Women
Our Communities Should Empower Women – Manjor

Lydia W. Ikunga Manjor, Eze Omehia Eli I of Evekwu Community, Emohua.
History was made in the state on the 27th of last month, when an illustrious daughter of the state, Lydia Ikunga-Manjor, was coronated the Eze Omehia Eli I of Evekwu, Odegu Community, Emohua Local Government Area, by the Evekwu Community Council of Chiefs led by His Royal Highness, Ohama Odudu Dimkpa Nweeli.
Manjor, a renown journalist and lawyer merited the exalted position through her immense contribution to the human and physical development of her community.
In this interview with our Deputy Editor (features), the Eze Omehia Eli I (the pioneer of good things) gives us an insight into the journey of her becoming a Chief, what that means to her, and how she will use her enviable position to better the lots of her community and many more.
Excerpts.
Can I meet you?
My name is Lydia Ikunga Manjor. I came from Evekwu, in Odegu Community, Emohua Local Government Area. I attended University of Port Harcourt where a baged a degree in Theartre Arts. I have a diploma in Journalism from IIJ. Later I went to Rivers State University of Science and Technology to obtain LLB.
Last December a personal Assistant to the Paramount ruler of Evekwu Community met me and told me that my community would be interested to give me a chieftaincy title. Prior to this, other people specifically some youths in the community had also discussed the same issue with me. I never took it serious .
When they said that I would just say please you people should leave me along. Do they make a woman titled chief”, and they would laugh. Until that day in December when the PA, who is also a chief came and in the course of our discussion he said, “We want to make you a titled chief. You have worked so much for this community. I asked do they crown a woman chief? He said yes we want to do it, go and think about it. Later he called me and said,” Our Royal Highness, Oha Dimkpa Odudu and the elders of the community are serious about giving you a chieftaincy title. So I accepted. He conveyed my position to the Paramount Ruler and His council of Chiefs to tell them that I had accepted. Later he called me back to tell me that the entire council was interested in me becoming a chief. He told me things to do. That was the first stage. I did it. I also finished the second stage. He now went to the village square in the presence of the entire community to inform the people of what they intended doing and asked if there was any opposition. Nobody said no. everybody accepted.
He then later informed me that everybody had accepted, that I should get ready to finish what was remaining. I asked him that being a woman, were they not going to wave certain things for me. They said no, I will do every thing that it takes to be a chief. And that I did.
You said one reason given by the chiefs for conferring you with the title was that you have done so much for your community. May I know some of these things you did?
I contributed in building health centre in my community. I was instrumental to the registration of the community’s youth football club being registered with Rivers State Government Sports Council. I also coordinated a Women’s group called the Rumuihuordu daughters and registered them with the Corporate Affairs Commission. In short, there is nothing that my community does that I don’t contribute to when called upon-both the ones propounded and the unpronounced ones. I do it my little way.
Being a woman and well educated, some people may wonder why you accepted to take chieftaincy title?
It was not a mere title that was given to me. They wanted me to be among the policy making body of the community, to represent the female folk. And I feel that it is a responsibility being given to me and I accepted it. I see it as an opportunity to further contribute to the development of my community and to ensure that women’s voice is heard.
Could you please explain to me the type of title given to you and the responsibilities attached to it?
I was given the title of Eze Omehia Eli I of Evekwu, Odegu Community. That means the pioneer of good things. They feel that I do good things in the community.
Is it like something you can hand over to a member of your family when you are gone?
No, it is a chieftaincy title. It cannot be handed over to another person.
But you were given a stool. What happens to the stool after you and does it mean people will be coming to you with cases?
Yes, that was why I was called upon. They want my contribution to the peace and development of the community.
I suppose you are the only woman in the council of chiefs, how do you feel about that and how are you going to cope?
I will just be myself.
Don’t you think they will intimidate you?
They cannot I will be myself.
I will tell them what I know is right. If I see that there will be controversy. I will drop the matter and take it up next time until I buy over their hearts. It is not a matter of struggling. It is a matter of subtle persuasion.
How are you going to use this your position to better the lots of women in your community?
We will organise programmes for them, teaching them the norms of the society. most times when a man dies, the wife is accused of killing him, but no man is ever accused of killing his wife. So if we should start having programmes sensitising men and women about it, I think such things will be reduced. I will also work to see that more women get educated.
As a Christian, don’t you think it is not proper to take such a title that will see you mingling with “unbelievers” and engaging in ungodly’ activities?
It is good for a Christian to take such title so that if the other members of the council are doing what is contrary to the word of God you will correct them and say “No, this thing is not good”. But if you are out there an say you are a Christian and you don’t want to participate, how will they know that what they are doing is wrong. They wouldn’t know.
What if they want you to take part in some fetish, traditional that might not be in accordance with your faith as a Christian?
You will tell them politely that this is not good and give them reasons why such act is not good. A day before I was coronated, they told me that there were things and things and things that they would do. I told them no, this is a civilized time, such things shouldn’t be done and they did not do it.
I know some people will frown at a woman being given such exalted position. What can you say to that?
That’s their own mentality. If I should go school and sit down with a man in the same class room, a woman will make first class, woman will go to school and obtain first degree, second degree, what is wrong with the woman taking a title? There is nothing wrong with a woman taking a title.
You know we belong to a society where many believe women should only be seen and not heard!
We are not dragging anything with men. All we ask is that they should give us chance for our voice to be heard. It’s just a matter of allowing women give them opinions on issues that concern them and everything in the community. Even in your house you give opinion, then what will make you not to give opinion outside?
What do you stand to gain as Eze Omehieli I of Evekwu Odegu Community?
What I stand to gain is to see that my women are carried along.
There is no material gain?
Nothing! Nothing! But if that should come in a right way, I will take.
How do you hope to marry your duties as a chief and your official duties?
All that is required is proper time management. I will plan my self very well, hoping that the time they sit doesn’t coincide with my work.
How often do they sit?
They sit ones every week.
What do you have to tell other communities?
What I have to tell other communities is that they should take a lead from Evekwu, Odegu community. They should know that women also have something to contribute. Women also have the ability to build the nation. They should recognise and empower women just as my community did.
Calista Ezeaku
Women
Women Can Go Without Artificial Beauty
Looking good is some women’s business. Looking beautiful for some persons is more important than food. Some prefer to appear trendy instead of attending to household pressure.
Beauty they say is in the eye of the beholder. Every woman by creature is beautiful but some persons feel that the way they were created is not enough. They feel that perhaps the creator should have added more features to their physic.
Artificial beauty did not start today, it has been there as far as man exists. From time to time, there has been one form of additional make-up or the other that women especially, must add to their natural look.
When you look at some of our elders, especially women, you notice certain drills or symbols (tattoo) on their skins, mostly on their hands and legs, in form of designs with dark prints. That is a form of artificial beauty. These days, some young ones still use such to beautify themselves.
It is not only women that are involved in artificial beauty, some young men also have likeness for it. It is common nowadays to see younger male folks spend money to pierce their ears to wear earrings. They also style their hairs in various forms to appear like women so as to look more handsome. This no doubt costs them more money than being in their natural look.
Every generation grows with it’s own new systems, items, styles of artificial beauty. Before now, African women generally and Nigeria in particular had their hair in natural form.
As civilisation and westernisation continued, Nigerian women started copying, for instance, perming of their hair to look like the White women. They started using western-produced chemicals (relaxers) to make their hairs look sleepy and smoother.
Nigerian women used to plate their hair with black thread or go with their hair well cut at low level. In terms of weaving, it was without attachment. The issue of women weaving hair with attachment came with civilisation. That is also a form of make-up.
The quest for extra beauty aside the way women were created has been from one generation to another.
Two or three decades ago, ladies used mascaras to darken and thicken their eyelashes. But in this 21st century, another system has evolved. Fixing of artificial eyelashes has become the order of the day.
In that case, it becomes difficult for them to scratch their eyes Incase of any itches. Some of their eyes turn reddish because of the touch.
There was a lady who was fixing her eyelashes in a salon, unfortunately, she got a phone call that her mother was late, as she started crying, it was difficult for her to clean the tears that were flowing down her cheeks.
The reason was for fear of the eye lashes falling off while cleaning the tears off her eyes.
One funny thing about fixing of artificial eyelashes is that some persons cannot close their eyes properly. The beauty they have in mind before fixing is not really achieved as their look become something anybody cannot behold. Both the shape of their eyes and facial outlook automatically change. One begins to wonder if that is the beauty they are looking for. Instead of looking beautiful, the reverse becomes the case.
As years go by, artificial beauty becomes more sophisticated in the society. The price and cost for looking more beautiful than women were created naturally becomes higher than their natural look.
The cosmetic industry becomes one of the most viable industries worldwide because some women desire artificial beauty. Some engage in cosmetic surgery to alter any part of their body which does not give them pleasure especially the fatty parts. Some go for surgery to make their slacked breasts to return to their original shapes as well as those with big tummies.
It is interesting to note that currently, Nigerian ladies have started to give preference to their natural hair and this is attracting a lot of admiration for them. Many prefer that natural look with low cuts. With that, the cost of maintaining the hair by ladies is reduced.
I think this is commendable as it will save the women from the negative effect of chemical used in manufacturing hair relaxers.
It is also common to see ladies on low cut hairs that are either light complexion, red and other funny colours.
People have been addicted to artificial beauty to the extent that they insert certain substances into their bodies to make them become more robust and attractive to their admirers.
I don’t understand why we should be crazy about adding more to our natural look. Every woman wants to look attractive in a packaged manner without recognising the implications of artificial beauty and make-up.
In fact, women’s quest for beauty has taken different dimension as they tend to appear trendy at home, in offices and as they go about their businesses. That is just to feel belonged and achieve self-esteem.
I recall a few years back, my pastor who trained as an Engineer advised women against the use of lipstick. He said that one of the chemical components of lipstick is lead and that it is dangerous to humans. Many women may not understand the reality of what he said until it manifests.
I think those who are naturally beautiful should not go for artificial make-ups. They should be satisfied with the work of their creator. Women should not continue to paint their faces to look like masquerades and should not lose value due to artificial beauty.
It may interest you to know that persons who apply make-ups excessively are mocked instead of being admired. Make-ups can be applied lightly.
Fixing of nails is another business. After fixing nails, some women find it difficult to perform house cores. Washing their personal belongings becomes a problem. The artificial nails become so long and sophisticated to the extent that the bearer cannot handle objects properly. Those in that habit also find it difficult to eat food with the fingers.
There are people who feel they should have been born in certain colour but when the reverse is the case, they seek artificial make-up. Use of skin-toning cream and soap becomes the option for artificial beauty. This happens to the extent that the users start having dark spots on the skin. Blisters occur on their faces and legs.
Unfortunately, this is an era when there are different kinds of cancer affecting women especially. It becomes difficult to identify the kind of make-up that can be cancerous.
It is high time people had stopped following trend to the detriment of their health.
Ladies should not present themselves as laughing stock with unnecessary make-up as they can still be cherished in their natural outlook.
Eunice Choko – Kayode
Women
IDGC: Girls’ Vision For The Future
Yearly, the girls are celebrated not just because they are girls, but because of their importance to families, society and the nation at large.
You will agree that when the girl-child comes into a family first, that family is blessed. The assistance she renders to the family can not be compared to that of the opposite sex.
The job she does in the home cuts across many duties. In the home, she takes care of her younger ones. She assists her mother in carrying out house chores. After her educational career and she obtains a job, she caters for her family even as she is married out. She takes care of her aged parents in her matrimonial home.
This same girl-child when given the right training and opportunities, will also train her offspring. Thus, “train a woman and you train a nation”. When women are at the helms of affairs, things are done better.
Celebrating the girl-child yearly is a call to parents, families, faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, governments at all levels, and all relevant organisations that have one or two things to do with the girls to continue to put in place policies that will enhance their well-being.
On a daily basis, the girl-child faces more challenges. Sometimes, she finds it difficult to resist dangers. The issue of rape, violence of any form, sexual harassment, intimidation, discrimination in families about who should go to school or not.
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State chapter, called on the government, the state and local assembly to enact laws that criminalise any act capable of impeding the education of the girl-child.
The association made the call as it joined the world to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child, in Port Harcourt, Friday.
NAWOJ also appealed to ministry of education and other relevant authorities to prevail against hawking during school hours, as well as call for an end to early girl-child marriage.
The state chairperson of the association, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, who spoke in an interview with the press said: “We are calling on the Rivers State government, the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Local Assembly to enact laws that criminalise any act capable of impeding on the education of the girl child.
“We also want the government to throw her weight against any girl-child found hawking on the streets during school hours as this will serve as deterrent to any parent or ward that is nursing such idea.
“There is need for every girl-child to be properly educated as this impact generally on the society positively.”
Speaking on the 2024 theme which is, “Girls’ Vision For The Future”, NAWOJ chair stressed the need for parents to prioritise the education of their daughters.
She explained that quality education was key to an assured future for every girl-child, stressing that education unlocks doors of possibilities and the I-can spirit.
Her words: “Remember, you put an end to blind submission when you train the girl-child. Today, many girl-children have been abandoned and are left to pass through harrowing conditions that they never dreamt of due to lack of education.
“Do you know that the girl child suffer most as she is confronted with lots of challenges from the day she was born into a home; siblings rivalry on who should go to school and who should not, a decision that most parents take that negatively impedes on the girl-child and to the day she steps into her husband’s house, especially with a wicked mother-in-law or father-in-law.”
She noted that only those female children privileged to acquire quality education can surmount the challenges that confront them on their way to greatness.
“As we all know that the role of every woman in the society cannot be over-emphasised as such without education given to the gild-child, the society will raise dysfunctional women, who are abused, used and abandoned”, she emphasised.
The NAWOJ chair insisted: “When the girl-child is exposed to education, you have given her opportunity to endless possibilities, thereby putting an end to subjugation and blind subservient”.
As Rivers State joins the rest of the world to mark the 2024 International Day of the Girl-Child, a non-profit organisation, Multi Stakeholders Committee for the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence in Rivers State has called for policies to protect the girl- child against gender-based violence.
It also urged for massive investment in the development of the girl-child.
The group said this in a statement to mark the day.
According to the statement signed by the coordinator of the group, who is also the Head of the Public Defender, Rivers State, Evelyn Membere Asimiea, time has come for the society to stand together and ensure that no girl is left behind.
She also said the celebration which has as its theme, “Girls, Vision For The Future”, is a call to action not just to acknowledge the challenges girls face but to actively empower them.
According to the statement, as we join the global community to celebrate the International Day of the Girl-Child, we are reminded of the powerful potential of every girl and the urgent need to invest in their rights. This year’s theme, “Girls: Vision For The Future,” calls us to action not just to acknowledge the challenges girls face but to actively empower them as leaders of tomorrow.
Mrs Asimiea said time has come for stakeholders including government, civil society organisations, families and individuals to stand together and ensure that no girl is left behind.
“As Coordinator of the Multi-Stakeholders Committee for the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence and Head of the Office of the Public Defender, Rivers State, I wish to highlight that our girls are at the heart of building strong, safe, and prosperous communities. Yet, they are often the most vulnerable to violence, discrimination, and neglect. It is time for all of us—government, civil society, families, and individuals—to stand together and ensure that no girl is left behind”, the statement said.
She also called for massive investment in the girl- child, adding: “Investing in girls means ensuring they have access to quality education, healthcare, and equal opportunities.
“It means protecting them from all forms of gender-based violence (GBV), child marriage, and harmful traditional practices.
“When we invest in the safety, education, and empowerment of girls, we are investing in the future of our state and nation.”
It reiterated its commitment to continue to advocate for the right of the girl child, stressing that the group is working tirelessly to advocate for the rights of girls and the women.
“We are working tirelessly to advocate for the rights of girls and women, providing legal support to survivors of GBV, and pushing for stronger policies to prevent violence and protect their futures.
“But we cannot do it alone. We need every family, every community leader, and every citizen to take responsibility for the well-being of our girls.
“On this day, I urge you all to commit to creating a world where every girl feels safe, valued, and empowered to lead. Together, we can build a Rivers State where girls’ rights are protected, and their leadership flourishes, for the future of all of us”, the coordinator said.
As we mark this year’s girl-child day, women groups all over the world should as a matter of fact, continue to create awareness on the need to develop them in the right way so that they can showcase their potentials.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
Women
Girl-Child Development And Early Marriage
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