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Leadership (Abuja)

Nigeria: Plight of the Average Woman

Mallam Salisu Musa

29 August 2008

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opinion

Abuja — One of the moving passages in human history that pays glowing tribute to the black woman is that of an African-American writer - Ramsey Lewis who penned the words: "The black woman historically has been the backbone of the black race as we know it today. The trial and tribulations, the ups and downs, the humiliations she experience, without giving up hope have all combined to create a modern black woman who is one of the beautiful species of human race. Because of the traditional roles that the black woman has had for many years, she has emerged as a very sensitive, caring and beautiful person. I can't help but feel that the biblical phrase "Ye are salt of the earth" refers to the black woman."

Going by the above passage, the black woman, irrespective of the country she happens to come from, has contributed immensely to the socio-economic and political development of her nation. She has gone though the good, the bad and ugly periods associated with such accomplishments. History has shown that the African woman has the highest degree of patience and perseverance.

However, the extent to which the average Nigerian women adjusts to changes in life is astonishing. With over forty years of independence, the Nigerian nation has, in spite of her human and material resources, failed to harness these resources. The marriage institution as ordained by God is supposed to be a paradise on earth for the average Nigerian woman. This is because, the husband agrees to feed, house and clothe his wife. However, a random sapling of the life of the average married woman reveals that five out of ten are living unhappy marriage life. A close scrutiny reveals that most of the women are beaten, humiliated, insulted and disregarded by their spouse.

Bearing children, according to Professor Ali Mazrui, remains "the supreme demand that society places on the average African woman". Even though she had over the years performed this duty with success, the physical and mental demands of undertaking such a task remains a major draw back in her struggle to convince the society that her usefulness goes beyond child bearing. She is still the fetcher of fire wood and drawer of water for her family.

Till this day, there are still societies in Nigeria where the average Nigerian woman has been forcefully entrusted with not only bearing and rearing children, but educating them as well. The husband merely gives initial business take-off in form of capital to the wife and leaves the rest of the burden to her.

Even women who can afford tertiary education have been victims of sexual harassment. The lecturers - whether married or not, have succeeded in making sex a pre-requisite for passing examination or graduating. The results have been cases of incessant abortion and children abandoned after delivery.

Politics, is a game of numbers, and the higher your number, the greater your chances of winning elections and therefore, occupying positions within governmental bureaucratic structures. Ironically, the average Nigerian woman has, in spite of her numerical advantages, failed to showcase her potentials. The result has been the complete relegation of women to secondary status in the society. That is why, with just few exceptions, the Nigerian women are yet to make a decisive entry and impact on the main administrative set-up of the country. In the areas of religious crises, political upheavals, tribal conflicts and other societal disturbances, the average Nigerian woman has always been an innocent victim.

Decent accommodation has for decades, eluded the average Nigerian woman. She hardly owns a comfortable accommodation throughout her life, not to mention bequeathing one to her children. With her extended family, the average Nigerian woman shares a one bedroom apartment that has no pipe borne water or power supply. Although scientific develop-ment, culminating in technological advancement had over the years has succeeded in shrinking the distance between individuals and their relations, as well as between one country and another, in most cases, she doesn't have a vehicle of her own. Her only means of mobility is through the use of public transport, thereby spending a lot hours at motor parks

Social scientists believe that no society in human history has ever been static. However, in Nigeria today, there are communities where culture and tradition have continued to resist modernity. In such situations, the women are still seen and treated as personal effects of their husbands. They have no right to own landed property and to proffer suggestions on family matters. With all the advancements in science and technology, an average Nigerian woman still uses firewood to cook, trekking on market days, drinks from ponds meant for use by animals and depends on local herbs for all forms of medication. The cumulative effect is the untimely deaths of women.

The late Tanzanian philosopher and former president, Dr. Julius Nyerere, was once quoted as saying, while speaking at the famous Arusha declaration which unveiled that country's blue print for development: "we have been oppressed a great deal; we have been exploited a great deal and we have been disregarded a great deal. Our weakness has led, to our being oppressed, exploited and disregard. Now we want a change - a change which brings to an end, our weakness so that we are never again exploited, oppressed and humiliated". The average Nigerian woman never gets anything free without putting a strong fight for it. She therefore, needs to go back to the drawing board and carefully re-design her approach to issues of life, so that she is never again exploited, oppressed, humiliated and relegated to the background.

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