TheNewsGuru

Tag: Family

  • Nneoma Nenadi: The horrors of a Nigeria house help, other issues arising – Ozioma Onyeweaku

    Nneoma Nenadi: The horrors of a Nigeria house help, other issues arising – Ozioma Onyeweaku

    Ozioma Onyeweaku

    It came out steaming hot and horror the story of 10-year old Nneoma Nnadi who was repeatedly burnt with hot iron, and had a 6-inch nail drilled into her skull.

    Satan the devil, himself, must have screamed at this horrific act of Mrs Ifeoma Ozougwu on her 10 year-old house help.

    Mrs Ifeoma Ozougwu who hails from Aku in Igbo Etiti Local Government Council of Enugu State of Nigeria was reported as having drilled a 6-inch nail into the skull of Nneoma Nnadi, her house help.

    It was at this report that several hot iron burns were discovered all over Nneoma’s body. Horrible sight!!

    The sight of Nneoma with all the injuries questions the sanity of Mrs. Ifeoma Ozougwu. Mrs Ozougwu cherishes her own child but felt very free to destroy the life of another woman’s child. At 2am, Nneoma, a child herself, was required to stay awake and keep watch over Ifeoma’s child.

    At the call of nature the baby fell out of Nneoma’s hand. For that, Nneoma deserved to have a nail in her head even when the
    baby sustained no injury.

    Why not, after all, mere throwing things on the floor had earlier attracted hot iron burns.

    The truth of the matter is that Nneoma represents the face of many Nigerian house helps. There have been many cases of near-death experiences of the house helps in the hands of their madams.

    Many such experiences do not get to the public. Those that succeed in getting to the public are as horrific as that of
    Nneoma.

    In April 2016 we heard the case of Nneka Ifoeze of Nkwerre in Imo State who used hot iron on her 9 year old house help.

    In March 2018 in Ikeja Lagos State, Nkeiruka Ngwu, a mother of 4, burnt her maid with both hot water and hot pressing iron.

    In 2019, 13 year-old Monsurat had her stomach and laps burnt with hot iron by her Madam, Mrs Hafia of Ola Akinpelu Street,
    Alimosho area of Lagos State over missing N500. She had earlier used razor on her over other wrongs before using the hot iron. It took the intervention of ACP Mary Ajunwa, the head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Alagbon to get Hafia
    arrested and prosecuted.

    I do pray you get the import of the last sentence on the last paragraph. There are many cases of such a nature that were swept under the carpet and never heard by the public. Many house helps are going through a lot in the households they serve.

    Some, if not raped by their madam’s husbands, or raped by the son(s) of the household, or forced to abort pregnancy by Oga or Son, they are tortured, abused, humiliated and termed ‘devils’. May I use this opportunity to inform us that it is offence to give out or hire an underage child as house help. Both the person that gives out, and the person that receives, an underage as house help, commit an offence under the Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    So parents are to take note that when they give out their underage children as house helps, they too are culpable in whatever ill-treatment the child receives.

    Some parents go as far as being shylocks, and seeing their children as source of income, or sort of an investment that must bring good returns. I once confronted a woman on how she was ill-treating her maid, and she said that the girl was more or less a property to her since the girl’s parents made her pay exorbitantly akin to marrying the girl. She only came to her senses when she realized what we could do if she had failed to return the girl to her parents.

    Under the Child’s Rights Act/Laws and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, it is an offence in Nigeria to give out an underage child as a domestic worker.

    The parents of such a child given out as a domestic worker are culpable and liable in court of law. It is important to point out here that the law protects the children from an abusive environment and empowers the removal of a child from such an environment even if it is her parent’s home. In other words, a child could be taken away even from her parents if the
    child’s health, life, survival and proper development are threatened at such homes.

    This is saying “Thank You” to all the neighbours who reported the predicament of Nneoma Nnadi, and also the Police Division that took prompt action and ensured the matter was not swept under the carpet; and also the Magistrate for insisting on serving justice.

  • Ajimobi’s family deliberately denied Makinde’s delegation access to Fidau programme – Oyo Deputy Gov insists

    Ajimobi’s family deliberately denied Makinde’s delegation access to Fidau programme – Oyo Deputy Gov insists

    Oyo Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, has insisted that the family of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi deliberately barred him and other state delegation from the 8th day Fidau prayers for the deceased.

    He said the family was aware of his presence at the gate of the residence.

    Though the Ajimobi family, on Saturday in a statement by Bolaji Tunji, had denied that Olaniyan was deliberately denied entry.

    Tunji said the family was not aware of his planned visit and arrival at the gate.

    He added that that on making efforts to facilitate access for him later, they discovered that he had left. The family offered apologies for the incident.

    But in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Omolere Omoetan, Olaniyan countered the explanation that the family was unaware he was waiting at the gate.

    He said it was another act of rebuffing hands of fellowship being extended to the family of Ajimobi by Governor Seyi Makinde.

    The statement reads in part: “Again, some members and aides of the former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi continue to rebuff the hand of fellowship extended to the family of the late governor by the government of Oyo State led by His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

    “Today at the 8th day Fidau Prayers of the former Governor Oyo State Isaika Ajimobi, the Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, was denied access to the venue of the event.

    “The Deputy Governor, who led the government delegation comprising himself and some commissioners, on the approval of the governor, was kept waiting at the gate for over 15 minutes. Even when security men at the gate went in to tell them he was at the gate, no directive came back to grant his Excellency access.

    “At a point, the security personnel in uniform and mufti at the gates became very hostile and the ADC to the Deputy Governor was manhandled by men of the police force. It was at this point that the Deputy Governor decided to leave the scene that was becoming tense while waiting in his car.

    “Having waited for a while to see if the situation would change to no avail, he proceeded to take his leave.

    “It should be noted that the Deputy Governor put a call through to Alhaji Kunle Sanni, Chairman of Oyo State Muslim Council, who was among the officiating ministers, that he was at the gate and was being denied entrance. Alhaji Sanni responded that his hands were tied. This is a clear indication that what transpired was premeditated.

    “There was no truth in the family saying they were not aware that the state government delegation was at the gate because Mr. Bolaji Tunji was severally called by men of Civil Defence at the gate.

    “Even if the Deputy Governor arrived when the prayers had started, it is a well-known fact in Islam that when prayers are on-going and a male walks in, it’s an indication that the prayers have received Allah’s acceptance.

    “However, Engr Raufu Olaniyan wishes to re-iterate that the visit of the government delegation to the 8th day Fidau Prayers of His Excellency Senator Isaika Ajimobi was a clear demonstration on the part of His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde, that the late governor is held in high regard. He stated that it was only fitting for the state government to show respect to the late governor at the Fidau prayers held in his honor.

    “The Deputy Governor also wishes to put it on record that despite the way he was treated by the Ajimobi family, which he refuses to hold personal, he has displayed maturity as required of the public office at this level. He holds no grudges and he will continue to pray that Allah grants the departed former Governor Al-Jana Firdaus.

    “Engr. Raufu Olaniyan will also like to draw the attention of the Oyo state Commissioner of Police to the highly unprofessional and unruly conduct of the police personnel at the premises.”

  • I’ve lost close staff, family, friends to coronavirus – Buhari

    I’ve lost close staff, family, friends to coronavirus – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said he has lost a couple of close people to the ravaging coronavirus [COVID-19] pandemic.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the president lost his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari to complications from the virus in April. Other close family members back in his hometown Daura, Katsina State also died from the virus.

    The president also condoled with Nigerians who have lost close relatives and friends to the virus. He also praised front line health workers who are risking everything including their lives to fight the pandemic.

    He said this in a televised Democracy Day address to Nigerians.

    He said, “It is a day to honour our founding fathers who toiled to establish our republic and every Nigerian who has worked tirelessly to sustain it.

    “We are celebrating this year’s Democracy Day despite the COVID-19 pandemic which afflicts our nation and the whole world.

    “It is indeed a very difficult time for everyone especially those who have lost loved ones to the virus and those whose sources of livelihood have been severely constrained by the stringent measures we introduced at every level of government to contain the virus and save lives.

    “The dedication of our health and other essential services staff towards containing this virus is a testament of our courage and resilience as a people and as a great nation, and I use this opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your service to the nation.”

  • Family announces burial date for murdered Black American, Floyd George

    Family announces burial date for murdered Black American, Floyd George

    The funeral for George Floyd, who was murdered in Minneapolis, United States last week, will be held June 9 in Houston, the family attorney, Ben Crump has announced.

    A memorial service will be held in Minneapolis Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.(7pm West African time), according to Crump.

    The funeral in Houston, where Floyd grew up, will be at 11 a.m. CT, Crump said at a news conference.

    The death of Flyod was revealed in a viral video showing police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee of Floyd’s neck, and other officers kneeling on his back.

  • Omote Omam’omo – Francis Ewherido

    Francis Ewherido

    No suspense, the title means that the girl child is a good child. Sometime ago, I read the story of a woman, who surrendered her two daughters, aged 13 and 18, to his “man-of-God” lover to sleep with, because he promised to heal her sick SON. The foolishness that comes with desperation knows no bound. God condemns all forms of sexual immorality; how then can you believe someone, who tells you that the same God has revealed to him that he should sleep with your daughters, one of them under-aged, as a pre-condition for healing your son, and you mumurishly believed him? That was what the woman did: a man, already sleeping with her, slept with her two daughters, deflowered the younger one and impregnated the elder one, if I still remember the story correctly.

    Anyway, the woman’s inexcusable naivety and foolishness are not the points of interest today; the point is, if any of the daughters was the child who was gravely ill, would she have gone to this extent to save her? The answer is capital NO. To her, daughters are dispensable. After all, soon they will get married and sign off their surnames and adopt the husband’s surname. The thinking of many people is that the male children sustain family names. For crying out loud, where are Plato’s, Socrates’ and Shakespeare’s male children? Are they the ones sustaining their fathers’ names? Are the male children of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and many other great Nigerians, who have left for the great beyond, the ones sustaining their names?

    Thank God many men, especially, are now wiser. They know that their works and legacies will sustain their names, not male children. Children have their own lives to live and have to make a name for themselves and have their own legacies. These days, many Nigerians, who have only female children, hang their boots after the specified number of children that they had planned to have and move on. Some are now grandfathers. So, we do not have to go to America to cite Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Contented fathers with daughters only are here with us. There is a media personality I used to be close to. He has only daughters. When he was done with the number of children he wanted, the wife wanted them to try one more time to see if they could get a boy, but he put his foot down. Today, even from afar, his life looks very complete to me. Sons will not keep your name alive. The life you are living now will determine whether or not your name lives on after you. So, if you are still busy running around like a naked toddler, looking for a male child that will keep your name alive, you are on a wild goose chase.

    Besides our culture, which placed and still places premium on of male children, women are the main culprits who treat the girl child unfairly. I said so previously. I know a family with only one male child, where the mother practically makes the daughters worship their only brother. He does no chores and does no wrong. If he misbehaves and the elder sisters want to discipline him, the next thing you will hear is “leave my son alone; he is the only one I have.” The husband has told her she is spoiling the boy, but his admonition has fallen on deaf ears.

    I fear two scenarios for this family: one, the boy will grow up to be a very lousy husband, if not a monster. These days, many young couples go to work early and come back late. So, in the morning, while one is preparing the children’s meals, the other is getting them ready for school. In the evening, while one is cooking, the other is busy with other household chores. With a husband, who knows nothing, but only how to eat when food is ready, how will the marriage fare? Two, the daughters are growing up in a home where they are second-class citizens. It is possible they will have an inferiority complex. When they get married with this mind set, they can sit in a marriage and suffer mental, emotional or physical abuse, thinking it is normal.

    Another aspect that irritates me about this almighty male syndrome is when a daughter is the first child and sons follow. During crucial family matters, the eldest daughter is shoved aside in some families as if she does not exist or have a brain to think and make valuable contributions. The one that irritates me most is when accomplished women, intelligent women and well exposed women are side-lined and their only sin is that God created them women. Very important family decisions are then left for almighty eldest male children. I would be less bitter if all these eldest males were responsible and competent. But some of these guys are drunks, drug addicts, layabouts, good-for-nothing lousy bums and school dropouts who are painfully limited in knowledge and scope. They end up messing up everybody and leading the whole family into the gutter.

    If you like o, treat your daughters like slaves and second-class citizens in their own homes. In my home, it is a level-playing field. I am bringing up my daughters up to be lionesses; self-assured. I tell them to be tough because they were born into a society where the odds are against them. My eldest child is female and she is firmly in charge of my household. When my wife and I travel, she takes full charge. Her younger siblings know there are grave consequences for anyone who disobeys her. The boys might have muscles, but they keep their muscles to themselves and obey her. Where I see excesses, I correct her.

    All children must be trained to have self-worth, but it is especially necessary for the girl-child. A girl without self-worth sells herself cheap and falls for every “Dick,” Tom and Harry, looking for acceptance and affirmation. You do not want that for your baby girl. Our culture is important, it is our identity and must be jealously guarded. But some aspects of our culture are obnoxious and every obnoxious culture should be jettisoned. That was why killing of twins ended in Calabar. That is also why every aspect of our culture that makes the girl-child a second-class citizen should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

    I see encouraging signs, but we still need to do a lot more. Recently, the Orovworere of Effurun-Otor, King Johnson Duku, added me to the list of elites of Effurun-Otor. By African standard, I am not eligible because I am maternally from Effurun-Otor. But King Duku, in my estimation, treasures emor’emete (children of daughters) and sees me as one of his subjects and I am happy about it. Urhobo, Delta, Nigeria, Africa, omotejohwo, odi’ohwo vo, omamo r’ohwo (the girl child is also a human being; not just a human being, but a great human being). Love her, honour her, respect her, and give her what is her due.

  • Signs a child is being sexually abused or molested – Ozioma Onyenweaku

    Signs a child is being sexually abused or molested – Ozioma Onyenweaku

    By OZIOMA ONYENWEAKU

    By their nature It is not easy for a child to walk up to the parents and say I am being sexually abused by so so and so person.

    Even children who are naturally bold and would want to muster up courage to speak out about the abuse would have been silenced by the sexual abuser who would have warned her to keep quiet or she would die or her parents would be killed.

    So the child gives out non-verbal signs and clues about the abuse.

    ➢ Have you ever, as a mother, walked into your girl’s room and she startles, and on turning and discovering it is you, then heaving a sigh of relief says ’oh mom, it is you’? ➢ Has that girl child who likes sleeping in light clothes suddenly would not go to bed except she clothes up herself with shorts and trousers with long sleeve tops no matter how hot the weather is? ➢ Has that lively girl suddenly withdrawn into herself, and appearing not to trust anybody’s company or presence? ➢ Has the child that liked her lesson teacher and was always looking forward to the lesson suddenly started frowning and almost near tears once lesson time is approaching? ➢ Has the talkative suddenly stopped talking, looking gloomy and withdrawn? ➢ Has the once happy child who was on top of her class suddenly started dropping academically? ➢ Has she suddenly started avoiding that uncle, family friend or relation she was fond of? ➢ She was once spiritually minded and fond of Sunday school or choir practice but has suddenly started detesting all these? ➢ She had been a very reserved and respectful child but all of a sudden has she become aggressive, disrespectful, and easily provoked? ➢ That house help of yours that never looked you in the eye has she suddenly started challenging you and becoming disobedient ( to you, she is ‘growing wings’ because she has started seeing a man OUTSIDE, a boyfriend)? ➢ It has been years she stopped bedwetting, has she all of a sudden started bed-wetting? The list is not exhaustive. Child sexual abuse is one area that I crave zero tolerance.

    I am going to devote ample time for it in this space. Every report of child sexual abuse tends to send a dagger to my heart. One painful aspect of it is that a lot of children are going through it but cannot speak out for fear of harm or death as promised them by their abusers. If you have noticed some of the above signs on your child or children, please be concerned. One woman I attended to her case some time ago, noticed the 1st and 2nd signs, as I put out above, in her girl child. She was worried. She was terribly disturbed. She had earlier noticed that the girl would clothe herself all up when going to bed, which the girl was not doing before. She tried finding out why, but the girl said it was nothing.

    But the woman kept observing. When, on entering the girl’s room unannounced, and the girl got startled and said, “ oh mom it is you” and then seemed relaxed, she asked the girl: “Who would it have been and you would be worried?” It took a lot of loving persuasion before the girl said, “Daddy”. “Your daddy? Why?” “Of recent daddy has been touching my bum while calling me ‘fine girl; the other time he touched my breasts and said they were growing fast. Each time he walked into my room (which he does without knocking and at times when I just came out from the bathroom) I get startled. At times he would sneak into my room at night to touch my bum and breasts; that’s why I started wearing trousers to bed”.

    Heartbreaking revelation, isn’t it? The mother promised her she was going to protect her and she did. If this girl’s mother was not observant of the change in attitude, and anxiety of this girl, and took action immediately, the girl would have been violated, violated by her own father! You know what? The girl would not have forgiven her mother. Why her mother? Next article … Keep a date. Keep maintaining social distancing. Stay safe.

    OZIOMA ONYENWEAKU ozynweaku@gmail.com

  • The Lockdown and family bonding – Hope Eghagha

    The Lockdown and family bonding – Hope Eghagha

    By Hope Eghagha

    COVID-19 has locked us all in. It has forced families to live together as they never did before. It is unlike the long weekend holidays. Then you could still drive off to the club. Take a beer. Eat some good food. Chat with friends. And return home to an exciting or boring partner. This time, we are all stuck. No clubbing. No church services. No parties. COVID-19! It has revealed, it is yet revealing things. It has confirmed certain things too. It has destroyed some mountains; mountains built over the years. It is building still for some. Those in the big cities who never had time for each other, for the kids. Now, time has been frozen. In biblical terms, like in Mount Gibeon, COVID-19 has commanded the sun to stand still. For people of faith, God will do wonders. And what we see today will never be seen again. What was lost can never be regained. Lies have been shattered. Eyeball to eyeball we have confronted the truth about ourselves, our families and our lives. Sometimes, at great cost!

    Of course, the lockdown is a bag of mixed blessings. Lagos daddies are compelled to stay at home and feel the kids. No more rushing off by 5am. No more coming late because of traffic. For four weeks in the locked down cities, there is no complaint about heavy traffic. The cars are asleep. The mechanics are home. There is no cash coming in. Food consumption is high. The kids must eat three square meals, snacks between meals. It is no time to push them to mom. Dad must do his duty. For four weeks, they must wake up and see each other, one another. There is nowhere to go; no need to go. So, we must live together.

    No more excuses about meetings, about deadlines about travels. What has it made of you? What has it made of me? For some, it is a reminder of their mortality. How temporary things are. How ephemeral the glamour of the world is! That expensive dress or suit or silk material bought with millions of naira has become worthless. No need for them. In the face of an unknown, unseen enemy, what will an apparel do? And I remember the morality play Everyman written in the late 15th century and how ultimately it is the virtues of life that count. When the eponymous character Everyman is summoned to the other world, it is only the positive aspects of life that accompany him. Wealth and Goods all disappear. They are worthless in the final analysis. They are baggage to salvation, to our humanity.

    COVID-19 has created fear too. Is the end of things near? Some charlatans have seized the day to feed rubbish to their followers. End time. Mark of the beast. The coming of Jesus Christ is around the corner. Bill Gates is an agent of darkness. Such foolish talk from the tongues of those who ought to know better! Coronavirus is not killing people. It is 5G network. It is an attempt to impose one government on the world. It is an attempt to stop God-worship. If these fear mongers had their way, huge congregations would continue to meet and worship, damning the hard realities which confront us. The tithes and offerings are more important than the lives of followers. ‘For the leaders of this people cause them to err’, so says the bible, ‘and they that are led of them are destroyed’. In Plateau State mobs chanted war songs and declared that they would rather continue worshiping and die. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia which maintains all the sacred places for Islam has frozen congregational worship.

    COVID-19 has also revealed the inherent weakness of the system that we operate as a government. There is no decent structure to deal with everyone. Hunger is real among the ordinary people. It is more terrifying than the dreaded virus. The virus appears distant. But to wake up in the morning with nowhere to go or what to do for four weeks is trying. Our leaders have failed to generate reliable data through the decades. The culture of false population figures that struggles to put one side of the country ahead of the rest has counted against us. Illiteracy and poor access to modernity is also a problem. Else, with the stroke of a pen all citizens of a certain class or age would receive credit alerts, courtesy of the federal government.

    As hunger rages, some dads are denied their masculinity. They cannot provide food. The kids know no lockdown, food must be on the table. You don’t have money daddy? Yes, there is no money. Please go to the bank and take money. You get to understand the kids and the kids get to understand you too, may be! In times of extreme hunger, the children cannot bond with parents. The kids will be angry. Angry with a failed father. A husband who is unable to feed his family cannot bond with his wife. So, the situation is complex. Patience and understanding are some of the first casualties of a relationship once certain basic needs cannot be met. Especially so for young couples. the fear of COVID-19 has prevented from going out there to ‘hustle’ a living.

    I am sure dead certain that victims of savage domestic abuse will not agree with the thesis of this essay- the lockdown as a time for family bonding. They have entered a period of being left alone with a savage husband or a cantankerous and henpecking wife. Locked inside a house for twenty-four hours, all the ‘faults’ of the other person become magnified. Of course, we know that domestic abuse is not caused by the victim. It is the weakness of the aggressor. Kids are at the mercy of savage guardians. Wives too! And perhaps daughters! Reports from the UK show a spike in the number of persons calling for help since the reign of coronavirus started.

    Well, I’d rather stress the positive aspects of the reign of King COVID-19, that scourge which has humbled giants. Families ought to use this opportunity to pray together, eat together and share experiences with a view to bonding. That way, we would come out of the period stronger and closer. If we achieve this, we could claim some victory over the terror that is (that was) COVID-19! As government relaxes the lockdown let us remember that danger is still lurking. Caution is necessary. Above all, God’s grace to keep His face shining on us!

    Eghagha can be reached on 08023220393 or heghagha@yahoo.com

  • One advantage of Covid-19 lockdown we must take – Ozioma Onyenweaku

    One advantage of Covid-19 lockdown we must take – Ozioma Onyenweaku

    By Ozioma Onyenweaku

    COVID-19 is one pandemic that has shocked the whole world bringing all human activities to a standstill; grounded all activities, and directed all attention to itself.

    How to curb COVID-19 has become the sole goal and direction of all human activities. All the expensive and state-of-the art vehicles, all the private jets, and all, are all parked, and gathering dust; and all the designer clothes no longer make any meaning and matter no more since there is nowhere to go to, no functions to attend, and no more shows! Everything has suddenly proved to be vanity! Our only desire now is to keep breathing. Man’s preoccupation now is to ensure that we keep breathing.

    I have come to a realization now, that there is basically one common basic need of mankind, old and young, rich and poor, black and white: the need to breathe.

    After all, you need to breathe to be able to need and long for food, shelter and clothing which hitherto have been termed the basic needs of man. As Covid-19 collapses all human structures, one structure stands, and stands as a refuge, the home. To fight this monster, we can only, and must, be home to contain the spread of the virus.

    As the home is the only refuge, then it is time to repair the roofs, mend the walls and fill up all holes, figuratively, speaking. Time to bond with family members and rekindle any dying affection.

    It is important to use this opportunity to give the home front the attention it deserves. Before now, the harsh economic situation, and the struggle by parents to make ends meet have resulted in the neglect of the homefront.

    Now we have ample time on our hands now to remedy that. Parents, this is the time to pay attention and tend to the beautiful flowers with which God has adorned our lives and homes, that is, the children. Do you know that while you were out there working, your children might have picked up some bad habits without you knowing? Make use of this time to tactfully find out and see how to readjust them.

    Use this time too to find out those hidden distresses, fears and anxieties of the children. Use this time to peer into their affairs, and be involved. Could it be possible that your child was/is being abused and bullied at home or school? This is time to find out. Do please find out. Make effective use of this opportunity to teach your children those little life lessons they need in order to grow up to responsible adults.

    I know you have always desired to do that but for time; now the time is here with the COVID-19 lockdown. Do you still remember that research has shown that about 80% of child sexual abuses take place in the child’s home, and are perpetrated by the people the child knows and is close to?

    The perpetrators could include the fathers, the uncles, family friends, family doctors, lesson teachers, pastors, domestic workers and the list goes on. Is your home safe and protective of the child from sexual abuse and molestation? You have all the time in your hand now to x-ray your home to ascertain how safe your home is for the child. The home is meant to be a haven for every child. What are the signs you can look out for to ascertain if your child is a victim of sexual abuse and molestation? Look out for the next article.

    Meanwhile, let me officially introduce and welcome you to THE WOCH SPACE where we shall be delving into issues that relate to women and children including their rights, their welfare and protection. We shall also be bringing news and events, the bad, the good and the ugly as they relate to, and touch on, women and children in our society. So that at the good, we give ourselves the thumbs up, we work at correcting the bad while frowning at the ugly ones so as to make a better space for women and children in our society. You are welcome. Keep a tap here. Till our next meeting here, maintain social distancing. Stay home. Stay safe.

    THE WOCH SPACE With OZIOMA ONYENWEAKU ozynweaku@gmail.com

  • Okowa condoles with Buhari, Abba Kyari’s family

    Okowa condoles with Buhari, Abba Kyari’s family

    Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Saturday, condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari.

    Okowa, in a statement authored via his verified Twitter account, said Kyari’s death remains a great loss.

    He prayed that God grant the family of Mallam Abba Kyari and Presidency the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The statement reads: “It is with great sadness that I, my family, the government and people of Delta State commiserate with President Buhari, the Kyari family and the entire Presidency on the passing away of former Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari.

    “Mallam Abba Kyari’s death remains a great loss — given his coordinating responsibilities in the Presidency. At this critical time, our thoughts and prayers are with his family. May Almighty God give them the fortitude to bear this loss. Amen.”

  • COVID-19: 7 Ways a family can enjoy stay-home order

    It is not easy staying at home especially when we are not doing so on our own free will. It is obvious that the pandemic has forced the government of most countries to enforce a stay at home order.

    The stay at home instruction is telling on us, this is due to the fact that a greater part of our life has been spent outside our home. In other words, the search for greener pasture, extra cash and so on have prevented us from staying at home, even when sometimes we yell for it.

    Some of us before the pandemic spends only night and weekend at home and not even most of the weekends.

    Most people have totally forgotten how to make their home interesting and are really finding the stay at home order very difficult to adapt to. To ensure you and your family enjoy this stay at home, TNG has gathered some tips to follow:

    1.Exercise
    Exercise is an aged long activity carried out by several people in society since time immemorial. In fact, it is near impossible to trace the history nor origin of exercise. During this stay at home, exercising is of the essence as it has a lot of health benefit.

    Exercise even gets more interesting when you exercise with people, now imagine exercising with not just people (strangers), but with people you love, by this I mean family. Certainly, boredom will be a thing of the past when you engage in a daily routine exercise with families during this period.

    2. Share Cultural Values/Family goals
    Some of us have forgotten or do not know our cultural values, this is not totally a bad thing at all. It is very important that we get to know more about our cultural values. The good thing is, unlike the perception people have about their culture that it is boring, the reverse seems to be the case as our culture is much more interesting than we think.

    This stay at home is an appropriate time to enjoy learning your culture and its values. You will be amazed at how fun-filled and interesting it is learning about your cultural values. For those with kids, interest your kids with those great tales your father told you about your culture. You will be amazed at how interesting your family will find stay at home to be.

    3. Cooking
    Most of us have probably forgotten the feelings of staying in the kitchen, most especially those who enjoy cooking but barely have time for it, due to so many engagements. This is one of the best times to enjoy those cooking moments. It gets more interesting when you are cooking with your spouse and family around you.

    Stay at home will be interesting if you spend your time cooking and eating healthy.

    4. Intimacy
    This is the best part of staying home, you get to know more about your family, what they like and what they don’t. It is always interesting to get to know new things about your spouse and families. This can be achieved when you get to stay at home.

    Ask questions, discuss what’s on each other’s mind, explore your body, make love and listen to music together. It makes your stay at home interesting and also builds stronger bonds among families.


    5.Movies
    Most of us due to our busy schedule, find it difficult to make out time for ourselves and family. These have made us totally forgotten the benefits of watching movies, with our loved ones. A time like this is one of the best periods to rejuvenate the spark in our family through watching movies.

    There are lots of movies that are best for family and some of these movies can be educating as well as entertaining. Watching movies will not only make you enjoy your stay at home, but it will also help educate and create bonding among members of your families.

    6.Reading
    The benefits of reading cannot be overemphasized however, some of us normally see reading as, something done only by those in the academic discipline or students, and those who need to seat for an exam, this notion is wrong and untrue. Reading is a form of brain exercise which is highly recommended for all.

    It is utmost significant that we develop our reading habits, as it will go a long way for families to stay at home comfortably, without feeling bored at all. Not only will reading clear boredom, but it will also help educate and inform, and for those of us that have kids, it will help a lot in building their vocabularies and mental capacity.

    Staying at home will always be interesting if you read the right books. There are a whole lot of books by different writers, on several topics. You can always find the choice of books that suits you and make your stay at home, interesting.

    7. Conversation/Interactions
    Communication has been a major factor for a successful relationship, and a healthy relationship makes life interesting. for those of us who have communication gap among our family members, this is the best time to work on the communication and bring back that relationship.

    Constant communication with our loved ones leads to a healthy conversation or interaction, which in turn builds our relationship and make, stay at home interesting.

    Conversation also helps to build bonding between members of families and increases love in the family.