Women
NGO Establishes Girls Centre In PH
Sometimes, one wonders if the age-long slogan “train a man, you train a personality but train a woman, you train a nation” is true as well as being accepted.
To many families, the girl child is a second class citizen whose efforts should be channelled towards the welfare, education and comfort of her male siblings in the family. Worst still, her opinion does not matter when the decisions have been taken by her parents.
Some girls are subjected to preasures of making money for their brothers education that push them into various anti-social vices, ranging from drugs, unwanted pregnancies, prostitution and armed robbery some are so frustrated in their homes that they took to the streets to relieve themselves from such preasures, while peer group pressures finish the rest of the story.
These situations informed the passion of lady Doris Onyeneke, an Estate Surveyor, to seek a way of helping a frustrated girl child on the street. To Lady Onyeneke, all hope is not lot for the girl, though the society has written her off for taking to crime and the related urgly behaviours that de-ropes a girl / woman.
Lady Onyeneke’s dreams and target are how to ensure that something better comes out of that girl who has become homeless and useless by the ratings and judgement of the family, friends and society at large.
She said that her passion led her to float a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) called “Mother of Good Counsel Initiative (MOGCI) which enables her to reach out frustrated girls and counsel them on the need for change.
“My family, friends and society have concluded on me that nothing good will ever come out of me, so there is no need to worry my life, anything I see becomes my portion”, she said is always the response of the girls when contacted.
To her, tears always mark the end of discussion but to God be the glory according to her, that efforts put in to counsel these girls restore hope. Some girls have been taken back to schools and some have been enrolled in skill acquisition for better future according to her.
“The society needs these girls who are mothers of tomorrow. We build capacity, inspire them to build confidence in themselves as well as raise their self esteem,” she said.
To Lady Onyeneke, the girl child is very creative if given a sense of belonging in the home but the traditional belief system in Africa and Nigeria in particular has become a problem which the NGO is struggling to solve, as “our culture believes that women are not supposed to be heard. My only problem is finance”.
She said the challenges are enormous which resulted to the need to establish a “Matter Day Girls Centre”, that will serve as homes for those street girls who are homeless.
Onyeneke’s views on the centre is to bring about total repackaging of the girls mentality, physically and an honourable future. She said, “I have encountered cases that would have been better solved with the girls accommodated for concentrated lessons. I know the centre if achieved will produce girls of sound minds.”
At the formal inauguration of MOGCI NGO in Port Harcourt which started six years ago, Dr Jennifer Spiff, co-ordinator of Women Initiative for Transparency and Social Justice (WITSOJ) referred to the centre as a welcomed development that will help the less privileged girls.
“This is a laudable porgramme that will stop the wasting of girls on the streets of our state. The organisation may not do it all but will definitely contribute its quota to the society, she said.
“When the street girls are brought under one umbrella, their capacity are built for better life. I see what the initiative is doing as a boost to what government is doing to achieve a better future.
“The girl child has a role to play in bringing peace to the society because most of the street girls are friends to the rough boys that disturb the environment. How I wish other NGOs will borrow a leaf from them and plan towards helping the girls and even the boys”.
To Mrs Susan Bassey Duke, the leader of Gender Development Action, the path chosen by the NGO remains a challenging one and can succeed if the leaders persevere not minding the difficulties they will meet on the way.
Duke said the society knows the value of women and understand that if given equal opportunity, the girls would always do better than their male counterparts. It is very true”, if you want something said, ask a man but if you want something done, ask a woman”.
The women leaders who has worked in the Niger Delta for 10 years now, said she would partner with the noble initiative geared towards restoration and peace in our environment.
A counselor in the NGO, Mrs Doris Chinwo said the girls are always tempted by their desire to make money and be like others, which most times throw them into trouble.
This quest she aid exposes them to danger so they need guidance to enable them come back to their senses. “A counselor would also make the girls understand the consequences of what they are doing to themselves.
“The society is not too friendly that is why you will see a father or grandfather using money to spoil teenagers in the name of suger daddes. What about the men that rape even those that try to keep their virginity and those who are even children.
“Mother of Good Counsel build self worth in the victims of circumstance and the girls centre would go a long way in helping the organization to achieve the set goals and objective, though the project needs a lot of fund to execute”.
If the truth should be told, more need to be done by individuals communities politicians, churches and the government at large, to give the girl child a sense of belonging which will inturn relieve them of the many pressures experienced at home and society caused by the customs and traditions of Nigeria which has not favoured the girl child compared to her male counterpart.
Lilian Peters
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.
