Mama,

In this week and season of International Women's Day celebrations I have a perfect excuse to link openly with you. My siblings of four female one male (so we dare not vote on anything gender!) are okay...coping as we all must. Now, it may amuse you that the whole world is agog or buzzing with this whole issue of women development/empowerment....since you never had any such handicap. Indeed, as a high princess you were the first example of girl child education, when your royal father sent you off to the nuns in that mission school in Akure....way back in the 1940s. I was very humbled and renewed when one of your cousins (a customs exec) proudly showed me an old Nigeria Magazine report of a british journalist from the colonial office going all the way to Ikorigho/Ugbo (now oil-producing zone of Ondo State) to interview Baba, our grandfather, and you. Never knew I had such a rare gem for mother before then!

Since you left us in 1979, I have come across several elders from your Ilaje ethnic heritage who testified to the furore and alarm that swept through their land/kingdom when you made the "taboo" decision to fall in love with, and and marry, a "kobokobo" (foreigner)! Worse still, your royal-blooded father agreed....despite your coveted/trophy status!! Choice. And you made yours. These days, dear mom, not many nations guarantee this basic freedom. Even in free nations!

I'm sure you'll be alarmed that violence against women (this year's thematic focus) has now assumed new and even renewed dimensions/proportions...across the world, across classes, and across cultures. It is no hysteria. It is real.

The other day, harmless Nigerian Mothers peacefully protesting the loss of over 60 children from one of our best mission schools in an aircrash, coming on the heels of several previous sourly-handled ones, were tear-gassed and molested by the police! Among them, can you believe, were Professor Jadesola Akande (yes, mom, the former VC ) and Marie Fatayi-Williams who lost her first son in the recent (July 7) London bombings!!!

As I write, Nigerian Mothers are struck by a strange upsurge of cooking fuel (kerosene) scarcity. It is hyper-expensive and unavailable. And, yes Mama - stop asking! - we are still the world's No 5/6 in OIL and No 1/3 in LNG exporting. Oh yes, they are still flaring the oil-field gas...we are No 1 in that. Both our government and the oil companies are determined not to stop the wasteful and injurious practice. So mothers and children soak in the acid rain...and dehydrate in the Niger Delta Region. Your Ilaje nation has also joined in enduring same despoliation. Uncle Robert, your brother, was part of the vanguard for redress when Chevron came to Ilajeland earlier on. They got little headway! Everything is unduly governmentised everwhere. So let's thank and support the UN for such annual global attention to women development. Things are tough for women and children worldwide. Very tough.

Hey, let me not overly depress you...I know you - Madam Worry! It is not all bad news. The Obasanjo Administration has been generous(?) with female appointees. Women leaders are everywhere in government. The Economic Team is led by a woman. And Nigerians are eternally grateful to Prof Dora Akunyili who superintends our Foods and Drugs administration (NAFDAC). She is making waves around the globe for her sterling excellence and courage. I should be talking to you about her soon. Meanwhile, for her protection of Nigerian Mother & Child, kindly beg ALL the Heavenly Hosts to help us protect her. Like you, dear mom, she is a rare gem. Truly rare.

I must get back to dad. And a few other dads! See you...

Love
Dayo