UNILAG Lecturer Bags 21yrs Imprisonment For Rape

In the war against rape and offenses against women, justice took its course when a part time lecturer at the University of Lagos, Afeez Baruwa, bagged to 21- year jail term for raping an 18-year-old girl admission seeker. 

Justice Josephine Oyefeso of a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, Thursday found Baruwa guilty of a one-count charge of rape.

In his defence, Baruwa said he thought she was aged 23 years or 24 years before the incident happened.

However, Justice Oyefeso said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt as evidence overwhelmingly showed that the sexual intercourse between the victim and the lecturer was no consensual.

“I cannot begin to imagine the emotional trauma of the girl. The convict offended his family, the victim, the society and God,” the Judge said.

Continuing, she remarked that, “This is a crime that not only offends the survivor, it offends her family, it offends the society at large, it also offends God.  

“The offence committed against this young lady was a violation of her chastity which would have left huge emotional scars from which I pray and hope she will recover. I cannot begin to imagine the physical and mental trauma she has had to endure from the man who she considered her father’s friend, a community leader who should have known better. This is a shame.”

“I find you Baruwa Afeez Akin guilty of a one-count charge of rape contrary to Section 258(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011, and I hereby convict you accordingly.”

“In line with Section 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011, Baruwa Afeez Akin is hereby sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment.” 

In October 2019, BBC documentary titled ‘Sex for Grades’ exposed dirty stories of sex scandals in some Nigerian and Ghanaian universities and brought to the fore the issue of sexual molestation in institutions of higher learning.

TIPS ON GIRLS' SAFETY

There is a growing trend of insecurity all over, but the most worrisome is the situation of the girl child. This is because the girl child is the most vulnerable of the human species. It is therefore very important that we do all we can, to protect her.

Every little girl you see out there is a prospective wife, and a future mother. So, inside that little body resides the future of humanity. Let us make the world safer for her, it is also for us all.

When you look at a little girl, what you see is the purity and beauty of innocence, but criminals see *sex appeal*. That is very strange, but that is why they are criminals.

Let's take note of the following safety precautions for the girl, against sexual abuse, the most worrisome aspect of the insecurity.

1. *Do not let your girl child get too familiar with male neighbours, workers or lesson teachers*.

2. *Discourage her visit to male apartments alone. This includes running errands that entail entering their room*.

3. *Also, be careful how you release your girl to go and visit her 'friends' and 'classmates'.*

Criminals know how to set traps.

4. *Let her not be fond of receiving, or requesting for gifts from people especially males*. It is by this that a trap is arranged.

5. *As much as possible, avoid leaving your girl child alone at home*.

6. *Regularly chat with your girl child. This is when you tell her not to allow and ask her of any touching of her private part by any male*. Both are of paramount importance.

7. *Notice the change of mood of your girl, or the way she walks. Has she been withdrawing? Is she afraid?*

Rapists threaten children, should they tell anybody what happened to them.

8. *Tell your children there is no room for secrets with Dad, Mum, or siblings.* Evil grows in secrecy.

9. *On a regular basis, examine your girl's private part to see any possible tampering.*

*Also check her pant to see any blood stains.*

10. *In place of pants, a pair of shorts is safer for her. Or better still, a pair of shorts over her pant is ideal*

11. *In the midst of male relatives, especially half brothers, let her always go to bed in shorts as part her night dress*. Is it not strange that some rapists are blood relatives?

12. *Try and change your style of purchases. Be sensible in where you send your daughters* Why will you send your little girl out of the house late in the evening in search of an item, all alone?

13. *Be on the lookout for your girls in gatherings - parties, church, mosque, extended family dos. Girls have been abducted, kidnapped, raped and molested through such places* Anyone should never be allowed to take your child out of the place or engage her in any form of discussions you are not aware of. Children are made to trust them thereby and made to follow them away or follow their instructions thereby at least.

14. *When you hear an unusual cry or shout of a girl, please be alerted and make efforts to see what the matter is.* You could be a girl's last hope for rescue.

15. *Every girl raped could be a reduced chances of her reproduction;* and that is a generation closed down.

16. *Please, properly examine that house-girl/nanny you want to hire, to ensure she is really a girl. Some males who resemble females take advantage of that, disguise as girls and get hired as house helps.*

The safety of your daughters in the hand of this 'girl' is left to your imagination.

17. *Very importantly, parents should desist from introducing the girl child to wild, provocative dressing*. Mothers are fond of dressing up their little girls in skimpy, scanty attire: shorts, hot pants, show back, see-through, mini, etc.

*The usually justification is "but they are little children".*

*We forget that childhood is the time to lay the foundation of whatever a child will be, at adulthood.*

Yes, we may love these little angels looking cuddly in such outfits, but the danger is that they are being watched by criminals whose sexual attraction is towards little children;

*Besides, they are being predisposed for eyebrow-raising dressing, because they will grow with it.*

*Whatever will be your child's dress code when she grows up, you're laying the foundation right now.*

*Please lay the foundation of a decent, responsible dressing.*

FOR OLDER GIRLS

1. Avoid being alone in lonely place.

2. Avoiding visiting males alone.

3. Do not take a drink that is opened and served in your absence.

A drug can be dropped into your drink.

4. Do not accept an invitation to a strange place; a trap could be waiting for you.

5. If a friend calls to invite you to any place which two of you did not discuss, politely decline. Many girls have been invited to places even by 'friends' where they were raped, and even murdered. Be wise.

6. Let shorts be part of your dressing. Preferably jeans.

Trousers are no more for fashion alone; they're now security outfits.

7. He pretends to love you. Then promises to marry you; and immediately you pack into his house. Is that not a suicide? You simply give yourself away to evil.

8. Pick some lessons in self defence. When it matters most, your shout for help may not do much; but you can ward off attackers, physically.

9. Avoid drawing attention unnecessarily; and flamboyant dressing does that for you.

10. Before you board a cab, observe the occupants. If they're all males, gently decline.

*Above all, safety belongs to God.*

*Take time to be praying specially for our children, for divine security.*

---

IN 2020, NO GIRL SHOULD BE MISSING SCHOOL DUE TO MENSTRUATION

IN 2020, NO GIRL SHOULD BE MISSING SCHOOL DUE TO MENSTRUATION

Culled from Mashable

According to UNESCO, one in ten adolescent girls in Africa miss school when they're menstruating, and "eventually drop out." A 2016 study of menstrual hygiene management in schools in countries sub-Saharan Africa found that a "gender discriminatory nature of many school environments" prevents students and teachers from managing their periods with "safety, dignity, and privacy." 

In Nigeria, around 68 percent of schools have no decent toilets, a WaterAid spokesperson told Mashable. "This means many have to find somewhere dark to get privacy, which is both undignified and dangerous, and is particularly difficult during menstruation," the spokesperson said. "If a school has no decent toilets, students often stay at home during their period or drop out of school altogether once they reach adolescence."

Schools in some areas often have no clean source of water, soap, or a safe, private girls' toilet with changing or washing facilities. Per the research, this doesn't just impact negatively on girls' academic success (which later impacts girls' "economic potential" during their lifetime), it impacts girls' sexual and reproductive health, their self-esteem and sense of agency. 

Nigerian schoolgirls who cannot afford to buy sanitary towels are forced to use makeshift sanitary pads out of household materials, like fabric scraps and leaves, which can carry the risk of reproductive tract infections. According to 2015 WaterAid research, 61 percent of Nigerian girls interviewed use repurposed cloth to manage their first few periods, and 45 percent stay away from school for a few days when they're on their period. 

Folasade Bamisaye is a champion of girls freedom from inability to attend class due to menstruation.

Growing up as a young girl in Nigeria, Bamisaye didn't have access to sanitary pads or tampons. She would cut off parts of her foam mattress, or use scraps of clothing—sometimes even parts of her school uniform. 

Bamisaye's lack of access to basic menstrual hygiene products didn't just cut away at her school uniform, it also cut into her school time and prevented her from attending lessons. "I missed a lot of classes, a lot of lectures, and it interfered with my academic performance," she says. 

Twenty years after Bamisaye finished school, Nigerian schoolgirls continue to face the same challenges when they menstruate. So, she decided to do something about it—by creating a startup that provides girls with menstrual hygiene kits in the hope that they'll stay in school.

Bamisaye's work with her startup MYperiodKIT has not gone unnoticed—she was recently selected as a finalist to represent Nigeria in a $1 million global startup competition, the Chivas Venture. On May 24. she'll join 26 social entrepreneurs to pitch at the final at a conference in Amsterdam.

Bamisaye says that through speaking to schoolgirls and people in her community, she realised that her experience of menstruation during her school years was not unique. "Visiting schools as part of my job brought me back into the community and I started interacting with young adolescents, I met people going through the same situation as me over 20 years ago," she said. "I thought: 'I need to do something.'"

That's why she set up MYperiodKIT, a social enterprise providing girls in rural and semi urban areas with the menstrual hygiene products they need for their periods at an affordable cost. Bamisaye's goal is this: give girls what they need for their periods so they can stay in school. The MYperiodKIT includes sanitary pads, tissue wipes, pantyliners, and disposable bags. All profits made from the kits are reinvested so girls who cannot afford them can also receive kits. The idea, Bamisaye says, is that "no matter your economic situation" you have the fundamental materials necessary for menstrual hygiene. 

Currently, this lack of access to products has far-reaching repercussions for young girls in Nigeria. "When a girl lacks access to this it has a long ripple effect," says Bamisaye. "In Nigeria, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, a lot of girls have to miss school during their period. As a result of so much absenteeism, they cannot complete their education," she says. 

Bamisaye says that girls also engage in transactional sex "in order to raise money to buy sanitary pads in the markets." "When you have girls engaging in transactional sex, it can lead to issues such as HIV and AIDS," she says. 

The kits have been adapted since launching to meet the needs of young girls, many of whom are growing up in areas with limited access to water and soap. The kits initially contained reusable sanitary pads, but Bamisaye says this "created an additional problem rather than solving the existing problem." She says that that a lack of access to sanitation meant the girls weren't able to wash the pads before reusing them, and therefore creating a risk of infection. 

Out of this problem came an idea for a sustainable, disposable sanitary pad made from farmers' waste products. The MYperiodKIT team developed "GreenPads," an affordable sanitary pad made from wasted banana and plantain stem fibre. According to Bamisaye, the pads are 50 percent cheaper than existing pads in the Nigerian market, and they are biodegradable. Bamisaye's hope is to sell GreenPads widely throughout Nigeria, and to reinvest the profit so they can give away more kits to disadvantaged girls and women. 

Despite the recognition that the global startup competition brings, Bamisaye says this work is profoundly important to her on a personal level. "The startup means to me that we will have girls who will no longer have to drop out of school just because they cannot afford a necessity as basic as menstrual hygiene," she says.

Written by Rachel Thompson

“Have you seen a decent lady who made it in Abuja?”, man asked a lady jobseeker

A true life story of Julia, an Abuja based unemployed graduate

By Lanre Oloyede

Ever been asked such a question? Are you a lady seeking opportunity whether job, enrollment, or endorsement, and you’ve been told you cannot get it unless you play ball? You are not alone. This piece will interest you. It’s a true life expose of how helpless women seeking for opportunities are taken advantage of. The above quotation was a question a potential employer asked a lady seeking opportunity.

Sexual harassment remains one of the major problems facing women in Africa.  From home to the workplace, from workplace to the general society, the female gender is an object of sexual harassment, exploitation and molestation. This is because in most African societies, women are objectified as tools or instruments for sexual pleasure or satisfaction by their male counterparts. More worrisome is the fact that there is no age limit or barrier to this as both young and adults are victims.

Worst still, the victims of these social anomalies are compelled to suffer in silence. This is because the culture and tradition of most African societies is such that do not allow for women to be heard, not just to be heard, but allowed a fair hearing. Rather, they are always at the receiving end.

If she reports, she is either shouted down or blamed for the incident and left to live with the stigma for the rest of her life while the male culprit is allowed to walk away a free man.

The unpalatable social implication of this is that today, many female folks become taciturn, unexpressive and are unable to demand for what belongs to them in the society. They are also ashamed to open up and tell people about what they are going through simply because of stigma.

Instances abound today of many young female graduates who are roaming the streets unable to secure employment. Not because they are not qualified but because they are asked to go to bed with the potential employer before they are given the job.

The story of Julia Amadi, an Abuja based graduate is a touching true life account that represents the experience many ladies face in Abuja, Nigeria.

In this exclusive interview with iRise Magazine, Julia narrated her ordeal in the hands of prospective employers all through her 7 years of job search in Abuja after her graduation from school.

Her story:

“Have you seen a decent lady that made in it Abuja?” He poured it all on my face. For the next few minutes, the question kept ringing in my brain. Then he began to call names, names of ladies whom to him have made it.

“Jumai, 22 years old drives a Venza. Esther, 32 has a Toyota muscle and a landed property in choice area of FCT. Rachel, 25, drives Honda discussion continues,” he reeled out.

“You have all it takes to make it in Abuja, so why are you suffering yourself, why are you wasting away?”  He asked in a silent but tough tone.

Mr. Kenneth was the director of a beauty pageant sponsored by a multinational company in Abuja. The stakes were so high: N20 million cash prize, sponsored overseas trips with Honda SUV car and a shopping spree amongst others.

I had applied to contest through a friend who filled me in on the information and purchased the form on my behalf.

I met Mr. Kenneth on the day of my interview and right there and then, he told me I had everything to win the pageant, but he had to sleep with me before I can win the contest. I reneged. The opportunity was gone, so was all the goodies that came with it.

My encounter with Mr. Kenneth was just a scratch on the surface. I had experienced even worse in the course of my job search after my youth service.

A high ranking official of a key MDA in the health sector had promised to help me get a job. This was a man in his late 50s and with two grown up daughters in the university. After several days of taking me to his office, he eventually asked to sleep with me before I can get the job.

I was in another office to attend a job interview. The MD told me I have every qualification he required for the job but he would have to have carnal knowledge of me before he can give me the job. He said if I allowed him, he would place me in a place where money will be flowing very well and I wouldn’t have anything to worry about. He averred that the sexual intercourse would be a covenant between the two of us.”

Julia’s’ story was a time consuming one. All are not told here for want of space and time. Only a snippet was shared in this piece but representative enough of the ordeal our female gender face on a daily basis.

This particular challenge is still there starring us on the face. We cannot pretend about it. If we don't do anything about it, we'll all be affected. We all need to join hands together to curb this menace. We all have sisters, mothers, wives and friends who go through all of these day in, day out.

The more we talk about, the more we engage opinion moulders and the more it gets on the front burner for the policy makers to address.

This is what iRise Magazine signed up to do. What is your opinion? What do you think can be done to address this menace? Do you have a personal experience? Please drop your comment.

Breaking the Gender Ceiling

Power speaks of strength. Strength is associated with knowledge, confidence, conviction and gut. All these in addition to physical strength bring about a difference in human relationship. And by nature, humans have been known to exploit every position of weakness; as in weaker species, weaker races, weaker nations, weaker gender or weaker persons. That women as a physically weaker group had been subject of exploitation by men of all races and for a long time is not surprising. It is in the nature of man all over the world so to do.

However, civilization, increased knowledge and awareness developed the human mind to a point where relationship, fairness and peace became necessary for survival. Consequently, nations and groups constantly legislate in regulation of behaviour for peaceful coexistence, wellbeing and prosperity and tend to depend less on the coercive force of exploitation mentioned earlier.

A lot of legislation has been credited to the wellbeing of women and in reversal of previously exploitative rules that inhibited women from thriving in many societies. In Nigeria, we have had to speak up against female genital mutilation, early marriage, girl child education and other rights such as right to inheritance, right to buy and own landed property and right to life as a widow. The Beijing platform has been of considerable benefit to women in many countries as the 150 nations that signed the agreement have in some ways shifted grounds since 1995. In Finland today a woman, Sanna Marin (34) is the Prime Minister, Li Andersson (32), is the Minister of Education, Katri Kulmuni (32) is the Minister of Finance and Maria Ohisalo (34) is the Minister of Internal Affairs. All the four of them are women. Indeed, they make up the youngest leadership in the world.

In Nigeria as in Africa, the journey has been slow in getting women into state leadership but quite progressive among the professions, in commerce and in the families. Women are leading in many professional bodies, such as ICAN, ANAN, NIM, NAPPS, and among Judges in the judiciary. Women are delving into occupations that were hitherto regarded as masculine domains. There are numerous female engineers, many female pilots, truck drivers, estate developers, manufacturers, actresses, soldiers, policewomen, masons, auto mechanics, cab drivers and builders. Many women have become breadwinners of their families. I have come across numerous heroic stories of the contribution of these courageous women to society. These stories we shall be documenting on this platform.

The dynamics of modern life requires that women look at the past only as a learning resource, put it far aside, and move on with the needed conviction and passion to attain their mission. Indeed, it is often in that deprived state that visions or missions of our lives crystallize. You just trudge along with the guts of the Mohicans till you stand on the peak. It is possible! All things are possible to those who believe in themselves. For all you need to succeed in life has been deposited in you by your Creator. Therefore, live from your inside out. Think, think, and think. Espouse solitude. Take retreats and hibernate at strategic times of decision making. You do not only work, you need to work smart! That is where strength lies plus you strive always to get knowledge and resolve to keep your momentum on. As you keep excelling, barriers are broken and gender inequality will become history.

Dr. Mrs. Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko, OON, MNIM

High Hell - Coming Soon

Popular Nigerian beauty queen Benedicta Akpana has broken fresh grounds by producing a movie titled ‘High Hell’ which focuses on the protection of the girl child.

Speaking exclusively to iRise Africa Magazine, Akpana who is also an actress said, “Protecting the girl child is something I have been very passionate about. In our society, there’s a preference for the boy child while for the girl child does not have any root in her father’s house so she is just groomed for marriage. We’re campaigning to change this narrative”.

“The movie portrays this young girl who had dreams but her mum was in a second marriage and neglected the girl. Her mum was more interested in protecting her marriage and pleasing her new husband.”

“What we’re trying to say is that every child matters of course, but the emphasis is on the girl child because she is extremely vulnerable. If we can raise these girls well, they will achieve their full potentials. “

Bemoaning the fate of the girl child in some marriages, she said, “And then for single mothers who have a girl child and gets married again, some don’t care about the child anymore leaving her open to potential abuse. Some such mothers just want to ship her off to another man as a wife. These are ills which the movie addresses.”

Benedicta Akpana is also author of ‘The Jewel’, a collection of Nigerian proverbs as well as the founder of Blessed Royal Jewel Foundation, an NGO that supports girl child education in Nigeria.

Describing the movie, she said, “High Hell is a short film, very captivating and inspiring. We put a whole lot into it, passion, time and resources. It is really a movie to look out for because it challenges the status quo concerning the girl child.”

High Hell is premiering on International Women’s Day, March 8 at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

Watch the trailer here 👇🏿

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UbsS9CteGLg

Ending Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women.

This practice, sometimes referred to as ‘female circumcision’, is prevalent mostly in Africa and the Middle East though present in some Asian and South American countries. It is so persistent that it is even found in several migrant communities in Europe and  Australia. Indeed, as many as 600, 000 women and girls in Europe are living as survivors of FGM.

Many of those African communities where FGM is prevalent consider it part of initiation rites into womanhood while in some other cultures, the myth that FGM is a check on female female sexuality is very strong. Another myth that exposes the patriarchal origins of the practice is that male partners experience greater sexual pleasure from women who have undergone FGM. 

But the truth is that girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health. The myths that also surround the practice have absolutely no basis in fact or in medicine as the originators had limited knowledge of the human anatomy.

And so, to eliminate the harmful practice, the UN General Assembly in 2012, designated February 6 as a call to action to eliminate what is globally regarded as a health risk and a violation of the rights of the woman.

In a statement to mark the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Together, we can eliminate female genital mutilation by 2030. Doing so will have a positive ripple effect on the health, education and economic advancement of girls and women.”

UN figures say 4.1 million girls around the world are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation in 2020 alone and this is a call to action by all stakeholders to give these girls a life where they can make certain far-reaching choices as adults. 

In recognition of the fact that youth populations are increasing dramatically, the UN adopted “Unleashing Youth Power” as its theme for the 2020 campaign as it seeks to totally abolish the practice by 2030 on a youth-driven agenda.

There have been successes across the continent though limited. In some regions of Ethiopia where UN-supported action has been implemented, FGM rates have fallen to 31%. In Nigeria where 27% of Nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 were victims of FGM, the country’s former President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a bill banning Female Genital Mutilation. Latest trends show a further decline in the prevalence of the practice in Nigeria.

Emphasis is on prevention. African governments must invest heavily in education and enlightenment especially among traditional populations to dispel the myths surrounding FGM. These community engagements would better be driven by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations in conjunction with governments at every level.

All stakeholders must be involved in the campaign to end FGM. Men, women and youth groups must be co-opted to break the generational progression of that aspect of culture. Zero tolerance must mean all segments of society take ownership of the effort to stop this physical and emotional abuse of the woman.

#EndFGM

#YouthEndFGM

It’s Time to Think Gender - By Dr. Sally Adiukwu-Bolujoko, OON

Sometimes when I ponder issues, I discover that African women who lived before the colonial rule with its cultural imperialism were more independent and so achieved higher status than their modern counterparts. 

Even though tax was central to the reasons for the Aba Women's Riot of 1929, the quest for inclusion was also a key demand as colonial masters appointed only men  to various offices. After the commission of enquiry turned in their reports, the colonial administration began to include women. It is pertinent to note that wives of all the colonial officers were housewives. Therefore they did not think anything of our women. In contrast, African women were active in the society, held positions in the society, led market associations etc. An example of such women was Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti who, in the late ‘40s, led Abeokuta women in what is now referred to as the Egba Women’s Tax Riots or the Abeokuta Women’s Revolt. Refusing to pay a discriminatory tax, thousands of women occupied the palace of Alake of Egbaland intermittently for 2 years and dethroned the then Alake. They also succeeded in getting representation in the local council.

All over Africa, history and folklore speak eloquently of women who were wealthy merchants, military commanders, state envoys, accomplished politicians and statesmen. The women of Africa’s history appeared more broad minded in outlook and were not given to envy. Polygamy being a way of life, they allowed their men to have many wives with minimal friction. Divorce rate was very low, so was domestic violence. 

Speaking of polygamy, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta recently signed into law, a bill legalizing polygamy. Why did Kenyans do that??? Perhaps it’s an affirmation of their belief in their culture, though I know many young women will call for your head if you dare advocate same here in Nigeria beyond what obtains (laughs). In that same law however, there are other very progressive provisions that help guarantee a woman’s rights. For example, the law bans under-18 marriages, guarantees a woman 50% of properties acquired during the union etc. But that’s by the way.

In Nigeria, it is disheartening that twenty -five years after the Beijing Affirmative Action, women hold less than 5% of political positions and it is obvious that the country’s commitment to that universal declaration is more in the breach. For a country of about 200m people with a 49% women population, women constituted just 5.65% of elected officials after the 2015 elections. This even slumped further after the 2019 elections where women had just 4.1% of those elected.

In contrast, Rwanda does not just have a 62% female majority in her parliament, her post-genocide Constitution gave them an opportunity to write in gender-friendly provisions that mandate women hold at least 30% elective seats. Other countries like Cameroon also amended their electoral laws to include gender quotas. In Europe, most Nordic countries have a culture of higher women’s participation in public office.

But why is Nigeria and indeed the African continent lagging behind in gender equality and access to public office? Why are Nigerian women not measuring up to their female counterparts elsewhere? The reasons are not far fetched - depraved national values, breakdown of institutions that could build men into value-driven leaders, enthronement of mediocrity as we debase merit, godfatherism and cronyism, primordial loyalty, quest for wealth; pursuit of what does not matter in place of what matters. I can go no and on. 

But women must never lend themselves to the defeatist idea of staying at home and doing nothing. Women must never acquiesce to the narrative that subjects us to being mere appendages. A society’s development is assured on the contribution of women to those indices that matter.

However more laws and more awareness campaigns are needed to bring about women empowerment. Indeed some statistics show more girls in school in many states in Nigeria and this is encouraging. More education puts the responsibility more on the women than on the State to fight for their right. No one relinguishes power to another. We have to stand up to the battle. Many women are in some positions of influence and it is time to think 'gender.' The Queen bee era is gone. We have also perforated the glass ceiling in many places just a little push and we will have the women there. 

Today Finland has a woman head of State and women as majority in their Parliament. Guess what? Finland has a 99% literacy rate with reputedly the best education system in the world. There must be a link between education and women’s rights therefore the empowerment of the African girl child through sound education must be of the highest priority to all women.

“Have you seen a decent lady who made it in Abuja?”

“Have you seen a decent lady who made it in Abuja?”

A true life story of Julia, an Abuja based unemployed graduate

By Lanre Oloyede

Sexual harassment remains one of the major problems facing women in Africa.  From home to the workplace, from workplace to the general society, the female gender is an object of sexual harassment, exploitation and molestation. This is because in most African societies, women are objectified as tools or instruments for sexual pleasure or satisfaction by their male counterparts.

More worrisome is the fact that there is no age limit or barrier to this as both young and adults are victims.

Worst still, the victims of these social anomalies are compelled to suffer in silence. This is because the culture and tradition of most African societies is such that do not allow for women to be heard, not just to be heard, but allowed a fair hearing. Rather, they are always at the receiving end.

If she reports, she is either shouted down or blamed for the incident and left to live with the stigma for the rest of her life while the male culprit is allowed to walk away a free man.

The unpalatable social implication of this is that today, many female folks become taciturn, unexpressive and are unable to demand for what belongs to them in the society. They are also ashamed to open up and tell people about what they are going through simply because of stigma.

Instances abound today of many young female graduates who are roaming the streets unable to secure employment. Not because they are not qualified but because they are asked to go to bed with the potential employer before they are given the job.

The story of Julia Amadi, an Abuja based graduate is a touching true life account that represents the experience many ladies face in Abuja, Nigeria.

In this exclusive interview with iRise Magazine, Julia narrated her ordeal in the hands of prospective employers all through her 7 years of job search in Abuja after her graduation from school.

Her story:

“Have you seen a decent lady that made in it Abuja?” He poured it all on my face. For the next few minutes, the question kept ringing in my brain. Then he began to call names, names of ladies whom to him have made it.

“Jumai, 22 years old drives a Venza. Esther, 32 has a Toyota muscle and a landed property in choice area of FCT. Rachel, 25, drives Honda discussion continues,” he reeled out.

“You have all it takes to make it in Abuja, so why are you suffering yourself, why are you wasting away?”  He asked in a silent but tough tone.

Mr. Kenneth was the director of a beauty pageant sponsored by a multinational company in Abuja. The stakes were so high: N20 million cash prize, sponsored overseas trips with Honda SUV car and a shopping spree amongst others.

I had applied to contest through a friend who filled me in on the information and purchased the form on my behalf.

I met Mr. Kenneth on the day of my interview and right there and then, he told me I had everything to win the pageant, but he had to sleep with me before I can win the contest. I reneged. The opportunity was gone, so was all the goodies that came with it.

My encounter with Mr. Kenneth was just a scratch on the surface. I had experienced even worse in the course of my job search after my youth service.

A high ranking official of a key MDA in the health sector had promised to help me get a job. This was a man in his late 50s and with two grown up daughters in the university. After several days of taking me to his office, he eventually asked to sleep with me before I can get the job.

I was in another office to attend a job interview. The MD told me I have every qualification he required for the job but he would have to have carnal knowledge of me before he can give me the job. He said if I allowed him, he would place me in a place where money will be flowing very well and I wouldn’t have anything to worry about. He averred that the sexual intercourse would be a covenant between the two of us.”

Julia’s’ story was a time consuming one. All are not told here for want of space and time. Only a snippet was shared in this piece but representative enough of the ordeal our female gender face on a daily basis.

This particular challenge is still there starring us on the face. We cannot pretend about it. If we don't do anything about it, we'll all be affected. We all need to join hands together to curb this menace. We all have sisters, mothers, wives and friends who go through all of these day in, day out.

The more we talk about, the more we engage opinion moulders and the more it gets on the front burner for the policy makers to address.

This is what iRise Magazine signed up to do. What is your opinion? What do you think can be done to address this menace? Do you have a personal experience? Please drop your comment.

Female genital mutilation: Parents arrested after death of girl in Egypt

Police in Egypt have arrested the parents and aunt of a 14-year-old girl who died while undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM).

The doctor who allegedly performed the procedure in the province of Asyut was also held.

BBC reports that all four were detained after the victim's uncle alerted the authorities.

FGM was banned in Egypt in 2008 but the country still has one of the highest rates of the practice in the world.

According to the UN children's agency, Unicef, 87% of girls and women aged 15 to 49 years in Egypt have undergone FGM, with 50% of Egyptians believing it "is a religious requirement".

In the latest case, Nada Abdul Maksoud suffered complications after the surgery at a private clinic in the Upper Egyptian governorate of Asyut, the Shorouk News website reported.

The girl's death caused an outcry from rights groups in Egypt.

The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and the National Council for Women urged authorities to prosecute those responsible, the state-run website Akhbar el-Yom said.

Egypt criminalised FGM in 2008 and increased penalties for those carrying out the procedures in 2016 following the death of a teenage girl.

Dangers of FGM include severe bleeding, problems urinating, infections, infertility and increased risk of newborn deaths in childbirth