WHO SAYS A FEMALE CHILD IS AN EMPTY BARREL?

By:
Ajukura, Fidelis O.
ajukurafidelisobi@gmail.com
11th September, 2023.

In many African societies, women are treated with levity. There is always a depressing reluctance in treating them like their male counterparts e.g., enrolling them in school. In time past, women were considered as weaker vessels and only good in managing homes. This reasoning gave birth to popular cliches like, 'a woman's education ends in the kitchen and bedroom' etc. In many traditional societies including Ogba land, women, regardless of their station in life were believed to be 'okpokro agba' (empty barrel). Although, civilization has helped to change the perception about women. However, many still look at women as second class citizens. In this present age, many people still discriminate against women e g., women are not entitled to benefit or inherit family property. Some people who have female children are led to believe that having only female children/child is equivalent to being without a child. The desperation for male children/child has pushed many men into impregnating women outside their matrimonial homes.

The truth is that, women are special just like men. With the right or proper training, a woman can do whatever a man can do and even better. There are women who have made remarkable or significant impact in their various areas of specialization. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is one of such women. In the history of Nigeria and the world at large, Okonjo-Iweala is among the creme de la creme of modern women who have attained a towering and enviable height. Okonjo-Iweala has held many exalted positions both in the national and international levels. She did not stumble into these positions - knowledge and hardwork took her there! Okonjo-Iweala can be aptly described as an embodiment of success and also, the envy of everyone (including members of the menfolk). Few days ago, pictures of the US President, Joe Biden taking selfie with okonjo-Iweala flooded the social media. These pictures, I believe got many people thinking about the sickening value they placed on women. How many men in the history of Africa and Nigeria in particular have reached such a level?

Let us be proud of our female children and give them all the support they need to enable them stand out for good. Women are not empty barrels!