To the Boki Girl
Thanks to feminism and United Nations’ fifth Sustainable Development Goal, governments and institutions/organizations across the country are now becoming more gender sensitive and acknowledging the potentials and abilities in women. In Kaduna state for example where I come from, a high percentage of political appointees occupying key positions are women. The governor, whose deputy is a woman, is always heard opining that when there is a seemingly difficult task in need of a diligent and dexterous hand to handle it, call a woman. I dare to further claim that the massive ongoing accomplishment of his administration owes to the hard working and competent women working in his government.
The 21st century in Nigeria is a time that is seeing women attaining greater heights and achieving feats for themselves, their families and communities; it is century for women tearing off every cloth that has muffled their voices for decades, if not centuries; it is a century that is seeing the complete emancipation of women from cultural and/or religious strongholds that have kept them bound from becoming exactly what they aspire to become; it is a century of powerfully rising women changing narratives and accessing resources and opportunities without fear and anxiety over nothing!
This is the reason I do not fail to celebrate any woman reaching the peak of her career, because her success is another victory story to the long fight for the fundamental human rights of women. Women are disadvantaged group, and doubly so for a girl child.
So, when I learnt about the ascension of a woman late last month as the 11th substantive and first female vice chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Banku Obi, I did not know when this article graciously churned out of me. Knowing more that she is from the local government area I did my national youth service, from a neighbouring community (Bansang-Osokom) I dedicated myself to serving my fatherland (Duala-Osokom), my joy literally flew off the roof.
I not only served in a rural private secondary school named Graceland Model College owned by one of the respected local government chairmen of Boki LGA, Joe N. Tateh, I, also, as a corps member zealously presided over a polling unit, Nkim II, Ekpashi Ward during the general elections of 2019 which brought the present administration of Professor Ben Ayade to power. I could not shake the governor’s hand when he visited Boki during his campaign, but I shook hand with one Hillary Bisong — a young and vibrant politician who was an inspiration to me the moment he opened his mouth to address us corps members serving in his local government. Hillary Bisong would aspire and win the seat of Member, Boki II at the State House of Assembly that year. I vividly remember our brief meeting with him; it was not his show of love and joviality that left me in awe of him, but the honour he gave us, a group of undeserving corps members, and his rich and enviable insights into the political affairs of the country at large. (I would later learn that Hillary Bisong is a son to Professor Florence Obi.)
I consider Cross River State my second indigenous state because that was the first state of the country I ever traveled, lived in, and cherished its culture and people, thanks to NYSC. That was the first state I joined in imparting younger ones to become future leaders they always sang and marched to their classrooms; that was the first state I saw women going out of their ways to make sure their children do not lack. You see, I can still recite Cross River’s anthem — first and second stanza; that is to show the level of patriotism to a state that accepted me hospitably, a total alien, and treated me like a son.
Reminiscing and recounting all my days in Boki LGA is writing a book instead of an article; it will mean deviating the purpose and to whom the essay is meant for. But there is no better way to express this affinity I feel I share with Professor Florence Banku Obi who represents all the intelligent young girls in Boki LGA on the one hand, and the industrious and ever-loving women/mothers on the other hand. There may be others who have attained heights greater than Professor Obi, it is Professor Obi I can say.
This is to Professor Obi, but it is more to all women and girls from Boki LGA, Cross River; may the ancient local government live to see its young girls grow to become icons in their generation in their respective chosen career. Ajobede!
