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Rivers Deputy Gov And The Great Expectations

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 Deputy Governor of Rivers State,  Dr Ipalibo Banigo

Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Banigo

From the day Dr
Ipalibo Banigo  to honoured the invitation to run as a mate to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His  Excellency, Chief  Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, many Rivers people  learnt to appreciate her as a virtuous personality, and thenceforth, ceased to appraise her with the yardstick that hitherto equally  yoked her with her folk.
The reason isn’t far-fetched, whatever must have necessitated the choice of her above every other, especially the very ones with great thirst and hunger for political positions, is enough to grant her an express approval for such an enviable seat.
While some people approved of her based on her pedigree, others felt it is wise to test the womenfolk to have a taste of them, probably because of the mark made by known Nigerian women who have had the privilege to serve the nation; the likes of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili and the late Professor Dora Akunyili of blessed memory.
These women are known to have dispensed their duties without dragging their images in the mud.
Besides, people are tired of the sixteen years of democracy controlled by 99 per cent of the men without tangible and significant contribution of women in policy making. Hence, the mention of a woman as the potential deputy governor was like a surety to the restoration of the dignity and lost glory of the garden city and the state at large.
Somehow too, they may not be off the tract, after all it is said that behind every successful man, is a woman.
So, aside the political game of wooing the sympathy of the women folk to the Peoples Democratic Party which would culminate in more votes for the party given the numerical strength of the folk, the executive Governor must have realized the power of the woman in home building which also translates in nation building before he settled for the choice of a woman.
The Governor ofcourse wouldn’t have gotten any other better than the “chosen one”, the one on whom the lot fell on, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, because the yardstick for the selection was not based on flamboyance but on ‘brain power’, the inner beauty of the woman, which is far withdrawn from the physical features no wonder the governor in his campaign days said “Admittedly, the search has been long and thorough. We gave very deep thought and consideration to vital character traits and qualification the person should possess as the number two citizen of the state.
“The challenge to pick the right person was even more difficult in view of the present rot and decay in governance and infrastructure in Rivers State …. It became necessary to look for a fit and proper person with deep knowledge of the state’s bureaucracy and whose cognate experience would greatly add value to our programs of action”.
Although nature tried to balance the beauty equation in the Deputy Governor yet, it has to be understood that her inner beauty stands her out of her folk thereby making her the envy of all that she is today.
This accounts to the numerous applauses to her kitty as many, male and female see what is in her and do not doubt her ability to live up to expectation.
For Dr Ipalibo Banigo, her emergence as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State provides another window for her to interact and work with the Rivers State Civil Servants and even to serve them.
As a retired civil servant who served in various capacities and offices, she believes she is familiar and acquainted with the terrain of the state civil service and so has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of the civil servants.
During her campaigns Dr Banigo did not only raise the hope of the civil servants, she kept them salivating and praying for the eventual dawn of her days in the brick house.           Hence, for the civil servants in Rivers State, eth name “Dr Ipalibo Banigo”, is in itself a promissory note for prompt and regular payment of salaries, prompt and regular payment of pensions and gratuities, prompt and regular release of overheads and imprests to ministries and extra-ministerial departments, regular training of all categories of workers in the civil service as well as prompt and regular payment of state contributions to the reformed pension scheme among many others.
Although Dr Ipalibo is yet to commence active service, she was quick to remember her electoral promises and while appreciating the electorate for her victory at the polls, she said “together we shall serve and fulfill our electoral promises ……we shall reap the dividends of democracy under this governor ….”
For women in the state, their overwhelming  presence at the venue of the unveiling of Dr Banigo as a running mate to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), their composition as they were adorned in different native attires, beaming with uncontrollable excitement explained their definition of the personality to be unveiled.
As the first female running mate of the governorship candidate, it was a historic master stroke in any political calculations in Rivers State.
Moreso, the choice of her would best be described as an invention of a caveat that silenced critics and created some sorts of balance in the political sphere.
The Rivers women are already heaving a sigh of relief and feeling a sense of belonging given her wealth of experience spanning over the decades.
Their hopes are high that the number two citizen of the state will surely constitute a springboard from which many women will reach their peak.
Expectations are high that with her, the journey to the realization of a female governor in Rivers State is cut short and many women would be encouraged into politics.
How about girl-child education and gender-violence? It is time to herald a new era where women would sing a new song of political awakening, a new song of socio-economic emancipation in 2015.
What less can you expect? As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected, Dr  Ipalibo is just given much, the varying expectations are hinged on the fact that the able deputy governor is able indeed.
In realization of her worth and capability, Governor Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike expressed thus “Let me reiterate that our choice is not a run-of-the-mill material. She is competent, tested and seasoned professional and bureaucrat with several years as a key holder of highly challenging public offices in Rivers State”.
It will be worthy of mention that Dr Ipaligbo Banigo has served in Rivers State as Permanent Secretary, Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government before retiring meritoriously from the public service.

 

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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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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