EMANCIPATION ADVANCED

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31061, 17 May 1966, Page 2

EMANCIPATION ADVANCED

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter) KADUNA. The emancipation of women in northern Nigeria has been advanced by their apparently being given the right to vote. Major-General Ironsi, head of the Government and supreme commander of the Nigerian armed forces, said recently that all elections in Nigeria would be by adult suffrage. Since the introduction of a Parliamentary system in northern Nigeria in 1954, all elections, federal and regional, have been by male suffrage only. The reason was religious. This huge region of 29 million people is dominantly Muslim, and religion exercises a far-reaching influence on the social, educational, cultural and even political life of the population. Muslims feel that women are inferior human beings, and should not therefore claim equal rights with men. They maintain that women’s place is in the home —where, however, the man exercises strict control. In a typical northern Nigerian Muslim household, the

women are secluded, or kept in harems, and do only what they are told. It is, for instance, the master of the house who decides what the family shall eat each day, whom his daughter shall marry, goes to market himself and buys the necessary provisions or, in very rare circumstances, sends his houseboy. He decides when his wife or more usually wives, shall visit relatives or female friends, and when they may go to the cinema or attend the naming ceremony or marriage of a relative or friend. Any form of disobedience on the part of the wife is regarded as a “violation of the principle of Islam,” and is treated seriously. She may, for instance, be “cursed,” or even beaten, depending on the gravity of her disobedience. Little Protection In view of the very simple nature of the Muslim native laws and customs regarding marriages, neither the husband nor wife is adequately protected. He can divorce her in a matter of seconds or vice versa. Nor do restrictions stop there. At social functions married Muslim women are seldom seen sitting with their husbands. The Islamic religion

forbids the appearance of married Muslim women in public. They are most likely to be seen at marriage or naming ceremonies, usually held during the evening, but occasionally during the day—and even then they are veiled. Unlike women of other religions, married Muslim women do not work in the civil service or in other private establishments. The few who do are educated and their husbands are “moderate” Muslims. Gradually, however, women are becoming more educated and consequently more conscious of their rights. Although many are still reluctant to change their way of life owing to the influence of parents, guardians, friends or even husbands, they are making spectacular progress educationally.

By the end of last year, more than a third of the combined school population of all the region's secondary grammar schools and teachers’ training colleges were girls. Even in the employment field, they are beginning to advance. Women now form more than a quarter of the total labour force in both the civil service and private businesses.