Women

Women On The Rivers Project At 49

Published

9 years ago

May 27, 2016

From the creation of Rivers State on
May 27, 1967, almost every sphere of our existence has, more or less, been dominated by men.
In the colonial era, women were more active regionally. Take, for instance, the Aba Women Riot of 1929. Nationally, the likes of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Margret Ekpo etc. were active.
The Rivers Story is quite different as we are tilted towards a more male domineering system.
Despite stereotypical roles assigned to the women, through the years, women have struggled to break out and have a voice to protect the collective interest of the state.
Despite the struggle for emancipation, it is obvious that the age old restrictions through traditional institutions and cultural barriers though reduced are still far from being totally eliminated.
Women still remain underprivileged, oppressed, exploited and downtrodden.
The almighty Beijing Conference in 1995, championed by the late First Lady, Mariam Babangida was a rude awakening for women the world over, including Nigeria with particular reference to Rivers State. This gave rise to the birth of Women Affairs Ministries nationwide, the reservation of 30% of appointments exclusively for women, (with time increased to 35%.)
Women, we can adduce, are making a big difference as significant progress has been recorded in various spheres of life where they hold sway in recent times.
Against this back drop, we can highlight women who have made giant or remarkable strides in Rivers State from the creation till date.
We have women in politics, Sports, Education, Religion, Government, Engineering, Medicine, Fashion, Music/Entertainment, etc.
1967 – 1975
Politics and government in 1967 could not have favoured women for the singular reason that the Nigerian Civil War had just started with women and children bearing the brunt as the men were at the fore front of the battle. The first Government of the new state, created on the 27th of May 1967, with His Royal Highness Alfred Papa Preye Diette-Spiff ran until July 1975.Within this period, women made more impact in the academia and sports.
Miss Ethel Jacks won the African table tennis championship in 1973 and was quite outstanding during her reign.
Conscious effort to exploit her prowess was quite obvious in the tenacity with which she approached her reign. It is on record that she also won the Championship in 1975.
From that foundation, Rivers State has been able to, over the years, produce other star athletes such as Mercy Akide, who has been a two-time female African Footballer of the Year from 2000 to 2002.
Mrs Inyengiyikabo Okumgba won several medals nationally and internationally in swimming.
However, the path of women in the Rivers project is littered with pains, hopes and ultimately gains, at the end of its struggle. Over time, there has been a conscious effort to harness their potentials in any government or institution that recognised such potentials.
By and large, we have had many firsts. For instance, the first female Commissioner in any government dispensation from the creation of Rivers State was appointed during the Okilo administration from 1979 to 1983, Miss Constance Sarowinyo served as the Commissioner for Higher Education and Commissioner for Economic Development and Planning. She was also a member of the National Committee on FESTAC 77.
Then came Prof. Mrs Willy Bene Abbey, who served under Group Captain Ernest Adeleye as the Commissioner for Information and Tourism/Culture. She was again the only female in the cabinet and she held her own because Rivers State Television RSTV began full transmission on Channel 22 UHF, while Radio Rivers and the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation were overhauled and brought back to life. She was also a pioneer member of the board of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) as well as a pioneer member of the steering committee of West African Research and Innovation Management Association.
Still on firsts, the first Rivers woman to win a beauty contest was Miss Syster Jack who became Miss Nigeria in the year 1980. Though not much has been heard about her after that, she did make waves, when she won the crown of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria to the delight of Rivers people.
Agbani Darego put Rivers State on the spotlight worldwide when she won the coveted crown in the beauty world, the Miss World Crown on the 16th of November, 2011 in the 51st version of the pageant held in South Africa.
Women In Government
As earlier mentioned, the first Government set up after the creation of Rivers State had no prominent female presence except maybe as workers in the various offices held by the men. However, there were women who were forces to be reckoned with at that time, like the late wife of Hon. Justice Nabo Graham Douglas, Prof. Mrs Christiana Owiyeba Graham Douglas, the first female graduate in the Eastern region.
Women did not make any notable impact in Spiff’s Government from 1967-1975. The next regime of Zamani Lekwot was not different. He held sway in Rivers state from 1975-1978.
Suleiman Saidu was next and though he ruled for only three months, he also did not carry women along. May be it was due to the fact that they were military men and so did not consider it appropriate for women to be involved in the running of the affairs of the state.
To the credit of late Chief Melford Okilo, there was breakthrough for women in governance and that was through the appointment of Constance Saronwiyo, the first woman to be appointed a Commissioner in Rivers State and she served as the Commissioner for Higher Education as well as Commissioner for Economic Development and Planning.
Dr. Constance M.S. Saronwiyo is a medical scientist, a consultant on oil spillage and environmental pollution, a one time member of the governing council (10th) of Rivers State University of Science and Technology. She holds the title of “Tuago Pya Neewa” (First Eagle Lady) conferred on her for being the first female Commissioner in Rivers State. She is also an author and is the winner of the Niger Delta Development Commission “Motto/Logo Award.
Then, there was another lull until Group Captain Ernest Adeleye took over the saddle in 1988 and appointed Prof Mrs Bene Willy Abbey, who holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.
A graduate of Agricultural Biochemistry from the University of Ibadan, Prof. Abbey was appointed the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture. She also supervised the Women Affairs Ministry, hers was the case of a square peg sitting comfortably in a round hole. As Information Commissioner during her tenure recorded milestones such as the Rivers State Television (RSTV) transmitting fully on Channel 22 UHF while Rivers State Newspapers Corporation and Radio Rivers were over hauled and given new lease of life. She was surprisingly the only female in the cabinet of Group Captain Adeleye.
Prof. Abbey also served in the National University Commission at various times as a member of the National University Commission on the accreditation panel of many universities’ academic programmes such as Edo State University, Ekpoma.
She also served on the Rivers State Scholarship Board, and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the Committee of Deans and Provosts of Nigerian Post Graduate School, just to mention a few.
Then came Group Captain Sam Ewang who also favoured the women, with the likes of Ms Medline Ngo Tador as the Commissioner for Information and Culture and later as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development between 1997 and 1999.
Mrs Julie Wika was also a onetime Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development. She holds a BSc, MSc and PhD in Sociology of Development with particular interest in Gender Studies. Mrs Wika is a recipient of so many awards including that of Woman of Excellence conferred on her by the National Council of Women Societies and Best Performing Director-General in the 36 States of the federation.
Mrs Julie Wika has three publications to her credit.
Then came Dr. Peter Odili from May 29, 1999 to May 29 2007, and there was quite a number of women in his cabinet. Such women like Mrs Toru Ofili served as the Commissioner for Women Affairs in 2003. Prior to this, she had served as Senior Special Assistant (Special Duties) and also was in charge of Social Services in 2000.
Born in 1957 in Port Harcourt to parents of Ancient Bonny ancestry, she holds a certificate in German Language and a Diploma in Secretarial Administration, another Diploma in English and Communication and an HND in Public Administration.
She has several awards from various bodies such as Distinguished Leadership Award for Women Empowerment and Nigeria’s Excellence Award in Environmental Development and African Human Development Achievers award among others.
Also in Odili’s cabinet was Ms Gloria Fiofori, who served as Commissioner for Women and Youth Affairs. Mrs Fiofori is a dynamic women leader, who worked and served her state and country in so many ways. She was the General Manager of both Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation and Rivers State Television (RSBC) and (RSTV). She also served as the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Under her watch as Commissioner, a Rivers indigene won the coveted Miss World crown (Agbani Darego).
Dr. Ngozi N. Odu was the Commissioner for Education under the Odili administration. She had hitherto worked in the civil service, and occupied various positions including attaining the height of a Permanent Secretary.
She was at one time the State President of National Council of Women Societies (NCWS).
Born in Obite, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA in 1952, she received her educational training in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Her tenure as Education Commissioner witnessed the pursuit of pragmatic and progressive educational policies.
Between 2003 and 2006, Okpete F. Ovai was the Commissioner for Works, the first woman to be appointed into that Ministry.
Born in 1961, Ovai attended Holy Rosary Secondary School, Rivers State University of Science and Technology as well as University of Port Harcourt. She holds a BSc and an MSc in Mechanical Engineering.
Okpete has held various positions of responsibility in the state and she is also a member of various professional bodies such as Nigeria Society of Engineers, Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Society of Agricultural Engineers.
Professor Mildred Amakiri, an erudite scholar with vast technical knowledge was appointed by the Odili administration as the Commissioner for Higher Education. An administrator and academic, she brought her experience to bear in the education sector.
Prof. Amakiri was born in Sapele in Delta State, she attended Baptist Girls High School, Agbor in Delta State from 1958 to 1963 when she obtained her West African School Certificate.
She proceeded to St. Anne’s School, Ibadan for her Higher School Certificate in 1970. She got BSc (Hons) and then got a Masters and PhD in Agronomy in 1974. From there, she moved to the University of California, Davis for a post doctoral degree programme.
Amakiri became a Professor in 1990 and she belongs to 10 national and international professional societies.
Prof. Roseline Konya is a meticulous, hardworking, intelligent and humble woman who also served in the Odili administration as first woman to occupy the position of Chairman, Civil Service Commission. Born in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, she holds a PhD in Environmental Biology and Toxicology.
During her tenure as head of the Civil Service Commission, she re-instated 200 civil servants who were wrongly terminated by the military.
Mrs Konya has several scientific publications and three books to her credit. She has received over twenty awards, including one from Tell Magazine as one of the country’s best Commissioners in 2006.
She remains committed and dedicated and is currently serving in Governor Nyesom Wike’s cabinet as Commissioner for Environment.
Ms Emily Solomon also served as the Commissioner for Special Duties under Governor Peter Odili.
Dame Aleruchi CookeyGam was the first female Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and also Secretary to State Government under Governor Odili. In Governor Amaechi’s cabinet, she served as the Sole Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority.
Sir Celestine Omehia’s cabinet also had its fair share of female Commissioners.
Then came Rotimi Amaechi’s cabinet which had women like Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi of the Education Ministry; Mrs Joeba West, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Patricia Simeon Hart, Water Resources.
Mrs Emmanuela George Izunwa was also a Commissioner in Governor Amaechi’s cabinet, so also Mrs Ibim Semenitari, who was Commissioner for Information and Communications and currently the Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Governor Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike’s cabinet has so far given women the most important appointment and consideration with the choice of a woman as his Deputy Governor in the person of Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo, who had earlier worked as the Secretary to State Government in a military regime.
The Rivers Project: Women in Politics
That women constitute the greatest number in the population of Rivers State is a statement of fact. Unfortunately, the strength of number in this instance does not seem to be favouring the women. Despite their large number, women participating in politics, though much improved, now, is still not significant especially as it concerns electoral positions.
Measures have over time been taken to encourage full participation of women in politics with exclusive reservation of 30% of all political appointments for women and the removal of fees for political forms purchased by women, but the fear of the murkiness of politics scares the women away.
The return of democracy in 1999 paved the way for more women at the national level but not much progress was recorded in Rivers State.
In the present democratic dispensation, we have a woman as the Deputy Governor in Rivers State, for the first time since the creation of the State. We also have women in the House of Representatives and in the State House of Assembly.
One of the women is Hon. (Mrs) Betty Joce Iyne Apiafi representing Abua-Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency. She was elected in 2007 making her the first female member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State and she is still a member till date.
Hon. Mrs Blessing Ibiba Nsiegbe is the second woman representing Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 11 in the House of Reps. She was elected in 2011 and re-elected to represent her constituency a second time.
Quite a few women have been in the State House of Assembly such as late Mrs. Anthonia Membere, who was very outspoken and active.
Mrs Linda Somiari Stewart, a renowned journalist who veered into the murky poltical terrain and conquered.
There is also Hon. Barizasi Tane Felicia who was elected in 2007 into the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Hon. Irene M. Inimgba became a member of the House in 2007 too. So also was Hon. Victoria Nyeche Wobo.
Women have also been appointed as Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Local Government Areas in the State at various times by different governments.
Despite the breakthrough by women in politics, we are yet to witness a female politician who would stand to contest as a governorship candidate. We did have a contestant though in the PDP primaries whose only vote was the one cast by the candidate for herself.
Hopefully, the situation would turn out for the better as more women become politically aware.
Hon Justice Mary Ukaego Odili is a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Her educational career spanned through Lagos, Owerri Mbaise, Onitsha and Nsukka.
She started her career as a pupil counsel in Abeokuta, in 1997, and to Benin in 1998.
Justice Odili relocated to Port Harcourt as Magistrate Grade II, 1979 to 1981; she was the Chairman Juvenile Court 1979 to 1981; Chief Magistrate Grade 1, 1981 to 1992 and High Court Judge, Rivers State 1992 to 2004. She also served as Justice of the High Court of Appeal Abuja 2004 – 2010 before moving to Court of Appeal Kaduna (2010-2011).
She was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) making her the first woman to be so honoured in Rivers State.
From the educational view point, the womenfolk are obviously not doing badly. Women have been able to leave a positive impact on the society with strings of firsts in the educational sector.
Dr. Constance Tamuno is the first female Registrar of Rivers State extraction. She was appointed Acting Registrar of the University of Port Harcourt on the 3rd of April 2000 and she was confirmed a Substantive Registrar on the 24th of October the same year.
The Pioneer Vice Chancellor of a tertiary institution from Rivers State is Professor (Mrs) Rosemund Dienye Green-Osahogulu of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt. She holds quite a retinue of certificates from various schools both from within and outside Nigeria.
Prof. Osahogulu is a very prominent member and Fellow of several professional bodies.
Next is Dr. Balafama Wilcox, Provost of the Rivers State College of Arts and Science in the year 1991.
Still on education, in the literary world, we have Kaine Agary who returned to Nigeria from her educational sojourn outside the country to improve legal literacy through a quarterly magazine ‘TAKAii;’ Workshop and Pocket series. Her first novel ‘Yellow-Yellow’ won the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature, Chevron Prize for Environmental writing in 2007 and co-winner of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust 2007 and Book of the Year Award 2007.
In the corporate world, we have Mrs Alice Omoni Ajeh who held sway in Shell Petroleum Development Company. Her career started as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Illorin from 1982 to 1983. She veered into Journalism as an Associate Editor with the defunct Sunray Publications.
She was appointed Publications Manager of Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC)
In 1998, Ajeh became Government Relations Adviser, Shell Petroleum Development Company. She rose to the position of the Manager, Public Relations East. Since 2012, she has been the Manager NGO and Stakeholder Relations, Shell Nigeria.
Dr. Ajeh has many awards and honours to her name including the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi Presidential Awards in 2005 – 2006. Ajeh belongs to numerous professional associations and has held different positions. Among other positions Dr, Ajeh was the Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State chapter (2002 – 2004), senior member, International Public Relations Association and member, International Association of Business Communication, New York, United States.

Juliet Chinda Njiowhor

City Crime

Women And Dangers Of Obnoxious Practices

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

It is worrisome to hear that a woman or a girl is bathed with acidic contents just because she refuses to adhere to one instruction or the other from an opposite sex.

Sometimes, you see a woman with bruises on the face, with one eye swollen as if she is an animal perhaps she demanded one or two things from her spouse.

A situation where a widow will be mandated to marry a brother-in-law for her to still belong to the family where she is married and to partake in inheritance should be looked into.

Severally, there have been talks, seminars, workshops, fora, arguments, bills and laws abolishing the issues that concern women, especially violence. But much has not been achieved to curtail the menace.

Violence against girls and women has been on the increase. From time to time, it is either girls are denied access to father’s property or a widow is denied inheritance to husband’s properties. Even when laws are put in place about things that will help women have their rights, some persons feel that culture and tradition do not permit such laws.

We are aware that some women are rich and may not want to partake in the share of their late parents’ property, but there are vulnerable ones who may need to be empowered, through perhaps, late parents’ property inheritance.

Some of the obnoxious laws were made before now without the consent of women. There was no enough representation to either argue for or against so as to be beneficial to women generally. Some of the laws were so primitive that even when civilisation came, became difficult to change. Very unfortunately, it is the women sometimes who execute the laws made by men in their absence. But women are suffering it.

If government can establish laws abolishing certain practices against women and girls, it will be better for them and should in the presence of women so that they can contribute as well.

For long, laws against female genital mutilation and circumcision have existed but some communities with their culture and tradition have refused to put a stop to it with reasons best known to them.

Circumcision of a full-grown girl or lady may not be the only way of attaining maturity. It is a harmful practice and the pain associated with it cannot be imagined. The illegal operation is not performed in the hospital so the dangers inherent will be much.

For those who still practise it, the menace should be discouraged as that is not a proper way of ushering a girl into womanhood. A lot of women lose their lives due to pains experienced during the process. If it was practised in the past when civilisation was not there, it is a different case, nowadays with science and technology proving it wrong, those who still practice should resist.

We know that government is doing a lot to save women and girls from some of the pains they go through but right steps should be taken in the right direction and all stakeholders intensify efforts in dealing with persons who perpetuate evil against their fellow women.

One issue that comes to mind is implementation even if policies and laws are out in place by relevant agencies. The issues have been dwelt on for decades, but it is still practised as big ceremonies in some communities.

When it comes to inheritance, a girl born into a family, married or unmarried will be denied access to father’s property.

When parents are sick, the female child will pick him or her for care and offset medical bills. If it has to do with the demise of parents, the woman and the husband will be mandated to provide a cow and perform other burial rites.

If the National Assembly makes laws concerning the well-being of women, community heads, molecular leaders, women groups and associations, religious organisations, Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should create more awareness through the media to sensitise rural dwellers.

In this digital era, it should be forbidden that a woman loses her spouse and she is mandated to drink water used on the late husband.

A legal practitioner, Tam Jacobs, said if one forcefully shaves a woman’s hair with the intention that she is mourning her late spouse, she can sue that person for assault.

He said if the woman is forced to drink water used on her late husband’s body, she can also sue for attempted murder.

According to him, several cases of girl-child inheritance have been won and documented in the law court but some cannot claim it.

“Even a widow who is handicapped may not be able to make attempts so NGOs, CSOs should be in the forefront to support them and ensure that the laws are implemented at the grassroots level where they are practised”, he said.

A pharmacist, Eno Amos said any culture that does not add colour and value to life, especially as it concerns women should be abolished.

She added that implementation can be easy in the cities where awareness has been created but expressed fear that it may not be easy in the rural areas where culture is really practised.

A business woman, Agnes Ugwu, said tradition and culture were made by man and not God and wondered why people who claim to be educated still follow the tradition of ancestors who never went to school.

Ignorance also comes to play here. If you have watched a documentary showing female genital mutilation and the gory experience the young women go through is something else. Some of the perpetrators claim that the practice has existed for ages. Women have to learn more about issues that concern them.

A nurse, Rosy Ekeocha, said it is not about culture but about the behavior of a group of people in the community who force it on others.

According to her, let people change their behaviour and leave culture alone. It does not happen in every family and if any family allows it that is its business.

She said we are in the 21st century, certain cultures and tradition need to be reviewed to ensure that they align with today’s reality.

Culture is dynamic she said, but that implementation of laws relating to the vulnerable in the society calls for concern.

We should not behave the way people behaved twenty decades ago, after all, we do not dress the way our forefathers dressed. Time has evolved and things are getting better as it concerns women. We are getting more exposed and more enlightened about issues that concern us. Information is moving round as the world is a global village.

Talking about culture nowadays, we wear shoes whereas our forefathers never had any. They walked barefooted

far distances to get family necessities but things are better now as we are mobile.

That should also happen to culture and tradition. There are certain aspects of our culture and tradition which are practised today that have expired long ago. We should get rid off them.

Sometime, the bill for prohibition of obnoxious practices against women at the National Assembly was a welcome development, how far have the powers that be gone to ensure that it favours women.

It is expected that the bills abolishing obnoxious practices against women and girls in the society should have started achieving results as it concerns their wellbeing.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

Women

Early Start Of Education: The Dangers On Children

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

There are worries these days about the way parents are sending their kids to school earlier than it was many years ago.

A situation where children of six and nine months are sent to creche and day care centres all in the name of starting them early.

Although some parents whose schedules are tight say they have no choice than to do that since getting a house help or nanny has a lot of implications for the child and the family.

But aside that, some people feel that the benefit of sending their children to school so early will help them secure job early. And the issue of starting life early.

So many years ago, children of school age were not allowed to start school until their hands could cross from one part of their ear to another. That was the yardstick used to ascertain whether a pupil could start school or not.

It is important that our wards acquire education early but their lives should not be put on danger because parents want them to finish school early.

The truth is that parents are pushing their children into school these days as if there is competition among families and friends. This is not healthy enough for our young ones.

I don’t understand why a child of 12 years should be in Senior Secondary School (SS2). It means that the child will be and graduate at age 13 or 14 in SSS3. This should be discouraged by school managers.

Which university will admit a student of 14 or 15 when universities insist they must be 16 years-old before being admitted. I’ve seen a child who performed well both in SSCE and UTME but was denied admission by one of the universities because he was below 16 years.

In fact, the stakeholders have come up with the issue well clarified that, students seeking admission into the universities must be 16 years of age. That’s a welcome development.

Maturity is one of the factors affecting teaching and learning process. Parents should not send their children to school earlier than it should be.

No matter how intelligent a child is, he should not be allowed to jump any class. School managers should resist parents who may want their children to jump from one class to another.

Even if a child scores Excellent in all subjects in a particular class, that child should be allowed to touch all the classes, complete primary 6 of lower basic. That will make a significant impact on that child.

Many of us year back started secondary school at the age of 12 and 13 and never lost anything, as we graduated at 17, 18 and 19 before seeking admission into the university.

Back in secondary school, some students were already 20 years and never bordered being in the same class with younger persons.

There are children who are exceptionally good but that does not mean a child should be sent to school prematurely. That child may suffer inferiority complex in the midst of seniors.

Children should be allowed to move with their peers. This will give them a sense of belonging among peers. When a child begins to nurse the problem of inferiority complex, he will certainly experience withdrawal syndrome. Peer group pressure becomes a problem on the child.

Those are some of the challenges resulting from keeping younger persons among the older ones. We are not in danger so we should not put our children into such uncomfortable scenario.

Nowadays, children are getting into school at tender age as parents dictate. There are things children are supposed to learn as kids at a particular level and when they jump such level and get to a point where parents want them to be, one day, those children will definitely feel it and the significant of that particular level will manifest.

Children should be allowed to enjoy whatever thing they are meant to enjoy at every level. No level of a child’s development should be ignored. Every stage of development is important no matter how intelligent that child may be.

Stakeholders know why every curriculum is prepared in a way to sooth every child so parents should allow children to enjoy every stage in their lives.

A teacher once told me that children below 10 years who find themselves on secondary schools do not concentrate in class. They find it difficult to concentrate no matter what the teacher does.

Parents deny their kids parental care. Sometimes in schools, parents abandon their wards at the mercy of minders after school hours, up to 6:00 p. m. Whereas they should have gone home earlier to prepare for the next day.

Even at home, they are left in the hands of house helps and nannies while parents are busy looking for money. Children are denied parental care and are not getting full maturity because of these factors.

Another reason for this rush by parents is pride. A parent may be boasting that his child is either in ABC school and representing the whole world while another person’s child is at home or one “inferior” school.

Children who are pushed into school prematurely do not sustain it most times. Students of 15 and 16 years-old going into university can suffer depression according to research.

Researches have also shown that they (younger) ones risk the problem of mental health more than the older classmates.

In the case of creche and day care centres, the idea is not really to acquire education yet, some parents decide to keep their babies so that they can go about their daily businesses. It is true they need money to cater for their households, but should avoid that tender age, the best training any child can have is from parents, while teachers and caregivers are secondary.

Teaching and learning process begin with the parents. No matter how tight the parents’ schedules may be, they must take care of their kids. Parents must devote time to nurture and teach their children many things that they cannot learn in classroom. They should not rush them through life all in a bid to acquire education early.

It is worrisome that parents rush their children to school while they cannot speak and understand their languages and dialects.

One of the guidelines in the National Policy in Education is that children should be taught in their mother tongue at home while they learn foreign language in school.

The NPE also stipulates that every child at the basic level should be taught the language of the place of residence. If school managers are not obeying the instruction, parents need to do a follow-up.

Parents rush their children to school while they do not understand their environment, culture and tradition of theirs and others. Although a few schools devote little time to mark cultural day for the kids.

It is good that children start school early and graduate at 20, 21 and may be get a job at 23 and 24 as some employers will indicate.

Recently, organisations were inviting graduates of between 23 and 25 years for job offers. This caused a lot of reactions from the public. The question people asked was about when the children started school and youth corps service to seek for job in the labour market.

There was a period students secured admission between the ages of 22 and 23 years as a result of either delay in obtaining credits in their choice of disciplines and high scores in UTME. They still graduated at 27 and 28 before proceeding for national youth service.

I think this is one of the reasons why many decide to start their children early to scale through those external exams early enough.

When parents start their children early, they may be exposed to emotional and psychological problems in schools. A lot of them make more friends for protection as they are easily apprehensive.

The morals they needed both at home would have been denied them. At the end of the day, they may acquire good education but lack morals.

The family is the first school for the child but because parents are engaged, the creche and day care centres become their option.

Early start for the children affects their productivity. Factors like home, society and government are responsible.

Charity, they say, begins at home. Parents must have a balance. It is a known fact to that parents need to work to provide money for the family but must make out time to take care of the children.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

Women

Who Is A Classic Woman?

Published

4 weeks ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

A classic woman is one who has identified herself in terms of fashion, occupation or the kind of business she does.

A woman can be classical in the way she entertains her audience in terms of music and movies. You will discover that some female musicians are identified with the kind of music they sing.

A classical woman is one who always wants to appear trendy.

Generally, classical women are normally identified with the kind of things they are involved in.

There are ladies that want to be identified with wearing of shorts (short trousers) in the public. They use it to showcase their beauty. They want to be identified with such things as they see it as socialisation.

Some wear trousers that are so tight just to showcase all the curves they possess.

Consultant stylists and etiquette experts say some fashions won by some persons are inappropriate because of how and when they are won.

A classic woman is supposed to dress properly. She should be able to wear clothes that will not expose hidden parts of her body. When such occurs, then it is indecent dressing.

Ladies should be known for two things, classical and beauty. One can be classic with minimisation. The minimum woman should go is to look good, decent and presentable.

Some ladies like wearing short skirts but no matter how short the skirt is, it should look elegant. The skirt should not be too short like the mini-skirt.

Dressing or fashion depends on the environment the persons finds herself. The kind of clothes won to the office may be different from the one won at home. Likewise, a dress won to a party may be different from the one won too swimming pool.

For one to look classical or decent, body shape should be taken into consideration.

Colours of a particular fashion can make one look odd or nice. Looking model does not mean that one should go naked or dull.

Don’t wear clothes that you need to drag from time to time in order not to expose yourself.

Eunice Choko-Kayode