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Marginalisation: Ray Of Hope For Women

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Recently, history was made as judgement was delivered in favour of Nigerian women at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Federal High Court granted all the reliefs sought in the suit filed by various coalitions and organisations challenging the Marginalisation suffered by women in the political space.
That seemed like a ray of hope for women, suffering marginalisation in Nigerian political space as court okays 35per cent Affirmative Action.
In that incidence, Nigerian women were represented by a counsel of the Falana and Falana Chambers, Barrister Marshal Abubakar.
Lately, women realising that they possess so much potentials felt that they have suffered enough of the marginalisation in the Nigerian political space therefore decided to seek redress in the law court.
To their advantage, the Federal High Court, Abuja, on April 6, 2022, delivered a judgement in a matter on Affirmative Action before Justice Donatus Akorowo.
Representatives of the women as well as other stakeholders were a coalition of women groups including the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), Women In Politics Forum (WIPF), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa),  Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI), YIAGA, Africa, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and 100 Women Lobby Groups.
The group had gone to court, seeking true reflection of democracy through strict compliance to the anti-discriminatory provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and Gender Equality in Nigeria as enshrined in the Constitution.
It was a landmark judgement for Nigerian women who have earnestly desired a truly inclusive governance process in Nigeria since the matter started in 2020.
Reports have it that Nigeria currently ranks very low globally as it is rated 184th (out of 187) in female representation in parliament.
Although, the matter was adjourned a number of times but the development shows the extent of readiness of Nigeria to practise inclusion based on the international and regional instruments that it signed especially since independence in 1960.
It would be recalled that on March 2, 2022 over 1000 women groups in Nigeria wrote National Assembly and demanded reconsideration of all Gender bills for passage as a matter of urgency.
March 7, 2022, as it would be recalled, also recorded another scenario on gender bills where women vowed to continue to occupy National Assembly until six point demands were met.
As women celebrated International Women Day (IWD) 2022 recently, USAID, State2State put together “dialogue to proffer solutions to gender biases.
It was celebration for Nigerian women as they congratulated themselves for the fact that a litigation process which was on since 2020 ended with victory.
It is hoped that those clear interpretations of the Constitution both at the states and National Assembly will provide an enabling environment for women in governance and politics in Nigeria.
A Sharia Court of Appeal headed by Muhammad Uthman El- Mainari, has lamented that Nigeria as a male-dominated society has limited women in the country from discovering their full potentials and as such relegating them to the background.
El-Mainari raised such concern recently at a one-day stakeholders consultative meeting on women, peace and security in Nigeria (phase 11) organised by UN women.  He said that women should have a say in matters directly affecting them in the family and society.
According to him, there is urgent need to stand up for women and support every programme aimed at promoting gender equality and place women in their proper position.
“We need to stand up to fight for the rights of women, support them to get into positions of decision making in governance”, he emphasised.
While the UN and sister organisations are commended for coming up with different programmes aimed at making women feel a sense of belonging in the society, concerted efforts must continue to ensure that every form of gender-based violence against women and girls was eliminated in the society and the rights of women were adequately protected.
Rivers State Prohibition of the Curtailment of the Rights of Women to Share in Family Property Bill, 2022 came up for hearing in the Rivers State House of Assembly, recently.
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, took laudable steps to streamline the issues of obnoxious traditional practices and discrimination laws against women and the girl-child in the state.
The bill as The Tide Women Desk gathered was initiated by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 11, Hon. Kingsley Oke-Chinda.
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State chapter,  commended the Rivers 9th Assembly for the bold step taken to pass such Bill into law and made some recommendations.
NAWOJ also recommended for Repeal of Laws that terminate Widows Share Upon Remarriage.
The Chairperson, NAWOJ, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, says NAWOJ prides herself as one of the first respondent in issues of abuses because according to her, we always get the calls to probe further in discrimination and neglect in collaboration with sister agencies, have continued to champion the cause of women and girls in the society by making sure that our voices are heard, using our various media platforms.
She expressed optimism that the Bill would put into consideration that the state civil laws shall have supremacy over customary laws and obnoxious practices where some opinion leaders will insist their tradition is supreme.
In her words: “We also hope that the legislation should state that, upon remarrying, a surviving spouse retains the full rights of any property she inherited from the deceased’s estate”.
“Drafters should repeal any law that terminates interests upon remarriage for the widow, but not widower”, she insisted.
Although, Rivers State is already leading other states in women emancipation, but when the Bill is speadily passed into law, it will place Rivers as the most gender-friendly, not just in Nigeria but in Africa at large.
Members of the committee of the 9th Assembly must be commended while ensuring that the Bill receives the attention it deserves.

By: Eunice Choko-Kayode

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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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