Nigeria. In 2007 she became the first female Minister of Transportation and 2008, Diezani was appointed the first female Minister of Mines and Steel Development.
Untill her emergence as the OPEC President, she remains Nigeria’s first female Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Born 06/12/1960 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Diezani Allison-Madueke holds a bachelor degree in Architecture, awarded to her by Howard University and an MBA in Architectural intern from Cambridge University.
Before her appointment in 2010 as Petroleum Resources Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Diezanni Allison-Madueke had served Nigeria as Minister of Transportation and that of Mines and Steel Development in 2007, 2008 respectively.
From the position of a Head of Corporate Issues Management in Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeira Limited, Lagos, a position she held from 1993-1996, Mrs Allison-Madueke who started her career as a project engineer, American. Interior Builders in Washington, has served humanities in other capacities ranging from Design Coordinator, Furman Construction management Inc., Rockville, United States. Project manager, facilities planning and Developement Department, Howard University and Head Project Unit, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Lagos.
Those who are acquainted with the Petroleum Minister would attest that nothing tops her priority than steering the petroleum industry bill through the National Assembly.  Thus, the choice of Diezani as the OPEC President may have been made possible due largely to her obvious contributions in her present position. As minister of Petroleum Resources, Allison-Madueke has pledge to transform Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to the benefit of all Nigerians. To this end, President Goodluck Jonathan has signed the Nigerian Content Act, which aims to increase the per cent age of petroleum industry contracts that are awarded to indigenous Nigerian businesses- a reaction to the domination of the sector by foreign operators.
Allison-Madueke has supported the discontinuation of the subsidy on the grounds that it poses a huge financial burden on the government, disproportionately benefits the wealthy and encourages inefficiency, corruption and diversion of scarce public resources away from investment in critical infrastructure.
Allison-Madueke is expected to take over from Abdourhman Atahar Al-Ahirish, Libya’s Vice Prime Minister for Corporations from January 2015.
Her election no doubt is not without great expectations from member countries and Nigerians in particular especially as regarding oil prices.
However, she has said that there are no quick fixes to sliding oil prices, but maintained that “the strategy the federal government of Nigeria intends to deploy to cushion the effect of the fall is to develop the country’s gas infrastructure for domestic use.”
She said the current trend would make Nigeria to look very stringent again at the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which is already before the national assembly to ensure that the enablers therein are explored to make it more competitive in the global energy market.
With the burden of falling oil prices impacting on both OPEC and non OPEC member countries Diezani promises that OPEC would provide a platform for member-countries  to find a remedy and deal with the challenges posed by the Shale oil and gas from the United States and the current decline in crude oil prices.
Congratulations our amiable amazon, a worthy representative of African Women on the move, let us celebrate our women, they hold the key to something great in Africa.

 

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

Diezani Allison -Madueke, first Opec Female President

Diezani Allison -Madueke, first Opec Female President

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Nigeria Deserves Stylish, Sophisticated Designs-Igiebor Daddy Lucky

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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

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Women Can Curb Indecent Dressing

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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.

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NWAPDI Launches Home Farming Scheme For Women In Okrika

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A non-governmental group,  Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive Development Initiative (NWAPDI), has taken it’s sensitization programme on home grown farming to women in Okrika Local Government Area.
The body which started in April, 2024 in Rivers State is boasting of huge grassroot followership and is planning a green revolution.
The Rivers State Coordinator, Barrister Ngozi Ajayi, who disclosed this in Okrika, last Thursday, said the programme would change the fortunes of women farmers and their families.
Ajayi was joined by  local government coordinators from Etche, Okrika, Emohua, and Omuma, at Ibaka Town, Okrika, to inaugurate 12-member Ward Coordinators of NWAPDI in the area.
Ajayi stated that since July, when the local government coordinators of NWAPDI were inaugurated, the body which aims to boost food sufficiency and arm women with skills in agro-production, had grown in followership, especially among the women folk.
She commended women in Okrika for the interest they had shown in the scheme, adding that she was impressed with the huge turnout and participation.
Shortly after inaugurating the 12 Ward Coordinators, Ajayi charged the women to exploit the opportunities provided by NWAPDI.
She reiterated that the body had come to stay as a way of  improving the wellbeing of women who, most times, were providers in their families.
“We want all of you to go back to your families and tell your people that whatever space you have, utilize it for subsistence farming.
“As you can see, the body is made up of lawyers, lecturers, teachers, and women in different sectors. The essence is to call attention on the need for women to collaborate together so their voices will be heard.
“Women are the major backbone in the agric sector, and if their efforts are harnessed to impact on the nation’s food production, their impact can go far,”she said.
With NWAPDI on board, she expressed optimism that the plight of women farmers would be reduced, such that all government and international support would get to the grassroots.
Also speaking, NWAPDI Coordinator in Okrika Local Government  Area, Prof. Nene Jamabo, a professor of Aqua Culture at the University of Port Harcourt, had  expressed delight over the interest shown by women in the LGA, saying with cluster farming, women would be empowered more than before.
“What we intend to do is Cluster Farming, and it’s  a whole lot of value chain. We want every woman to put food on their table.
“In Okrika we have observed that most of the women are into crafts, so we will combine cluster with integrated farming- to create a chain; some will be farming, some will be processing and others will be into marketing”, she said.
In her speech, the Chairperson, Caretaker Committee of Okrika Local Government Council, Mrs Gold Okujagu, who was represented by the Secretary of the Council, expressed satisfaction with the initiative.
She described NWAPDI as timely and very crucial to the current economic challenges in the country.
She explained that in an era of processed foods, the initiative would encourage women to grow organic foods.
She urged every woman to engage in subsistence farming at any level to reduce hazardous things that were being consumed as food.
Speaking after the inauguration, the Ward 2 Coordinator, Mrs Ibiere Williams, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State and Okrika Local Government Coordinators for organizing the programme.
Mrs Williams, who is of Ngeme-Biri, a civil servant, observed that many women from different parts of Okrika attended the programme, which indicated the readiness on their part to end food scarcity in the area.
“We saw many women from different parts of Okrika. That means we are ready to farm and see what we can gain. We appreciate the organisers, and they really encouraged us. We learned that there are so many ways for planting since we do not have much land in Okrika. Our women were happy.
“We are given these items free to plant in broken buckets, nylon and bags due to scarcity of land in the area. We were taught that sand mixed with fresh fish intestine can serve as manure. This was very educative. If we practice what we were taught, in the next one year, there will be food sufficiency in Okrika”, she said.
In her comments, a member of NWAPDI, Mrs Felicia Barasin, a business woman from Bulome-Biri stated that the programme was good and timely as many families were finding it difficult to feed because of the harsh economy.
Highlight of the occasion was the administration of oaths to the Ward Coordinators of the local government area by the Legal Officer, Ibiwari Maureen Waribo.
Also, the award of certificates and recognition of executive members of NWAPDI Okrika LGA by the State Coordinator. The EXCO include Vice Coordinator, Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo; Secretary, Ms. Constance Kalio; Treasurer, Mrs. Sime Loveday; and Public Relations Officer, Mrs Roseline Orupabo.
Cassava stems, okro, and vegetable seeds were shared amongst the women after the training section.
Over 500 women from Okrika Local Government Area attended the programme.
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