We need liberation — Women’s rights advocate cries out

Please may we know you?

My name is Mrs. Cynthia C. Amaechi, a  teacher, a one time Vice Principal, a Proprietress as well as an entrepreneur. I hold a Bachelors of Arts degree (B. A. Linguistics), a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Masters Degree in Education Management (Adminstration) M.Ed. and a doctorate degree Ph.D (in view), I am married with children.

What family challenges can you really say that Nigerian women are facing to which the attention of the international community becomes unconditional?   

Nigerian women are facing a lot but trying to manage the home front – making both ends meet with meagre family income, children upbringing, as well as coping with the work or business place are paramount. You may have come across mothers who are widows, struggling with their children to provide food that may not serve the entire family for a day, think of the weather conditions and tedious struggle to raise money with which she could use to start up a makeshift table where she displays only perishable items that may not remain viable without any storage facility for their preservation. How many agencies or organisations are still remembering mothers with children in such pitiable conditions? How many of them have direct contact with them and are still willing to assist them with or without a third party? We still have impoverished widows with children whose daily provision and as well children’s academic future is as good as many can see. We need to step up every necessary action needed to assist the downtrodden amongst us.

Are there some religious, customs and traditional practices at present that negate the rights of Nigerian women?

Most religious organisations still do not accord women full powers to function in some leadership positions.  A woman has little or no leadership role in some religious organisations, they are not allowed to lay hands on any man, or become the spiritual head of any religious group. Women’s opinions are not really sought when it comes to matters of customs in various places and they do not share in family property. No traditional institution has allowed the headship of any woman as a traditional ruler or her majesty. Also, most women without a male child or any at all are treated with contempt. Family inheritance in most places is denied the woman, again bequeathing of assets of families without a male child is still a mirage. In many states of the federation, none of the female children, married or not, is allowed to inherit lands and other economic assets of their families.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria recently voided this tradition and custom on the grounds that it is discriminatory and conflicts with the provision of the constitution under section 42(1)(a) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution. The extended family shares them amongst themselves making the female children nonentities before men and the society. Widowhood practices and maltreatment from the extended family and the larger society cannot be overemphasised and rape is still in practice. Nigerian women and women in general need liberation.

Looking at the Nigerian society, do you foresee further ambiguity to the freedom of women and girl child upbringing to which attention should be given?

Yes, in some remote areas the rate of girl child education is very low. As a result of poverty and illiteracy, many girls of school age are out of school as hawkers, house helps, and rather given out in early marriage, yet others are trafficked into prostitution, thus causing them physical, sexual and emotional abuse and trauma. This leads to teenage pregnancy and motherhood which the society frown at even though some states continue to assist young girls who are victims of VesicoVargina Fistular (VVF).

The ‘almajiris’ are people’s children but the history of the parents are nowhere to be found and we assume that we are getting it right. The number of out of school children is not encouraging, not including those already displaced by insurgency. The high rate of poverty is alarming even in the midst of plenty. These ambiguities are underrated amidst their disadvantages, though we have the  resources, we mismanage our potentials.

Some Nigerian women are jobless, what is your take on this?

Yes! Some of their spouses do not approve of them doing any economic activity due to one reason or the other. Unmindful of the dangers ahead, most mothers do not think of tomorrow in case the husband is no longer there, all that some of our mothers keep doing irritate others even when one wants to help out. Some lack the required education and skills to do any white collar job and make no serious efforts to push their children to avoid similar situation repeating itself on the long run. Some are molested in their work places simply because they are women and the society rarely talks about it. There are those that have all it takes to work but the high rate of unemployment in the country has shattered their dreams as only a few have resources to set up things for themselves. Every woman should have something to do to help in the family. Those who are working already find it difficult to keep the family going financially let alone those who have nothing to feed themselves and their families.

Do you agree that men should marry more wives to better the conditions of some women, what do you advise?

No – No! This rather leads to more troubles –  stress for the man, quarrels, fighting,  envy and jealousy, more mouths to feed, chaos in the family and society at large. Primitive agricultural era has gone when families needed more hands to work on the farms. Today education and entrepreneurship are the mainstay of family advancement. It is no longer how many children you have, but how many of them are trained and equipped to establish and become entrepreneurs or captains of industries. I totally discourage the idea that men should marry more wives in this economic stagnation and for all reasons.

What is your message to Nigerian women out there? 

My message to my fellow women, I will say try to make the best out of this life. Yes, life challenges are enormous, yet we won’t relent in our efforts to survive. Wherever you find yourself, utilise every given opportunity for a better tomorrow. We are role models to our children and great support to our spouses. Be positive minded and seek God in all you do.