Women
A Woman Can Be President In 2023 -Barasua
As Nigerian women joined the global community to celebrate the International Women’s Day on Monday, March 8, 2021, Hon Anengi Barasua, Vice Chairman, Bonny Local Government Council, Rivers State shares her thoughts in this interview she granted in Port Harcourt.
Excerpts:
What does the International Women’s Day mean to you?
To me it means Women Liberation; a day to celebrate the success story of women; a day to highlight what women have achieved. And of course, it is worth celebrating, coming from where we as women are coming from. We are coming from the backstage and we’re trying to take the front stage. I’m not saying we’re trying to take power from the men but we’re indeed pushing forward to see how we can collaborate with the men and make the nation and the world a better place.
That is what the International Women’s Day means to me: pushing women forward and women pushing themselves forward to develop and bring a lot of achievements to the nation.
Politically speaking, would you say women have achieved much for the development of this country?
I must say that, to an extent, women are doing well. I am a politician and a women – I know the challenges I face as a woman. It’s not easy to swim in this ocean that is filled with men and come out head high. This is because whatever you have to do they don’t see your achievement as being the result of your intellectual capacity. They see it as ‘oh because she’s a woman’. Some will even say ‘Oh because she has compromised. They have a way of tagging your success to something, not really your ability, not really concentrating on your own competence. They always want to put it under and make it look like if there was not a man, she would not have succeeded.
So, I will say that women are doing well, we’re trying especially in Africa and Nigeria in particular because the political ground is dominated by men. To tell you the truth, our men are not yet ready to accommodate women in this field. But I want to thank God for people like the governor of Rivers State (Chief Nyesom Wike). He actually made women surface and take the centre stage in his tenure. Recall that when he came on board, he insisted that the 23 local government areas vice chairmen must be women and that brought a lot of women onto the forefront in politics. That brought me as Vice Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area to the forefront. And that’s applaudable. It’s like giving women the platform to showcase their capability, their competence.
Some people feel that the place of a woman, no matter how educated, is in the kitchen but today we’ve seen that its’ not true. Even the likes of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the much celebrated woman today, has proven that women are brilliant, women are intelligent and women can do what men can do as long as it has to do with mental capacity.
I want to dedicate this year’s International women’s Day to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She’s the first woman to become the Director-General of the world Trade Organisation. That alone speaks volumes of what women can achieve.
The theme of this year’s celebration is Choose To Challenge; and I’m wondering what would you choose to challenge yourself?
I was telling my sister just yesterday that may be because of age, because of availability of resources, I might not be able to challenge Dr Okonjo-Iweala but I will choose to creat a platform where women will come up to be like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. This is because if you give our young girls today the platform, the resources, the education that they need, they will get there. At my age, as I said, I might not have what is required to be like her but if we begin from the root, from the primary school, the secondary school and right to the university days and begin to guide them, we will get more of Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealas. So, that’s what I choose to challenge.
My part as a vice chairman of a local government, I want to use the opportunity to advise and counsel young ladies that they should look at her as today’s woman, they should see her as their mentor and strive to be like her. I wish I can be like her and so I wish that other young ladies can be like her tomorrow and that we will have more of her type in our society.
In Rivers State, women have been chosen to be Vice Chairmanship candidates by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 23 local government councils, is that where you belong or you want to challenge for more?
It is the starting point. We have to test the waters, swim in this water and come out successful first before we can now begin to look at the second stage. I will say that I as the Vice Chairman can beat my chest and say I have tried and I have done well because just recently, in my little capacity and with the resources available to me, I was able to empower women with skills acquisition.
Now I know that not everybody must go to school but we can support ourselves by learning a trade, getting self-employed. And if these women are self-employed, they can sponsor the education of their children so their future is secured. So, with that I can say I’m moving forward. Power belongs to God. So as I set the pace, at the end of my second tenure which I’m about to go into, by the grace of God, I believe I will do better and then I can look at it and think of the next step to take. I believe that being the Vice Chairman of the local government is my starting point but definitely not my end point in politics.
Don’t you think women in politics in Nigeria need to build themselves like Kamala Harris and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala such that their successes could not be ascribed to anything else but their own value, competence and integrity?
A I think we have such women. I may not be able to remember their names readily, but I know that we have such women in Nigeria. These women have set examples for themselves before they got to this position and that is what spoke for them. It didn’t just start today. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was one-time Minister of Finance in Nigeria and she has a straight record. She wasn’t found wanting, she wasn’t found misappropriating funds. These are the characteristics that you need to have that will set the pace for you. That’s why I say we might not be like her in that same capacity but we can do like her. I am a public office holder today, my part is to be sure that what is in my hand is secure, what is placed under my care is protected. I don’t need to be seen among scoundrels or (money) launderers or people that misappropriate fund; I don’t need to abuse the office, I need to keep the records straight, I need to project transparency. So, when you do all these, the sky will be your limit because at that point, people will not see your success and tag it to compromise, they will now see what you can do in your antecedents and give you credit.
So, like I said earlier, our duty now is to create the platform, counsel young ladies, support them, give them the avenue to become like the role models and if we do that, counselling them, teaching them how to lead decent lives… unfortunately today, many of our young ladies are derailing, so, we should create the platform where young girls can be trained so that we have a better society.
Women are nation builders; women make the world go round so it behoves us as women to empower ourselves, support ourselves, train ourselves because if you train a woman you train a nation.
Speak to the proposition that women are credible alternatives in terms of political leadership?
Yes, women are credible alternatives: they’re reliable, they’re trust worthy. I’m a woman and I know the limit of what I can do and what I cannot do. There are things I cannot compromise and that’s my integrity and my reputation, they matter so much to me and on that note we’re indeed credible. But when you say credible alternatives, I am a bit unsettled about it. They’re not an alternative, they are credible themselves. They shouldn’t be on plan B always. They can be on plan A as well.
Looking at 2023, would you say women have come of age to take leadership of this country?
Yes, emphatically yes. I believe and I see 2023 with more local government chairmen, and don’t be surprised, we might have a female governor in Nigeria, in the 36 states of the country, I believe women will emerge as governors and nothing stops a woman from even being the president of the country because we have what it takes.
By: Opaka Dokubo
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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
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
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
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