Women
IWD: NAWORG Wants Recognition Of Women Based On Competence, Capabilities
There has been a consensus on the need to stop recognising women based on their gender, but rather to recognise them by the content of their competence, capability, and intelligence they possess.
This was the accepted modus by resource persons, stakeholders, and gluts of women who gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day, organised by PHCCIMA, Rivers State Chapter of NACCIMA Women Group, NAWORG, held at the council Hall of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce.
PHCCIMA President, Chief Nabil Saleh in his welcome address noted that women should be held in high esteem following their high efficiency rate in positions of trust and ability to balance professional and personal leadership skills.
According to the PHCCIMA helmsman, the present administration has huge regard for the female gender, which ultimately premised the victorious election of three women based on merit, capabilities, and competence; hence the constitution of PHCCIMA Executive Committee with three women and three men. He said International Women’s Day is not only an occasion to congratulate our beloved women, mothers, sisters, and daughters, but also one to give them their pride of place and appreciate their role in society.
He said PHCCIMA will continue to support women entrepreneurship and empowerment by providing opportunities for them to harness their potential via the NAWORG PHCCIMA chapter.
In her keynote address, PHCCIMA’s Publicity Secretary and Lead Consultant of IHP Consulting Limited, Mrs Mercy Bello Abu, Speaking on the Theme: I Am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Right”, challenged women to pursue the bigger objectives of achieving more in their endeavours by thinking futuristically.
She urged them to invest in developing themselves by way of competence, capabilities, and versatility, stressing that when women gather things happen when they succeed, we all succeed and when women grow, their families, communities, and countries grow with them.
She said: “Complete gender equality might not be achieved in this generation, however, we must not relax but jointly do out bits as women by uniting and synergising to get closer to achieving our dream”. Mrs Abu who is the Founder of the Empowerment Platform Initiative disclosed that Chairman of First Bank, Ibukun Awosika and former Minister of Finance, now Economic Adviser of South Africa, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala are good examples of what women can do when saddled with positions of trust.
Earlier on, the Rivers state co-ordinator of NAWORG, PHCCIMA, Rivers State chapter, Arc. Oriaku Hanson Oyet-Ille had said NAWORG is a trade group within NACCIMA and is supported by all city chambers.
According to her, Rivers, NAWORG in synergy with PHCCIMA had organised the event to celebrate women globally; she enjoined all women operating the business in Rivers State to join the chamber movement and benefit from her mandate of facilitating women participation in commerce and governance; identifying profitable business and market opportunities for members; seamless access to loans; providing relevant and far-reaching business information to enhance member businesses, enhancing local and international business networking, help women entrepreneurs in establishing expanding their business interests nationally and internationally, among others. She also urged participants not to limit themselves by joining NAWORG alone, but to join the Port Harcourt Chamber of commerce to enjoy the full benefit of membership.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon Mrs Ifeyinwa Nwankpa urged women to continue to appreciate their intrinsic value, and boundless opportunities for success, she said where there is unity and a collective sense of purpose amongst them the sky will be their limit, noting that “as women, we need to actively listen to each other and support ourselves”.
Others who spoke include the Proprietress of Jephtah International Group of Schools, Hon. Mrs Ifeoma Edith Chukwuogu who gave an eye-opening insight on successful ‘Business Tips’. Mr Chika Chinwah, PHCCIMA member and Lead Director of Rivers Local Enterprise and Business Linkages who made presentations on “Preparing for Opportunities”, while National Vice President of Manufacturers Association Of Nigeria (MAN), Mrs Emilia E. Akpan, who remarked that the Chief Nabil Saleh led government has recorded enormous success due to women’s positive contribution also spoke alongside the Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs Director, Mrs. Camelita.
Globally, March 8 every year is a day set aside by the United Nations since 1977 to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year’s theme: “Each for Equal” denotes an enabled world where everyone can help to create a gender-equal world, challenging stereotypes, fighting bias, broadening perceptions, improving situations and celebrating women’s achievements.
The highlight of the event was the exhibition of products, networking, business tips for success, healthy lifestyle, laughter and learning and group photographs.
By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
Women
Nigeria Deserves Stylish, Sophisticated Designs-Igiebor Daddy Lucky
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
Women
Women Can Curb Indecent Dressing
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.