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Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 — 23 Why y I am a woman and a half —Chile Frank-Udemgba FIVE years ago, Woman and Half, a recreational initiative, was born out of the modern, urban woman’s pressing need for relaxation and self expression; one which the male-dominated culture had hitherto not created allowance to accommodate. The initiative’s founder, Chile Frank- Udemgba tells all to WO, including its charity arm, and the reason for its impending rebranding to WAH by Chile. After 15 years working for a top financial institution, a husband and two children; Chile Frank- Udemgba found herself lost in her various roles and needed to do something about it. “I had a brainwave that my life was very boring. I was living through the motions and it just felt like I was lost in all of these roles. I didn’t want to wake up 20 years from now, an old woman and I have lived for everybody but myself. I was busy but not having any impact so I asked myself, what would be written on my obituary? The only thing would be, wife to.... mother to... “I am pretty certain they wouldn’t have put my job description there. I was not alone but very lonely.” Chile had a hunch there were very many women in her shoes who were living colourless lives. She reached out to them and this led to the birth of her platform, Woman and Half. “I was not just a woman,” she tells WO. “I am balancing so many roles in my life. I am more than a woman; I am a woman and a half.” It was almost like a cry for help, according to the seasoned banker. “It was my own earnest desire to break out from a particular life, to find that little girl within me.” She started to search for like minds who wanted to simply drop all their cares, mingle and have fun regardless of marital status and was not surprised it was well received. “I’ve attended so many women empowerment events. They tell you about motivation, empowerment, marriage and so on. I felt that all those programs were similar and tilted in a certain direction. They are pushing towards empowerment, feminism; such undertones. I wanted to be intentional about having fun with other women and pretending I don’t have those responsibilities. We can go back to our lives and continue the struggle. Men are able to do this very comfortably.” Her ultimate goal to create what was hitherto a culturally inappropriate ethos finally became reality with the staging of annual events, such as last year’s women only boat trip to a popular resort in Lagos State. “On the staycation, nobody was worried about their spouses, their kids, challenges at work; we just wanted to let our hair down.” But how easy was it to convince the men? “From my personal experience, there were things I had assumed. Over the years, I thought a woman is supposed to stay at home, cook. Rightly so, that’s the way we were brought up. I realised I needed to speak up more about the way I felt. "It was all about planning, ensuring I got the buyin of my husband. I make sure to create that balance that is required. "I make sure I give adequate notice and more importantly, I convey that this is something that will make me happy. It’s very important.” Chile, however, slams the notion of rebellion, saying the craving for one’s own time and self care is not an excuse to take things by force. “The culture expects things to be a certain way so you need to show this is just you wanting two or three days for yourself. Your life is not changing.” It wasn’t too long afterwards that the charity arm of the initiative began, mostly by accident, so far raising and distributing in excess of N67 million to the sick. “It occurred to me that every time I went to Gbagada General Hospital to jog, I saw people in need of small amounts and I realised I could help. It occurred to me that if I were to reach out to all my friends and ask for N1,000; if I reach a hundred friends, that is N100,000 .” In December 2017, Chile sent a WhatsApp to her friends telling them she wanted to create a miracle. The response was overwhelming, birthing the so styled 1k Miracle Initiative. 1k Miracle first gave out about a N100,000 in the first year and There’s no place for the middle aged woman to lay her head and just chill has grown from two people to 700 people. The initiative was recently featured on Who Wants to be a Millionaire where they won N500,000, which was doubled by the organisers and given to the sick. ”We then started going to other hospitals like LUTH, LASUTH, Igbobi, Massey. Then the pandemic came and we couldn’t go physically anymore. But I think that presented a better opportunity to go outside Lagos. We could now spread our tentacles.“ Over time, the charity developed efficient systems for case reviews and accountability, assisting medical cases from cataracts, to cancer, to childbirth. Beneficiaries then send their thank you videos as evidence. “Those are things that have created that sense of identity and fulfillment for me,” she said. “For Woman and Half, the plans are to have a launch party in 2022 and go to Ghana next year, or Mauritius. Every year, we have a conference type thing. It’s been an interesting journey. A lot of women connected because we wear masks. I had a lady that said to me: "Please, I don’t want to come to all these women’s programmes. By the time you leave, you will feel inadequate." I said no, our programmes are not like that. We have people on the panels discussing light hearted issues, though important. Eighty per cent of what we are doing is dancing, fashion parade, singing competitions. The last programme that we had, the person who won the fashion parade was the oldest woman in the room, a 65-year-old woman. She said she could not even remember the last time she had so much fun. When you are younger, you go to clubs. When you are married you will then find that all the places you are going to are like Mr Biggs where you take your children to and then as they grow and leave you, the only entertainment you have is church. When you get to club now, it’s these half dressed girls so you just feel old. "You just find that there’s no place for the middle aged woman to lay her head and just chill. Men have viewing centres but there’s no place for women to go without spending so much." For Chile, Woman and Half is about reaching out to three groups of women; The Strivers, the Thrivers and the Achieverswomen who have done it all, seen it all and are now ready to mentor the upcoming ones. “It’s not marriage that will complete you. If you are a Thriver, how are you embracing the fact that your children are no longer babies and yet they are not adults either? So if you are not thriving, you will feel neglected. Suddenly, you are no longer relevant. Your husband will go out and the only thing you have is to channel your energy into this same work that you have done for so many years and you are tired of. Our happiness is not dependent on our family members”. In the immediate future, Woman and Half will be rebranded into WAH by Chile, for two reasons. One is to pull the men in. ”It’s not supposed to be an us against them but a complimentary thing. ‘Women are their worst enemies’ is a cliche, Chile Frank-Udemgba Domestic violence: Coalition takes war against rape to Lagos streets By Juliet Umeh IN collaboration with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Youth Alive Foundation and Lagos SAVE cluster, took the message of zero- tolerance for domestic and sexual violence to the streets of Lagos State in Iba Local Community Development Area recently. The road awareness walk took off at the Iyana School Bus Stop along the major road, to the Local Government Secretariat and its environs. With the objective to sensitize the people at the grassroots on the need to explore necessary mechanisms available through the newly established Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law by the government, the Coalition used the avenue to draw the line between getting justice for victims of domestic but I say, human beings are their own worst enemies. Gender is not what makes a wicked person, your wickedness is inside. WAH by Chile is not a feminist movement. We are trying to develop women who are strong and confident in their skin, trying to get better, committed to driving positive impact in our world. If we can give away more than N65 million to medically- challenged persons, it just tells you that if there are 10 groups, we won’t be seeing people die because they can’t afford a pint of blood “Secondly, Chile might be violence and exploitation of women and girls in the state. The Programs Officer, Youth Alive Foundation and the Awareness Walk’s Coordinator, Feyikemi Fabiyi, disclosed that the project was funded by the Commonwealth Foundation. According to her, the Coalition has carried out lots of community sensitization and Town hall meetings in different locations in Lagos State where representatives from different NGO networks, community leaders, traditional leaders and community development leaders, market women, community women, girls, and youth were made SAVE ambassadors to disseminate and to sensitize the people on the Lagos State Law, which is also one of the success stories of the cluster. “The SAVE cluster and other volunteers were at the Iba LCDA my name but it’s representative of that man, that woman who is courageous, humble, doesn’t compromise on their integrity, lives their life with courage, being humble no matter what they have achieved. Are you a Chile? Someone that is facing every day with courage, without losing yourself, showing love to everyone you come across and while at it, enjoying it? Enjoy your struggles. Whatever comes at you, take it without thinking, I want to be this tomorrow. What about today? to raise awareness about the Lagos Law on Domestic and Sexual Violence. A representative of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mr. Dayo Adetunji, addressed the issue of sexual harassment in Lagos and Nigeria at large as it continues to be a prevalent public health issue and a violation of human rights associated with so many negative consequences. In her reaction, Executive Director, Grassroots People and Gender Development Center, Vivian Emesowum, said Lagos SAVE Clusters have been working to ensure that cases of sexual and psychological abuse are reduced to the barest minimum. She said: “The SAVE Cluster will bring about behavioral change so that we can drastically reduce the number of sexually abused victims in Lagos.”
24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY , SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 vicahiyoung@yahoo.com (08052202308) Our fears over crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism ----Labour •Reveals those responsible, adds Nigeria sinking Stories by Victor Ahiuma-Young ONE of the problems confronting Nigeria today is upsurge in crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Nigeria lost about $3.2 billion (about N1.36 trillion) in crude oil theft between January 2021 and February 2022. As part of its contributions to fighting the menace, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has stepped up awareness campaign across the country, against the twin predicaments facing the country. At a rally by Lagos Zonal Council of PENGASSAN in Lagos, where a letter was handed to the Commissioner of Police for onward delivery to the Inspector General of Police, leaders of PENGASSAN and its umbrella body, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, spoke on how why they took up the initiatives. Speaking, Lagos zonal chairman of PENGASSAN Eya Abeng, said the impact of oil theft and pipeline vandalism affects all Nigerians. Oil theft is an organised crime not carried out by ordinary individuals. It is funded, planned and executed by the high and mighty. The technology use in pipeline vandalism is very sophisticated. We have pressures that rises up to 90 Pound per Square Inch, PSI and at 20 PSI it can kill. So, you need someone with a required skill or expertise to do it. Nigeria is bleeding, Nigeria is dying, and Nigeria is sinking. Today, we are short of Foreign Exchange, forex, at the end of the month we can no longer share money that gets to the 774 local governments areas of the country. Therefore, the impact of oil theft in the Niger Delta has a direct consequence to a Nigerian that lives in Borno Enugu, and Osun states. We must rise as a united progressive Nigerians to say no crude oil theft. All of us, the women, the youths, the traditional rulers, the pressure groups and others must be able to educate ourselves that one barrel of oil lost is a future that is been stolen. It is not President Buhari issue but a collective Nigeria issue.” Producers’ forum Lamenting the menace, Chairman of the Producers’ Forum, PENGASSAN, Ete Oyegbaren, said “The problems are in different levels, and it is important we address them because the impact is on all of us. As at today, if we cannot produce enough crude to meet our quota, we will not get enough foreign exchange, and there will not be enough income for the country especially at the federal, state and local government level. “We need to tell ourselves the truth, the government must rise up to the occasion, if there are vandals who are taking the opportunity to damage the pipelines, they must be arrested and brought to book.Government • Across section of members of Lagos zonal council of PENGASSAN during a protest rally against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism should stand up, the security agencies must play their roles to protect these facilities , lives and ensure that those that are in legitimate business remain in legitimate business and those that are in illegal bunkering are removed from the business. “Everyone that is engaged in illegal tapping of pipeline needs to be arrested so that the country can move forward. T We cannot continue like this anymore, and things must change for this country to move forward." NAPIMS Also speaking, the branch chairman of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, Solomon Orieji, among others said “This is to call 50m people in modern slavery horrifying — ITUC THE International Trade Union Confederation, has raised the alarm over report by the International Labour Organisation, ILO, that no fewer than 50 million persons now live in modern slavery globally. The ILO alongside International Organisation for Migration, IOM and Walk Free, in latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, for 2021 released in Geneva Switzerland, said of the 50 million people, 28 million were in forced labour and 22 million were trapped in forced marriage. The number of people in modern slavery, the bodies lamented, has risen significantly in the last five years, saying “10 million more people were in modern slavery in 2021 compared to 2016 global estimates. Women and children remain disproportionately vulnerable.” They explained that “Modern slavery occurs in almost every country in the world, and cuts across ethnic, cultural and religious lines. More than half (52 per cent) of all forced labour and a quarter of all forced marriages can be found in upper-middle income or highincome countries. Reacting to the report, ITUC General Secretary, Sharan Burrow, said: “These findings are horrifying. It isunimaginable what the daily reality is like for these people, and it is indefensible that the attention of the government and the masses that attack on oil facility is not attack on the Those involved are cabals, we have security operatives in it, we have civilians, we have lawmakers, politicians and so on this number keeps rising. “There are a lot of good recommendations in this report, particularly the recognition that respect for the freedom of workers to associate and to bargain collectively is a prerequisite for a world free from forced labour. Also, universal social protection, which would give working people the CIPM names Naiwo as Registrar THE Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, CIPMN has appointed Ms Oluwatoyin Naiwo as Registrar and Chief Executive of the Institute. The appointment took with effect from September 12, 2022. The CIPMN President, Mr Olusegun Mojeed, in a statement, described Naiwo as a commercially astute and committed senior executive Human Resource practitioner and consultant. Mojeed said the new CIPMN registrar possessed a comprehensive and strategic understanding of business and technical issues, and human resource management, saying her diverse experience in human resource management spanned over 28 years across industries and sectors in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. According to the statement, “Ms government. It is attack on common Nigerians because oil assets belong to all of us. Stealing crude, refined products or vandalizing oil facilities means direct attack on every common Nigerian. We want the security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities. “We also call on the host communities to know that they are part and parcels of the nation and that whatever affects them affects all of us. If these stealing of crude and vandalism continue, it will affect every one of us. Because we work in this industry today, we want the industry to be sustained so that our younger ones who are schools today and generations coming can also benefit from the oil assets or facilities. We all income security they need to potentially avoid losing their liberty to modern slavery. “Both of these are key parts of the New Social Contract, along with climate-friendly jobs, wage justice, equality and inclusion. We need a New Social Contract now to shift power to working people to start undoing the damage of the Naiwo is no newcomer to the CIPM having served as Director, Strategy, Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations, with the responsibility of driving the Institute’s strategy development and execution process. “She spearheaded the Institute’s role in advocating a legislative agenda on Human Capital matters with the Nigerian government, building and maintaining relationships with governmental (Federal and State) and nongovernmental institutional stakeholders both within Nigeria and internationally to extend CIPMs reach and influence. “Naiwo has extensive leadership experience across industries and sectors and has demonstrated her ability to build successful organisations and businesses. “We are confident that the new team will be a force in developing and driving CIPM forward in line with our vision to be the Institute should protect the oil and gas assets for the good of all Nigerians.” TUC Adding its voice, Public Relations Officer, PRO, Lagos council of TUC, Kazeem Alabi, said “An injury to one is an injury to all. What is happening in Niger Delta is also happening in Lagos State and all over the country because wherever the oil pipeline passes through, vandals operate there. As a labour centre, we cannot fold our arms and watch thieves and vandals to continue to be in business because if they continue, our members will lose their jobs, other Nigerians will suffer. We cannot wait till then before we take action. “Those involved are cabals, we have security operatives in it, we have civilians, we have lawmakers, politicians and so on. That is why they are paying lip service to addressing the menace. We are calling on well meaning Nigerians and security agencies to do the needful and we beg the host communities, where they do all these evils to speak out. It is because they don’t speak out that is why it has continued. Remember what happen at Ijegun (here in Lagos) some years back where many people lost their lives because of pipeline vandalism. if we continue to accommodate these individuals it will come to us. If someone dies in a community, it affects the community. We are begging everybody that whenever you see something say something or report. current economic order that has led to this worsening global scandal of modern slavery “As a matter of urgency we call for mandated due diligence for companies to eliminate the use of forced labour and other violations in supply chains, and for national governments to regulate the labour market through strong compliance and sanctions.” of choice for People Management.” Mojeed stated that the institute had also appointed Mr Gbenga Odetunde as Director, Professional Standards and Development and Mr Olutayo Olawale as Director, Membership and Market Development. •Oluwatoyin Naiwo
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