Women, The Irrepressible Lot

THE saying that 'the place of the woman is in the kitchen' is a true reflection of how they are in the African society generally and Nigeria in particular. A woman is only good for the kitchen and for child rearing.  The unfair treatment of women world over led to the Beijing Conference of 1995 where basic demands were made by the women folks on their male counterparts.  How far the communiqué issued at the end
of the conference has impacted on the lot of women is obviously visible.  Women now have a right to aspire to every political office amongst others.

Our different customs and cultures find unison in the derogatory treatment of women notwithstanding that the Nigerian Constitution encourages equal right and justice for both genders.  Discrimination against women is entrenched in the fabrics of our society.  The men are not helping matters as they believe that women are just to be tolerated and not celebrated. The very traditional ones amongst them will rather borrow money to train a male child than manage with such child but for their female children; there are concerted efforts not to 'waste' money on them.  Incidentally, the mothers are not complaining, but are rather part and parcel of this plot against their female children.

Beyond the denial of equal opportunities in bringing up the girl and male children, the fathers also deny their female children meaningful bequeathals in their estates through their wills.  One wonders whether it is not the same process that produced the male and female children alike. Examples of desperate wickedness against the female children are replete in our society.  Check out the gifts given at weddings by parents.  The male children are given enough to start life with their wives, but the female child is hardly given anything of substance as she is an appendage to the husband.

About two years ago, a wretched man from Niger State was arrested for marrying over 84 wives.  Nothing can be more dehumanizing than having 84 women under one roof as wives to one man.  Don't ask me how the marriage functions.  Religion has also in some cases, supported such obnoxious practices.  The women themselves have come to accept such madness as normal.  I remember in the case of the man that married about 84 women, the women (wives) themselves insisted that the man should not be prosecuted; arguing that they were happy with him as their husband.

If this Niger state scenario is not repugnant to our sensibilities or generally bad enough, what about Senator Ahmed Sanni Yerima, the former governor of Zamfara State who is said to have married a 14 year old girl from Egypt.  While the controversy is still raging, many including yours truly, wonder whether this little girl has parents and if she does, what on earth made them show such wickedness on their own daughter, their own blood?  These are ways the God-given lives of our young ladies are truncated by ruthless men, taking advantage of the society and some mundane practices rooted in obnoxious customs, cultures, beliefs and religion.

These in-human treatments notwithstanding, our women have successfully acquitted themselves and shown that given the same or half the opportunity given to men, they will do better.  During the struggle for Nigeria's independence and subsequent journey to nationhood, their roles have been visible.  The likes of Margaret Ekpo, Fumilayo Kuti, and Hajia Sambawa etc., are still living in the hearts of Nigerians who follow the progress of the Nation.  Since independence, many more women have distinguished themselves by the quality of service they have rendered and are still rendering.

In public offices, former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Prof. Dora Akunyili of NAFDAC and now Minister for Information and Communication, Dame Virgy Etiaba of Anambra State, Mrs. Farida Waziri of EFCC, to mention but a few; have brought meaning and life back to the offices they found themselves.  Nobody can controvert this claim, not even the male chauvinists can.

What is striking about these ladies is that for one day, they were not made to report for interrogation by either EFCC or ICPC.  The marks they left are indelible in the sands of time and the men that took over their offices struggle to equal their record.  This is what the marginalized women have achieved and are still achieving even with the constructive efforts to put them down.  Where men struggled and sometimes failed, the women have succeeded be it in Arts and Science, Politics, Public office, Professional Practice, Sports, Religion, etc.

In the field of sports, women have been a source of succor to the Nation. The Mary Onyali-Omagbemis, Chioma Ajunwas, and Falilat Ogunkoyas have won laurels for Nigeria in quantum.  Remember that South Africa 2010 World Cup where our men looked as lost as the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) members that assembled them to represent us.  Contrast that show of shame with the just concluded under 20 Women's World Cup which took place in Germany.  Nigerian women came second after a display of talent and purpose. 

The funny thing was that like other situations, the female team left Nigeria unsung.  They had a Nigerian technical bench (unlike the male team that must have a white man as head coach) and not a lot of money was budgeted for their participation.  There was not much of publicity before they left, but the rejected stones have become the corner stone. These girls forcefully by their performance made the whole Nation focus on them so much so that the Silver Medals they won was adjudged not to be good enough for these very exciting performances.

Beyond excellence in politics, public office, sports and family, the womenfolk are a praying people.  Talk to every successful man, he tells you if not for their fervent prayers and wise counsel, things would not have been this good.

What do these experiences teach us? Sir Shina Peters many years back, through his song advised Nigerian men to give Nigerian women a chance, reminding them of world leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Indira Ghandi and others who are successful leaders.  It is still not late to kick start Nigeria with women in the driving seat. 

God bless our Women.