That story had an effect me; I have 5 siblings, a brother and 4 sisters. My father raised us not to consider “gender” as much as we did, “human”. He always told us that our “gender” was like a dress and when we die, we take it off.

I remember that when someone had a baby, we will receive a lecture, and I mean LECTURE, if we asked whether the baby is “ a girl or boy “. So, even now it’s difficult for me to ask about the sex of a Newborn. I ask instead, if the baby and mother are fine. It is just the way I was brought up.

He encouraged all of us to get the best out of education. I shudder when I meet ladies, who couldn’t study their desired courses because their parents (usually fathers) said that they will be married off one day, so they should go for “cheaper” courses. Wow! I wish I were more appreciative of my father. I have a medical doctor, Lawyer, Architect and Accountant as sisters. As far as Education was concerned, popsie didn’t hold back, irrespective of our gender.

Years ago, I still remember like it happened yesterday, my guard came to happily inform me that his wife had finally given him a male child, his 7 child. I was alarmed! “ You have 7 children?” I screamed. His reply? “ na man we dey find , madam”.. ah ah ! “ For what exactly?” I asked. He said, “ to continue my name “…”WHAT name?” I snapped back. Mhennn I was really angry because I thought to myself what hell he will pass through to feed, clothe and school 7 children, with his salary!

And really what name are we looking to “continue “?

But this “malechildphillia” cuts across all classes of the social strata. A lady sued her Stepmother and half-brother over her father’s Estate and the court ruled in her favor. They were not satisfied with the ruling and appealed. This was upheld again and they went on to the Supreme Court, which now invalidated the Igbo Customary law concerning inheritance (this happened in April, 2014). In other words the female child is as much a child as the male, when it comes to inheritance.

I remember a Bible story about these four ladies, the daughters of Zelophehad. The custom of the day, will deny them of an inheritance and they came to Moses and spoke out. Because they spoke out, a law was put into practice to enable daughters obtain inheritance also.

The truth is that we do not know tomorrow. We always forget that! I think the words of this intelligent personality, just about sums it up.” Man comes from a drop of semen and leaves as a piece of dust. He doesn’t know when he came and when he is leaving yet he goes around thinking he knows everything” Ali Ibn Abu Talib (RA).

May the Almighty save us from ourselves.

Auntybspeaks.com…gud to talk!