IWD 2021: CELEBRATING THE REAL QUEENS

 

Who are the women we see when the term International Women's Day comes up?

 More often than not, celebrated the world over are accomplished career women. Women everyone is happy to be associated with. They are the mentors, role models and everything positive we want our young girls to emulate which is the right way to go don't get me wrong.

However, almost forgotten are the unsung heroines, women who are cogs in the wheels of everyday life. Mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends, in-laws whose daily input to our every day existences like feeding, cleaning, beauty etc. are often overlooked.

As a woman, as much as I love to celebrate the accomplishment of my fellow women, I also love giving credence to the ordinary woman. The woman whose jobs seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things, they are real role models too. Their voices have been drowned out because most of them have not had the education and opportunity it takes "to belong" as the saying goes.

We live in an age where keeping up appearances is now deep seethed. Unless we are looking for photo opportunities to generate followership and likes, mama Ebere the Akara seller is unimportant. What she does is irrelevant to us except when we "wan chop Akara". But we fail to recognize the hard work she puts in, and that through Akara frying she has trained medical doctors and other professionals through university.

#choosetochallenge is the theme for this year's IWD. As we choose to challenge inequality at work etc. We should also not fail to challenge any member of the society who fails to recognize and respect the importance of these great women. The gas seller, the Okrika seller, the plantain seller, the Tejuosho market tailor and hairdresser, the women we buy our vegetables and rice from, not forgetting mama Risi the Buka owner and many others who are the true wonder women too often ignored. Let us big 'em up at every given opportunity. Let us encourage young girls that it is ok to be the daughter of a groundnut seller. The hard work and dedication her mother puts in, to put food on the table and send them to school should be celebrated at all times and is worth emulating as she makes her way in the world.

It should not matter whether mama is dressed in her shabby work clothes or dressed up for church she is a super woman. We must choose to challenge stereotyping hard working women as poor and unimportant people. They are strong and powerful.

To Blessing, Nzube, Ogho, mama Ale, mama Felix, Rose and others. We thank you and we celebrate you.

This is wishing women all over the world Happy International Women's Day. We are all relevant.

Photo Credit: Mike Sinclair Alagoa and Chief Timi Inikio