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Incessant Abduction Of Female Students: Time For Action

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News of abduction of
innocent school girls have become a recurrent decimal in Nigeria and worst still in Borno State.
Ordinarily, one would have expected that having happened for a consecutive two times within a very short interval and within same locality, measures would have been put in place to forestall any recurrence.
Unfortunately, it is still the same old tune of the masters, our usual fire brigade approach, that is not even with exception to sensitive issues as life.
Borno State now serves as heaven of sort for men of the underworld to carry out their evil antics after all, “we are on top of the situation” and “we are winning  the terrorism war” even with our whole body almost entirely dismembered.
Kudos! the Defence Headquarters said last Wednesday, that only eight of the 129 students abducted by the Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State were still missing, meaning the rest have been released from their abductors. Otherwise, all the calls by Labour, Republic of China, the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF), the first Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to security operatives for urgent action would have still been considered one of those old songs of distraction.
All the same, with President Goodluck Jonathan’s summon of members of the National Security Council to a meeting at the Presidential Villa on the development  in the country which will be followed by an enlarged meeting still on security developments in the country. With  the State governors, one hopes it does not turn out the same old songs we are used to.
After the meetings and resolutions taken, how these resolutions applied, what happened to the resolutions of previous meetings after previous attacks? remains the concern of many.
Before now attention was on business moguls and relatives of politicians from whom they get some ransome now, who pays for the school  girls whose sponsors may not be known? Is their intention still to make money out of the business?
This act of extremism as a means to an end has left so much to be desired.
Earlier in the week, the BBC have quoted parents to have told its Hausa Service that at least 200 girls were abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at the Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, following a violent attack in the town.
The local news had it that no fewer than 100 girls were abducted at the same school by the same sect.
In spite of the discrepancy in the two reports, one fact that is not in contention is that scores of young female students were abducted by the suspected Boko Haram insurgents at a Senior Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State the third of its kind in same state.
Barely a month ago, the second version of this abduction of female students was recorded in the same state of Borno, involoving over 70 school girls, a situation that took women and mothers to the streets on black, in protest against what they described as an heinous act that must be condemned intoto.
According to a report by PM News on Thursday, February 13, 2014, the Boko Haram gunmen invaded the village of Konduga in Borno on Tuesday evening February 11, 2014, killing over 40 people and abducting 20 females.
“Gunmen from Islamic sect, Boko Haram are certainly not waiting for the reward of Martyrdom  in heaven: the reward of 72 virgins by their creator, they are claiming the reward right here in Nigeria.” (PM News).
It would be recalled that in their attack on Konduga, Borno State, on Tuesday February 11, 2014, the menacing armed men did not just kill between 43 and 51 people, they also abducted 20 young girls from a local school, which the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, described not only as barbaric, but unfortunate.
Fejiro Oliver, a writer says it is not clear why they were abducted but that a source familiar with the actions of the group has revealed that they may have been kidnapped as sex toys for the terrorists.
“You know most of the Secondary School girls in the north are virgins and Boko Haram need  virgins to sleep with to quench their sex hunger,” the source said.
For whatever reasons that could be adduced for the perpetration of this dastardly act, it is a slight on the dignity of womanhood and lack of respect for the sanctity of life.
Can any sane mind justify any of the duo: ritual and sex toy purposes for the abduction of these innocent young minds?
Intermitently, schools especially in the north east zone of Nigeria are being closed down due to the activities of the evil men. Even when these schools are not officially closed down, it is not possible that students of these affected schools could be at ease to attend classes in their school in the face of all the dangers and risk? Even where the males summon courage to go to classes perhaps with the understanding that they are not the target, what becomes of the females?
What then is the hope for our children’s edcuation, life and future?
It is quite worrisome that the number of victims keeps increasing with each subsequent attack. From 20 girls in the February 11th attack, to 70 girls in the March 2nd attack and now over 100 girls in the April 15th attack. Who knows what the rate would be in the next attack should there be no obvious intervention by the government.
Much as the Boko Haram members are being suspected for every terrorist attack in Nigeria, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that “armed robbers and other criminals are fast abandoning their trades for the more lucrative business of kidnapping. Behind the abduction gangs springing up across the country are young smart and intelligent university graduates who are being lured into crime by growing unemployment.” (Olaolu Olusina and Anayo Okolie).
Criminals and men of the underworld are surely beating the law enforcement and security officers to the game by changing their tactics. The criminals, no doubt, are putting their guns to use for another business considered “less cumbersome but more rewarding”.
At a summit held in Lagos two years ago, the Regional Vice President, Africa American Society for Industrial Security, Mr Dennis Amachree, disclosed that, of the top 10 countries with high kidnapping records in 2007, Nigeria occupied the 6th position. But Nigeria ever since, has moved up to the third position, behind Mexico and Columbia.
Nigeria could remain in any position it so wishes in crime, the question in everyone’s lip is, will the security agents ever be on top of this ugly monster as always claimed?
It is so unfortunate that in the face of obvious and devastating consequences, the  federal and state governments have still not proven to the citizenry that there is any form of counter-check especially in Bornu State, even when the constitution is so glaring on matters of security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government.

 

Women protesting against the activities of evil men in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently.

Women protesting against the activities of evil men in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

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Women

The Desire Of Every Woman In Marriage

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A woman needs a man that is honest,  trustworthy,  nice,  loving and financially stable.
There are no two ways about finance in marriage. No matter the level of love, If there is no money,  it is always difficult.


Referring to the Biblical belief in Genesis 3:Your desire  shall be unto you……..
That is one aspect  the woman expects her husband to take care of.
A woman wants a husband that is not lazy,  at least helping to do one or two things.   A man that is educated and intelligent.
She knows that there is a trait that her husband has.  Traits of taking care of people,  giving freely to people and caring for her family.
A woman wants to love a husband that has family interest at heart. A man that spends time with his family,  remembering his family even as he is away from home.
A woman should not antagonise her husband because of one error or the other. No matter the level of offence he may have committed, you still show some love.


According to the Scripture, it is with wisdom that the women builds her home.
It is not as if the woman will not monitor her husband, but to certain limit.  Don’t be a monitoring spirit.  Don’t allow anything to take your joy.
Don’t loose trust in your husband.
The idea of checking your husband’s phone should be discouraged. The more you check your husband and his phone, the more you loose your joy.


The home should not be a battle ground for a woman and man.  A woman should be able to ask herself if the check on her husband will pay her any good.
Draw a line to a point where you checkmate your husband’s activities.
A woman wants a man that will love her and telling her you love her will be all she desires.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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Women

What Women Want In Yet-To -Be Husbands

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What women want in their yet-to- be husbands matters a lot as far as marriage is concerned.
A woman desires a good fnancial prospect. Interestingly, some modern women place a man’s financial potential as more desirable than they have in the past.
Many decades ago, women ranked it lower on the list. It still comes in after items like love and maturity, but perhaps today’s women realise that a good economic partner is good husband material.
Good health has been an important characteristic for women through the 20th century and remains so these days. One might argue that because we’re living even longer, health plays a huge role in the success of a marriage. Women are anxious to know that their partners are healthy to be able to run the family together.
You discover that in most faith based organisations, would- be couples are mandated to go for medical tests to ascertain their health status as it concerns HIV/AIDS, Genotype and other related ones. This according to stakeholders is to ensure that couples raise healthy families.
Ambition has become less important to women over time, though it still being considered even if women nowadays are thriving in the workforce competing with the male folk. It may be because more women are thriving in the workforce, they want a husband who has earning power but are not looking for him to be the sole provider.
More women want husbands with pleasing disposition. They may not want a man who is always moody. A man who is always cheerful is whom they desire.
Surprisingly, a man’s likes do not rank as high on women’s list of wants as it used to. Until recently, women are more willing to accept a man for who he his, despite the inevitable mood he may be.
Sociability from both men and women rank very high on their marriag material list. And for both sexes, it has been steadily moving up the list for many years. The rise of the “love marriage,” a partnership based on attraction rather than practicalities (like wealth or status) might mean that married couples are more likely to be friends and have mutual circles of friends.
A lot of couples want to associate with others and then socialise. Attending parties of other friends forms part of their marriage requirements.
Women have placed education and intelligence top making it one of their most desirable male traits for decades. This timeline coincides with more and more women receiving college education themselves. Once education becomes important in women’s lives, it is a more attractive trait in potential husbands.
Of course when a woman is educated, she is likely to go for an educated man. When they are gainfully employed, their income boost the family affairs faster.
Today, women are much more attracted to men who are interested in home and family than they ever have been. Men who have desire for their home and children is whom they desire.
After a days job, a man will come home to ensure that his children are comfortable. Because most women today are expecting to be in dual-earner relationships, they want husbands who will be happy and willing to contribute at home. More women today even report that they hope he will take the lead at home.
A woman wants a man who is emotionally stable and mature. Growing big physically is not the issue but maturity in the heart.
Men, too, place a heavy emphasis on a potential wife’s emotional maturity, signaling that it is a key quality for a stable partnership. Women seem to look past appearance to the heart of the matter.
A woman wants a man who is not easily provoked. Dependable character is what some women want in marriage.
Women want husbands that they can count on, and this has not changed in recent years. Yes, women look to their spouses to be lovers and friends, they also want them to be supportive and trustworthy. They want to know that their husbands will be there and remain loyal. Men, too, desire dependable character from their yet-to be wives.
Mutual attraction and love from the first appearance is what they want till they become old.
The highest-rated characteristic women seek from men is mutual attraction and love. Some no longer look for a man who will provide everything, afterall they are also educated and are gainfully employed, they want to be in love.
For some women, even when the man do not provide household needs, the love shown on her is enough. When women had no job prospects and needed to marry, they desired love . The women’s movement has not only helped women pursue careers, it has also given them more choice in love.

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Echoes Of IWD : Need To Invest In Women

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As this year’s Internatinal Women’s Day (IWD) has come and gone, there are calls from different quarters on the need to invest in women so that we can achieve accelerated growth.
It was, indeed, a thing of joy when Rivers Women Unite For Sim, took delivery of large quantities of sanitary towels and some bags of rice provided them for this year’s celebration.
Many young women expressed joy that they got such gesture since some of them have financial problems getting sanitary towels whenever they are on.
Some secondary school students were also lucky to have a share of the benefits. They also got some sanitary towels.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs organised a platform to celebrate and honour the women for the remarkable jobs they perform in their homes and society.
Addressing women on the occasion, the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Roseline Apawari Uranta, noted that women from time immemorial have been great pillars in achieving remarkable heights and stressed that IWD across the globe is pivotal all women for the roles they play in bringing, nurturing and sustaining life.
Dr. Uranta said that IWD, which started in 1911 and celebrated annually on March 8, is a global day that provides women a platform to address economic inclusion, participation in political and public life.
She said the day was set aside to look into lack of access to education for the girl-child, gender-based violence, child marriage, child trafficking, harmful cultural practices as well as other challenges facing women around the globe.
The Hon. Commissioner, who described March 8 as a day to celebrate the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women, emphasised that it is a day that offers women the opportunity to reflect on progressive achievements.
Noting that it is an opportunity to call for change, she stressed that it is also an opportunity to celebrate acts of courage and every achievement made by ordinary women who did extraordinary things and are remembered in history.
She noted that the IWD2024 theme:”Invest In Women, Accelerate Progress”, is timely and apt because according to her, to achieve gender equality, we must ensure that the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women do not elude them.
Her words: ” We must see investing in women as a human right issue and consider investing in women as a social tool to eradicate poverty since women are helpmeet in the homes while a handful are breadwinners in their respective families”.
The commissioner urged women to uphold the deliberate act of investing in themselves, be it furthering formal education, developing a new skill as well as learning a trade.
“Shun idleness, always find something positive and productive to do, regardless of your age, social status and financial capabilities”, she said.
In a paper presentation, Dr. Dabota God’swill Jumbo, reiterated that investing in women would attract good and positive dividends to herself and the society at large and noted that it is essential in addressing poverty, hunger and climate change.
The guest speaker said women need more opportunities in elective and appointive positions, hence the need to encourage and support them in politics.
According to her, when you invest in women, they will be able to create safer environment devoid of gender-based violence.
In a goodwill message, the spokesperson, Rivers Women Unite For Sim, Mrs Charity Deemua appreciated the organisers for making it possible for women to gather and celebrate themselves.
She commended those who created a day like March 8 of every year to celebrate women and regretted that the girl-child was seen as a second-class person decades ago.
The former commissioner, Rivers State House of Assembly Commission, described those who taught it wise for women to celebrate as conquerors, tough and strong.
International Association of World Peace Advocates, a world-class organisation with the United Nations, honoured different categories of women.
In Cross River State, 150 women were empowered with about N15m to boost their small and medium scale businesses.
According to stakeholders, the women empowerment is vital in addressing social, economic and political challenges and will make them self-reliant.
An NGO, Association of Professional Women Engineering Technologists (APWET), said it’s aim is to promote professional excellence among engineering personnel, advocating for women and girl-child education.
With what we saw in terms of response to women’s call on issues affecting them from relevant authorities, we are optimistic that the women will do better whenever they are empowered.
If we must kick out cervical, breast and other forms of cancer in women, underage marriage, prostitution, we must invest in women.
There were goodwill messages from National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC, Nigeria Association of Female Journalists (NAWOJ), among others.

By: Eunice Choko-Kayode

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