The common belief that a woman’s place ends in the Kitchen is erroneous because educating the girl child means educating the nation. Ogoni in this case is no exception as they have the history of promoting female education.
In the past, females in Ogoni land like most areas in African Continent were denied the opportunity to attend schools. It was believed that training the girl child was a waste of time and money, since she will still be given out in marriage.
Most of them who attempted going to school ended up after the primary/basic education, while others dropped out midway in secondary school.
Those who made it through the tertiary education became huge assets and contributed to the development of their respective communities. As a result, many parents then concluded that training the girl child even through the tertiary education is not a waste after all. This new state of mind spurred many parents into sending the female children to school, hence began a new generation of female academics in Ogoni land.
It is worthy of note that girl child education has led to the emergence of an array of prominent women in Ogoni land, who had made and continue to make great marks in their chosen professions.
The list is endless – Joy Nunieh, popularly referred to as the ‘Esther of Ogoni’, of Wiiyaakara in Khana L.G.A. She struggled for the release of the famous Ogoni 20. She was also involved in the struggle for the emancipation of women in Ogoni.
Puiba Damka from Korokoro in Tai LGA, the Executive Director of CIS-Pin, an NGO committed to fighting against the abuse of children and women. She worked with both local and foreign rights activists, particularly, UNICEF in ensuring that Niger Delta women and children’s rights are not abused.
Mrs Constance Saro-Nwiyor, the first woman Commissioner in Rivers State. She facilitated the scholarships that were given to some girls in Ogoni and Rivers State during her time in the State Executive Council.
There are many others like, the former Miss Nigeria, Miss Leesi Pamela Vigboro from Bodo City in Gokana Local Government Area; former Commissioner for Education, Late Mrs. Sarah Ntor-ue, from Boue, Khana L.G.A; Prof. Roselyn Konya from Betem, Khana L.G.A, who is the current Commissioner for Environment, Rivers State; Princess Georgina Tenalo Bagbi from Bomu, in Gokana LGA, popularly called ‘Queen of Ogoni’, and many others.
These Ogoni women play vital roles in the community development as well as nation building.
With their empathic nature, they input their own pattern of leadership in the political arena. They introduced different traits in politics. They are quick in understanding the people’s circumstances.
These women serve as role models for the younger generation of Ogoni women. These younger ones look up to their examples to study hard and as a result excel in life.
Today, Ogoni women express themselves freely in the society. They no longer feel inferior to the male folk that take the lead in everything.
In the light of this, it is important that every tribe in Nigeria should be motivated to support and promote the advancement of girl child education in the country because it brings many benefits to the society.
