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
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
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
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Minister Lauds Diri On Health Sector Performance … Inaugurates Hemodialysis Centre In Bayelsa
-
Politics4 days ago
Diri Renders Stewardship As Jonathan, Others Grace Anniversary Celebration
-
News5 days ago
Group Endorses Fubara For Second Term
-
Business4 days ago
LCCI Urges FG To Reduce Inflation Through Improved Petrol Export
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
Delta Approves N275bn For 76 Projects Execution
-
Features4 days ago
A Farewell To Arms In Ogoni
-
Business5 days agoNigeria’s Non-Oil Exports Growth Rises 20.7% To $5.45bn In 2024
-
Politics4 days ago
2027: SDP Advocates Principles-Based Alliances For Good Governance