‘Life has been unfair to me’ (2)

a model

Here is the conclusion of Sandra and Eugene’s story started last week. Sandra and Eugene got married and all seemed to be going on well until the devil threw in a spanner in the marriage. 

Four days later, Sandra came back to the same hospital having severe contractions. That was when she observed ‘show’ on her panties and she was brought back to the hospital carrying her bag where the things she would be needing for labour were packed. But the mistake of sneaking out of the hospital even when she was admitted cost her a lot. “I regretted leaving the hospital because at the time I started having contractions, what was dribbling out of me changed. I knew it that I had been infected but I never knew the infection would have affected my unborn baby. When I got in, my doctor asked why I left, I couldn’t answer because I was crying. My contractions became stiffer and stiffer. I only managed to answer when those stiff contractions subsided. When I was examined, my doctor said my baby was getting distressed and that I needed to go for Caesarean Section else my baby may not make it,” she said. Sandra was rushed to the theater and as it had been the tradition of her doctor to ask patient to lead them in a short prayer, “I was asked to pray. I started! I prayed and prayed until the doctor said amen, that God has heard. That was the last thing I could remember.

Getting your man to support you in politics is not a one day affair- Prof. Remi Sonaiya, KOWA presidential candidate, 2015

‘I’m not an advocate of women having separate political party’

ADAEZE AMOS

It took place on the 8^th of March, to commemorate the International Women’s Day, and the venue was Public Affairs Section, U.S. Consulate General, Lagos. Women from all walks of life were seated at 9.45 am when the program kicked off. The guest speaker in the person of Professor Remi  Sonaiya, the 2015 Presidential candidate of KOWA Party spoke extensively on the theme: ‘Women in Leadership and good governance’.

The Amazon who obtained a Bachelor of Arts in French from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1977, graduating with the best result in her faculty encouraged women to jettison fears and doubts if they want to venture into politics. She also relieved her experience in active politics and how her husband gave her his full support. “My greatest supporter was my husband. He encouraged me a whole lot. He gave me one million naira and that was my starting point. He was there for me. It’s good to have your husband’s support in whatever you want to do especially in politics. But remember this can’t just start with you just saying today you must support me. What you should ask yourself is what have you built on over the years. This is important. Have you had the relationship where your man really comes to respect your judgment? You just don’t wake up one day and say you must support me in this venture. You know what I’m trying to say (she giggles)? Getting your man to support you in politics is not a one day affair,” she enthused.

I’ve contributed enough to women empowerment –Siaka Nimat

March 8 is set aside every year by the United Nations, UN, to mark the International Women’s Day. It is a date earmarked to recognise the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women the world over. Kogi State-born Siaka Nimat, a sociologist and coordinator/founder of Mama Africa Global, a non-governmental organisation, says she is fully ready to be honoured as a woman because she has contributed her quota to the empowerment of women. “I initiated an NGO which centres on the affairs of women. I started this because of my selfless passion for women of like minds and the way and manner some women around me suffer low self esteem, discrimination, marital iproblems, molestation and maltreatment from the male folk including their husbands. I have always been a spokesperson for women. I am an advocate of better change for women in my country. And I’m always aiming at sensitising people’s mindset positively for women,” she affirmed.

Women are fashion pacesetters – Sandra Anthony

Sandra Anthony is the founder, Sandra Anthony Cervical Cancer Foundation, Lagos. She studied International Relations at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The beauty queen tellsADAEZE AMOS in this interview that women are pacesetters in fashion, among others.

As a woman in a male-dominated society as ours, how does that make you feel?
Truthfully, being a woman in a male-dominated society as ours is intimidating but it pushes me to want to work harder so that I can stand my grounds and say yes I have achieved my goals.

March 8th is known worldwide as International Women’s Day, what’s your take on this?
I am happy women are being celebrated all over the world and I think we deserve this. The reason is that women g o through a l o t in our society. Which one would I talk about?  Is it the complications and pains we go through during pregnancy and labour? Or should I talk about the domestic violence most women are saddled with? How about rape cases that are becoming rampant now or sexual harassments at work places? So, I thank God for a day like this when women are recognised and appreciated. This is because we actually do a lot to better our homes and our society and if we are appreciated worldwide, it would urge us to do more.

‘Life has been unfair to me’

A model

This story of Sandra is one that touches the heart.  She narrated her story starting right from the time she was in secondary school to the time she was ripe for marriage, got married and decided to come back to her parents’ village home because of some unforeseen circumstances.

Sandra finished her secondary education at 19 and started trying her luck to secure admission into one of the universities or higher institutions in the country but luck wasn’t on her side. She finally went to do a pre degree course at College of Agriculture Umuagwo, Now Federal Polytechnic Umuagwo in Imo state. “I was enrolled into the department of preliminary studies so that I could  opt for one of the main courses in the institution. But after some months, I ran away from school, forfeiting all my things. That was when Theo my boyfriend, a second year Agronomy student in the same institution also fled. It was said that one of the school cults was seriously looking for him, threatening to deal with him because he was the Capone of an opponent cult. So, while they were looking for him, he sent message to me through his cousin that I should find a way to escape else I would be kidnapped and dealt with. That was why I ran for my dear life,” she recalled.