Born into the hands of immense gratitude and not of neglect. To be lavished with mercy and a deep sense of affection because that is what she deserves for the joy she brings. She is our girl; to be listened to and not judged. One to be given equal opportunities as her peers both male and female. She is to be invested in with much seriousness because it is said that "educate a male child and you have educated an individual, but educate a female child and you have educated a nation". To be appreciated for her innate qualities (patience and forebearance) and never be to be trampled upon; that action which strips her of the golden qualities she innately possess.
To be served at every point in her life (father, husband and children). Time, affection and money will all be given, and you won’t be able to give to her what she is truly worth. Such are my hopes for the jewel of my heart and so help me God.
Stemming from my last argument on the Nigerian child marriage controversy I have decided to write this piece, not only to give a personal take on what I sincerely hope for the future of the Nigerian girl, but also to comment on some publications I read about the plight of the many girls who are given in early marriage in many parts of the world.
The Challenges of raising a female child in the world we live in today are truly enormous if we honestly are concerned about her protection physically, spiritually and intellectually. The success of which I believe will best be achieved by a deep sense of love and affection given by her parents and not only a collection of stern injunctions (which I am sure many will agree, doesn't work by itself most of the time) as Albert Einstein in his abundance of knowledge said "Love is a better teacher than a sense of duty". Unfortunately the society today presents a good amount of our girls as far off what we hope for. The fate of the Nigerian girl child hence, calls for concern.
My views on this issue focuses on the basis of our intent to protect the girl child and particularly trying to reconcile the many needs of the Girl child. I believe the middle course in this issue should be the one carefully thread, where we understand that giving the girl the opportunity to obtain a substantial amount of education is not tantamount to her losing the moral and spiritual discipline that is expected of her, also that protecting her spiritual and moral values doesn't hinder her from attaining the Education that enables her to be financially and intellectually independent. This responsibility of raising a well-rounded Girl child I believe, lies on the parents and guardians altogether and should be a conscious attempt.
Unfortunately, the girl child has become a victim of man's selfish intentions where she is claimed to be protected but rather used to satisfy selfish desires as it is seen in many of the early marriage practices in some parts of Nigeria, most commonly in the Northern Nigeria. The Health concerns brought about by these practices cannot be overstated and truly is a valid point to consider as rightly indicated in many publications on this matter. However, we must understand that these health concerns are partly due to the lack of access to healthcare in these areas. A study conducted by the International Continence Society on "Obstetric Vesico-Vaginal Fistula in the Developing World" indicates that these risks are highest in areas of high fertility where access to emergency obstetric care is poor. It will then be sad to realise that majority of the problems within our societies, particularly in many of the Northern states are brought upon by these so called politicians, who find nothing wrong in the impoverishment of its people in spite of the immense wealth allocated to their governments (from within and outside the country) and still claim to be establishing a God fearing society, this widespread hypocrisy is what I personally find Saddening.
It is therefore at this point in time, a collective responsibility of each and every individual to contribute to the future of our girls. To ensure a society where every parent knows that providing for their children is not only a duty to God but also a duty to our dignity as human beings. Where every parent treats their children with love and make them know that it is not a taboo to make mistakes and that they are able to find a non-judgemental friend in their parents so at least, they can talk to them (the parents) and get advice from them rather than get the advice on the streets. A world where every man puts in his consciousness that it is more dignifying to treat women with respect and realising that a girl is not a material or object to be acquired as it is sadly portrayed in entertainment and showbiz today. And finally, a society where females encourage each other by protecting their chastity and dignity. This is the world we hope for and so help Us God.
I have written this piece based on my intellectual and religious inclinations and I won’t shy away from that, because I believe the best we can do as a people is to protect our identity with dignity and sincerity. Also to know that there are people who hold contrary opinions and we must respect them. We can only base our discussions on historical and intellectual facts and not fallacies.
Tope Oluyadi (July 2013)