An interim technical report from the recent Niger Delta Games in Benin City draws my attention this weekend; as I was shocked by the huge number of 13 girls who made international under-20 standards … when compared to only four boys from the same competition.
The report compiled by the Games’ technical committee (ably led by former quarter-miler, Enefiok Udo-Obong) served up a stark confirmation of the recent trend in which talents of the female gender are rapidly taking over from their male coevals across various aspects of life in Nigeria.
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Talk about academics, sports, business, social activities, global relations … different members of the female gender (girls, maidens, ladies, damsels, women, madams) are leading the way.
Constructively, I used to wonder why gals have taken over from where guys used to hold sway; until I remembered that so much emphasis has been placed on creating awareness for ‘the girl child’ in recent years – to the extent that they even have a day set aside for them. While all that goes on repeatedly, the world has seemingly forgotten about the boy child!
That, to me, explains why most schools now have no choice than to present female students as their best talents when it comes to debate, quiz, speech making and science competitions. Where boys used to hold sway in days of yore, girls have now taken over. That was something I witnessed first-hand in four different schools during my five years as a full-time teacher up until last October.
Aside from academics, we have also seen ladies excel more than gentlemen in the recent global representation of Nigeria across financial, literary, diplomatic and business channels. In this regard, we can talk about Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Bianca Onoh-Ojukwu and Chimamanda Adichie.
That is not to rule out the Nigerian man all together in those sectors, but the massive advancements being made by women when compared to that of the male ilk appears to signal the impending emergence of a strong female presidential candidate in Nigeria’s political sector.
On the other hand, while our men are still rubbing shoulders with Nigerian women in the areas of administration, politics and diplomatic relations, the gap between both genders in the sports sector is becoming wider with each passing day. Gone are the days when we had athletes of international repute in equal numbers across the male and female categories.
In years gone by, for every Mary Onyali, Bisi Afolabi, Charity Okpara, Falilat Ogunkoya, Faith Idehen, Fatimah Yusuf, Chioma Ajunwa or Endurance Ojokolo you mentioned, there would always be a Chidi Imoh, Innocent Egbunike, Sunday Bada, Desmond Ezenwa, Olusoji Fasuba, Ajayi Agbegbaku, Yusuf Ali, Adewale Olukoju or Seun Ogunkoya to balance the equation.
Sadly, the pendulum is now dangling towards the ladies only, while the guys are looking on in apparent wonderment … like the JJC village boy who got to Lagos for the first time and stood mouth agape, as he saw cars ‘fly’ above one another on busy highways.
Sadly, like the proverbial village boy who was so amazed and got carried away when he arrived in Lagos, such that he stood still watching bridges instead of moving on, Nigeria’s young male athletes are being left behind by the girls.
That dawning reality was confirmed afresh at the 2nd Niger Delta Games, and the results are there to tell the tale – as 13 girls achieved qualification standards for the World U20 Athletics Championship in USA, but only four boys made it.
Exciting results enacted by our future stars on the women’s terrain began in the girls’ 100m, where Ejiro Peter (11.58s), Tejiri Ugoh Praise (11.76s), Azeez Zainab (11.73s) and Victory Imoisemen Azobudi (11.78s) all qualified. In contrast with that, only two boys made it in the 100m – Chibueze Osama (10.42s) and Godswill Sunday (10.44s), both from Delta State.
In the 200m, three girls – Ejiro Peter (23.66s), Tejiri Ugoh Praise (23.75s) and Faith Chukwuma (24.02s) – surpassed world standard of 24.35s; but a single boy, Bright Gift from Akwa Ibom made the qualifying time of 21.25s.
Oseiwe Salami Ahusimenre of Edo State secured a spot in the boys’ 400m hurdles with 51.75s, beating the benchmark of 55s; while Mary Innocent of Delta State got the girls’ 400m hurdles with 59.87s, beating the standard of 1:00.75s.
Six girls – Okereke Treasure (52.50s), Jacinter Andrew (53.83s), Siviana Ossai (53.85s), Odot Udo (54.49s), Iyanuoluwa Aderemi (54.95s), and Faith Ezechukwu (55.19s) – scaled the 400m category. Sadly, no boy made it in the 400m, which must have left Enefiok deflated.
However, the real essence of this twisted expanding relevance of the girl child in life’s long-talked about ‘battle of the sexes’ would become more palpable when we note that our women are doing better than the men in other major sporting events.
That’s why we remember Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborodudu in wrestling but no male name stands out equally. That’s why D’Tigress have won the African Senior Women’s Basketball title seven times and five on the trot, but the men are still chasing a second ever continental gong.
D’Tigress are also going to the FIBA Women’s World Cup this year, while our male team (D’Tigers) are still in the wilderness. Same applies to the Nigerian male football national team (Super Eagles), who are still in a labyrinth of fading hope regarding a petition to get them a FIFA World Cup ticket through the backdoor.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify directly for the Mundial through one of the weakest groups ever (even when South Africa were docked three points) and still bungled an unexpected second chance through the playoff competition. They then went to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and celebrated third place as if they had beaten Argentina 5-0.
While they settled for third fiddle with ecstasy; their female colleagues were ruling Africa for the 10th time and are already looking good to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the tenth straight time. Yet someone out there still says it’s a man’s world…
For me, though, rather than despise the ladies or console myself in vainglorious foolery that testosterone is better than estrogen, I’d take us back to the first cause and shout myself hoarse on top of Mount Everest, “Please help us save the boy child.”
Yes, if we keep giving attention to the girl child and neglect her male colleague, we’ll soon have all 36 states of this country headed by women. Wouldn’t that be marvellous?
